The Army Kinema Corporation

Hi All,

I know the subject of AKC cinemas was supposed to be confined to BAOR, but may I show you a picture of what a bit of ingenuity and self help can be achieved in making a structure to show films in. It was based in the camp of 28 Field Engr Regt Korea, when I was there in 1954.
OK, so they did have the Royal Engineers to construct the thing for the AKC. It was run by Dick Richardson who donned the uniform of a Sgt in REME (as they do in active service).

Just imagine, there we all were watching the film sat on benches and dressed in combats, parka, gloves and cobbly wobblys, freezing our whatsnames off,nose dripping, eyes watering and breathing out condensation and breathing in cigarette smoke. What a combination. Could just about make out the film. Good for a laugh.



Jimsigs1

I was a army trained projectionist (1963) I worked in Munster and at Howe barrack's Canterbury Kent. My army training come in handy in later years as I worked for the ABC, Odeon and many independant cinemas. As a chief relief projectionist a job which took me all over the UK.

The SKC used to show many a film BEFORE it was on genral release in the UK.

The yanks had a similar system.

Saw quite a few films before released on US screens, down in Bavaria.

We had the same kind of cinema in 3 Field Ambulance RCAMC in Korea,must have been US Army issue,same shape but corrugated like a Quonset hut.Some of the best shows were before the film started.Used to wear our parkas with the hood up to deflect the debris flying around,needless to say it wasn't AKC,the films came from the US System and the projectionist was one of our RCEME guys.