Ayrshire: Retired film projectionist welcomes Largs Cinema plan

Willie McIntyre was the 'man in the booth' at the Barrfields Theatre in the late 1990s and early 2000s - and it was he who boasted the technical know-how that brought blockbuster movies including Titanic, Moulin Rouge and Saving Private Ryan to the local screen.

Largs Community Council (LCC) is behind the plans to bring a community cinema to the town for the first time in more than 20 years.

LCC announced this week that it will be holding a trial run on Friday, January 26, with a 7pm showing of Barbie at the Barrfields Pavilion Theatre - with all proceeds going to the North Ayrshire Foodbank.

After the former cinema closed at Barrfields, Willie, 78, carried on working with North Ayrshire Leisure as projectionist at the cinema in Saltcoats for a few years.

And though plenty of time has passed since he stepped out of the booth for the last time, Willie's passion for the flicks burns as brightly as ever.

"I am very pleased to hear about the community cinema at Barrfields Theatre," he said, "and hope it will be a big success.

"I think it is what people want and what people need, and these things never really go out of fashion."

Willie says the cinema at Barrfields Theatre closed down in 2003, and for a while, showed DVDs in a smaller room, while he went to work at the Apollo Cinema on the Saltcoats seafront.

Some of the longer movies, Willie recalls, had intervals to give cinemagoers a chance for a break.

Willie said: "We showed 'Mrs Brown', starring Billy Connolly and Judi Dench, to a full house, and we had to actually turn people away as it was so busy. We only had it initially for one night.

"I think there is always something special about going to the cinema. It is a shame that the town has been without one for so long, as it is not all that convenient to go to Greenock, Saltcoats or Paisley.

"Having something on your doorstep is much more tempting.

"Local cinemas are very enjoyable and have their own character compared to your big multiplexes.

"But they are also successful in bringing money to the movie industry in their own right, and I always enjoy a visit to Glasgow Film Theatre - it is very special."

Willie revealed that his days as the Barrfields projectionist included plenty of occasions when things didn't go entirely to plan.

"I had to lace up the projector, and the film arrived in boxes and you spliced various reels together," he said.

"But it is all change and nowadays it is all digital.

"Sometimes things went wrong, and machines broke down, and you would just have to cope and find a solution very quickly.

"Nowadays, with multiplex cinemas, it is all controlled in one room, and you don't need half as many projectionists and staff as you used to.

"I love the idea of bringing a film house back to the town."

Willie McIntyre is a huge Laurel and Hardy fan and has even written a successful book on the comedy duo (Image: Newsquest)

Willie is a prominent member of the Sons of the Desert Laurel and Hardy fans society, has written a book on the comedy duo, and helped bring a convention in celebration of Stan and Laurel to Largs in 1981.

"I have been going to the cinema since I was a child," he said, "and just love the whole atmosphere.

"It is always an enjoyable night out. I used to love watching all the black and white films when I was a child, and that was how I became a huge fan of Laurel and Hardy."

Tickets for Largs Community Cinema's showing of Barbie can be accessed here:  bit.ly/3Hb7k79