Kota Theater, Garrison, ND Altec A5

**VolvoHeretic** · November 9th, 2011, 11:28 PM

For posterity’s sake, here is the Altec speaker my kids grew up listening to, watching movies at the local movie theater; tickets are $3 per kid, popcorn is $.50. Jurassic Park sounded just as good at the theater as in our cabin/home though my A7-500s. I will get better pictures (hopefully this weekend) of the speaker and amp. Theater was built in 1949, enjoy.

**Panomaniac** · November 10th, 2011, 12:23 AM

Nice! Still in use?

**VolvoHeretic** · November 10th, 2011, 12:26 AM

Absolutely.

And probably for at least another 75 years. (edit; town of 1200 souls)

**VolvoHeretic** · November 15th, 2011, 01:32 AM

Here are a few large format pictures of what I figure is an Altec model 800 speaker, although it is a lot closer to 3’ deep rather than the advertised 2’, and is missing the top wing. It is flanked by two Seeburg DDS1 discoth?que satellites, and some unmarked folded horn sub.

Literature;
800 VOTT
Seeburg DDS1 & Altec H-811 B Horns Project - AudioKarma.org Home Audio Stereo Discussion Forums

GM · November 15th, 2011, 04:05 AM

Hmm 3 ft deep and spaced up? Must be a very rare original A5 which makes the horn a large format tar filled multi-cell, probably an 805 [as shown]:

http://www.voiceofthetheatre.com/ima...att1945.10.jpg

http://www.voiceofthetheatre.com/ima...945.prices.jpg

http://www.voiceofthetheatre.com/ima...att1945.15.jpg

GM

**Panomaniac** · November 15th, 2011, 07:16 AM

Thanks for the photos and for the catalog pages.
That bass cabinet is much larger than that later 825/828. Saw one like it on eBay a few years back. When did they change to the smaller size?

Just FWIW. Peak movie attendance in the US and Britain was in 1946

**Altec Best** · November 16th, 2011, 12:14 PM

$600 doesn't sound like a lot today but in 1947 it was a lot of cash. Could almost buy a car with that.

**Panomaniac** · November 16th, 2011, 12:51 PM

Yep, that's somewhere around $6000 today depending on how you figure it.
How much do modern cinema speakers cost? (I should know that).

**Nipper** · November 16th, 2011, 01:59 PM

Look at these....

Audiophile Speakers Made in USA - No MDF

**VolvoHeretic** · November 16th, 2011, 03:21 PM

Hum, $8000 a pair for a replacement of an Altec Magnificent, how much did those cost the last time they were produced? My A7-500s cost $800 a pair in 1978 dollars. I remembering seeing an add a few years back for the A7 Legacy by Altec Professional that where listed as $8000+ a pair.