For the past 20 years, Paul Bader has been projecting the movies at the Northfield Drive-In. Paul began learning to project at only the age of six with his dad at another theatre in 1949 (one year after the Northfield Drive-In was built). After projecting at many different theaters and drive-ins, he was finally hired in 1993 as the projectionist for the Northfield Drive-In. Using his experience, and at times ingenuity, Paul has been able to keep our antique projectors (for which they stopped manufacturing new parts 35 over years ago) running reliably; never failing to put a show on the screen throughout his time as our projectionist. In latter years, Paul has been joined by his wife Mim, who helps greatly by taking turns projecting, especially on our Dusk-to-Dawns (quadruple features/Labor Day Weekend).
As one who has had the privilege of learning the basics of projecting on machines like these from Paul, I can honestly say that he is a master projectionist. Unfortunately, because of the industry's upcoming conversion to digital projectors, even if the Northfield Drive-In stays open next year Paul will be retiring. So, if you come to the Drive-In before the end of the year, make sure to stop in at the projection booth before the show, ask for tour of two of last running arc-and-carbon projectors in the country and thank Paul & Mim for all of the wonderful years of movies.
