8mm Forum: When did you start collecting films ?

This is topic When did you start collecting films ? in forum General Yak at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on December 13, 2016, 09:43 AM:

This has probably been asked before but when did you start
film collecting ?

I started around 1965 / 1966.
I funded this expensive hobby from the earnings of my three
newspaper delivery rounds. Happy days indeed. [Smile]

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on December 13, 2016, 11:28 AM:

Originally, 1989, (officially, though i had a few of my fathers ole film lying about) ...

Left it in the early 90's for laserdisc, (don't laugh folks, it still hurts ... my stupidity)

.... then came back in 2002, and have kept with it and will continue to until I'm dead! [Smile]

Posted by Chip Gelmini (Member # 44) on December 13, 2016, 11:37 AM:

1963 First toy projector after showing more interest in the movie projector than the home movies of us kids growing up.

1968 First real Bell and Howel 8mm projector

1971 First real Bell and Howell dual 8 projector

1977 first super 8 sound projector

1980 first Elmo super 8 sound projector st1200 d

1981 first super 8 feature Grease / Marketing Films

1999 first elmo st 1200 hd

2000 First super 8 cinemascope feature Superman a JEF films "answer" print

2014 First Elmo gs 1200

any questions? lol

:-)

Posted by Evan Samaras (Member # 5070) on December 13, 2016, 12:05 PM:

While I have been involved in film photography for some time, I only found my way into cinematic projection in 2015, if only I knew earlier, I could have been even more broke!

Posted by Joseph Randall (Member # 4906) on December 13, 2016, 12:10 PM:

1974

Posted by Joe Caruso (Member # 11) on December 13, 2016, 01:28 PM:

1962, this also coincided with my Aurora days and golden age DC/Marvel comics, it really evolved from those halycon days in Long Branch NJ - Shorty

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on December 13, 2016, 01:57 PM:

1979, when I was 17 years old, but I developed a hankering for it at least 10 years earlier.

I remember the wire racks in the department stores with the Castle prints and I was fascinated by the idea.

-the problem was my family was strictly prints 'n slides and I couldn't interest 'em in converting!

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on December 13, 2016, 02:43 PM:

Osi ... Don't beat yourself up over Laserdiscs.
I still watch the bloomin things. [Wink]

Chip ... Thanks for your potted projector history. [Wink]

Evan ... Yes you will be heading for bankruptcy if you go on. [Wink]

Joseph ... I was 20 years old in 1974. [Wink]

Joe ... I too collected Aurora Kits and DC / Marvel comics. [Wink]

Steve ... In 1979 I was married with a child to support so not
too much spare cash for films. I miss those wire racks with Castle / Walton / Columbia 200 footers in them. [Wink]

Posted by Joe Vannicola (Member # 4156) on December 13, 2016, 10:33 PM:

I started in 1967 when I got a super 8 projector for Christmas. Then in 1977, I bought a 16mm Bell & Howell 285 projector at a sidewalk sale(I'll tell you the entire story soem other time.) for $5.00. The projector worked perfectly and I still have it to this day. It was shortly after that I sold my super 8 projector and films.

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on December 14, 2016, 02:03 AM:

Mid 1970s [Cool]

Posted by Robert Tucker (Member # 386) on December 14, 2016, 02:32 AM:

Joe,

Progression is key in this hobby. I have had a similar journey like yourself. Started of in Super 8, moved to 16mm. And then moved into 35mm I suppose at the right time. When top draw movies where easy to find along with the price.

I always thought that Super 8 was limited on titles you could find along with the quality. Being a semi professional kids toy format. Compared to 16mm or 35mm big boys formats.

Posted by Douglas Warren (Member # 1047) on December 14, 2016, 02:52 AM:

My first era of collecting began (briefly) at age 16 in 1978. I purchased a Bell & Howell Lumina Dual 8 projector, along with two Universal 8 (Castle) Films: Frankenstein and House of Frankenstein. Typical teenager, I sold the projector the following year and donated my small batch of films to the local library. My first serious collecting period began in 1986 with the purchase of my first sound projector ( Eumig Mark S-712). I collected heavily until 1990 but stopped with my first marriage. Sold (regrettably) my entire film collection in 1995 and only returned to the hobby in earnest two years ago. Now many films later (including 8 / Super-8 / 16 mm) I believe I'm here to stay this time around in this wonderful hobby.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on December 14, 2016, 03:24 AM:

I too, hold progression as "The Key" to my remaining longstanding interest in this hobby.

