Category Archives: history

a weighty solution

Posted on February 26, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. This advertisement in the May 1933 issue of American Cinematographer touted an amazing sound system by DeVry – less than 150 pounds of camera, film, and sound equipment! All available just five years after the ‘talkies’ burst on the … Continue reading →

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wow – home colour movies c 1936

Posted on February 25, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. A June 1936 ad in the American Cinematographer encouraged all amateur movie makers to buy the then revolutionary 8mm Kodachrome. For the wary, Kodak assured them no filters or special cameras or projectors were necessary – Just your regular … Continue reading →

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a name that pre-dates photography

Posted on February 24, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Voigtlander was an optical house in Vienna before the invention of any photographic process. While in Vienna, the Voigtlander firm manufactured the famous Petzval portrait lens designed c1840. Nearly a century later, this June, 1933 advertisement appeared in the … Continue reading →

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dance with me, Henry

Posted on February 22, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. By 1940, newspapers and newshounds alike were busy trying to find new cheery ideas as WW2 rumbled on with its sorrowful gloom and destruction. Electronic flash suggested not only enough light for the slow film media of the day, … Continue reading →

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eye of the beholder

Posted on February 21, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. In the May, 1936 issue of American Cinematographer, the Home Camera Co. in NYC advertised the Foth Flex TLR camera. To the innocent eye, the camera seems to be made by the “Home Camera Co.” Since you could buy … Continue reading →

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fade to black

Posted on February 20, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Professional movies shot on 35mm film or larger used a variety of techniques to switch the film – and audience – from one scene to the next. In one method, the scene ending was slowly faded out while the … Continue reading →

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and you thought your camera was big!

Posted on February 19, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. We often seem to be fond of making comparisons. In 1935, Technicolor offered a way to make colour films in Hollywood. The process was downright expensive so only some films – scenes – were in ‘full colour’.   This … Continue reading →

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a penny for your thoughts …

Posted on February 18, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. We have all tossed a quarter into those  clever ‘slot’ machines in arcades or other amusement areas to see a series of stills. In this article from the April 1941 issue of Popular Mechanics is a suggestion to use … Continue reading →

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carousel anyone?

Posted on February 17, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. For many years the Kodak Carousel series of slide projectors with round horizontal trays were the top of the line in North America. One series was sold for home use and a second series as industrial machines. This short … Continue reading →

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no tanks

Posted on February 16, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Popular Mechanics often ran short ‘filler’ articles which were interesting and seemed to be practical to the frugal but of  little value. Typical is this darkroom article from the April, 1941 issue on a way to increase productivity when … Continue reading →

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