8mm Forum: Free films .. remember them?

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Topic: Free films .. remember them?

Osi Osgood
Film God

Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005

posted May 02, 2008 11:05 PM

Back when we would buy our brand new projectors, they would sometimes come with a free film ... remember them.

Okay, the one most of us remember is the Sears projector, (and probably others) that came with the 200ft Star Wars Super 8 sound release.

But there were others. I remember, in particular a 50ft Disney release Super 8mm of Peter Pan, which just consisted of the short segment when they take off with Peter Pan to the tune of "You Can Fly".

There was also at least one 50ft release of a Tom and Jerry cartoon, but I honestly can't remember which title it was.

How about some others friends?

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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "

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David Kilderry
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 963
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Registered: Feb 2006

posted May 03, 2008 04:14 AM

Osi,

Department stores here did the same thing. With every Titan or Magnon projector offered by Waltons stores they could be had in a package with a camera, screen and Popeye cartoon. The cheap Titan Trimatic packages got a 50ft silent, the better Magnon and Titon Sound projector packages came with a Chinon sound camera and a 200ft colour sound Popeye.

I am not sure why it was only Popeye cartoons, as this department store sold I E International and Columbia's full line.

David

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Osi Osgood
Film God

Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005

posted May 03, 2008 10:07 AM

David,

If they were the 1960's el-cheapo Popeye's, it's probably because they wouldn't sell. I hated those 60's Popeye's! What a tragedy!

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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "

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Douglas Meltzer
Moderator

Posts: 4554
From: New York, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted May 03, 2008 10:23 AM

According to Scott MacGillivray's excellent Castle Films guide, Sears, Roebuck & Co. had a promotion that gave away the 50' "Have Badge, Will Chase" with every purchase of a complete Bell & Howell home movie kit (camera & projector).

Doug

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I think there's room for just one more film.....

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Osi Osgood
Film God

Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005

posted May 04, 2008 07:43 PM

Thank you Carter, for the title to that Toim and Jerry 50ft special edition.

It was "Cruise Cat", and I think I actually remember having it at one time.

Also folks, remember how those little 200 ft silent cartoon reels had some pretty good ads to them?

For instance, I remember that some of the Ken film cartoons had a somewhat lengthy (about a minute or more) from a little rascals film, with Alfalfa and Spanky putting Buckwheat in a washing machine, and Buckwheat having a high ole time as the machine is turned on! Fun fun fun!

As a child, to me, it seemed like another extra short feature!

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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "

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