PLUCKY FILM OPERATOR

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 95, 17 January 1924, Page 6

PLUCKY FILM OPERATOR

SHUT IN BOX WITH BURNING FILM In a plucky attempt to save a panic among the audience when a film caught fire, Mr. J. A. Matthews, proprietor of the Alexandra Picture Theatre, at Rangiora, was almost suffocated in the operating box on Saturday evening.

Mr. Matthews was working the projector when a film suddenly burst into flames. He quickly switched on the house lights and closed the projection opening, also the door, in the hope that lack of air would put the fire out. The pianist went on playing, and did not know till later that a fire had occurred. A minute or two elapsed before anyone went to inquire tho cause of the stoppage, and a young man found the interior of the operating box full of =moke. Mr. Matthews was lying on the floor unconscious. Lack of air had extinguished the burning celluloid, but tho fumes had overpowered tho plucky operator He was brought back to consciousness with considerable difficulty, after medical aid had been secured. One of his hands was very hadlv Imrnfed. The projector was valued at £3OO. and over 100 ft. of film were destroyed.