8mm Forum: Blackhawk films

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Posted by Michael Dixon (Member # 1836) on November 28, 2009, 08:56 AM:

Blackhawk was owned by a couple of fellows, Eastin and Phelan. They preserved/restored lots of old film titles and sold them in various film formats. When Betamax and VHS video tapes were introduced, Blackhawk began to offer a few of their titles on tape. Prices for the tapes were very high. Eastin and Phelan were no longer young and they sold Blackhawk about 30 years ago, as I recall. Sales of new films in 8mm/S8mm plummeted and Blackhawk soon disappeared- as least from my sight. Who now owns the Blackhawk library/name and are the full range of titles still available in any format?

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on November 28, 2009, 09:18 AM:

You'll be happy to know that Blackhawk titles are still quite prevelant out there4, especially on ebay, and at very affordable prices.

I have a few titles for sale if you'd like to shoot me an e-mail at ...

toac2001 at hotmail dot com

Posted by Michael Dixon (Member # 1836) on November 28, 2009, 09:25 AM:

I bought only one 8mm title in the last 25 years, but do have several titles in a mixture of 8 and Super 8, all silent, at least 200, perhaps as many as 400, purchased 30 or more years ago. Just recently got interested again.
As an oldtimer, my hearing is poor, my eyesight is still quite good, I sight-read very well. So silent films and loud projectors are not a problem!

Posted by Joe Caruso (Member # 11) on November 29, 2009, 10:49 AM:

Blackhawk closed shop in 1985 with their last supplement-catalog, which was entirely tape and some 16 orders - To this day, I beleive David Shepard still has the negs on 16mm Blackhawk, possibly some of the 8mm - Best to ask John Black - I've collected Blackhawk for many years (still do), and am learning new facts about the outfit to this day - Shorty

Posted by Brad Kimball (Member # 5) on November 29, 2009, 12:00 PM:

Who is John Black?

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on November 29, 2009, 01:50 PM:

Brad,

Forum member John Black is working on a book about Blackhawk Films. He's also the one responsible for the upcoming Film Collectors Convention (December 5th & 6th) in Wildwood, NJ.

Doug

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on November 29, 2009, 02:21 PM:

True:

Blackhawk films are probably easier to get now than ever. When I stopped buying commercial prints about 1980 (College Freshman: no time, no money) I had one Blackhawk title. Since I restarted in 2001: about 30.

Every so often I get it in my head to buy another Laurel & Hardy or Our Gang and basically as soon as I look on E-bay I find something I want, and most of the time in excellent shape too.

Posted by Tony Stucchio (Member # 519) on November 30, 2009, 08:00 PM:

We like to reminisce about the good ole days, but frankly back then I got maybe 4 or 5 films (usually shorts) a year -- now I may get 4 or 5 in a month! And at prices a fraction of what they were 30-40 years ago!

Posted by Michael De Angelis (Member # 91) on November 30, 2009, 09:12 PM:

After Blackhawk folded in 1985, it was then
operated by Republic Pictures around 1986-87.

I think around 1988 ( or afterwards ) David created
Film Preservation Associates featuring the Blackhawk collection.
As one who once worked for Blackhawk,
he then owned the library.

Shepard owns the Blackhawk negs, and
released 16mm shorts and limited features from
their extensive catalog.

Early on, both Super 8 and 16mm films were available.
Shepard released some well known standards and strived
to release others to Super 8 that either were either limited
or those that were never released in the past years.

Purchasing was the films were available through David and by approved
dealers. To my understanding eventually a lab
in New Jersey was employed to print the films.

I had heard but not sure that Playboy enterprises has some
partnership in Film Preservation Assoc.

David released some of the L&H 16mm shorts with restored
titles, and improved selections that were never available by Blackhawk.

A complete Pack Up Your Troubles was released with the edited scenes that
were not deemed appropriate for children.

After several years, the outfit stopped printing 16mm in Aug. '07.

I only wish that David would have released one early L&H silent short:
Why Girls Love Sailors.

I believe that David has worked on some great video releases of
silent and sound films. Slapstick, a compilation of comedy
shorts was one of his products.

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