Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Research Project

This is topic Research Project in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Richard Greco (Member # 2032) on 03-17-2005, 01:22 AM:

I have a research project to do and one of the topics that I need to create a paragraph on is aobut the history of talking movies. What was the first film with sound?
Who starred in it?
How long?
Etc.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks ahead of time.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 03-17-2005, 02:07 AM:

That's easy Richard. It was a Charlie Chaplin film titled "City Lights". The big trivia question is what was the first film in color?

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 03-17-2005, 02:09 AM:

First color Film?
That's easy! It was Wizard of Oz, but remember only part of it was shot in color. Who can name the first film shot entirely in color?

BTW, who knows when Judy Garland turns 18? [sex]

Posted by Dan Lyons (Member # 1454) on 03-17-2005, 02:13 AM:

Hell no. "Wizard" was black and white, Ted Turner colored it in the 80's.

The first movie shot entirely in color was "Gone with the Wind".

What was the first film with stereo sound?

(btw Richard, it's going to be another 3 years before you can [Moon]

Judy Garland.)

Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 03-17-2005, 02:16 AM:

That would be 'The Jazz Singer' which, of course, was the first feature to use ATS (Analog Theatre Systems) with the revolutionary mechanical timecode system. [Smile]

What was the first film using the CinemaScope process?

Posted by Michael Wilkinson (Member # 2389) on 03-17-2005, 02:20 AM:

[stupid]

Cinemascope was first used on Fantasia, but it was actually called "FantaScope" you dumbass.

Here's another trivia question. What was the first film shot in dye transfer Technicolor?

Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 03-17-2005, 02:23 AM:

The first film done in 3 strip dye transfer Technicolor was How The West Was Won.

What was the first film shot in 3D?

Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 03-17-2005, 02:25 AM:

The firt 3D film was '2001: A Space Odyssey.'

What was the first 70mm film?

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 03-17-2005, 02:26 AM:

Oh please Dustin! Everybody knows that was Star Wars (now known as "Episode 4").

Let's try something harder, what was the first AutoScope film?

Posted by Rick Long Jr (Member # 541) on 03-17-2005, 02:29 AM:

That one is pretty hard, but a search of the archives quickly turned up the answer. It was Fritz the Cat! Here is the original newspaper ad to prove it.

What was the first Dolby Digital film?

Posted by Michael Wilkinson (Member # 2389) on 03-17-2005, 02:38 AM:

Little known fact... It was actually "E.T." The original Dolby Digital Track was two channels matrixed into four by the processor.

After a limited test run, Dolby took their digital system back to R&D for quite a few years more.

Does anyone know what the first actual six channel digital film was?

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 03-17-2005, 02:41 AM:

Of course that was Die Hard. The explosions made use of a descrete sub channel however many theatres had not yet installed subwoofers. Instead they dug out their old Sensuround speakers.

So what was the first IMAX feature?

Posted by Dan Lyons (Member # 1454) on 03-17-2005, 02:43 AM:

"Winged Migration".

I hate that film, I had to run it for 2 months.

Posted by William Hooper (Member # 71) on 03-17-2005, 02:43 AM:

Leo Enticknap is the historian with the PhD. I'm surprised we haven't heard from him.

Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 03-17-2005, 02:47 AM:

Danny, actually 'Winged Migration' was indeed the first IMAX film, but it was actually shot in 35mm... and blown up...WAY up.

The first film to be actually shot with IMAX cameras was of course 'The Robe'.

Who was the first company to make the film platter system?

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 03-17-2005, 02:48 AM:

(LOL) .. what was the first film in "SmelloVision"

"Nine Lives of Felix the Cat" was the BOMB!

(Look at all of those goobers at "Quarks" - LOL)

Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 03-17-2005, 02:50 AM:

The first platter was manufactured by the Brenkert company in 1937. The origional platter is still functioning in The Colusa theatre.

The platter was later ripped off by Kinoton.

