A warm welcome to all the latest members joining in. Hope we all get to know you more in the coming times. Feel free to say something about yourself. Read the forum rules and enjoy

I will second that!

I'll third it, it's a very friendly welcoming forum

Hello all! My name is David Ralph and have joined today!! I had my first projector when I was 10 as a Christmas Present ( that was in 1965 ... you do the maths). The projector was a Pentax P80 standard 8 machine and was a superb little work horse. I was given two films - Charlies Ladder Larks and The Haunted Ship. These were 50ft films from Dixons ( actually they were made by Walton Films) and surprisingly I still have them! These really whetted by appetite for packaged films and a long appreciation for the comedies of Laurel and Hardy. From these small beginnings I started to collect films, obviously subject to pocket money and as time went on spare cash from once I had paid the mortgage, wife, three children and two golden retrievers. Unfortunately I fell into the video trap and with 8mm drying up mothballed the projectors and sold some of my films, until ............... NOW!
Have bought some more films and a 'new / old' projector an Elmo ST1200 O/M - what a great projector!! Of course like everyone else its a hobby with little to no new material and everything else has an 'aged' appearance and quality, but there are still some good films available. I am not interested in buying films to shrink wrap and leave on a shelf, I believe that they need to be shown and to the widest audience ASAP - this will really pee off my friends and family but where else can you see 'The Jolson Story', 'Blazing Saddles' and 'The Sea Hawk' in an evening?
I am going to need a lot of help and advice from you guys so I beg for your patience and hope that you will welcome me into your forum with open arms . Thanks David.

David, that is a fabulous story there and I for one, am really pleased you have both taken up the hobby again first, but secondly, that you've choose to join this forum here with exactly the same like minded people such as yourself.
you will gain all the help you could ever require here for your film collection and your vital machines.
We even have the legendary Elmo expert on board here, Mr Bill Parsons, who's knowledge is second to none for your machine.
We also have Tom Photiou here and plenty of other Elmo users and admirers who all have great in depth knowledge of this hobby and your machine.

One or two of us here went down the DVD/Blu Ray Video Projection route for a time,and still continue to use the format alongside our film collections, myself included, and while I love to watch projected quality images in any format, there is most definitely a unique sensation developed by viewing real film using a real and tactile movie projector. Nothing quite like it!

As you say, though new releases now are scarce, there are 50 years worth of Super 8mm films to go at and many still have brilliant untarnished colour if you enjoy collecting many of the prints created from the mid 80's onwards, when film stock vastly improved. (many older titles were still made in this era)

It is worth also pointing out, many far older manufactured titles are still holding out very well indeed for their colour, especially if printed on Fuji stock and the likes as many of the older Walton titles and the likes of were.

You will be most welcomed here and we hope you share many of your experiences in the hobby, with us all here.
A warm welcome from us all David, and thanks again for the very interesting intro!

Blimey, a new member who can contribute something, instead of just sitting on the fence. You are indeed most welcome to what is now proving to be the one to join for good talk and lively chat all things film. Please tell us more about your film collection David you amongst like minded people who share your passion of film, long may it live.

Check out the picture gallery too and perhaps upload some pictures of your equipment (film related; ahem) projection room. If you feel like it of course.

I very much look forward to seeing Dave's "Shed" cinema photographs here also in the Gallery section soon,that he said he will post.
Does anyone happen to know which Armchair Odeon DVD Dave's "Shed" cinema featured in?

I will just have to trawl through them all if not.

It is nice to see new members, even better when they're like Dave Ralph here, raring to go, posts straight away, that's how its done folks.

Welcome to the forum Dave from one of the few "Yanks" on here (though where I grew up,being called a Yank would start a fight.) Nice model you're holding there (Thunderbird 1 if I'm correct!)

Could be worse Doug, although there are no doubt some folks would say, "Oh yes, Douglas, nice chap, from the Colonies you know."

I grew up in the Southern part of the USA. Some people there refuse to admit that the South lost the Civil War. They get a bit fiery about "them damn Yankees". Personally I'm comfortable wherever my feet might land. Now a resident of the Midwestern part of the States but most here think I'm from the east coast. Go figure!

I know I was speaking to Rob Foxon's good lady from Tua Films, she was convinced I was a Geordie, dear God not that, I was speechless,
which was strange for me.

Douglas. Thanks for the welcome. Having worked for a very large American Company for a few years I am used to you guys from over the pond. Yes it is Thunderbird 1 and in fact is THE Thunderbird 1. I was privileged to help back the making of 3 new episodes to commemorate 50 years of Thunderbirds. One of the opportunities was to visit the studios in Slough where AP films made the original series. Believe me I had a tear in my eyes as I was transformed back to 1965 and lived my boyhood dream.

Andrew,
Armchair Odeon Reel one Disc 1
The Shed,Felixstowe.

Regards
Tony Laing

Good to see you here again, Tony. Missed you here

Thanks Tony, I shall give it a viewing today then on the VP thanks.

It's still out in the living room from last night's disappointing, yet inevitable escapade.
Hope Vidar's crew fly the flag a little better this evening for our nation!

I will put a few still shots of the various ,one time ,remarkable cinemas from these halcyon days of film collecting, featured within the discs, on here later thanks.

Many thanks once again Tony!

Andrew... You can also find it on the Armchair Odeons Reel One VHS Tape if you are still that way inclined. Hahahaha !!!

Mine are the shiny disc variety David but thanks mate all the same.

Andrew ... I am a nut job. I have them on both shiny discs and tape.