"toured" a closed theater today

**Audio_by_Goodwill** · March 24th, 2015, 10:41 PM

We had a local theater close down last year. It's new compared to the theaters we might typically speak of around here...... I think it was built in the late 70's or early 80's, and added onto in the late 80's, maybe. It's a run down "modern" theater. It was showing second run movies and was filthy before closing. I didn't know it had been sold until someone mentioned seeing a dumpster outside. Today, I happened to drive by and see the dumpster, so after I was finished with my errand, I drove back by. There were two worthless cabinets in the dumpster among other random trash. There was a truck parked by the entrance, and the door was unlocked...... so I went in! I called out "Hello" a few times, and someone showed up. I explained that I was interested in old theater speakers and cabinets, probably the biggest and oldest. At first he showed me some wall speakers..... no idea what they were, just plain finished walnut boxes. He then found a theater that was lit up enough to see a little, and we went behind the screen, and there was an A7....with later rather than earlier HF driver and crossover, so I'm guessing an MDF cabinet, which would be a fit for the era of the building. He said the drivers may get replaced, but the in general these systems stay as they last. I tried to say that the drivers make them special, but it didn't come out that eloquent.....hopefully, I didn't sound offensive. I left my name and number should they decide to replace them. It didn't sound like plans had been nailed down yet. I asked if they would be sold, or tossed in a dumpster, if replaced. He said they'd be sold, so even if I weren't to acquire anything they shouldn't be lost to Waste Management.

**oface1** · March 25th, 2015, 03:13 PM

There was a old, local theater here in downtown Columbia that renovated their gear a few years ago. I just happened to call them one day and the manager said " I just missed out. We had a garage sale of sorts and got rid of old tube amps, huge speakers that hadn't been touched in deaceds." Ahhh, the timing I have!! hahaha!!

I still wondered what they had.....

**Phil-G** · March 25th, 2015, 08:31 PM

old theaters are getting rarer everyday

**VolvoHeretic** · March 25th, 2015, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by Phil-G

old theaters are getting rarer everyday

So true! I want to start driving around to all of the small towns in North Dakota and check out all of the old movie theaters, all of which originally would have had Altec sound systems. It will be my new hobby to get me out of the house and see the countryside.

When would have the theaters converted to stereo sound systems? My local 1948 theater had an single old Altec A?? with 2 Seaberg stereo added on satellites and one lone folded horn sub, but I don't know what they are using since they converted to digital video in the last year. I told them to let me know if they ever got rid of their old speakers.

**oface1** · March 26th, 2015, 07:33 AM

Volve,

I live in SC and I ride around to the little towns around here quite a bit and looked for the old town square theaters that would likely still have their old systems in plce. I have written down names and towns of theaters and I plan on making rounds this summer and see what, if anything, I can discover. I hope to be able to posts my finds here! Good luck in your search!

**LICORNE** · March 26th, 2015, 12:20 PM

Here is a skating rink with Altec PA.

**oface1** · March 26th, 2015, 01:14 PM

I see they are flying 817's.... I still have a set left in my garage!

GM · March 28th, 2015, 11:00 PM

Originally Posted by VolvoHeretic

When would have the theaters converted to stereo sound systems?

Good question! RCA was doing musicals and blockbusters in [4] channel stereo by the early '50s with mono tracks for the smaller theaters, so I guess when the majority of movies were only being released in multiple channels forced a switch, though don't know when that happened.

FWIW, the small local theaters I know about were still mono in the early '70s and closed not long after, so guessing that due to the high inflation of the time that profits were too slim to justify an upgrade or even staying business, not to mention they all were by then sitting on what had become very valuable commercial property.

GM