|
|
This topic comprises 5 pages: 1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Author
|
Topic: What theaters could project horiz. VistaVision?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert Throop
Master Film Handler
Posts: 412
From: Vernon, NY USA
Registered: Jun 99
|
posted 11-20-2000 09:00 AM
On the wall in front of my computer, I have a framed copy of an ad for the Peerless HyCandescent, "selected by Paramount for horizontal V-V". The films listed are "Strategic Air Command" and "the Far Horizons".
Theatres: Chicago-State Lake, NYC-Paramount,NYC-Criterion, Philadelphia- Stanley, Pittsburgh-Penn, New Orleans-Saengers, Hollywood-Paramount, Beverly Hills-Warners, Toronto-Imperial, London-Plaza, Paris-Paramount.------------------
Bob Throop
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leo Enticknap
Film God
Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000
|
posted 12-04-2000 06:39 PM
Further to an earlier post, I'm surprised that there aren't more working Vistavision instllations in the UK, given that it was the only country outside the US which made VV projectors.Gaumont-Kalee, which had its factory in Leeds, Yorkshire (which was also a temporary home to the film pionner L.A. Le Prince) was among the world's largest projector manufacturers until its takeover by the Rank Organisation in the mid-50s. They made the decision to concentrate heavily on VV following a deal between Rank and Paramount which was struck in (if memory serves me correctly) 1956. This had both a positive and a negative outcome - the positive one was that quite a few British films were shot in Vistavision, and even today look amazing when printed onto normal 35mm, but the down side was that the eventual failure of VV finished Gaumont-Kalee. The last conventional 35mm projector they made, the GK-37, is still in service in quite a few (mainly independent) cinemas, which speaks volumes for the design and build quality of these mechs, given that there is hardly any service infrastructure left for them. Eventually Rank cut their losses, closed G-K down and started importing Cinemeccanica projectors from Italy, which remain the standard issue in Odeon cinemas to this day. History aside, I'm still surprised that very few of the G-K VV machines seem to have survived (I've never heard of a complete working model). I can only presume that the initial production run was very small. L
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
Dick Vaughan
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1032
From: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Jul 2000
|
posted 12-05-2000 02:34 AM
Leo As I said in my earlier post Kalee only produced 4 Vistavision projectors. All 4 were as far as I know installed in London's West End. After the removal of the projectors from the cinemas 2 were sent to Pinewood Studios and 2 went to a local technical college. At some point someone in France bought two of them and stored them with Cinemateriel in Paris. At that time some of the parts went on to Switzerland and we collected the remaining bits from paris in 1992 while seeking out parts for our Cinerama installation. As far as I heard the demise of Kalee as a manufacturer was due more to the attempt to build a 70mm projector which never went into production. I am sure Jim Schulz can clear this up.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All times are Central (GMT -6:00)
|
This topic comprises 5 pages: 1 2 3 4 5
|
Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classicTM
6.3.1.2
The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion
and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.
|
Home
Printer-friendly view of this topic