Gallery: How to Recreate Howard Hughes' Legendary Movie Screening Room
Valero Doval for WIRED01Graflex16-copyCROP
Graflex 16 Movie Projector (Model 100). Bell & Howell projectors were more expensive, but they weren't nearly as reliable or dummy-proof as a Graflex. Made by Singer, the company known for it's bulletproof sewing machines, the [Graflex 16](http://www.rcsclassic16mm.com) was the default projector for public schools, government agencies and the military. It has exceptional build quality, doesn't chew up film, and the spring belts are easy to replace. It's also a breeze to load, even in the dark. Many of these machines are still in service. Buy one ($375 or so) before the guys in Bushwick corner the market.
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Altec Valencia Speakers (Model 846A). Audio trivia: the Altec A7 was the only speaker approved by the Research Council of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, making it the global standard for movie theaters. How loud were these things? They were on stage when Hendrix played Woodstock in '69. Part of Altec's "Voice of the Theater" residential line, the Valencia was a scaled down version of the iconic A7. Less than half the size of its big brother, these 100 lb. cubes will still dwarf your living room ottoman. Although Valencias were used in many recording studios in the 60s and 70s, they don't sound particularly refined or accurate. This is basically an audiophile P.A. system shoehorned into a walnut cabinet. Try [Oak Tree Enterprises](http://www.oaktreevintage.com/). A set will cost you about $2,500.
Valero Doval for WIRED03McIntosh2-lowCROP
McIntosh MC2505 Power Amplifier. McIntosh amps had such a reputation for quality and durability that they were specified for sonar systems on U.S. Navy submarines. In fact, at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the DOE emergency PA and sirens are still powered by Macs. Introduced in 1968, the MC2505 was the debut of what would become the signature McIntosh look: black glass front panel, brushed aluminum knobs, and those sexy blue output meters. Conservatively rated at 50wpc, these amps routinely bench-tested closer to 75. More than enough power to make those efficient Altec horns scream late into the desert night. $1,500 and up at [Audio Classics](http://www.audioclassics.com/detail?detail=MC2505&nav=cat).
Valero Doval for WIRED04Pyramid-copyCROP
Pyramid 14-guage Zip Wire. The hi-fi scam known as audiophile cables didn't exist until Monster Cable began foisting them on gullible consumers in 1978. Roger Tolces laughs when asked if Hughes specified a special speaker cable. "No, I just used regular zip cord." That's the same stuff lamps are wired with: two strands of copper wire covered by a plastic sheath. Some audiophiles say their unobtanium python connects boost SQ. According to the scietific data, though, they would be hard-pressed to prove it in a double-blind experiment. Under $20 on [Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/Pyramid-RSW14100-Gauge-Quality-Speaker/dp/B0007DBBJY).
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Versitol Da-Lite Projection Screen (70 inches). Forget about white sheets. This isn't a frat house. This is the penthouse at the Desert Inn, and you're a billionaire, goddammit. So, live a little. Pass on the musty eBay offerings, and order a new cineaste-approved [matte cloth Da-Lite](http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/15522-REG/Da_Lite_72263_Da_Lite_Versatol_70_x.html) ($110). It provides a sharper image than the old glass beaded screens, perfect for repeated viewings of *Ice Station Zebra*.
Valero Doval for WIRED06Blackout-copyCROP
Blackout EZ Window Cover. The neon sign on the roof of the Silver Slipper casino pointed directly at the Desert Inn penthouse windows. Hughes found this sightline an annoyance. So, he did what any billionaire would do. He bought the Silver Slipper, and took down the sign. Hughes would later dispense with windows completely, blacking them out like a Londoner during the Blitz. This served two purposes: protection from government surveillance (and *The National Enquirer*), and making his Vegas lair the perfect pitch-black screening room. Try [Blackout EZ covers](https://blackoutez.com/) (around $40).
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16mm Feature Film Prints. Like every other obsolete media format, 16mm movies can be found in abundance on eBay. A recent search turned up 7,163 different films, many of them made during Howard Hughes' Hollywood heyday. *Johnny Guitar*, staring Joan Crawford, is a bargain at $29.95. *The Last Angry Man*, featuring Paul Muni is also reasonably priced: $89. There's even a nice selection of RKO titles, including *Adventures of a Rookie* (1943), and the classic *Of Human Bondage* (1934). Disney's *Cinderella* resides at the high end: $295.95. If you can't find *Ice Station Zebra*, eBay usually has the next best thing: a Technicolor print of *Avalanche*, a "game of survival at a luxury ski resort," starring—no joke—Rock Hudson.
Valero Doval for WIRED08Campbells-copyCROP
Howard Hughes had bad teeth. "Worst damn mouth I ever saw," said his personal physician, Dr. Wilbur Thain. "When they operated on his hip, the surgeons were afraid his teeth were so loose that one would fall into his lung and kill him!" That would explain the soft-serve diet he maintained during his final years. [Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup](http://www.amazon.com/Campbells-Chicken-Noodle-14-75-Ounce/dp/B005VBD46U) was one favorite.
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The other staple of Hughes's easy-to-eat diet? [Baskin-Robbins ice cream](https://www.baskinrobbins.com/content/baskinrobbins/en/products/icecream/flavors.html). After ordering 350 gallons of banana-nut ice cream from the Baskin-Robbins factory in Los Angeles, Hughes quickly switched his allegiance to chocolate-marshmallow. Don't make the same mistake. Order 350 gallons of both.
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Ball Vintage Collection Pint Jars. According to *Murder Incorporated Meets Vegas Inc.* (chapter 6, p. 79), "\[Hughes\] had become an emaciated physical wreck, who had taken to storing his expended urine in Mason jars he kept in a closet." Was this a manifestation of undiagnosed OCD or a hoarding issue regarding precious bodily fluids? Tread carefully. As the saying goes, if you do it, it's crazy. But if a rich guy does it, he's eccentric. A six pack is $20 on [Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/Ball-Heritage-Collection-Pint-Bands/dp/B00B80TJX0).
