Odeon Technical

THE COMPLETE LINE-UP OF CHESTER ODEON CHIEF PROJECTIONISTS

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
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.
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.
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.
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.

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

Gordon Potter operation the Cinemation console

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 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. The projectionist standing with him is Gordon Potter, who took over as chief in 1968 when Ernest Hall retired

Past Chester Odeon projectionists~

RAY DAVIES

EDDIE ROWLANDS

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.

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 ~ George Buckley

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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