A few things I am working on

[theedwin]

Hello all!

New here, I hope I can apply the link to my photobucket... haha.

Anyways... My name is Edwin and I am brand new here. I manage a movie theatre and I love it. Each year I come up with some new Christmas display for our lobby, and this year the theme is Penguins. I try to keep it "non denominational" (sp) so I lean toward the secular rather than the religious.

As a kid I was always mesmerized by the display that the local mall put on. It was pretty pathetic, but I was a kid after all. There would be the elves sawing the same piece of wood year after year and getting nowhere, the same carolers singing the same song holding the same light bulb candle year after year, but I was always intrigued on how they got the carolers and elves to move without me seeing how they moved.....

I have done things such as string several sets of lights from the ceiling in the lobby from a hula-hoop down to the floor. Makes for a nice tree, but I am sure that the Fire Marshall would have had a FIT!!! HA HA

This year is Penguins. Animated Penguins - like the elves and carolers that I grew up with. Pretty simple really but I hope that the kids that come and watch the movies appreciate it.

I had this idea in my head since March and I shop thrift stores on an almost daily basis. I have been purchasing penguins and old Christmas trees since then. I don't spend alot of money, mostly 50 cents on stuffed penguins or up to $5 on old Christmas trees.

OK, without further BLAH BLAH BLAH from me.... here are a few pics of the preliminaries of my display!

DARN! Have to wait for 6 posts. Maybe by then I will have some more to add! :D

The pix are taken in the office since it is too early for a "public" display of Christmas unless you are a department store!

E

[onemagicalchristmas]

Can't wait to see the pics. Welcome and thanks for sharing! :santahat:

[Merry Christmas Darling]

We're waiting so start posting! :kinky elf: And penguins are cute. I bought a penguin ornament for the children's tree.

[PumpkinJack81]

Hi Edwin and welcome! :waving:

I love your peguin display idea...If the theaters around here went through that much trouble to create something for the holidays I would love to go to the movies! Please post more so we can see your photos! :gelf:

Look forward to hearing more from you,
Bob, Forum Moderator :snowman:

[theedwin]

Hello again,

Sorry for the delay, but I have had visitors from out of town. Everyone loves to come visit me now that I live in Vegas!!!

Pics coming soon!

E

[theedwin]

Ok,

Here are the pictures. These are taken the office where I have them set up and running to make sure that they will last. (So far so good).

The flame is one of those "flaming couldrons" from a Halloween store.
The sled spins back and forth
The decorating penguins rock forward and backward as if they were falling. There will also be a partially decorated tree in front of them so it looks like they are trying to decorate the tree.

http://s443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/penguins/

I have a few more animations that I am working on plus the background, the snow, the foreground etc etc. (Ack, getting stressed thinking about all the work left....) My employees love to help so it should go pretty smoothly.

Thanks for looking!

E

[JollyElfDC]

Those look really cute! It looks like you go beyond the duties of your job. Most theatres here don't have anything different for Christmas, except maybe a tree.
One year CVS had a whole bunch of Rudolph stuffed plush on sale really cheap. I bought all of them, and used to set them up in a little display. I haven't done it in about 4 years. I might put them out again this year.

[onemagicalchristmas]

love the pics it is a cute display. thanks for sharing

[onemagicalchristmas]

Those look really cute! It looks like you go beyond the duties of your job. Most theatres here don't have anything different for Christmas, except maybe a tree.
One year CVS had a whole bunch of Rudolph stuffed plush on sale really cheap. I bought all of them, and used to set them up in a little display. I haven't done it in about 4 years. I might put them out again this year.

that sound nice and festive thanks for sharing.

[theedwin]

I finally got around to uploading some videos. They are very short but you get a better idea what I am going for. I used a digital camera to take the videos so they aren't very good.

Sorry the Marshmallow one is so dark, the "fire" was blacking everything else out I think.

- sorry new to uploading.... see next post please.

E

[theedwin]

I finally got around to uploading some videos. They are very short but you get a better idea what I am going for. I used a digital camera to take the videos so they aren't very good.

Sorry the Marshmallow one is so dark, the "fire" was blacking everything else out I think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O_7BiljnhU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4UbWVcSCx8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtT7coFhTjU

E

[onemagicalchristmas]

Cute thanks for sharing. I like the way the fire looks real!:snowman: :waving: :waving:

[PumpkinJack81]

Love the pics and videos Edwin! I can't wait to see photos of the finished product! :gelf: You're doing a great job so far...:santa1:

[theedwin]

Hello all,

I got alot done today, worked on the "snow" and "glaciers" a LOT! Cut up the sheets of styrofoam for the snow and glaciers. I still have to paint them and that is going to be a chore! Got alot done while working today, and stayed after for 5 hours to keep on working on the project.

