Those pictures bring back memories.
The projectionist at the local Mercury Theater was a friend of my dad's. I used to run up when at matinees just to watch him run those projectors.
The projectionists I knew were both there when I was an usher back in my high school days. They had inherited the jobs from their father, who was also a member of the union.
I worked for the projectionists. They paid me cash, with no taxes or with-holding. In the early 1970s, I was taking home $14.00/hour for two shifts - one for 5 hours and one for 5.5 hours - at a minimum. Any more hours I worked I got paid for at the $14/00 hour rate. If I couldn't work on Tuesday night, I'd just pick another night or kiddie matinee and work then. What a great part-time job that was!
It developed into additional work at two other theatres. I completed all of my junior college work between reels in the movies.
Our kids loved it. They'd get the best balcony seats for free right outside the projection booth doors.
In later years the carbon arc machines were replaced with xenon bulbs.
