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TODD-AO PEOPLE |
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 Brian O'Brien, Jr.
tracks American Optical Co's development of the Todd-AO process
By Thomas Hauerslev
Between 1953 and 1956,
Brian O'Brien, Jr.'s secretary made a scrapbook with newspaper and
trade magazine clips about the development of Todd-AO.
A green ring binder with 132 pages of clippings, adverts and stories
about one of the most significant films formats from the 20th century. It
has been one of my goals to make all this available on in70mm.com for many
years. Here it is as PDF files, and organized page by page in a very low-tech manner. |
 Walter
P. Siegmund, a small bio
I
was born in Bremen, Germany in 1925. We left for New York and arrived on
September 13, 1930 and left immediately for Rochester, New York. |
 Walter
Siegmund about Todd-AO
By Thomas Hauerslev
Todd-AO could be considered to
have begun with the fateful meeting in 1952 between Mike
Todd and Dr. O'Brien at the Rochester (NY)
airport, where I was the silent witness.
Who would have thought then that movies would again become so popular and
lucrative? Did Todd-AO make the difference? It would be nice to think so! |
 The
Ethel O’Brien Printer. Letters from Walt
By Walter P Siegmund
During our big move from Pomfret to Brooklyn many things were found
which were long hidden and forgotten, including more old Todd-AO files and
photos. You will may find the enclosed material of further interest in
connection with the printing of the Todd-AO “Process”. These are
descriptions and original calculations on various ideas about corrective
printing the release prints. |
 Working for Mike
Todd
By Glenda Jensen
Midori Tsuji was a fascinating and beautiful woman. She took care of
everything for Mike and, occasionally, for Elizabeth. I wanted to be
like her. |
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Mike Todd |
 Mike
Todd, Jr. Interview
By Roy Frumkes
“This Is Cinerama” opened to rave reviews.
All of Dad's ideas had worked - the name of the film was his, the roadshow concept was his. No one had believed his predictions about Cinerama; now everyone was listening. |
 My
father never really talked about the motion picture business
Cyrus Todd in
Conversation
I worked in the motion picture business for about four years in New York,
and then I moved back to Ireland became a chef. I did that for about twenty years. My legs have gotten old and I decided to find
something else. And a friend of a friend said I should get into the
appliance business – there was somebody looking for help, and instead of
standing behind a stove and cooking, now I stand in front of them and sell
them! |
 Oliver
Michael Todd in Conversation
My name is Oliver Michael Todd. I was born in New York where I lived the
first six years of my life. I went to University in the US and actually took
a little detour from University and went to Los Angeles before I became a
school teacher and over a series of years and different locations found
myself lucky enough to find a job in Copenhagen. |
 Letters
and Dust Devils
Susan Jane Todd in Conversation
My father had the difficult job of following in his father’s footsteps. I
think my father always wanted to be a philosopher: that was his Major in
college. He loved fine art – painting and sculpture. And good literature.
But he got stuck with "Scent of Mystery" this because his father died. They
were just about to work on a Todd-AO movie – "Don Quixote". He couldn’t do
it because he was in so much grief – so he made this project. |
 Garrett
Brown meets Walter Siegmund
By Garrett Brown
Dr. Siegmund was a tall, gray-bearded, Nordic-looking fellow
with a gentle professorial manner. He was completely
film-savvy, in fact had developed Todd-AO. |
 Historical
Wide Screen Gathering
By Thomas Hauerslev
Around the table
were key personnel from three major large format systems from
the history of movies; Cinerama, Todd-AO and IMAX. None of these
gentlemen had ever met before. |
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• Go to Working at
Todd-AO Sound Studios
• Go to Gallery:
Visit to
Todd-AO Studios |
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TODD-AO PEOPLE
REMEMBERED |
 Brian
O'Brien, Jr. Passed
Away
Brian O'Brien, Jr., 90, born March 13, 1923, passed away at Matulaitis
Rehabilitation and Skilled Care on September 11, 2013, after a period of
declining health. He was born in Pittsburgh, PA, the only child of Brian and
Ethel (Dickerman) O’Brien. Brian was predeceased by his beloved wife,
Kathryn "Towie" (Jensen) O’Brien. |
 Robert Hopkins, Inventor of Todd-AO Lens dies
By Sharon Dickman
Robert Hopkins died July 4, he was 94. His lens designs included the Todd-AO lens used to produce high definition, wide aspect-ratio films shot on large format film |
 Walter
Siegmund Remembered
By Thomas Hauerslev
It is with great sadness I must report the
passing of Walter Siegmund, one of the pioneers
and engineers of the Todd-AO process. Walt was
extremely kind and helpful, and always referred
the "days of Todd-AO" to be among the happiest
days of the working life. |
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• Go to
You are in the Show
with Todd-AO |
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TODD-AO PEOPLE |
• Go to
Todd-AO People |
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