Category Archives: Cameragraph Projectors

3 Silent Spooky Apparitions this October

Phantom of the Opera PosterThree Itinerant Shows are planned for October at which I will hand-crank my 1909 Power’s Cameragraph Model 6 Moving Picture Machine, with other visual and musical delights provided by my colleagues. I hope to see you there. —Joe Rinaudo

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2016 at 7:30 PM
HANFORD FOX THEATRE
Hanford, California

The Phantom of the Opera

“The Phantom Of The Opera” will be screened at the historic Hanford Fox Theatre. Built in 1929, the Hanford Fox boasts a 12 rank Wurlitzer pipe organ to be played by Dean Mora. The film is the only 35mm print in existence that tells the complete story (as originally intended) by combining the 1929 release and the 16mm show at home versions (blown up to 35mm). It also now has all of the original color sequences restored as they were seen in 1925. Original narrative and spoken inter-titles (about 68) have been restored as well as the prologue titles that describe the beginnings of the Phantom and his connection to the Paris Opera House. Plus see the original Technicolor ending as well! Since this print is drawn from the original 1925 and the 1929 (sound speed) versions, hand cranking will allow you to see, for the first time, the film presented at the proper speeds. Gary Gibson will present a glass lantern slide show during all reel changes.

“The Phantom of the Opera”
Restoration Credits:
see below

Showtime:
Saturday, October 15, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

Location:
Hanford Fox Theatre
326 N. Irwin Street
Hanford, CA 93230
map

Ticket Information


FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016 at 8 PM
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016 at 2 PM8PM
Nethercutt Collection
Sylmar, California
Request Tickets
(Admission is free but you must order tickets in advance.)

Halloween Show

organ-pipes-with-ghost600x438The Nethercutt Collection will host another three silent film hand crank shows. Friday at 8:00 p.m. & Saturday at 2:00 & 8:00 p,m. The program will be the same for each show. Dean Mora will play the mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ which is the third largest in the world. Gary Gibson will provide original glass lantern slides during all reel changes. Tickets will be available on September 21 starting at 4:00 p.m. by calling in for up to 4 tickets per caller. Phone: (818) 364-6464. Please be persistent as the office only has 3 phone lines. How to Request Nethercutt Show Tickets

Musical narration and sound effects by Dean Mora at the Mighty Wurlitzer, the third largest theater organ in the world.

Gary Gibson will provide original glass lantern slides during all reel changes.

Your host is Kyle Irwin, curator, who will demonstrate the Nethercutt Collection’s automated musical instruments before the show and during intermission.

You may also tour the collection of over fifty classic cars which are on display in a museum setting that recreates the marble and mirrored showroom of an early automobile dealership.

Business or semi-formal attire is appropriate. Children must be 10 and older.

MORE INFORMATION:
Powers Cameragraph projector
Dean Mora, organist and swing band leader
Nethercutt Collection

Don’t forget to call for tickets Wednesday Sept. 21 at 4pm sharp—and enjoy the show!

Showtimes:
Friday, October 21, 2016 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Location:
Nethercutt Collection
15200 Bledsoe Street
Sylmar, CA 91342
map

Admission is free, but you must obtain tickets in advance.
How to Request Nethercutt Show Tickets


SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2016 at 7PM
Christ Lutheran Church
Burbank, California

The Phantom of the Opera & Habeas Corpus

Phantom of the Opera Posterhabeas corpus poster l&h

Original Posters from Universal and MGM

Famous Players Orchestra’s “Halloween Silent Film Spooktacular” is coming up. This will be a very special show you won’t want to miss.

The main feature on the program will be a one-of-a-kind restored version of the 1925 horror classic,“The Phantom of the Opera” starring the “man of a thousand faces,” Lon Chaney. This restored print of “Phantom” cannot be seen anywhere else, and is the only 35mm print in existence which tells the complete story as originally intended. All of the original color sequences have been restored as they were seen in 1925 under Joe Rinaudo’s direction and supervision. Original narrative and spoken inter-titles (about 68) have been restored by Chaz DeSimone, as well as the prologue titles that describe the beginnings of the Phantom and his connection to the Paris Opera House. Plus, see the original Technicolor ending as well! Since this print is drawn from the original 1925 and the 1929 (sound speed) versions, hand cranking will allow you to see, for the first time, the film presented at the proper speeds. “The Phantom of the Opera” will be presented with a live musical score accompanied by Scott Lasky on the pipe organ.

Also included on the program will be the 1928 two reel Laurel & Hardy comedy “Habeas Corpus.”  

Not a trick, just a very special treat:

Famous Players Orchestra will perform a live score for “Habeas Corpus.” This is the first time that the Famous Players Orchestra will play publicly for a film. Please attend and support this non profit organization. The Famous Players Orchestra’s mission is to preserve and perform authentic motion picture music as it was intended to be used with silent film presentations.

Both films will be shown in 35mm, projected by Joe Rinaudo on an original hand-cranked Power’s 1909 Cameragraph Model 6 Motion Picture Machine.

Glass lantern slides will be presented during reel changes by Mr. Shane Glander.

Your Master of Ceremonies will be Stan Taffel. Showtime is at 7pm and the doors open at 6:15pm. Admission is a suggested donation of $10.00. Tickets may be purchased at the door approximately one hour before showtime, or you may buy them in advance securely online here:

tix-fpo

 

“The Phantom of the Opera”
Restoration Credits:
see below

Showtime:
Saturday, October 29, 2016
Doors open at 6:15 p.m.
Show starts at 7:00 p.m.