Posted by Michael Wilkinson (Member # 2389) on 03-17-2005, 02:55 AM:

Yes Ian, that is correct.

It it still in use today! I have had to make some minor modifications including removing the fire lid from the decks since we stopped running nitrate in the mid 1980's.

Anyone knew when the first perforated screens were used?

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 03-17-2005, 02:58 AM:

Smell-o-Vision? I'm surprised no one else got that one by now. I would make a joke about how it was that movie with Carrot Top, but seriously it was Attack of the Killer Tomatoes. Pretty awesome stuff involving REAL tomatoes! [thumbsup]

Mike, the first perforated screens were installed in 1983 by THX for Return of the Jedi.

Speaking of THX, anyone remember what the first THX-approved sound processor was?

Posted by Dan Lyons (Member # 1454) on 03-17-2005, 03:02 AM:

Eprad had the first approved processor for THX, the STARSCOPE! In fact they used the same lettering on their logo as Star Wars, remember? [Wink]

Anyone know when the change from carbons to xenon occured? Who made the first xenon system?

Posted by Michael Wilkinson (Member # 2389) on 03-17-2005, 03:09 AM:

Actually, once again, it was Brenkert! The only trick was that you had to use a hand crank to generate the initial charge to ignite the bulb. [Eek!]

The auto-ignitor cane along in the 60's with Phillips AAII lamphouse.

Who here remembers the first Dolby Stereo analog print?

Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 03-17-2005, 03:25 AM:

Ben Hur, but the Dolby stereo analog optical sound system was actually invented by Jack Cashin at Ultra Stereo and ripped off by Ray Dolby. [Eek!]

That thief doesn't deserve a freakin dime!

What was the first film to run at 24 frames per second?

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 03-17-2005, 03:26 AM:

24FPS? That was "The Great Train Robbery"!

What was the first projector to win the academy award?

Posted by Michael Wilkinson (Member # 2389) on 03-17-2005, 03:27 AM:

Again, the Brenkert! The model was the BX-69. I have one sitting in the Colusa booth, but it hasn't been ran in years because we lost the crank. [Frown]

But do you know what the first 70mm projector was?

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 03-17-2005, 03:31 AM:

That would have been the Super Simplex. After all, thats what made it so super!

Posted by Michael Wilkinson (Member # 2389) on 03-17-2005, 03:35 AM:

Whatever you twit! It was the Brenkert BX-70. One of these days I'll post pics of my Brenkert collection! Now raise your hand if you own one of the original dts-ld systems. I do! [thumbsup]

Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 03-17-2005, 03:41 AM:

Yes, my booth still has the first DTS-LD system used for Jurassic Park but used the 12-inch LD ROM system instead of the current CD ROM that they use now. The only problem was that you had to flip the disc to side two in the middle of the film. The trick was to get it flipped before the buffer ran out.

Harder question for Greco: what was the first porn movie?

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 03-17-2005, 03:47 AM:

I don't remember the title of the movie, but it starred Marilyn Monroe and was directed by our very own Phil Hill when he was in his 30s. [thumbsup]

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 03-17-2005, 05:57 AM:

yea..it was called "Martha's Pink Palace!" .... shot in absolute Grandeur 70. [Big Grin]

-Monte

Posted by Allison Parsons (Member # 2728) on 03-17-2005, 10:06 AM:

Trivia question: What was the first movie to show the line:

"Characters, events, and situations depicted in thie film fiction. Similarity to actual persons, situations, or events is purely coincidental...etc etc."

at the ending credits???

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 03-17-2005, 10:22 AM:

Brad not only was it the first porn film but Phil invented Smell O Vision for it
and also the first Imax film was the directors cut of Deep Throat

Posted by Floyd Justin Newton (Member # 1316) on 03-17-2005, 10:46 AM:

Gordy--

... and DEEPER THROAT, and SORE THROAT.

Posted by Mitchell Dvoskin (Member # 751) on 03-17-2005, 10:51 AM:

What was the first film with sound?