I made my "snowing" machine but it is drying now so I don't know if it will work like I want it to. Basically it is 2 disco balls mounted on an 8 foot pipe that will spin horizantally rather than vertically. When lit, the reflections will hopefully look like it is snowing. (Praying to the snow gods!!)

The animated penguins are still working like a charm, so I am not worried about them. I still have to get the trees out and put them together.

I am SOOO TIRED!!! Sorry no pics, but I will try to take some when I get to work.

E

[PumpkinJack81]

Sounds like it's coming along nicely... :D

[glone]

hmmm, is someone a Linux fan? haha

[PT ROSE]

How cute! :D Thanks for sharing! :waving:

[theedwin]

Hello All!

Well, after working all day on the project and staying after for 4 1/2 hours... I am about half done! I took some pictures and a short video of what I have done so far.

http://s443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/penguins/?action=view&current=MOV01977.flv

The pictures can be found at: http://s443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/penguins/

So far the display is 33 feet long with 11 trees and I forgot how many penguins.... I still have 6 more trees and the sledding penguins to add. I am also working on "fishing" penguins.

I still have alot more to do, but I have to work tomorrow and needed some sleep (and a couple of beers...) :D

Hope you enjoy!

E

P.S. Did I mention that the display is 15 feet off the ground on a 4 foot catwalk? haha

[PumpkinJack81]

Edwin, the display looks amazing! You have done a great job so far...I would love to see this in person. Keep the videos and pictures coming! :waving:

[JollyElfDC]

I really like it! Just curious,what have some of your previous holiday displays been?

[ladyice]

Those are cute, thanks for sharing! :christmastree:

[Merry Christmas Darling]

Some people are so clever! You're one of them. :)

[theedwin]

Thanks Everyone!

I really appreciate the compliments!!!

I didn't get much done today but will be working on it Tuesday or Wednesday.

E

[theedwin]

Hello All!

Today was my day off (Tuesday) ( I slept in til 12:14!!!) but my boss sent me an "urgent" text message that my penguins were about to commit suicide! I was going to relax today, (tuesday) but I went in and finished up the penguin project, and fixed a few things that needed to be fixed. (I think I fixed them to the point that they won't break again-except for the "snow machine" I think that one will never work... :( ) Anyways... Here is a link to the "finished" video - a bit higher resolution this time (funny what you learn when you start poking buttons on the menu of the camera) ha ha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdF0BTR17pM

And here are some "behind the scenes" photos as I was working today. http://s443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/penguins/Penguins%20behind%20the%20scenes/

I really hope that you guys enjoy my photos and videos as much as I enjoy making and sharing them.

E

[iceicebaby]

I am soooo impressed, you have done a lot of hard work there, and the final item is fantastic. Well done :D

[PumpkinJack81]

Edwin, that looks GREAT!!!! :D :D :D Your hard work has certainly paid off...Sorry to hear the snow machine didn't turn out as you had hoped. Was that with the mirror balls? Overall, amazing job! :waving:

[JollyElfDC]

You did a great job! I hope the customers appreciate all your hard work.

[Donna-50]

You did a great job and boy what a lot of work.

[theedwin]

Hello All!

I really appreciate all the kudos that I have been given on this display. There is more to come...

The customers ARE appreciating it, I had one lady today come up to me and said "your the one who puts this all up? it looks really nice, your doing a great job. And I loved your Halloween display too!"

That felt good.

Another lady tonight with her two cute little kids looked me in the eye as I was getting of the lift from fixing something and said "This is why you do this, isn't it. To see the kids go crazy over it." I said Yes. I then asked her if they saw my Turkeys... Then her kids went even crazier! (she did too!)

I will post pictures of my turkeys soon... I promise!

THATS why I do it.

E

[JollyElfDC]

I've got to ask. What was your Halloween display?

[onemagicalchristmas]

you are one amazing person thanks for all you do! :snowman:

[daddysgirl07]

I LOOOOOVE PENGUINS!!!!!!!!!! I also love Polar Bears!!!!

[theedwin]

I've got to ask. What was your Halloween display?

http://s443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/ This was my Halloween display at the Theatre. It was in the same place as the Penguins are now. It was my first dabble at doing anything Halloween!

