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Topic: Willoughby Peerless
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Michael De Angelis
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1261
From: USA
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted November 02, 2005 10:26 PM
Doug,
Could you please forward a copy to me also?
I hit all three Willoughby's locations. The one on 47th, the one on 32nd, and the one down by Chambers St.
Chambers was down by the financial district, it was the smallest of the locations.
The 47th St. Store had the upstairs dedicated area. All of the bins of Std 8mm and Super 8mm silent films were chocked full of prints from Blackhawk, and the Select Film Library. 200' and 400' boxes.
Select Films was the name of the group that was housed inside of Willoughby's They also had their own negs on titles. It was common to see cutdowns of Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy films there.
All of the packaged stuff from Ken, and Castle, were either up on a peg board style wall with wire racks. The sound stuff was always behind a glass case with a lock and key. Many of the larger cases were illuminated with flourescent lamps within the case. And if that did not make it all seem special, how about those 16mm reels of film that were chained together as they hung in the open, wrapped in brown paper. As if it were Prociutto Ham, hanging up in an Italian Deli - specialty store.
Yes, this why we would drool upon entering. Ohhh, and don't forget when they had a special discount during Columbus Day Holiday ( October ) and Washington and Lincoln's Birthday Bash Week in February.
When the 47th St. store closed, the 32nd St. location held out longer by a few years.
Glass tumbler cocktail glasses with silkscreened Laurel and Hardy scenes from your favorite films. The Castle Horror Sound Complete Digests in a separate case. Disney, Chaplain RBC features and shorts, Universal, Columbia digests galore. What a magnificent sight.
I recall asking the clerk ' what's happened to all of the Standard 8 titles? His reply: Standard 8 is DEAD! Super 8 is the future!
But some of those clerks were a little nasty when you asked a question.
I was told by a friend, that his Dad became enraged by the clerks nastiness, that he punched his nose, for treating his son so poorly.
When I walk down 32nd, I always think back to the joy that the store brought me. Later on, it was a time to become independent, take the subway or train into the City, and enjoy shopping for a film.
Michael
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Isn't it great that we can all communicate about this great
hobby that we love!
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Philippe Cuypers
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 214
From: 7318 Carnival Lane New Port Richey florida 34653
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted November 03, 2005 07:18 AM
well I couldnt say it better! Its nice that theirs a lot of people who remember the good times! Yes doug and me from previous post whe remember the good old days at willougby peerless!! I work for select film (guy with charlie) and others, I dont remember It seems so long ago but seems like yesterday!! Also down stairs a great salesman name bill tylor? I ask what happen to him, but whe will never know I guess, I was edditing the rental 16mm features etc, and put sticker on the super 8 silent and regular , and sound , a part time summer job, but than came the video , and it all change. I remember they had a mew machine non stop they use to show star wars for 10minutes , a crowd came next to the counter , and everybody was clue to the image of star wars. yes it was great, I have still a lot of castle films sound horror, universal 8 horror all in boxes, but know eveybody gatt spoil with the dvd video, back than you use to wait that released a 10minutes of short castle films of the wolfman, if you didnt had the money you coould get it for $5.00 silent, and if you had the money you could get it in sound !! yes great time, you will never see that anymore, only in our film s memmories, I am glad of this post! great film memmories. theirs nothing like film though!! just to put the film in our projectors, and see everybody gatter and enjoy the show.
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Philippe Cuypers
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Philippe Cuypers
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 214
From: 7318 Carnival Lane New Port Richey florida 34653
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted November 04, 2005 08:30 PM
wow!! wow!! when I read your post , I think that It could be bill tylor the salesam because He was middle age a little bolt but still hair and skinny, But so nice as a salesman, you couldnt have better, every saturday morning he use to tell me the latest released. or even keep some , so when I save my money I could buy them, I only bought the silent regular 8mm at that time , so you know I am going way back!! But you know I enjoy these email at this great forum!! , I have to give a lot of credit on this forum, because whe have a lot of great film collector and archive people., who realy enjoy film and love film, like me thats my life! I hope theirs more notes, keep on coming! its great to be part of this wonderful film forum !!!!!!!, go film. go film!!!!
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Philippe Cuypers
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Michael De Angelis
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1261
From: USA
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted November 05, 2005 12:05 AM
The 31st St. Store had the Select Film Library on the ground level.
The Lex. Ave location had the library on a mid level that you had to walk up the stairs.
These two locations had bins full of 8mm. However it was the Lexington Ave.
location that was always the largest of all. The bins were HUGE.
I too began with Std 8mm 200 footers, at the bargain price of $5.00 each.