Serious answer, it would have to be some Edison short. Edison was quoted in the late 1890's as having invested resources in motion pictures only so that people could see the people recorded on his phonographs. He produced prototypes of his peep show kintoscopes with sync'd cylinder phonographs, but at the same time projected movies were taking hold, and sound amplification sufficient for theatre use did not exist, delaying the sound for 30 years.

You may want to contact the Edision National Historic Park in West Orange NJ. It is run by the National Park Service, and comprises most of his original labratories. The tour is real interesting if you are ever in NJ.

/Mitchell

Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 03-17-2005, 12:42 PM:

Gord, I thought the first real porn IMAX film was CLIMAX. Amazing POV shots...

All of the answers on this thread are serious Mitchell. Just what are you insinuating? Yes, I was at the Film-Tech Drink last night, but what does that have to do with the cost of 13.6mm carbons in China?

Posted by Pravin Ratnam (Member # 1417) on 03-17-2005, 02:26 PM:

Greco would love these.
[Wink]

1)First mainstream theatrical movie with sex scenes(simulated)
a) American
b) rest of the world

2)First mainstream theatrical movie with nudity (sexual, not he schindlers list type)
a) American
b) rest of the world

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 03-17-2005, 10:53 PM:

quote: Gordon McLeod
...but Phil invented Smell O Vision...

Having researched this and built several prototype systems for a product that ultimately would not really work, I can honestly say I stink big-time!

Machines? Machines? We don't need no stinking machines!

I think one of the 1st stinking ideas for film theatres was invented by a "nosey" Swiss "smell-expert" in the 1950's and called it "Scentavision" or some such thing. Smell-O-Vision was invented by Mike Todd Jr...son of Mr. Todd-AO. It failed too although I seem to remember he made a demo movie before he died in a plane crash.

The big problem with those systems is that the smell would reach the front and back of the theatre at different times, thus out-of-sync with the screen action. We solved that by having a stinking distribution system and/or individual stinking machines.

However the MAIN problem is no matter how many CFM the hurricane air changer would turnover between shows, the theatre still smelled like a 2-week-old, rose-scented, beer-and-fried-egg fart for the next show. YUK!

I think the coolest and most practical implementation was "Odorama"...the Scratch-and-Sniff cards. In the Waters' film "Polyester" for example, a number would be flashed on the screen during the film when one was to scratch and sniff ... ummmmm, their card for the appropriate scent. (Sounds like this should be moved to the "What do your hands smell like?" thread...) [Wink]

Posted by Richard Greco (Member # 2032) on 03-18-2005, 01:41 PM:

quote:
(btw Richard, it's going to be another 3 years before you can [Moon] Judy Garland.)

Huh? Judy Garland is dead....Right? I must be missing something

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 03-18-2005, 01:55 PM:

ROTFLMAO ... funnier than a skunk eating shit.

Posted by Per Hauberg (Member # 529) on 03-18-2005, 04:53 PM:

quote:
Machines? We don't need no stinking machines!

And when Mr Hill presented his SMellORama, combined with back projection, someone for obvious reasons invented the non-perforated screen. -Who ?

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 03-18-2005, 07:35 PM:

quote:
Monte L. Fullmer: ROTFLMAO ... funnier than a skunk eating shit.

No sir, there's NOTHING funnier than a SMOKIN' MONKEY!

What movie was this cell taken from?

Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 03-18-2005, 08:44 PM:

Cell? Cell?! Cell?!? Randy, I am soooo disappointed... [Big Grin]

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 03-18-2005, 11:13 PM:

Oops! Sorry.

Cel

I spelled it wrong. I dont' know what came over me.

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 03-18-2005, 11:16 PM:

So Randy, do you like mount them on a plaque and sell them on eBay?

Us non-animator film people call it a "frame". [Razz]

OBTW: Was the film called: "Spanking the Monkey While Smoking"?