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Topic: Retired projectionist the "End of an era." -> OT to Non-theatrical exhibition

Christian Volpi
Master Film Handler

Posts: 349
From: Arlington, NE
Registered: Apr 2004

posted 04-18-2005 12:50 PM

Fremont man enjoys collecting, showing films

Fremont man enjoys collecting, showing films

By Carolyn Gibbs/Tribune Correspondent

Darkened movie theaters and the smell of buttered popcorn have been a part of Larry Koski's life for 40 years.

Koski, who is from Fremont, has had an ongoing love for movies since high school in New Castle, Pa.

"When I was in high school, I worked at the town theater. When I joined the Air Force, I ran the air base theater in Lincoln for four years," Koski said.

He stayed in Nebraska after the military and ended up in Fremont.

His career started when he worked for the union at the Empress Theater in Fremont, as well as the drive-in theater in Fremont. He transferred to Omaha and throughout the years worked at all the drive-in theaters there.

"I just returned from the 20 Grand in Omaha three or four years ago," Koski said.

As a professional projectionist, Koski's name is synonymous with summer time fun in Fremont. He's probably best known for his movies at Christensen Field in June and July.

"We show films on the side of the arena where we have a 16-foot-wide, pull-down screen," Koski said.

Koski said 20 Fremont merchants sponsor the series of films. Each sponsor pays $35 for seven movies and Koski puts a 10-second ad on the screen for the merchant. Sponsors offset the film rental, which Koski said is a little expensive.

The movie rentals come from Modern Sound Pictures in Omaha.

"I used to run my own movies, but I've shown them so many times," Koski said.

This entertainment takes place under the auspices of the Fremont Park and Recreation Department.

"I do it for free," he added. "I don't get paid. It's just fun doing it."

A church group comes out to Christensen Field and sets up a snack bar for the event. Movie night is Monday, but if it rains, movies are shown on Tuesday night.

Koski shows old and new films, but the newest this year is "Toy Story." Some of the older ones this summer will be "Spencer's Mountain," "Sounder" and "Any Which Way But Loose."

He sets up his summer schedule well in advance to get the films he wants for the season, and the Omaha firm ships them to him. He said the films come in three and four reels, but Koski rewinds them onto one large reel so he doesn't have to stop and change reels. This allows him to run films for three hours continuously.

One movie is shown per event and Koski broadcasts the sound over FM Radio, 89.1.

"It's just like a drive-in movie and they can bring their own lawn chairs," he said.

He also has previews of all the upcoming movies and said the first two shows will be cartoons and comedies to get the people coming.

The rest of the season the movies are all family friendly. Fremont isn't the only recipient of Koski's love of film. He has traveled as far as Center, Nebraska, and into Iowa for celebrations and centennials.

"I do movies for churches, PTAs and schools. If anyone is interested in a free movie for entertainment, I'm available," he said.

Koski also treats the Fremont Senior Adult Center to movies once a month, and he does an end-of-the year movie for the students at Washington Elementary School in Fremont. The town of Uehling also has a summer series in June, July, and August, which includes a picnic and drawings for prizes.

One local event, which combines two activities, has proven especially popular. Dive-in movies combine swimming and a film. Koski does these in Omaha and in Fremont at Ronin Pool.

"Dive-in movies in Omaha are called ‘Flick and Floats.' It's the only time people are allowed to bring their inner tubes and rafts to the pools," Koski said.

When he shows pool movies, he amplifies the sound to offset the noise.

Koski shows silent movies at John C. Fremont Days under the big tent at the park. For these 10 minute movies, he tapes them ahead and gives them to Nick Semrad in advance, who puts the piano music to the movie.

"He is fantastic," Koski said.

Neighbors, too, have their own private theater thanks to Koski. Speakers line the roof on Koski's garage above the projector mounted inside the garage. He has a pull-down screen at the end of his yard and with popcorn, he offers an outdoor theater for anyone in the neighborhood.

Running movies is only one aspect of Koski's love of film. He has a personal film collection of 350 reel-to-reel films. Through trade magazines and the Internet, he has bought, sold, and traded films.

"One of the magazines, ‘The Big Reel,' sells all kinds of movie memorabilia, like posters, films, and projectors," he said.

Some places have trade shows, but not in this area according to Koski.

"The oldest film that I have I bought in 1965. It's ‘The Little Rascals,' and dates to the 1930s. I still have it and I still love it."

He also has a few silent films, some of which have musical tracks added.

"Black Hawk Films out of Davenport, Iowa, used to take all the old silent movies and add sound tracks and sound effects," Koski said. "One of my Laurel and Hardy silent films has a sound track of music."

Most of Koski's personal collection are black and white.

According to Koski, color back in the 1940s and '50s when Hollywood started a different process to save money, has led to many films fading and losing color.

"I have a copy of ‘The Sound of Music' that's totally red because the colors have faded."

He said Technicolor is best because it will never fade. One a film has faded, nothing can be done to restore it.

Koski doesn't have any recent movies. Everything he has is at least 40 years old. His basement is not only a movie buffs' delight, it includes and other private theater complete with movie theater seats and, of course, a bag of popcorn to make it complete.

He loves to entertain his grandchildren that way. His own personal favorite movie in his collection is "No Time For Sergeants."

Whether running movies for others entertainment, or collecting them personally Koski believes he is one of the few professional projectionists left.

"Everything has gone to DVD ( digital). Projecting films is kind of a lost art," he said. "The day will come when film will be gone, and there will be no more. I'm the end of an era."

[ 04-19-2005, 01:40 PM: Message edited by: Adam Martin ]