The small rural town of Tintinara has revived a long tradition of film bringing the community together as locals attended the first movie night at their 1950s-era cinema in a decade.

A 1950s extension of the Tintinara War Memorial Hall established a stage, permanent seating, and a small projection room to show movies.

In 1958, the construction of the hall extension featured the film projection room on the second level. ( Supplied: Tintinara Historical Society )

Simon Brock, a Tintinara local who became familiar with ascending the ladder to handle the projectors, was one of a few who taught themselves to manage the 1960s-era projection equipment when the tradition had a major revival in the late 1990s.

He said the light needed to project the movie the 100 feet to the screen was produced through a carbon arc projector.

"Just like an arc welder," he said.

"Positive and negative rods were struck together and through electricity produced a light."

Two carbon arc rods glow red hot as they cool down in one of the old projectors. ( ABC South East SA: Isadora Bogle )

Mr Brock said it was a two person job, switching between two projectors on average of six times per movie.

The film reels on the vintage kit ran out of tape after about 20 minutes.

"It was all about timing and monitoring the machines, which was good fun," he said.

Tintinara local Simon Brock stands on the ladder leading to the projection room. ( ABC South East SA: Isadora Bogle )

Locals say Tintinara was the last place in South Australia to regularly show movies on carbon arc projectors before the venue ceased showing them in 2010.

"These units pretty much became obsolete over a couple of years when it all went digital," Mr Brock said.

Tinty at the movies

Now, a new digital projector and surround sound system makes things much easier for operators.

The new surround sound system impressed movie-goers. ( ABC South East SA: Isadora Bogle )

Organisers of Tinty's big movie premiere on Friday night had to deal with a thunderstorm wrecking havoc on the roads and killing the hall's air conditioning after an above-40 degree day.

Tintinara War Memorial Hall committee member Jonathan Pietzsch said there was concern the event would have to be cancelled.

Jonathan Pietzsch led efforts to fundraise and then install the technology. ( ABC South East SA: Isadora Bogle )

"It was fantastic to see the rain locally, up to a few inches," he said.

"[But] having the air conditioners go out just before the first movie was not the best thing. It did get very hot and sweaty in here."

A bit of wild weather though was not going to stop the hundreds of people who went to Tintinara's first movie night in more than a decade.

Mr Pietzsch said the goal of the project was to make the hall as good as going to an actual cinema.

"A few of the kids who have been here when we've been doing trial runs [have said] this is like going to the real movies," he said.

"Some might say it was a little loud, but no one could say they didn't hear it."

Tintinara locals were excited to see and hear the new technology in action. ( ABC South East SA: Isadora Bogle )

Doug Twelftree, who was born in Tintinara, said the organisers had upgraded everything "and it is absolutely beautiful".

"[I] can't believe it, can't believe Tintinara's got a sound system like this," he said.

He remembered coming to the pictures at the hall as a child.

"It was absolutely awesome, I can remember it just so well. Now these kids have got a chance to have the same memories when they get older. That's going to be wonderful," Mr Twelftree said.

Tintinara local Simon Brock used to operate the old projector. ( ABC South East SA: Isadora Bogle )

Mr Brock said it was not just for the kids.

"Most of the community [won't] have to go to Adelaide every time we want to see a movie," he said.

"We can watch it in our own backyard, which is always nice."

More than movies

The Coorong District Council contributed $15,000 after the Tintinara community spent months fundraising $20,000 for the project.

And on opening night, Tintinara's thoughts turned to another small rural community with all the proceeds from food, drink, and a raffle going to the Kangaroo Island Mayoral Relief and Recovery Bushfire Fund.

Tintinara locals raised funds for bushfire recovery efforts at Kangaroo Island ( ABC South East SA: Isadora Bogle )

Tintinara Hall Committee member Wendy Lawless said Tintinara had a connection to Kangaroo Island.

"There are a few families that have relatives over there, and there are ex-Tintinara people there," she said.

Ms Lawless said neighbouring communities of Keith, Coonalpyn, and Meningie had also been very generous in donating to the raffle.

It is hoped the new hall fit-out will boost other local fundraising efforts, with monthly movie nights having been booked out by community groups for the next six months.

Tintinara History Society member Jacki Cunningham said how the project came together is "classic Tinty".

"Everybody gets together, everyone helps out. You can ask anybody," she said.

"Everyone just pitches in and it happens. It's always been like that."