Casdon Std8 Silent, Cinerex 707 Dual Guage Silent 400ft capacity, Agfa Sonnector LS, Several Eumig mono S8 projectors, Plenty of ST 1200's, 1x Eumig S938, 2x Bauer T610, 2x Beaulieu 708 el CD's.

Now that really is progress!

While I agree, many titles are absent from the Super 8mm back catalogue of feature film releases, some are almost unique to the gauge in the present day condition you can still find them in,and from the source material they were struck from.

Plenty to go at and not one non pornographic commercially run print...in theory at least, and still plenty to go at!

Still a preferred gauge to collect in, for many film buffs.

Super 8mm & HD digital projection for everything else.

A winning practical combination I find, for all home cinema entertainment requirements and purposes.

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on December 14, 2016, 03:44 AM:

1970 first toy projector and Chaplin short and basic camera. As it scratched prints soon replaced it with a Eumig Mk 501 bought 200ft sound print of a cartoon to show silent as only 50p more. 1973 fully into sound (Eumig Mk 701D).

Posted by Ken Finch (Member # 2768) on December 14, 2016, 08:52 AM:

First film "Jog along joyride" 60ft 9.5mm extract from "Mickeys Taxicab" in 1947 with newly purchased Pathescope ACE projector. Been collecting on 9.5mm ever since, but now include other gauges and formats to varying degrees. Mainly old films on DVD recently!! Ken Finch [Smile]

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on December 14, 2016, 10:07 AM:

1952 Bing hand cranked 35mm projector for small reels of film

1954 Pathescope ACE 9,5mm projector. First film was 60ft Northwest Justice

1956 Eumig P8

1958 Eumig Phonomat attachment for tape sync

1973 Eumig S802 First sound film was the Little Rascals Hook and Ladder

1991 Eumig S926 GL STEREO

2002 Elmo GS1200 version 1

2003 Elmo GS1200 version 2

2005 Panasonic PT AE700 Digital projector

2008 Eumig 938 Stereo

2012 Panasonic PT-AE4000 Digital projector

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on December 14, 2016, 10:10 AM:

The best of both worlds once again Paul! [Wink]

Posted by Bryan Chernick (Member # 1998) on December 14, 2016, 11:33 AM:

March, 2010 and I hold this forum 100% responsible for any films that I have collected. I first shot Regular 8mm film in the 1970's but didn't stick with it very long. I got back into shooting 8mm film in 2010 at which time I joined this forum for help with projector questions. That's when I started buying a few films. I don't have a very big collection of commercial prints, but I do have a lot of home movies. I started buying film reels at estate sales and such to put my own films on them. Some of them had other peoples home movies and I just didn't have the heart to trash the film. I started watching them and got interested. I collect home movies with subject matter that interests me. My largest collection is home movies of the 1962 Seattle Worlds Fair. I live near Seattle and have spent much of my life going to the old fair grounds which are still used for various events and attractions.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on December 14, 2016, 11:39 AM:

Hey, but David, I sold my whole collection off in the early 90's to move into laserdisc! Now? They just gather dust while my films get lots of play!

... and there are some super 8 features that I had back then, that I have not, to this day, been able to relocate in my collection since i have been back into it.

[Frown]

Posted by William Olson (Member # 2083) on December 14, 2016, 01:37 PM:

Started in 1970 thanks to Blackhawk Films.

Posted by Jim Schrader (Member # 9) on December 14, 2016, 02:42 PM:

I started my hobby in films when I was young around 13 yrs old I was looking through a Johnson smith catalog (which sells gag gifts, and still sells today, though the films are long gone) and saw 8mm movies offered not knowing which was which (super 8, regular 8) I ordered up Frankenstein in super 8 silent, then ordered up a small plastic hand crank 8mm projector the projector came with 2 small 25' movies which I still have today, the projector is long gone and only handled 50' films "The Little Rascals" in "Wind Storm" and Popeye in "Skeleton Schooner" they are pretty ragged with allot of splices as I experimented with different methods of splicing using super glue it really works well, then for my 14th birthday my dad got me an Argus Dual 8 model 849 it showed both formats 8mm and super 8, and finally was able to watch my Frankenstein film.

