The Alex Theatre pages: history + street views | forecourt | lobby areas | auditorium | booth + attic | backstage |
Peeking in the house left door. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
- Screen size: 21'6" x 46'
- Projection throw: 110'
- Film projectors: 2 Simplex XL with Xenon lamphouses, 4K lamps. Film is run reel-to-reel.
- Soundheads: Simplex SH -1000s with Kelmar analog and Dolby Digital readers. There are also DTS digital readers atop the XLs.
- Lamps: ORC Optimax consoles
- Processor: Dolby 650
- Stage Channels: 3 JBL 4648 LF speakers, 3 JBL 2446 HF horns, 2 JBL 4642 dual subs
- Surrounds: 14 JBL 83340A speakers
- Barco 4K DP4K-32B projector with high contrast lens
- Barco Alchemy V2 server + an AJA FS2 scaler.
- For more details see the theatre's Tech pdf.
The 2019 installation of the digital projection equipment was funded by grants totaling $120,000 from the Ahmanson Foundation and the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation. The theatre noted that the upgrade allows them to run new films available only digitally and enhances the theatre's "ability to remain a vital player in a competitive marketplace and provide a top-notch movie-going experience."
A 60s look at the booth. Equipment included Strong Futura lamps, Simplex XL projectors, Ampex mag sound and Simplex optical sound. The photo appeared with "Special Event for Historic Birthday," a 2017 article by Nestor Castiglione about the theatre's 92nd birthday celebrations that appeared in the Crescenta Valley Weekly. Thanks to Mike Hume for locating the article.
A look across the booth and out the far end into the auditorium. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
The audio rack is on the far left. After the photo was taken a big hulk of a digital projector was also installed in the too-small booth. Like the two 35mm machines we see here, it's also on casters. For actual operation, the 35s would be tilted downward about 20 degrees.
A look across one of the followspots to the audio rack on the left wall. That's a Dolby CP 650 processor on top with a Component Engineering monitor amp beneath. Below the computer it's a DTS digital processor and two Kelmar exciter supplies. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
The audio rack is on the far left. After the photo was taken a big hulk of a digital projector was also installed in the too-small booth. Like the two 35mm machines we see here, it's also on casters. For actual operation, the 35s would be tilted downward about 20 degrees.
A look across one of the followspots to the audio rack on the left wall. That's a Dolby CP 650 processor on top with a Component Engineering monitor amp beneath. Below the computer it's a DTS digital processor and two Kelmar exciter supplies. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Another peek out the left spot port. It's a photo that appeared on the Alex
website when Glendale Arts was operating the theatre.
The view down to the stage. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
The theatre's Barco 4K DP4K-32B projector, a 2019 installation made possible by grants totaling $120,000 from the Ahmanson Foundation and the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation. Included in the package are a Barco Alchemy V2 server and an AJA FS2 scaler. Thanks to Nina Crowe of Glendale Arts for the photo.
A look across the booth with the two 35mm consoles shoved together at the right and the Barco unit at the center. The mysterious hallway at the left goes down to the lighting control room. The 2019 photo is courtesy of Nina Crowe at Glendale Arts.
Bill Hogan of the Alex Film Society exploring the capabilities of the new equipment. The theatre noted at the time that the upgrade allows them to run new films available only digitally and enhances the theatre's "ability to remain a vital player in a competitive marketplace and provide a top-notch movie-going experience." The 2019 photo is courtesy of Nina Crowe at Glendale Arts.
A look across the booth, here with the two 35mm units separated so you can actually get in to thread. Note the tilt. That doorway beyond the followspot goes out into the auditorium as a second exit. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Down the hallway on the left end of the booth to the lighting control area. The Alex's master electrician Jazzy Birdsong was setting some auditorium lighting levels. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
A look alongside the ORC Optimax Xenon console behind projector #2. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
One of the two Simplex XL projectors with a Simplex SH -1000 analog optical soundhead below and a DTS digital pickup on top. The XL is a model that was introduced in 1950. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
The booth backwall with a ladder up to a boxed-in space above the booth. From there there's roof access. Around the corner to the left of the door there's a hallway leading to the pyramid room and attic over the auditorium. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
The hall extending out from the right (south) end of the booth. The attic access ladder is just around the corner to the left. On the right just out of frame is the doorway to the pyramid room. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Looking into the pyramid room, the attic space above the theatre's entrance doors. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
The view down to the stage. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
The theatre's Barco 4K DP4K-32B projector, a 2019 installation made possible by grants totaling $120,000 from the Ahmanson Foundation and the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation. Included in the package are a Barco Alchemy V2 server and an AJA FS2 scaler. Thanks to Nina Crowe of Glendale Arts for the photo.
A look across the booth with the two 35mm consoles shoved together at the right and the Barco unit at the center. The mysterious hallway at the left goes down to the lighting control room. The 2019 photo is courtesy of Nina Crowe at Glendale Arts.
Bill Hogan of the Alex Film Society exploring the capabilities of the new equipment. The theatre noted at the time that the upgrade allows them to run new films available only digitally and enhances the theatre's "ability to remain a vital player in a competitive marketplace and provide a top-notch movie-going experience." The 2019 photo is courtesy of Nina Crowe at Glendale Arts.
A look across the booth, here with the two 35mm units separated so you can actually get in to thread. Note the tilt. That doorway beyond the followspot goes out into the auditorium as a second exit. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Down the hallway on the left end of the booth to the lighting control area. The Alex's master electrician Jazzy Birdsong was setting some auditorium lighting levels. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
A look alongside the ORC Optimax Xenon console behind projector #2. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
One of the two Simplex XL projectors with a Simplex SH -1000 analog optical soundhead below and a DTS digital pickup on top. The XL is a model that was introduced in 1950. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
The booth backwall with a ladder up to a boxed-in space above the booth. From there there's roof access. Around the corner to the left of the door there's a hallway leading to the pyramid room and attic over the auditorium. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
The hall extending out from the right (south) end of the booth. The attic access ladder is just around the corner to the left. On the right just out of frame is the doorway to the pyramid room. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Looking into the pyramid room, the attic space above the theatre's entrance doors. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019
Part of the ceiling slab of the pyramid. Photo: Bill
Counter - 2019
Looking down onto the top of the coffered ceiling that's above the theatre's entrance doors. Photo: Mike Hume - 2019
We're house right in the attic above the auditorium. The catwalk leads to the ceiling slot lighting position. Both the catwalk and the lighting position date from the 1993 renovation. Photo: Bill
Counter - 2019
Production manager / stage supervisor Rafael Posada and theatre sleuth Mike Hume on the the catwalk for the lighting position. We're looking toward house left. A bit of the auditorium can be seen through the slot. Photo: Bill
Counter - 2019
A wider view along the catwalk. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2019
A view through the ceiling slot. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
Looking toward the proscenium wall from the lighting position. That ladder near the center of the image goes down into the area behind the sunburst that's above the proscenium. To the right and left can be seen the winches and cable reels for the speaker stacks. Photo: Bill
Counter - 2019
Looking along the house right side of the attic toward the proscenium wall. There's a door that goes into the stagehouse, but not ending up anywhere normally useful. Photo: Bill
Counter - 2019
A look back to the boxed-in area above the booth. Photo: Bill
Counter - 2019
Leaving the house right side of the booth. Photo: Mike Hume - Historic Theatre Photography - 2018
The Alex Theatre pages: history + street views | forecourt | lobby areas | auditorium | back to top - booth + attic | backstage |
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