Projectomatic (Florence Barton)

Florence Barton interviewed by Unknown: H.M.J.

Projectionist Florence Barton describes getting the first Projectomatic automation machine in Coventry in the late 1950s. She also gives her unfavorable opinion of her male counterparts.

I was given what they called the 'Projectomatic', Instead of the Gaumont getting them I got them, because most of the men who had it didn't stand by it, they went next door and had a pint or something like that or on the roof and had a cigarette and by the time that they came in there was frantic noises coming from the Manager's office because the film was off the screen. In other words I worked with a lot of men but believe you me those that had got what I call brains I could count on that hand and I went in god knows how many cinemas, and would probably have some fingers left. That's why I wasn't at all popular because I was so good at it.

Title

Projectomatic (Florence Barton)

Subject

automation

Description

Projectionist Florence Barton describes getting the first Projectomatic automation machine in Coventry in the late 1950s. She also gives her unfavorable opinion of her male counterparts.

Creator

Coventry History Centre

Source

Interview with Florence Barton

Publisher

The University of Warwick

Date

20/03/2017

Contributor

Coventry History Centre

Format

.mp3

Language

English

Type

Sound recording

Coverage

1950s-1960s
Coventry

Interviewer

Unknown: H.M.J.

Interviewee

Florence Barton

Date of Interview

19/12/1985

Location

Unknown

Transcription

I was given what they called the 'Projectomatic', Instead of the Gaumont getting them I got them, because most of the men who had it didn't stand by it, they went next door and had a pint or something like that or on the roof and had a cigarette and by the time that they came in there was frantic noises coming from the Manager's office because the film was off the screen. In other words I worked with a lot of men but believe you me those that had got what I call brains I could count on that hand and I went in god knows how many cinemas, and would probably have some fingers left. That's why I wasn't at all popular because I was so good at it.

Original Format

One-to-one interview

Duration

00:00:39

Bit Rate/Frequency

320kbps

Additional Information

Clip (c) Coventry History Centre. Used with permission.

Citation

Coventry History Centre, “Projectomatic (Florence Barton),” Cinema Projectionist, accessed April 25, 2024, https://projectionproject.warwick.ac.uk/items/show/462.

Output Formats