Posted by Terry Sills (Member # 3309) on December 14, 2016, 03:24 PM:

First interest in early 50's when as a child I found a Pathe 200 B in the attic together with some 9.5 silent film which I played over and over. Also I remember a service called Mobile Movies from Northamptonshire that gave film shows at the local village hall.It was 16mm sound film and I was absolutely fascinated by the experience and I caught the bug from there.In my teens I bought a Danson 540 16mm sound projector (an awful British made machine) and hired films from a Department store in Northampton (a half hour bus journey from my village) to put on shows for the family at Christmas. Wonderful times. Work, marriage and family took priority for many years after that but I later started collecting film and equipment in the 80's to present day.The fascination remains.

Posted by Clinton Hunt (Member # 2072) on December 14, 2016, 04:28 PM:

2010 for me with a Eumig P8 I got given for Christmas.As you know it is a Standard 8mm projector.
A mate gave it to me because I had a Planet Of The Apes Super 8mm film for years that I'd never seen.
Yes you guessed it - Super won't play on Standard which I didn't know being a newbie.
So that's where it started,bought Standard 8mm films for the Eumig and a Super 8mm film projector for the Apes film .... and the rest is history!

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on December 15, 2016, 05:56 AM:

Some great replies here guys ... keep 'em coming. [Smile]

Posted by David Guest (Member # 2791) on December 15, 2016, 06:05 AM:

I got my first projector in 1968 and I still have it a danson 540 mint cond 12 months later a bell and howell 601 which I also still have in mint cond .I also have my dads first projector black debrie which is in stunning cond bought new by my father .my first feature I bought was £18.00 called timberland terror .I also have that as well .my father had been collecting films and projectors from 1940s right up to 2009 until he passed away

Posted by Allan Broadfield (Member # 2298) on December 16, 2016, 05:26 AM:

About 1949.
My uncle presented me with a large biscuit tin containing a small hand turned 35mm projector, and several small rolls of film. The smell was fantastic (decomposition!) and I was immediately hooked on film.
I also enjoyed watching the odd frame or two flaring up in the fire.
Nitrate, of course!
Happy innocent days....

[ December 17, 2016, 03:30 AM: Message edited by: Allan Broadfield ]

Posted by Melvin England (Member # 5270) on December 18, 2016, 11:21 AM:

I have always has a fascination with the moving picture. I don't know where I get it from, as my parents where never interested in the mechanics of moving picture,but just enjoyed good film.

During the summer of 1972 I passed the city center shop window of Boots the Pharmacy and there... what did I see? A projector! I wanted one of those! Not bothered it was silent! It just showed moving pictures! I told mum I wanted it but was told it's too expensive and you'll get bored! (as if). (at this point, I knew there were two types of 8mm - standard 8 and super 8,but had not yet then become significant to me.)

Pretty much at the same time, a friend of mine purchased a standard 8 silent projector and had a 1x 200' black and white silent film for it.....a Collectors Club version of The Vagabond starring Charlie Chaplin (a film I have only just recently tracked down as a 400' with musical soundtrack). The thrill of seeing Charlie moving around on that white living room door was beyond compare. My friend needed more films.
We popped on the bus into the city centre and to several camera shops that also stocked movie films. Alas, they were all in super 8 so we were unsuccessful that day.It did teach me a lesson,though.Super 8 was the way forward.
Back to that days newspaper and....Hey!... adverts for movies for sale.... by post!... super 8 and STANDARD 8 !!!! From that day, the film collection grew a little.... still on school boy pocket money! Still I kept nattering my parents for a projector. Nope.
Friend phoned one day...."I've got another film........ in colour!!!" This was another milestone. I had never seen an 8mm colour film.Straight over to his house to take up my position in front of the famous living room door..... and there it was! "The Mouse Comes To Dinner" starring Tom and Jerry..... in glorious colour! (another film I have only recently purchased...with sound...and in colour,of course). For this 10 year old, the 8mm juices were working overtime! More pleads to my parents...more deaf ears!

Then....

A Saturday morning a week or so before Christmas lying in bed still feeling drowsy, my father pops his head around the door and says "Are you getting up?" "Why?" "Thought we would go into town and get this projector you are after."
Let me tell you....my personal best time between lying in bed and being dressed still stands today!

We didn't go to Boots.Many months later,when I knew more about projectors, I saw it there again and was relieved I didn't get that one.... was a glorified toy! The shop we went to was Dixons...UK members will remember the shop well. A super 8 "Prinz Magnon LV" was what was purchased.... a 6volt 50 watt bulb,I believe, and variable speed control. (still available on Ebay).
That week was agonising..... simply could NOT wait for Christmas Day for my film projecting to begin.

