West Bend Theatre

BobSchermacher on September 9, 2005 at 12:13 pm

Greetings!

I was the projectionist at this theater from 1978 to 1981. At that time, there was a Cinema I downstairs, with a loud air-turbine platter system…and a Cinema II upstairs, which was an extension of the balcony with a Cinemascope screen. Upstairs had an electric motor platter system.

One of the idiosyncracies of the downstairs screen was that it was locked into being a 4 by 3 aspect ratio because of the old “live stage” screen, so any Scope movie was severely cropped by a custom cut aperature in the projector. I haven’t been there in a long time, but I can’t imagine the Cinema I space being divided up into 2 theaters, must feel cramped.

The managers of the theater then were Roland and Mary Meade. They were very kind to me and a dedicated couple serving many years there.

My name is Bob Schermacher and I can be reached at I have been working from 1988 to the present in Video Production in the state of Arkansas. I always dreamt of someday operating a family-themed theater in the same old baroque style like this one was. Thanks for this posting and web site!

andynkeena on December 8, 2004 at 11:10 am

I don’t get it. Where’s the listings for movies at the West Bend Theatre?