Day of the Theatersmiths: a 2011 May Day special

On this, the first day of May 2011, the SEA Movie Theater Project shines the spotlight not on the glorious stand-alone cinema halls of Southeast Asia, but on the workers who make them run. If not for these silent toilers, whose time and effort is dedicated to the leisure of others, life would be sorely lacking. Here are some of the theatersmiths I ran into during my travels over the past year.

The ticket taker at the Nakorn Non Rama, in Nonthaburi, Thailand. He's been there for over 20 years.

The projectionist at the Win Cinema, Toungoo, Myanmar.

The assistant manager at Mandalay's Myoma Cinema.

Ticket sellers at the Cherry Lwin Cinema, Pwin Oo Lwin, Myanmar.

Ticket seller at the Grand Cinema, Meiktila, Myanmar.

The staff of the Nay Pyi Daw Cinema in Mandalay, at rest in the lobby while the film was showing.

The ticket seller at Bago's Shwe Hintha Cinema stamps the date of tickets before showtime.

The two night projectionists at the Myathuka Cinema in Taunggyi, Shan State, Myanmar.

This young lady works the door for balcony seating at the Waziya Cinema in Yangon.

Ticket seller at the Waziya.

The rough and tumble security guards at Yangon's Shwe Man Cinema.

The Shwe Man Cinema's lovely day time door girl.

This woman has been taking tickets at the Mingala Thiri Cinema for a long, long time.

Not exactly theatersmiths, but laborers no less. These gentlemen work in the out-of-commission Gon Cinema loading and unloading non-perishables.

Happy International Labor Day, everybody.