However,it did.

As has happend with various members on this forum, the first films were 50' black and white. The very first two that,trust me, got projected probably 20 times each that Christmas Day were "Fowled Up Falcon" starring Woody Woodpecker (Once again only recently tracked down as a 200' colour sound.... and a second black and white copy on 16mm) and a Disney one called "Bear Trouble." ( I have yet to track this one down as a 200' colour sound but am on the lookout).
From then on, as soon as the pocket money allowed, another 50' black and white silent film was added to the collection.Then came my birthday..... and birthday money! Remembering the thrill of "The Mouse Came to Dinner" I was determined to "go colour." Trotting off to the camera shop again, I forked out a massive £7.50 for a brand new copy of "Cruise Cat" with Tom & Jerry again... 200'this time.... and in COLOUR! Heaven!

Christmas's and birthdays came and went and so up went my collection of silent films.

Then came 1980.

I had been holding down a part time job at a local grocery store for two years whilst still at school. Thursday and Friday evenings and all day Saturday,earning the grand total of 98p an hour! Tax free!
A choice...... vastly expand my film collection.... I could now afford a 200' per week..... or..... do.... I .... move...... into......sound?

Sound..... let's go for it.....

So, in the spring of that year I became the proud owner of a make of projector I still swear by,although I now do own several other makes, a Sankyo Sound 700. So, it was another pleasant trip to the camera shop to choose my first sound film...... a 200' black and white Laurel and Hardy "At The Front" which I think is an excerpt from "Pack Up Your Troubles."
Just like the first time Chaplin walked across that door, just like the first time I saw that colour film, just like that Saturday morning before Christmas, I was in seventh heaven! Not only do they move.... I can HEAR them as well.... and it even sounds like them too!

The rest,they say, is history. I got a full time job elsewhere, discovered the delights of the Blackpool Film Convention soon after, and my collection of 400' digests shot up. "Close Encounters" being the very first. Then came the 4x 400' versions and,of late, the full features and cinemascope. That,of course, with the addition of several extra projectors after discovering the delights of ebay, to take me into the future as, not being mechanically minded, when a projector breaks down, I swap to the next one unless I find a decent Mr.Fixer. And,yes, I am also the proud owner of a GS1200 as of autumn 2015.

That is my story.Other bigger and better movie formats may come and go, but when you have this hobby running through your veins,nothing will stop you getting the screen out and cranking up the good ole projector and watching our heroes move across the screen the way they were meant to..... on celluloid !

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on December 18, 2016, 01:02 PM:

A wonderful story Melvin! And one, which most of us I am sure, can relate to. I remember being blown away when I saw my first black and white film on a just purchased Eumig S802 back in 1973. I was soon purchasing the Fox and MGM musical color digests, and they were all ground breaking products at the time.
As you say, once you have film in your blood it's there for good, no matter how good newer technologies get.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on December 18, 2016, 01:27 PM:

Great great story Melvin, thanks!

Posted by Melvin England (Member # 5270) on December 18, 2016, 01:56 PM:

Thank you, Paul and Andrew, for your comments.

My interest in 8mm extended to film making also, and this may surprise you,Paul, but on one of my trips to the States many years ago,I do believe that our paths crossed. PM me if you are curious to know further.

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on December 18, 2016, 02:48 PM:

These replies make wonderful reading.
Thanks again to all.

Melvin your exposition of how you started collecting makes
great reading as do the others who have taken time to reply to my
question.
[Smile]

Posted by Melvin England (Member # 5270) on December 18, 2016, 05:47 PM:

David - It has been a wonderful life's journey which is not yet over, and has been enriched more recently with the discovery of the availability of films to purchase on Ebay (which wasn't really available for a period after the popularity of 8mm collecting faded thanks to video)and also the discovery of this wonderful forum to chat to the world film fraternity.Both events have been a welcome tonic to help re-ignite the passion!

Posted by Joe Taffis (Member # 4) on December 18, 2016, 07:02 PM:

1964, maybe earlier. ''Twas a longtime ago" [Eek!]

[ December 18, 2016, 08:53 PM: Message edited by: Joe Taffis ]

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on December 20, 2016, 01:28 PM:

Keep the film collecting flag flying then Melvin.
[Smile]

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