Category Archives: history

tish tash

Posted on March 5, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. An article in the International Photographer for December, 1935 sure brought back memories. The article was called, “Shooting the Quints”. Both Roy Tash and the Quints were famous, especially here in Canada. Roy was an expert in cinematography, while … Continue reading →

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a wily marketing plan

Posted on March 2, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. The challenge facing Leitz NY was how to swing the photography fraternity from the bulky cameras of the day to their particular variety of 35mm minicam camera. The boys in NY came up with the idea of touting the … Continue reading →

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hurry up and slow down

Posted on March 1, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Most of you know how slow motion video/movie works, but for the few who do not, the idea is simple. Movies are shown at 24 frames per second, up from the slower frame rate for older films. Video uess … Continue reading →

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what ever happened to Pellex Film?

Posted on February 28, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. An advertisement in the October, 1933 issue of American Cinematographer by the Pellex  Film Company extolled the virtues of its 16mm fine grain and economy films for “all 16mm cameras”.  The films were B&W orthochromatic media in the days … Continue reading →

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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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