Thomas Crone
Most of us, seated in a good, old-fashioned movie theater, probably don’t give a second thought to the projection system unless something goes wrong. Whether that on-screen image comes from a digitally-sent feed or a classic film loop, we’re satisfied simply knowing that the movie’s going to play from beginning to end without interruptions or other problems.
Think back to the last time you were at a show and the film… just. Stopped.
It’s been a while, right?
That’s because someone up there cares.
At Webster University’s Film Series, you’re pretty much guaranteed to get the best possible projection. At Webster, you’ll never have a film. Just. Stop. That’s thanks to Dick Bauer. He’s the tall fellow that you may have seen in the back of the Winifred Moore Auditorium prior to a showing. He’s the not only the house manager of the Winnie, he’s projected virtually every offering in the WUFS’ long history, with his tenure at WU extending to the days when the Film Series was a student-run affair.
Bauer’s projection booth reflects the exact needs of his craft. From the mezzanine of the theater, a small, box-like structure juts. In the rather tight fit of that room, Bauer’s got everything he requires, from vintage reel projectors to all the small tools that might come in handy at a moment’s notice. On the walls hang a variety of tools, from scissors to pliers to wrenches to toothbrushes. If there’s a chaotic feeling to the outside observer, it’s certainly not chaotic to Bauer, whose working life, after a stint in the Armed Forces, has always been in this unique corner of the campus.
Technological advances have brought a host of twists to Bauer’s craft, but he’s been able to keep up with the changes even as the film series works with a modest budget. Tinkering with classic machinery to keep it running through the years has been part of his on-the-job training, along with all the other tasks that he takes on at the Winnie. The one that’s most dramatic to the untrained eye is when he has to change light bulbs some 30 feet up, which requires him to climb the twisting steps outside of the movie hall and then onto a wooden catwalk that lies just above the ceiling of the former chapel. Thankfully, the bulbs require only intermittent changing.
Last weekend, Bauer showed the film “The Conversation,” the Francis Ford Coppola title that came between Coppola’s first two “Godfather” offerings. Bauer projected the film via a simple DVD. While that might seem mundane for someone like Bauer, who’s been known to spend entire afternoons cutting together a multi-reel film, it’s not really that surprising. In the recent past, Bauer’s even shown VHS copies of movies, if those provide the best viewing and listening experience.
In order to figure out the best sight and sounds, the dean of local projectionists can sometimes be found in the otherwise-empty Winnie sitting in different seats in the hall, or viewing the screen through the fixed binoculars that hover in the center windows of his projection hut. On those afternoons, he’s told student groups before, he’s enjoying the best viewing experience for him; he’s able to take in the dialogue, the storylines, and the soundtrack—even as he’s lining it all up with his technical proficiency. Because when there’s an audience in the hall and there’s a film on-screen, Bauer’s working: He’s executing an art and a craft from the friendly confines of his second home.
