As you may already know, I was in the theatre business for 11 years and had 6 theatres. It was great fun, and I’d like to have a dollar for every hour I spent on a projection booth. Things have changed radically since then, and the booth no longer has two projectors with carbon arc lamps, and a ’changeover’ having to made every 20 minutes between the two projectors. Now, film is on a huge platter, the lamps are a fancy bulb type, and projectionists are a thing of the past. I predict that projectors and film will also soon be a thing of the past.
The Metropolitan Opera has been doing a series of digital live showings of opera directly from the Met House in New York. They are on a huge screen and crystal clear with wonderful sound. Theatres in big cities have been used so far, in order to possibly capture the cost of the receiving and projecting of the operas. Tickets may not be cheap, but a lot cheaper than going to the Met! Besides, the pictures are even better than going to the Met, as there are closeups, etc. besides the usual sub-titles. The thrill of actually being there is lost, but it’s a great substitute. The next one is March 24th for the Barber of Seville.
The point of this, is simply that film and projectors are going to become extinct in a few years. The feature films will be broadcast from the studio headquarters, or be on high quality disc or DVD, and the picture will be just as good as is now with film and projector. A feature film is heavy, cumbersome, and still in those 20 minute reels, which must be spliced together and placed on the platter. The film must be shipped and eventually wears out, besides costing close to $2,000 for each print. Expensive stuff, which can be 90% eliminated with digital projection from a disc, which will weight in at maybe half pound.
Filament type light bulbs will be soon gone, replaced with LED (light emitting diodes) or compact fluorescent ones, which draw but a fraction of the power of the old type filament bulbs. The new bulbs produce little heat, and last ten times as long as conventional bulbs. I have replaced every single bulb in my home with the screw in fluorescent ones, and it saves about $20 a month on my electric bill. LED flashlights are very common now, and they are super bright and draw so little current, that batteries will last indefinitely. If you still have an old type flashlight with “D” cells, throw it away and buy an LED one. You’ll never be sorry.
Within a decade, I predict that coal, gas, and oil fired power plants will be on the way out. There’s enough wind power in just three states to power the entire US, with no pollution of any kind. Solar electric generation will also be common. Electric cars with ranges of 300 miles will be common, also with no pollution, Battery technology, which is super efficient and lightweight is now being developed. Just my opinion!
I know you aren’t in the theatre business, and probably could care less about the above and the technicals of it all, but I just thought I’d tell you! If there are any railfans in the New York area, give me a call, as I have a gift for you!