Page 6 - RD_2023-12

The Lumiere Cinematographe --
when used with the different
attachments -- was a camera, a
printer and a projector. As a
camera it was limited to 50 ft. of
film as the exposed images were
“taken-up” in a small light-tight
magazine using a novel
“Jittering” take-up system that
could cope with 50 ft. rolls – just.

These moments of human achievement and the stories of the people who created them
excite my imagination and become the product of my pen and camera – as you may have
noticed. Now, as the Moments, Memories and Magic of 35mm Motion Pictures fades
into perhaps a forgotten history – and the new wonder of technology takes centre stage,
it is time to be reminded – briefly – of a few of those special achievements. To quote
Russell Miller in his delightful book “CLICK” – “Few inventions have enriched the
human experience more than photography.” I could not agree more – but I will leave
the saga of Mr George Eastman to part 2 (and possibly 3) and will start with the story
of Major Woodville Latham.

Major Woodville Latham had the honour of presenting – at a theatre in New York the
first public screening ever of a 35mm film – on a big screen – the date was May 1895 –
six months before the Lumiere’s had their first screening in Paris and two years after
Thomas Edison had released “his” 35mm Kinetoscope, but that was a single person
“peepshow” machine and not a projector. So, Major Latham got the Gong.

Latham’s first screenings using the
Pantoptikon were considered a
disaster with the dim flickering and
shaky pictures failing to impress the
audiences. Their second machine re-
named the Eidoloscope Projector
(shown above) incorporated several
improvements including Enoch
Rector’s top and bottom feed
sprockets with the “Latham Loops.”

Reference: 1947 edition of Motion
Picture Projection by James Cameron.
Cameron Publishing Company Florida
USA.
6 REEL DEALS December 2023