The Film Preservation of THE RINK

Glad to have you back. I do consider you the authority on prints.

Now I know what I'm looking for. Sadly, I have never seen a Kodascope print

The first 8mm CC film I bought from Blackhawk was in 1962 of THE PAWN SHOP. It was a *terrible* print

Semurph asked:

The truth, my good friend is that these prints are not necessarily from pristine sources. I have scores of them from several sources and they tend to look like what Atlas Films looked like; cheap bathtub dupes. Remember that among the first home movies released were in 28mm and these prints did not look very good at all. I've seen Shoulder Arms in 28mm and it is definitely a dupe print. The artwork on the film boxes are more desirable than the films themselves.

Next time you are in LA, call me and we'll have a screening. My entire collection is here AT LAST!!!

Stan16mm ( who missed you too Sean)

Dr. Posner posed this to me:

First off, Hi Phil. It's been too long. O.K., enough of the sentimental stuff.

You may indeed be correct about the time difference in which you and Jim purchased prints from Blackhawk. During the changeover, there were different negatives available and there could very well have been a span where they were alternating negatives used for printing. The Chaplin films, according to the late Beverly Pettrolucci of Blackhawk films, were among the most popular titles offered by them. All to often, we film buyers had to hear the dreaded word, 'backordered', because the film negative was being repaired or remade. If you were to screen two different prints from the same negative and had them years apart from their printing, you would see the negative wear differences.

Film collectors will recall that Blackhawk titles and intertitles changed over the years; Some of the early films don't have the Blackhawk name on the first title, some are from The Eastin/Phaelan Corporation, some from Lee Enterprises, some start with the indian head logo and say A Blackhawk Films release.

I have two different versions of the Blackhawk edition of THE FLOORWALKER; both are similar but they have different intertitles and open with different Blackhawk titles. It's all a matter of which negative they from.

A silent print of a Blackhawk Mutual is different than a sound print of one.

Also, as a matter of interest, Blackhawk often sold used and returned prints to customers. I received an old ONE A.M from them and had purchased it as new. I know this because I bought it well into the Lee Enterprises era and it was an old 2 200ft reels version spliced together. I was happy because the older printing was a higher in quality version than the later printing.

No matter which silent version you guys have, the Van Beurans don't have the ending of The Rink that the Kodascopes have. BTW, I have several Kodascopes of the Mutuals ( not all twelve, sad to say) and not all of them have added footage, although they do have the ORIGINAL intertitles.

At least Blackhawk tried to upgrade their film preprints and give collectors the best that they could do, which was often very good indeed.

Just for the record, Blackhawk did not have Kodascopes for all the Chaplin Mutuals.....or Essanays or Keystones. I apologise if that was the impression I left you all with.

I will tell you though that The Pawnshop exists in Kodascope form as I have one in my archive.

Stan16mm

***Some sad news to report: My Amber print of THE FIRE MAN has been destroyed by VINEGAR SYNDROME. I suppose if it were a Van Beuran print, it would have heard Leo White yelling, 'FIRE, HELP!'

...

I adore _The Pawnshop_

<snip>

Yo, Stan!

You ever thought of transferring these Kodascope prints to VHS so you could share the wealth with those denizens of a.m.c. who are tired of the Madacy prints?

Jon Mirsalis could provide a score. You could have a nice little cottage industry here.

I'm sure the Chaplin Chicks would be *very* grateful. Not to mention those who *used* to have Super 8 prints of Chaplin Mutuals but who don't have them any more (sigh) ...

Tom Moran
http://members.aol.com/Feuillade/TomMoran.index.html

My 100 Best Films List: http://members.aol.com/Feuillade/TomMoran21.index.html

NEW! Modern Library 100 Best Novels List:

A pity. I was thinking of buying a few. They are cheap enough.

Remember that I'll be sure to look you up. I do plan to be in LA within the next year. And be sure to look me up if you end up on tour somewhere in the Mid-Atlantic states.

Sean http://member.aol.com/SeMurph/index.html

'I & I, in creation where one's nature neither honors nor forgives. I & I, one said to the other, no man sees my face and lives.' B.Dylan

Stan sadly related:

This is something the Will Rogers Institute should look into curing.

Sean http://member.aol.com/SeMurph/index.html

'I & I, in creation where one's nature neither honors nor forgives. I & I, one said to the other, no man sees my face and lives.' B.Dylan

I think I got my print around the same time, though it wasn't my first CC film. When I think back on it, most of my purchases of the time were decided by what Blackhawk was offering at half-price in the catalog. I think it was the case with The Pawnshop. (I wish I had the sense to collect in 16mm back then. I would have had all the films I had in 16mm!)

Sean http://member.aol.com/SeMurph/index.html

'I & I, in creation where one's nature neither honors nor forgives. I & I, one said to the other, no man sees my face and lives.' B.Dylan

I've got a better idea. How about Stan goes to a film lab and gets them printed-up on 16mm for everyone that wants them.

That would also make him true to his AOL screenname <g>

Of course- I'd have to apply for a major loan to pay for them..