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Author
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Topic: Glory of the Silents
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Gerard S. Cohen
Jedi Master Film Handler
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Posts: 975
From: Forest Hills, NY, USA
Registered: Sep 2001
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posted 08-04-2002 11:01 PM
I attended a screening of Sergie Eisenstein's Potemkin, with only a single live pianist for sound. Although I had seen the film several times and used it in my teaching, during this showing my eyes flooded my face with tears.Once I projected a John Barrymore film at the Carnegie Hall Cinema from a silent 16mm print on a Hortson projector. A famous organist supplied the sound. At the end, I shone a pink spotlight on him as he took his bows to a thunderous, standing ovation. Yes, nothing compares, for emotional evocativeness, to a classic silent film with expert live music.
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Bernard Tonks
Jedi Master Film Handler
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Posts: 619
From: Cranleigh, Surrey, England
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 08-05-2002 04:58 AM
The 1925 version of BEN HUR had several showings at the London Palladium just a few years ago. I have no idea who did the musical accompaniment. There must have been a terrific atmosphere in this very old famous theatre. I seem to remember reading that the Palladium Theatre did also show a few films in its early days.The chief projectionist, Joe Quick, who I worked under at the Regal (ABC), Kingston-upon-Thames, previously was the chief operator (as they were called in those days) at the Regal, Marble Arch, did the first London premiere run of BEN HUR. The Regal, Marble Arch, later renamed Odeon, during the 1950s was equipped with four BTH projectors for 3D. Later demolished for a new build Odeon with a D-150 screen. Now converted into a multi 5 screen I have actually shown one silent 35mm film, which was for the BFI at Cinema City, Chalk Farm, a temporary cinema & exhibition at the Roundhouse Theatre. I think the film title was NURSE CAVELL, anyway it was about Florence Nightingale. Projected at 18 fps on Kalee 20 projectors, with live piano accompaniment. Gerard, The Projected Picture Trust have just installed a 16mm Hortson projector, replacing a Philips in the projection box of the Enigma Cinema, Bletchley Park.
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Bernard Tonks
Jedi Master Film Handler
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Posts: 619
From: Cranleigh, Surrey, England
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 08-05-2002 07:58 AM
Thank you Leo, for your most interesting and informative post (as always). I knew I would have a problem with the correct title.I have in fact shown another ‘silent’ but it did have a soundtrack. Pasted from 12.23.2001. quote: A nice surprise for me some 30 years ago was when I was helping out the British Film Institute at the converted Roundhouse Theatre Chalk Farm, London (formally a steam engine train depot with turntable), for the BFI Cinema City Exhibition. One night I showed Harold Lloyd’s film “Safety Last “ plus a couple of shorts, the prints were Mr Lloyd’s personal ones, they were also struck special with academy ratio within 1.85:1 wide frame, the mono soundtrack was magnetic in place of the optical track although still coated 4 track but with standard perforations and not foxhole, most unusual. After the screening Harold Lloyd visited the projection box and thanked me for the presentation. The equipment at the Roundhouse, Kalee 20 projectors, Kalee xenons, Kalee Duosonic sound with 4 track magnetic penthouses to mono only.
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