Location: 
Christ Lutheran Church
2400 W. Burbank Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91506
(Southeast corner of Burbank Bl. & Buena Vista St.)

Admission is $10.00 (suggested donation)

Tickets will go on sale at the door approximately one hour before showtime.

MORE INFORMATION:
Famous Players Orchestra


RESTORATION CREDITS

“The Phantom of the Opera”

35mm source material:
Special thanks to
Mr. David Shepard
Blackhawk film library

16mm source material:
Mr. Stan Taffel

Script and cutting continuity:
Mr. George Wagner

Title re-creation, design and typography:
Mr. Chaz DeSimone
DesimoneDesign.com

Title & film digitizing & output to film:
Mr. Michael Brodersen
Mr. Rico Hernandez
Negative and print color timing:
Mr. Doug Ledin
Project manager:
Mr. Allan Tudzin
Fotokem Film & Video Services
Fotokem.com

Film and title restoration
produced and supervised by:
Mr. Joe Rinaudo
SilentCinemaSociety.org

“Habeas Corpus” film courtesy of the Blackhawk film library.


 

The End

Evening of Classic Silent Comedies
June 4, 2016

Our last show was a tremendous success. Read about it hereDon’t miss this one!

L&H scott show

FAMOUS PLAYERS ORCHESTRA
Presents an Evening of

Classic Comedies

Hand-Cranked Classic Silent Film Comedies
With Live Musical Accompaniment

Saturday, June 4, 2016
7:00 pm

DOWNLOAD PRINT-FRIENDLY FLYER

PROGRAM INCLUDESJune_04 film strip

LAUREL and HARDY
CHARLIE CHAPLIN
MACK SENNETT
CHARLEY CHASE
and Surprises!

Hand-cranked 35 millimeter film projected by Joe Rinaudo on an original Power’s 1909 Cameragraph Model 6 Motion Picture Machine.
Live musical accompaniment featuring Scott Lasky on piano.

Date:
Saturday, June 4, 2016
Doors open at 6:15 pm
Show starts at 7:00 pm

Location: 
Christ Lutheran Church
2400 W. Burbank Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91506
(Southeast corner of Burbank Bl. & Buena Vista St.)

Admission is $10.00 (suggested donation)

Tickets will go on sale at the door approximately one hour before showtime, or you may buy them in advance securely online here:button_buy_tickets1

This time we will be holding our event upstairs in the more spacious church auditorium. Show will run approx. 125 minutes inclusive of a short intermission. Concessions for sale.

Intermission--33--500x100

Famous Players Orchestra performs and records the original historic cinematic music used by movie theater orchestras during the silent film era.
All proceeds to benefit Famous Players Orchestra, a 501(c)3 non profit organization. Please visit our website at:

www.fporchestra.org.

Thank you for your support. Enjoy the show!

Original Power’s Cameragraph Catalog

This original Power’s Cameragraph catalog, published in 1916, is in the collection at the Hoboken Historical Museum.

According to the website’s “Scope and Content” description—as quoted:

“Power’s Cameragraph. Nicholas Power Company, 50 Gold Street, New York. Copyright 1916. Priced catalog of 35mm projectors and stereopticons [lantern slides] with tipped-in revised price list dated February 15, 1918. Booklet, 6-3/4″ x 8-3/4″ high, 52 pp, photo illustrated.”


Click to view full catalog.View the entire Power’s Cameragraph Catalog here.
Click on “MULTIMEDIA LINKS: CLICK HERE to view the PDF” and you’ll see the pages in high resolution. You can also order any page for reference or framing.


The Hoboken Historical Museum further explains:

“This copy belonged to Julius Durstewitz, Director of Hoboken Playgrounds (under the Parks department) for the City of Hoboken in this era. It was apparently used for the purchase of a “Cameragraph No. 6A, Complete Equipment” as shown and described on pages 10-11 where this outfit is marked with pencil (along with the 1918 revised price list is tipped-in.) The original equipment plus elements of its later modification are in the Museum collections as objects catalog 2005.078.1200.

“Apparently kept by Durstewitz with the set which included a lamp with an integral stereopticon (lantern slide projector) and the cameragraph, a 35mm film silent film projector. Stand and accessories are part of this portable outfit. It was used used for many years in Playground Department activities for children including, but not stated, at 109 Jefferson St. Probable date of purchase 1918 and end date probably in the late 1930s and certainly by the mid 1940s when Durstewitz retired.”


attachment pg 10 rotated revised price list Feb. 15 1918

Parts list with prices. View entire catalog here.
Click on “MULTIMEDIA LINKS: CLICK HERE to view the PDF” and you’ll see the pages in high resolution. You can also order any page for reference or framing.


My projector is the Power’s Cameragraph Model 6, produced in 1909, with the portable table as shown on Page 22 of the catalog. This was called a “breadboard” because the walnut slab of wood upon which the project and lamp housing are mounted resembles a kitchen cutting board.

This 1909 Power’s Model 6  was discovered in a chicken coup on a farm by the projectionist’s grandchildren, who told me it was used between 1909 and 1916 as an original itinerant projector. I fully restored the projector and updated it with a high-intensity halogen lamp. It is now reprising its original role as a “portable moving picture machine” which travels with me from venue to venue, entertaining audiences with hand-cranked silent cinema entertainment.

The End