Platter Systems: Difference between revisions

Platter systems rose to popularity in the late 1970s as part of the movement towards increased [[automation]]. Along with the transition from [[carbon arc]] to [[xenon short-arc lamp|xenon lamps]] and the development of [[automation system|automation control systems]], platter systems facilitated the rise of the [[multiplex]] (a movie theater with several screens). Platter systems and other single-reel film transport systems such as towers and double make-up tables (MUTs) largely replaced reel-to-reel projection as the most common means of [[35mm]] projection because it enabled the simultaneous screening of multiple films on multiple screens with fewer operators. Benefits of the platter system included reduced labor costs—multiple films could be run simultaneously by a single projectionist or theater manager—and reduced print wear over the course of a long run. After the reels have been plattered the projectionist only handles the clear leader spliced to the head and the tail of the last reel, and the print does not have to be rewound between each screening.