Or, 3 for $9.00 during a sale period. They even sold me a Blackhawk 400'
silent version of the sound film: Midnight Patrol for $9.00, when Blackhawk sold it retail at $12.99-$13.99.
WOW, was I thrilled with the sharp quality from Blackhawk.
I would then record my own voice to substitute for Stan and Ollie, to a tape
recorder with a ragtime record playing in the background. The family loved it.
I was the star.
Yes, it was my early days into sound syncing.
Later, I would record the TV program with the boys films on audio tape, and
sync the sound wild to the film.
It was an entertaining and learning event, when your only 13 years old.
The catalog that is scanned in the above post, does not indicate the Chambers St. location. Apparently as the advertisement suggests, Star Wars was released, and the Chambers St. location must have been long gone.
To my understanding the establishment began on Willoughby St. in Brooklyn.
Merged with Peerless Cameras> Hence became Willoughby / Peerless.
My mother purchased a gift for my Dad when they became engaged.
It was a Bell & Howell Standard 8 movie camera, Projector, Screen and Flood Lights. All from Peerless, on Willoughby St. in Brooklyn, N.Y.
I have it to this very day.
The Flood lamp lights are still burned into my cornea's. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
About the staff, there was a guy that worked at the Lex. Store that rode a motor bike. I don't remember his name, but he cracked-up with the cycle, and lost his life riding it.
All I remember is that we asked about him, and that's what the man said.
Last but not least, if someone can provide clear info on how I can upload some scans of 200' Select Movie Boxes with Laurel & Hardy, I would be glad to provide the images here.
My very first film purchase was at Willoughby's.
It was a Std 8 200' silent version of the Laurel-Hardy Murder Case. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Michael
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Isn't it great that we can all communicate about this great
hobby that we love!
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Philippe Cuypers
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 214
From: 7318 Carnival Lane New Port Richey florida 34653
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted November 05, 2005 03:05 PM
hey doug!! between the catalog you put on the post nad now the picture ,its seems like yesterday, I remember the huge ceiling anmd huge columm beautiful architecture, I guess thats why I became an interior draftsman in new york, aslo it seems like yesterday I went on halloween week, with my older brother and my father, and went to peerless and bought or first bell &Howell projector ,and 3 castle films in silent, (the bride of frankenstein, abbott & Costello meet frankenstein, and dracula, wow!! it was the best halloween of my life, again doug great forum, things like that , that ,makes me get up in the morning and start a crazy day !!! again great pictures of the catalog , and store picture , very nice thank you !!! Now lets get those super 8 , since you said they are no 8mmm ,(just a joke ,only a joke) nice.
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Philippe Cuypers
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Philippe Cuypers
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 214
From: 7318 Carnival Lane New Port Richey florida 34653
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted November 06, 2005 10:18 AM
hey doug! that republic catalog really brings back the time capsule! Yes you are right whe all probably thing the same way why didnt I buy more???? but you know what , the main thing is whe have those wonderful film memmories, and that is worth more than any grab box of films!! great flasback doug!! very nice...
another though ! I am trying to remember this ,but every other saturday morning I use to take the f train downdon to wlloughby 31st street ,the subway back than was 15cent. they were the small token, than the big token came and more money!! and than I use to wait at the front doors and when the doors open I went right away to the back I believe the right side, where the counters and the glass shelves where the sound films where, I didnt buy the sound, just the regular silent films, I save around $ 5.00 dollars plus tax ,and that was my day, I always inquire to my favorite salesman (bill ) to ask whats the new released, and I knew than ,I would go back next week , and take the subways ride again. somethimes I use to go to peerless the other store, when my father had some business and he need my help, but usually it was the 31st store, where later on I gatt a summer job and work upstairs to select film, great summer job,
again doug great scan !!
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Philippe Cuypers
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Douglas Meltzer
Moderator
Posts: 4554
From: New York, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted November 07, 2005 10:38 AM
Hi Winbert,
When I started collecting silent 8mm films, 200 footers went for $5.95. After making the move to Super 8mm & sound, that went up to $16.95 for black & white, $24.95 for color. Then came those 400' digests! The b&w's were $36.95, color $44.95. Each time I moved up to a more expensive version, my buying frequency went down. Instead of a silent film every month (saving my allowance, later on getting a job) I would get a color sound digest every few months. It was a gradual increase in spending so it seemed to be a natural progression. There was also no other hobby like it. Home VCR's weren't around then, and when they were first introduced (I remember that first Betamax monster) they were incredibly expensive, as were the few pre-recorded tapes that were available. Aside from 16mm, this was the only way to watch what you wanted, when you wanted. The prices were steep, but it always felt worth it.
Doug
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I think there's room for just one more film.....
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