Jeffery Lynn Price

1960 - 2021

Jeffery "Jeff " Lynn Price

Jeff Price was born on July 22, 1960, in Denton, Texas to Elmer Don Price Jr. and Peggie Joe Fox. He graduated from Denton High School in 1978. Jeff died unexpectedly on Feb. 17, 2021, which was too soon for all of us.

Jeff loved movies and movie theaters and began working in them when he was a teenager. In fact, that was how he remembered things. Jeff was one of the few people to have worked at all the theaters in town: the Plitt when it had just one screen, the Fine Arts on the Square, the Campus Theatre, and the United Artist theater which was located outside the Golden Triangle Mall, as well one of the drive-ins. He was trained when theaters were still old-time two-reel theater projection systems powered by a carbon arc and experienced their transition to the three-platter system, powered by xenon bulbs. When the Exorcist showed at the Campus, Jeff remembered that the theater had to staff a nurse in case people passed out or became ill.

Jeff had a long career with the UA from being an assistant manager at UA Golden Triangle to working in top high-grossing theater complexes in Dallas at UA MacArthur Irving then UA Galaxy 9 Garland, which was known as Texas' largest screens with 70 mm projection and six certified THX houses. He was a master projectionist and could cut, splice, and build/break down a 35 mm, 6-reel print, in probably 20-30 minutes flat. He was quick but confident and precise; and could drop in or remove a movie trailer without having to unspool the entire feature or print from the platter. Jeff instinctively knew the moment when the sound mix was either off or a movie was out of frame or too dark. He was definitely seasoned. When movies broke and screen went dark, he was one of the few projectionists after correcting the problem, that could restart the movie EXACTLY where it broke. Today things are all digital, and it is extremely rare for moviegoers to understand the art of operating a projector.

As a natural talent, who never boasted about his skills, Jeff was also well-known and respected by managers in the Denton and DFW area. He gave his heart and soul to the film industry. He loved everything about movie theaters: the projectors, the whole projection booth, movie posters, movie buttons, popcorn, and his wardrobe consisted mostly of movie t-shirts.

Jeff made many friends along the way that became his movie family, one that's forever tied by popcorn, film and treasured memories. He was a kind, loving, generous and giving man. And if you were Jeff's friend, he would do anything for you because his friends were his everything. He always said, "My friends are my family."

Services are pending. See People's Funeral Home in Denton, Texas.