Stalwart Ray bows out after 67 years (From This is The West Country)

Stalwart Ray bows out after 67 years

11:00am Monday 14th February 2011 in News By David Hemming

HE has spent nearly seven decades making sure different generations of film fans get to see Hollywood stars on the big screen.

But after 67 years in the job Ray Mascord, chief projectionist at Scott Cinemas in Bridgwater, is finally packing away the film reel for good.

As of Friday the theatre is going fully digital so Ray has finally decided to call it a day at the ripe old age of 80.

He said: “I’m really sad about it but I don’t doubt I will be back in to help out from time to time.

“I’m just going to take it easy and spend time with my family but I will miss it – it’s been my life for so long.”

Stalwart Ray began working at a cinema in his home city of Birmingham in 1944 after leaving school aged 14.

After a brief stint in the British Army he returned to the job he loved in the 1950s when cinema technology was revolutionised with the introduction of Cinemascope and stereophonic sound.

Having worked his way up to chief projectionist Ray eventually moved to Cornwall, before working at movie halls in Taunton and Sidmouth and then eventually settling in Bridgwater a decade ago.

Incredibly Ray is not a film fan, because he says, “if you work for Cadbury’s you don’t eat chocolate”, but his favourite movie is Seven Brides for Seven Brothers as he went to see it on his wedding night.

Fittingly he will switch on the first digital film shown at Scott Cinemas, meaning he will have used all three types of projection equipment ever made.

Boss Zac Tucker said: “Ray has never let us down and will be greatly missed.”