8mm Forum: Another little known S-8 company from the past...

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Posted by James N. Savage 3 (Member # 83) on November 25, 2003, 04:56 PM:

Does anyone remember a super 8 film company in Connecticut U.S.A.? I think it was called "The Reel Image" (popular title [Smile]

). They sold Super 8 and 16mm movies. They were good people to deal with and very friendly on the telephone.

In particular, I remember they were selling the first episode of the "Lost In Space" T.V. series. I bought the animated "Fantastic Planet" feature and a couple of trailers and cartoons from them back in the late eighties. I remember the quality being pretty good, but not quite as good as the big companies like Universal 8.

Anyone else out there remember dealing with them or know what happened to thier stuff when they closed?

Posted by Jim Schrader (Member # 9) on November 25, 2003, 08:17 PM:

Hi I have won the lost in space film you mentioned on ebay I always wondered where/who distributed these would there be any markings anywhere on the film stating it is from this outfit?

Posted by D'Arcy More (Member # 50) on November 25, 2003, 08:58 PM:

I have a couple of old catalogs of The Reel Image in my files. I purchased my very first brand new feature from them which was One Body Too Many with Lugosi, Jack Haley and a very sexy Jean Parker. I paid $140 for it and that was a lot of cash for a high school lad with a paper route back in the mid 80's. The Reel Image has lots of great stuff including some old TV commercials in both 8 and 16. Their catalogs were very nostalgic and sometimes had fun activities/crafts on the back covers you could clip and make. One I recall was a film strip of Chaplin in various poses. You clipped out two six inch strips, taped them all together end to end to make a complete 12 inch circle. You then placed it on your turntable at 33 rpm and when you focused on one part with your eyes, Charlie was doing his famous walk ala animation. [Eek!]

Posted by Joe Caruso (Member # 11) on November 26, 2003, 11:46 AM:

I might be wrong, but wasn't the proprietor of REEL IMAGE, one Dominic Vercillo? - Or was that REEL-TO-REEL? - Shorty

Posted by David Park (Member # 123) on November 26, 2003, 12:01 PM:

In UK we have www.thereelimage.co.uk

Posted by James N. Savage 3 (Member # 83) on November 28, 2003, 04:49 PM:

No guys- this was a company in Connecticut, USA. I believe the company changed thier name to The Reel Image in the early eighties from Classic Image, or something like that. They had some of the same titles as Canturbery Films, but a lot of other stuff too. This company had no connection with The Reel Image magazine or The Reel Image website. I think they also released the classic Lenny Bruce animated short "Masked Man". Nick.

Posted by Chris Cottrill (Member # 47) on November 30, 2003, 07:34 AM:

Yes I believe they were called Classic Images at first. In the 80s they released a huge videotape catalogue under the name "Video Yesteryear". If you bought a Video Yesteryear VHS tape you would find a card inside to mail off for a free catalogue. On the card you could check if you wanted the VHS catalogue or the "Reel Image" 8 and 16mm film catalogue, so I guess they were still selling films in the mid 80s.

Chris

Posted by Robert M. Bratcher Jr. (Member # 127) on December 12, 2003, 06:19 PM:

The correct name for the company (which later became Video Yesteryear) is Reel Images. Thats what it says on the film boxes I have...

Posted by Brad Kimball (Member # 5) on December 13, 2003, 11:56 PM:

I got my copy of "Africa Screams" from Reel Images. The picture quality wasn't bad, but the sound is a tad muffled (as if someone turned the Treble way down). Overall its o.k...

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