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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Topic: Japanese-made 35mm Projectors
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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man
Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 01-26-2001 10:05 PM
It was in 1962, maybe 1963, when I visited some theaters in Yokosuka, Japan (while I was in the navy)The projectionists sure did things differently than we do. First thing I noticed was they had no splicers. They did all their splicers freehanded with a pair of scissors and a cotton swab. And their splices were perfect. This one lady projectionist showed me how to do it. She would hold the film up to the light, and make a perfect cut. Then she took the other end and made the cut for one perf overlap. Then, with her scissors, I heard two GROTZZE's (scraping of the emulsion with the scissor edge) and she would piece the ends together with her fingers. At that time, she would use a cotton swab with film cement, and a quick two wipes and a clamping of her fingers on the splice, it was done. It took her 15 seconds to make a splice, and another 15 seconds for it to set. A perfect one, at that! She was an old carbon-arc projectionist, her lamphouses looked like Peerless magnarcs, but it had the "ROYAL" trade name. The projectors looked like modified Super Simplexes, with the same trade name. Anyone know anything about these setups?
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John Pytlak
Film God
Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 01-27-2001 07:23 PM
AFAIK, until recently, platters were not very common in Japan. Large reel "towers" were the preferred mode of automation. I've seen a training video for Japanese projectionists, and they seem to emphasize professionalism and showmanship. One of the best movie presentations I've been to see was "Dances With Wolves" in 1991 at a very large Tokyo cinema just off the Ginza. Flawless 35mm print and presentation on a very large screen. The print was in English with Kanji subtitles along the side, and the printed English subtitles at the bottom of the frame for when the Lakota Indians spoke in their native tongue.Interestingly, most of the major releases in Japan are printed on Kodak film.  ------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion
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Michael Barry
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 584
From: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-28-2001 09:35 AM
The first projector I used theatrically was a portable 35MM Tokiwa. They had a 1000W incandescent bulb made by Ushio, and the spool arms were lengthened to take 6000 foot spools. They worked OK, but were a bit noisy and they started up too suddenly for my liking, sometimes breaking the leader on startup. The changeovers were done by extinguishing one bulb (and exciter) while striking the other. Not the most 'elegant' setup I've worked on, but I learned a lot! They (the venue itself) could show all ratios and had good quality lenses from Isco and Schneider. The quality of the image, while not the brightest, was often stunning.Now I really ought to go back and get photos for the picture warehouse. It might qualify as the world's smallest booth! It was literally in a bathroom and was converted from a toilet! You couldn't actually go inside - too small. Standing on a pedestal to (barely) gain access was about the limit. But that's not all! The 'rewind room' (separate, of course) was the inspiration for the 7 1/2 floor in 'Being John Malkovich'. If anyone has worked in a smaller booth, let me know!  This was back in 1992. I showed a lot of foreign classics there. My first screening ever was a double feature of Jean Cocteau's 'Orphee' and Ingmar Bergman's 'The Virgin Spring'. These 35s looked pretty good considering the vintage, especially the other Bergman stuff they had. Sven Nykvist's photography is peerless.
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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man
Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 01-28-2001 05:29 PM
Erkan: I'm sorry the usnrete7@aol.com email address failed. I had to put some strict email controls on that screen name since the SPAM and other stuff was overwhelming me. I'll edit it again to make sure you are on the acceptance list. As for now, there are three email addresses you can use: bullplop@aol.com paul_g_thompson@hotmail.com ret_nav_cpo@yahoo.com One of those should work. P.S. to the rest of the forum members, please feel free to use the above addresses if you desire to send me email. Thanks. Paul
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