Starting as a projectionist and view of the Chief (Bill Pearson)

Joan Pearson interviewed by Richard Wallace

Projectionist Bill Pearson describes his move from working in New Street Station to becoming a projectionist. He also talks about striving for the job of Chief Projectionist.

When I left at 14 I was mad on trains so I went to New Street Station for a job. I got one and landed in a booking office and never saw a train at all. So I packed that up, saw a slide at the Orient Astor and I thought, oh, I like this. Yes. I was always fond of reading history and geography. And films. And seeing places so I thought I’ll have a go so I was trainee number two. There was co-fourth, fourth, co-third, third, co-second. And the main one, Chief, I noticed he did nothing. And I thought, that’s worth striving for. He was never there and he never did anything wrong, you did. I thought, oh, thank god one day I’ll be chief. So I stuck it until I was promoted. Oh, because by that time I was chief, but I had to run everything, I had to do everything myself. So that thought of doing nothing didn’t apply.

Title

Starting as a projectionist and view of the Chief (Bill Pearson)

Subject

starting work

Description

Projectionist Bill Pearson describes his move from working in New Street Station to becoming a projectionist. He also talks about striving for the job of Chief Projectionist.

Creator

The Projection Project

Source

Interview with Joan and Bill Pearson

Publisher

University of Warwick

Date

21/03/2017

Contributor

Richard Wallace
Rebecca Harrison
Joan Pearson
Bill Pearson

Format

.mp3

Language

English

Type

Sound recording

Coverage

1950s
Birmingham

Interviewer

Richard Wallace
Rebecca Harrison

Interviewee

Joan Pearson
Bill Pearson

Date of Interview

21/07/2016

Location

Birmingham

Transcription

When I left at 14 I was mad on trains so I went to New Street Station for a job. I got one and landed in a booking office and never saw a train at all. So I packed that up, saw a slide at the Orient Astor and I thought, oh, I like this. Yes. I was always fond of reading history and geography. And films. And seeing places so I thought I’ll have a go so I was trainee number two. There was co-fourth, fourth, co-third, third, co-second. And the main one, Chief, I noticed he did nothing. And I thought, that’s worth striving for. He was never there and he never did anything wrong, you did. I thought, oh, thank god one day I’ll be chief. So I stuck it until I was promoted. Oh, because by that time I was chief, but I had to run everything, I had to do everything myself. So that thought of doing nothing didn’t apply.

Original Format

Group interview

Duration

00:01:10

Bit Rate/Frequency

320kbps

Cinema

Orient Cinema, Aston, Birmingham

Citation

The Projection Project, “Starting as a projectionist and view of the Chief (Bill Pearson),” Cinema Projectionist, accessed March 29, 2024, https://projectionproject.warwick.ac.uk/items/show/468.

Output Formats