4-track Magnetic stereo at The American Cinematheque, Hollywood

Projectionist Paul Rayton giving the audience an intro to the CinemaScope demo film.

This untitled presentation was screened at 2.55:1 in 4-track mag stereo, which was a rare treat. It was introduced by Paul Rayton, of the American Cinematheque, who explained that it was the only surviving print. He said that it was cut from various pieces of film and that the sound track had then been recorded on the film. Therefore, there is no negative. It is marked Print #10 and so he assumed that there had been at least 9 other prints. The first 12 minutes of the presentation was a Technicolor IB print re-cut from "The Miracle of Stereophonic Sound in Association with CinemaScope" (see below). This featured the use of "CinemaScope Stereo" in scenes of a train travelling across the screen, jets flying from left to right and a band marching down Colorado Boulevard during the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, partially in front of the Academy Theater, which was then showing a CinemaScope feature on their marquee.

The balance of the presentation appeared to be made up from various Eastman prints and was quite faded. It appeared to have been designed to be run after an in-person introduction to the theater owners who were the intended audience.

The DP70s of the Egyptian Theatre

For those of us who also stayed for the screening of "Pepe", we were treated to a showing of "The Miracle of Stereophonic Sound in Association with CinemaScope." Rick Mitchell, noted film historian, was kind enough to provide the following information about this short:

This short, hosted by Mr. Sanders, had actually been released before the CinemaScope Demo film (above), about April, 1954 after Fox lost its lawsuit against New York's Walter Reade Theater chain over channeling the stereo sound through one speaker. At that time they announced they were going to release their films in 4 track magnetic stereo, one track magnetic mono, and mono optical. This short was obviously made to convince audiences to get their local exhibitors to install full stereo. The print was made by Technicolor, but on color positive stock since Technicolor could not make 4 track magnetic IB prints at that time; among other reasons they did not have a pin belt for the CS perfs until the fall of 1954. The earlier film, which was an IB print, was made after that.