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Copyright © 1800 - 2070. All rights reserved.

Visit biografmuseet.dk about Danish cinemas

 

Todd-AO Process Time Line

Read more at
in70mm.com
The 70mm Newsletter
Collected by: Thomas Hauerslev Date: 01.07.2008
Date Time Line

22.06.1907

Avrom Hirsch Goldbogen was born in Minneapolis. Later known as Michael Todd (height 173 cm).
 

08.10.1929

Michael Todd, Jr is born.
 

30.09.1952

"This is Cinerama" world premiere in New York.
 

15.10.1952

Michael Todd approaches Dr Brian O’Brien of The Institute of Optics of the University of Rochester, New York in a bar across Rochester airfield to discuss new process.

A letter from Brian O´Brien, dated April 20, 1953
 

Late 11.1952 or early 12.1952

Todd-AO photographic lens commissioned (late November 1952). 128’ = 22mm (The Bug-Eye lens). 64’ = 44mm, 48’ = 58mm and 37’ = 76mm)  decided later.
 

25.03.1953

Magna Theatre Corporation organized.
 

xx.05.1953

Construction of Todd-AO "Bug Eye" lens completed in only 6 months (It was 9 inch across front element).
 

15.06.1953

65mm test footage shot with vintage 23-year-old Paramount camera filmed by Michael Todd. Actress is Evelyn Keyes.
 

14.08.1953

The Regent Theatre in Buffalo (800 seats). First screening of prototype Todd-AO process.
 

August 1953 Todd-AO Corporation came into being  at Wilmington, Delaware, US.

 

 

September 1953

Magna Theatre Corporation places an order of 50 Todd-AO multi purpose projectors from Philips in Holland.
 

xx.01.1954

More Todd-AO process tests shown in Regent Theatre in Buffalo.
 

xx.06.1954

Todd-AO Corporation formed.
 

22.06.1954

First public Todd-AO process performance at MGM's stage 2 in Culver City (CA).
 

14.07.1954

Filming of "Oklahoma!" began with 2 Todd-AO cameras at MGM sound studios and at locations in Arizona.
 

03.08.1954

More test 65mm footage filmed by director Fred Zinnemann and filmed by Harry Stradling ACS. Scenes are a 2-horse carriage with two people filmed in California.
 

Fall 1954 First DP70 prototype. Three DP70 pre-production models delivered from Philips in Holland. May have been installed like this: 2 at American Optical Company in Southbridge and in Buffalo and one in MGM´s Stage 2 in Culver City. One machine also installed at Philips ELA Department in Holland.
 

15.10.1954

A Todd-AO demonstration with one DP70 concluded a long period of laborious research and experiments. This was the first presentation with the DP70.
 

06.12.1954

Filming of "Oklahoma!" ends. At that time 6 Todd-AO cameras were used.
 

xx.02.1955

"Oklahoma!" scheduled for a May opening.
 

23.04.1955

"Oklahoma!" scheduled for a July 17 opening.
 

10.10.1955

"Oklahoma!" invitation premiere in New York. Also October 11 & 12.
 

13.10.1955

"Oklahoma!" world premiere at the Rivoli Theatre in New York. Two shows a day.
 

15.10.1955

10 Todd-AO cameras available.
 

29.10.1955

"Oklahoma!" Hollywood premiere at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.
 

02.11.1955

It was announced that Michael Todd had sold his holdings in Magna Theatre Corporation Theatre Corporation.
 

17.10.1955

"Around the Wold in 80 Days" premiere at the Rivoli Theatre in New York

Brian O'Brien, Jr. tracks American Optical Co's development of the Todd-AO process
 

22.03.1958

Michael Todd is killed in a plane crash near Grants, New Mexico and laid to rest at Jewish Waldheim Cemetery, Chicago (Remains moved to Hollywood, CA during the 1990s).
 

26.03.1958

1957 OSCAR. Todd-AO Corporation and Westrex Corporation for developing a method of producing and exhibiting wide-film pictures, known as Todd-AO System (Scientific and technical awards. Class 1 awards).
 

xx.12.1958

20th Century Fox invests USD 600.000 in the Todd-AO company and the rights to produce three films in the Todd-AO process.
 

08.04.1963

Todd-AO Projector awarded an Oscar

AMPAS president Wendell Corey presents the 1962 OSCAR to Norelco president Fred Pfeiff.
 

Mid 1960s Todd-AO introduced its new compact Mitchell / Todd-AO 65mm Camera AP-65
 
10.08.1987
 
Todd-AO introduced its new CINESPACE 70 series of cameras at a special meeting of the American Society of Cinematographers on August 10, 1987.
 
01.07.1992 Brian O'Brien passed away
 
1994 Todd-AO  and Dan Leimeter hosts The 70mm Promotion Tour to Los Angeles 1 - 15 October

Go to gallery Visit to Todd-AO Studios, October 1994

Todd-AO Compact Distribution Print Tested
 
Late 1990s Dr. Richard Vetter and some other associates decided to give the large format image another chance to show its abilities. In the process changing the name from "Cinespace 70" to "ClearVision 2000".

Dr. Richard Vetter about ClearVision 2000 + US6242150 patent for 'ClearVision Panoramic 7OMM Film System'
 
1999 Marshall Naify died and Todd-AO camera department is sold and closed.

Dan Leimeter: Marshall was the head of the family that had owned controlling interest in Todd-AO since the 1950's, and when he passed away his family was eager to cash in their tremendous assets in the profitable company that was a leader in it's field. Liberty Media buys Todd-AO. Soon, the name was gone, the people were gone, and the facilities were gone.
 
05.05.2002 Michael Todd, Jr., passed away
 
2005 50th anniversary of the premiere of the Todd-AO process
 
04..07.2009 Robert E. Hopkins, passed away
 
26.06.2012 Walter Siegmund, passed away
 
11.09.2013 Brian O'Brien, passed away
 
   
   
More in 70mm reading:

Todd-AO

The Todd-AO Projector


 
 
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Updated 28-07-24