When sold on eBay the blurb gave the following story:
This is a genuine strip of 35mm film from the Photodrama of
Creation, taken from one of the introductions, featuring Pastor Russell. There
are seven frames in this strip, although only six are shown. (The bottom frame
had the seller’s thumb in the way.) I have resisted the commercial temptation
to cut the film into smaller pieces to sell individually. That was the fate of
other Photodrama films of Russell that ended up on cards as souvenir bookmarks.
The provenance of the strip of film goes back well over 40 years,
when someone gave it to me. It had gone through various hands but came
originally from an elderly JW who was a projectionist at Princes Theatre,
Shaftsbury Avenue, London, when the Photodrama first came to Britain in 1914. I
traced this person and where he lived and after some correspondence travelled
to meet him. During his time as projectionist he was normally entombed in a
metal projection box because of fear of fire. Under carbon lighting of the day,
he would strip down somewhat, but still roasted.
When the showings ceased he somehow ‘inherited’ a two minute reel
of film which languished in his attic for decades. But he’d now taken to
cutting off little bits as souvenirs for friends. I was able to climb into his
attic and borrow what was left of the film. Although the sprocket holes were
considerably damaged in places, I got a colleague in a London laboratory to run
me off 35mm and 16mm prints for the minute or so that remained. The original
reel then went back to its owner, and I don’t know what happened to it. I used
the reprinted film in several projects, and if you obtain a DVD of the
Photodrama today, or just watch it online, my minute or so of reprinted film is
incorporated into that restoration.
So that is the story behind these few frames. Although most 35mm
film of the date was highly dangerous nitrate stock - leaving safer film for
the substandard gauges (17.5mm, 9.5mm, 16mm etc.) - the film of CTR was
actually produced on a safer version of stock. That is why it could be copied
safely and legally and it is why these few frames can now be offered on eBay.
It sold for 206 GBP in 2016.
Odd how one's recollection of events is clouded by time...
ReplyDeleteMy memory is that I prepared a public talk slide show of the history of the WT Society. It was notable because once I dropped the carousel holding the slides minutes before the first song... and the rather haphazard disjointed commentary that followed!
Anyway, while gathering material for the talk I was alerted to the existence of a gent at Newport, Isle of Wight (remember I was from nearby Portsmouth) who had footage from the Photodrama. He sent me a frame and I wrote you saying there was someone snipping up the Photodrama.
...over to you, as they say :-)
I think the attic I scrambled up into belonged to the Newport person's brother, who years before had been in Ealing where I had been, but before my time. I have a series of letters, actually published on this blog, from him. But yes, you may have alerted me initially, for which grateful thanks are due. The print went to America and the frame in this post went to France. On another blog we must share "disasters in public speaking" I have known. Preferably observed rather than initiated.
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