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Remembering his experiences at school practice, as it is elusive to either isolate or
Davidson told us how his fascination with account for. When asked why he collects films
celluloid was intractable and obsessive: I forget he is adamant that emphasis should he placed
how it came about but I acquired almost six on his love of film, and not a frenzied effort to
inches of an old silent film. I was in third grade at amass reels of celluloid:
the time. The teacher said, "Come on Davidson, I just like film. I regard it as a sort of living history
what've you got there?" I said, "Nothing". She - you can see people who are long gone re-living
said, "Bring it out". I said, "No!" "Bring it out!" again. It's something that no other medium can
"No!" She finally came down and grabbed both do.
my hands and said, 'Give it to me!' But I still Collecting films can also be described as a rather
wouldn't part with it. Every now and again I used unique hobby.
to hold it up against the window. I could see It's individual. Not many people do it, not many
figures, some bloke in an Arab's outfit with a girl people can do it because there's such a limited
under his arm. Well she said, 'Give it to me!' and supply around. Everything that everyone else
hit me round the legs. I must have copped a goes for I'm just not interested in. I've been
dozen clouts and I still didn't part with it. described as eccentric, but I don't think I am.
His determination to keep films went unthwarted. Anyway, how do you know'?
In the late 1930s and early 1940s Myers and Tim The nature of the film collector's Modus
the Toyman sold films for 2/6 to be used on toy Operandi lends an insight into the contrasting
projectors. By saving his money and buying a personalities who jealously pursue the hobby.
reel at a time Davidson finally collected his first Before the introduction of television there were at
film, Gestapo Victim. "It was nothing to do with the most a dozen such people scattered round
the Gestapo at all", he eventually discovered, "it the suburbs of Melbourne forming a type of
was just a bloke and a bird having a row and he unofficial club. Every Sunday night they would
clobbered her one". meet together and show their films - many of the
While still at school he bought his first projector Efftee productions, cartoons, and newsreels.
for ten shillings from a fellow student. The films These nights were invaluable to these collectors,
he had collected were shown at home, at special both for their entertainment value as well as
screenings attended by friends and anyone else providing an opportunity to widen their
who was interested. knowledge of possible future sources.
Despite his father's objections, Davidson was The film collector goes about his task like a
detective. Using an old mid-1940s copy of a Film
Weekly yearbook listing cinemas and names of
the exhibitors, which he always carries in his car,
Davidson turns to the name of the town and the
exhibitor's name. Usually the exhibitor lived in
the town and is still living there in retirement. He
looks him up to the telephone book, calls round
to his house and introduces himself. Some are
willing to hand over the films in their possession.
Others, as Davidson says, "give the old spiel"
and begin bargaining. Either way a lot of
Davidson's collection has been accumulated in
this manner. He also follows up rumors of old
cans in dilapidated garages, and bargains with
hitherto unknown film collectors further a field. It
took eleven years of bargaining with the former
determined to enter the film industry and director of the U.F.A. film library in South
eventually found employment as an assistant Australia before Davidson was able to buy
projectionist. Davidson made many friends within original prints of the German silent classics Fritz
the industry, including Price Wall. Wall had an Lang's Metropolis (1926) and Fredrich Wilhelm
old Pathé silent projector in good running order Murnau's Faust (1920). These, along with a film
and some old silent films. Davidson bought the of Frank Thring Snr's speech at the opening
lot for twenty-five pounds. It was his first fully night of Efftee Films in 1930 are among his most
commercial projector. He could now show 35 treasured possessions.
mm feature films at home.
The philosophy, and indeed the psychology, of The individualist spirit which is a recurrent trait
the collector is as fascinating to observe in amongst film collectors in Australia indicates a
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