Odeon Technical

THE COMPLETE LINE-UP OF CHESTER ODEON CHIEF PROJECTIONISTS

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  GORDON POTTER. Joined Odeon mid 1940's, taking over as chief projectionist 1969. He left the industry 1977, completing 31 years at the Odeon. He worked on the occasional stage show at the Gaumont which was operated by the same company. He had strong links with the original Odeon Wrexham where he also worked on relief. He was a keen advocate of Cinemation as it was introduced in the mid 1960s
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  PETER DAVIES. moved across from the ABC to join Odeon in March 1971. He became technical manager in April 1977. He oversaw the technical operation on all the alterations. He was the first technical manager at Bromborough's Odeon multiplex, and both Odeon multiplexes at Wrexham. Returning to Chester in the final two years of the cinema's business, he managed the projection departments at both Wrexham & Chester Odeons. He projected the final film to be shown at Chester Odeon.
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  ERNEST HALL.with a background in cinemas from the silent days he was a well respected chief projectionist with well over thirty years at the Odeon Chester. During the war years his wife worked with him in the projection room. The Odeon Chester had five chief projectionists/technical managers in it's history. ERNEST tops the charts as the longest serving chief projectionist of them all.
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  MARK JENKINS. joined Odeon 1984. He became technical manager in 1991. Later he was appointed as technical manager at the Cameo Glasgow. Mark decided to move into camera work and editing. He won several awards for his film editing and technical skills. Although now living in the remote Scottish Isles, he is still very much into media business. He was the youngest technical manager appointed at Chester's ODEON.
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  FRED SHELDON. joined Chester Odeon as second projectionist in 1991. He took over as Mark Jenkins left. He remained at the Odeon until his retirement.

                             Slide presentation on this frame begins in a few seconds

Part of the show! George Buckley was an important member of the Odeon’s staff during the heyday of cinema in the 1940’s. Thousands of Chester people would have watched films that George projected.

 

 

Above~ This 1940s picture features chief projectionist Ernest Hall with Gordon Potter, who became chief in 1968.  

Below~ Gordon is pictured standing in the same spot next to the Cinemation console 1971

Above~ May 1971 Gordon Potter at the Cinemation console & at the side of the Cinemeccanica Victoria 8 projector.

BTH SUPA projectors seen here at the Odeon Chester. These were taken out in 1962 when Kalee 21s were installed.

Click on the above frame to play “THE ODEON PROJECTIONIST AT WORK”

Ernest Hall~ 
Chief projectionist, Ernest Hall, was the Odeon’s first chief projectionist. He maintained a staff of five/six projectionists. During the war years and after, his wife worked with him in projection and can be seen in this photograph. 2nd left is Tom Meacock. Ernest Hall, dressed in a smart suit, is standing next to Gordon Potter, who took over as chief projectionist in 1968 when Ernest Hall retired early in 1968 due to poor health. The projectionist with his back to the camera is George Buckley.
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Past Chester Odeon projectionists~

James Fay

In November 1939, youngster James Ernest Fay began work in the projection room of Chester Odeon when he was fifteen years old. He remained part of the early projection team until he was called up for National Service three years later in October 1942.

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ROBERT STEADMAN (Bob)

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JOHN PASKIN

John was also a senior projectionist at the Gaumont Cinema, Chester.

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RAY DAVIES

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Gordon Potter

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MALCOLM LEECH

The late Malcolm Leech held the position as 3rd operator in the 1960s. He met and married his wife Sylvia who also worked at the Odeon Chester. They emigrated to Australia in the same decade. Sadly Sylvia, who returned to the UK with her family, passed away in 2019.  With thanks to their son, Neo Anderson, for sending in this photograph of his father.

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Eddie Rowlands was a projectionist who could boast working at the three remaining cinemas in Chester during the 1960s/70s.  Starting in the projection room at the Classic on Foregate Street. He moved to the 2000 seat ABC cinema in the mid 1960s, working as a projectionist in this much larger cinema which regularly presented pop concerts.  Eddie was one of the two spotlight operators on these shows.

EDDIE ROWLANDS

He transferred to the much busier Odeon cinema, on Northgate Street in 1973. It was during this time that the Odeon was transformed into a 3 screen venue. Shortly after the Odeon Film Centre opened Eddie decided to leave the cinema and pursue a career in entertainment on the other-side of the footlights.  He now lives in Teignmouth, Devon.

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STEPHEN WYNSTANLEY

Transferring from the Odeon Liverpool to Chester’s Odeon in 1977 was Senior Projectionist..Stephen Wynstanley. He was a very popular member of the team & stayed at the Odeon for several years before advancing as an electrical engineer.

Trainee projectionist ~ James Ernest Fay ( November 1939- October 1942 )

Senior Projectionist ~ John Paskin ( based at Chester’s Gaumont Cinema ).

Senior Projectionist~ The late Malcolm Leech

Senior Projectionist~ Sidney Brown

Senior Projectionist~ Stephen Wynstanley

Senior Projectionist~ Mark Jenkins

Senior Projectionist~ Simon Kelsey

Projectionist ~ The late Mervyn Howell Projectionist — later chief projectionist at Odeon Wrexham.

Projectionist ~ Tom Meacock.

Projectionist ~ George Buckley

Projectionist ~ Robert (Bob) James Stead

Projectionist ~ Ray Davies

Projectionist ~ Doug Wilcox

Projectionist~ Terry Gregory

Projectionist ~ Mark Lees

Projectionist~ Lee McClounnan

Projectionist~ Malcolm Oldfield

Projectionist ~ Bob Lee

Projectionist ~ Michael Smith

Projectionist~ Terry Underhill

Projectionist~ David Thomas

Projectionist~ Nick Jones

Projectionist~ Karl Morris

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