Chapter 1 Page 7
It was a fly-by-wire, directly computer controlled system, designed specifically for professional animation production and able to be operated by someone with no computer experience. And it was in daily operation from that day forward running at least 2 shifts a day until the company closed nearly 30 years later. Dick Rauh later told Charlie that he made back the entire investment on the first job that was done on the system. (See The Optical House Press Release)
Dick Rauh and Dick Swanek accepted the system, the operator was trained and ready to go and, finally, some real income was coming Cinetron’s way. George and Charlie hopped in a cab to ride back to the hotel and celebrate tomorrow’s arrival of the check! Then, a few blocks from the hotel, they realized that they didn’t have enough cash to ride all the way and had the driver let them out so they could walk the last 2 blocks.
The following morning, they picked up the check and Dick Swanek went with them to his bank so the check could be deposited in Cinetron’s account and Dick Swanek cashed a Cinetron check out of his own funds so that Charlie and George could pay the tolls and buy meals to get back to Georgia.
The long drive back to Georgia was filled with plans for Cinetron’s future and with discussions for design changes to make installation easier.
Click HERE for Chapter 2-Early System Sales
When I started writing this, I thought that it would only be a page or two to summarize but once I got started, I realized that it was going to take a lot more to tell the story. Still to come: Cinetron early systems and sales. Cinetron opens it’s animation studio. Cinetron adds a partner and optical effects.
Please be patient while I try to come up with the rest of the story…Charlie