By the time you read this the funeral of the Paramount Theatre’s longtime projectionist Walter Norris will be over, the obits already run, and a new IATSE projectionist will have (presumably) taken over “Bear” Norris’ hallowed duties within the cloistered, overwarm confines of the Paramount’s projection booth. Norris, who served as the theatre’s projectionist and occasional stagehand for the past 30 years, passed away from a heart attack this past Friday evening while threading the second reel of Casablanca. Not an altogether bad way to meet Prince Sirki (Death Takes a Holiday), from a film-lover’s standpoint, if I do say so myself. Like most Austinites, I’ve fallen hopelessly, helplessly, head over heels in love with the Paramount since my first sojourn there in 1989 — their Summer Classics Film Series has for decades now been both an indispensable boon to my own knowledge of cinema and, more to the point, the single best way to spend a muggy Austin summer afternoon or evening. And, I fear, like most people, I was sorely lacking in interest when it came to appreciating that most mundane of cineaste duties, the actual union job of threading up the old projector so the rest of us can bathe in its reflected dreamtime glow. Consider me chastised. Norris will be missed, not only by those with the forethought and luck to have known him but by anyone who has ever sat there in the dark and watched the magic overflow from that tiny box up above. Norris was 60 years old. (For a more complete tribute to Norris, check Harry Knowles‘ site at www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=6091)… More Paramount news: Friday, June 16, at 7pm, the Austin Film Festival is presenting a truly unique experience: Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Stewart Stern will be on hand to introduce and discuss two of his films, the Paul Newman-directed Rachel, Rachel (1968) and Nicholas Ray‘s Rebel Without a Cause (1955), certainly of the best-loved films in cinema history. The 78-year-old Stern will conduct a 30-minute Q&A session between the two films. Tickets are available at the Paramount box office the day of the screening. Call them at 472-5470 for more information, or contact the AFF at 310-FEST… Speaking of fests (and when are we not?), the Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival has put out a call for much-needed volunteers to help with aGLIFF 2000. Specifically, they’re looking for people with computer skills including Quark Express, MS Access, Web programming, and PhotoShop artists. If you’ve got the time, they’ve got the job (and maybe the beer, too). Give ’em a holler at www.agliff.org for more info… Another week, another Cinemaker Co-op extravaganza (don’t these people ever go on vacation? At this rate they’re threatening to make Roger Corman look like a slacker). This time out it’s their presentation of the Super-8 2000 World Tour at the Ritz Lounge Upstairs (320 6th St.) featuring live musical accompaniment from Peter Stopchinski of Brown Whörnet. The minifest kicks off today, Friday, June 2, at 7pm, with a variety of works using the small-gauge filmmaking format, and features a free two-hour workshop in pinhole Super-8 camera-making led by tour director Melinda Stone the following morning at 11am on the UT campus in Studio 4E of Communications Building B, at 26th and Guadalupe. More info at 236-8877.
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This article appears in June 2 • 2000.