Here are the Turkeys. I decorate the display case in customer service with "Nacho People" basically some nachos that I glue googly eyes and pipe cleaners to and have them do various things related either to the Theatre or to holidays etc. You can see some of my Halloween Nacho People in the Halloween part above. http://s443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/Thanksgiving/

Finally, we have PRESENTS!!! The rest of the catwalk around the lobby is stacked with presents! (115 of them!) http://s443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/Presents/

The presents thing wasn't supposed to be my project, but I wanted to make sure it got done before Thanksgiving and someone else was dragging their feet..... It is something that they have done every year, and it looks pretty cool. And since I took it over, I of course went HOG WILD!!!! Who doesn't want that many presents!!!

E

[JollyElfDC]

Thanks for posting. I love the nacho people!

[Donna-50]

How cute is that. Another one who loves the nachos.

[onemagicalchristmas]

I love how you did the presents who had the fun of wrapping all those? I love to wrap presents. I am going to enjoy the holiday season! !

[PumpkinJack81]

Edwin, you do a fantastic job! :D I would love to visit your theater during the holidays...I bet your workers enjoy it. I know I would! :santa: I saw your "Best Theater" award from 2007; I'm sure you'll get it this year too! :waving:

[theedwin]

Pumpkin,

I hope we get "Best Theatre", but it is an online thing (maybe I could post a link here for all of you to vote) Several new theatres have opened and people like "new" things..

OH, there is more pictures to come, and very soon. I told myself that I was done, but I am nowhwere near done yet! <evil laugh>

What about the Nacho People's Christmas? LOL

A regular customer of mine came in tonight. He looks EXACTLY like Santa Claus should. (minus the pipe, since of course Santa can't smoke anymore -even in Vegas)

This great guy, I call him "Fred Claus" LOVES Christmas, and loves visiting kids in the hospital any chance he can. I like to give him all the posters and window clings that the Movie companies send to us so that he can give them to the kids that he visits in the hospitals. We also let him and his wife (she looks nothing like Mrs. Claus) in for free.

Fred wants to pay us back by "being" Santa for a weekend. NOW I have to make another display so that he can. Not a big deal since I already wanted to create another displlay so that he could.

But the guy looks SO MUCH like Santa, I have to make the display look even better! (There go my days off!) HA HA

E

HO HO HO

[PumpkinJack81]

Pumpkin,

I hope we get "Best Theatre", but it is an online thing (maybe I could post a link here for all of you to vote) Several new theatres have opened and people like "new" things..

Let us know what we can do and we'll vote away! :gelf:

I can't wait to see your new display and "meet" Santa "Fred Claus" himself! :santa:

[JollyElfDC]

Please post pictures of your Santa Display. You're very creative. I'm sure it will look great.

[onemagicalchristmas]

yeah Santa! the kids will like it!

[theedwin]

Hello All!

I am still working on the Santa display. It is going to take some more time but it will turn out "well" (and for me, "well" is very good.... I settle for no less.)

Thanks Pumpkin for offering to help with the "best of" thing. I will take you up on it!

I hate (HATE HATE HATE) chicken wire, but... I am going to have to make my life size snowman out of it.... (Lowe's out here only sells GIANT spools of chicken wire so I had to go to The HD to get what I wanted.) I also dislike HD! But I do have a company credit card for HD, so at least I didn't have to pay for it this time out of my own pocket...

And Paper Machie, machei, machettie? Same thing!

Thank God for my willing employees!

I know, you guys want to see the pics of "Santa"!

Coming soon!

E

[PumpkinJack81]

Can't wait! :D

[theedwin]

Well,

I haven't seen Fred (Santa) lately, he must be very busy this time of year! Actually he is Santa at the outlet mall, so he is very busy...

I pretty much finished up my Snowman display (Santa will sit with him) and I took some pictures.

http://s443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/Snowman/

I have a few details to work on yet, but it was 2:45am when I finally decided to leave. (there is a bare spot on the tree and I couldn't find any cute pine cones at wallyworld for the garland) etc. etc.

Hope you enjoy!

E

[Donna-50]

Oh, that is nice. Love the snowman.

[PumpkinJack81]

The snowman looks great Edwin! :snowman:

[theedwin]

Here is the lobby display finally!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p22W3T1NdL0

One day I will learn how to put videos on here without all the quotes...

I hope you enjoy!

On Dancer, On Prancer, On Donner and Dixon! And ON to Easter!!!

Edwiin

[Donna-50]

Nice! Like the talking tree.

[onemagicalchristmas]

great pics and display edwin! thanks for sharing them!:merrychristmas: