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The Story of the Todd-AO Projector
Dedicated exclusively to the history of one of the most remarkable projectors of all time; the DP70.

Prototypes

Towards the end of 1954 the first set of three DP70 pre-production models were delivered to Magna Theatre Corporation and pictures began to appear in magazines.

By February 1955, "Oklahoma!" was expected to open in early May 1955. And by April 1955, the opening was expected to be on July 17, 1955.

They design was a little different from the following machines. Interestingly, the mechanism door was mounted on the left side of the mechanism (door opened right to left). The interior was not painted white, but rather in the Philips Hammer tone Epoxy paint finish like the rest of the machine.

Prototypes did not carry serial numbers. Prototypes are here referred to as pre-production numbers X1, X2 etc.

Although not an original installation, the two DP70 prototypes are still being used at Todd-AO Stage #2 in Hollywood to this day. More than 50 years after delivery from Philips in Holland!

Where were projectors manufactured?

All projector mechanisms were made in Holland in series of 100 at a time. (Source "In the Splendour of 70mm", by Grant Lobban).

Other projector parts (lower base, upper base, spool boxes, mounting table for lamp house) were also made in the United States by American Optical Company and are clearly noted: Made in Buffalo, New York.

In the US brochure dated S-61 (probably 1961) parts were made in Mount Vernon, New York. Projector parts made in the USA carry a serial number on the upper base with a production year and a production number. An example is 59-175. Later models only carry a 4-digit serial number.

The DP70 is Heavy

If you consider having a DP70 installed in your living room you must check two things first. What will your wife say, and will the floor hold? I cannot answer for your wife, but here is the weight of a DP70:

Part:	Kg	Lbs.

Lower base	77,5	170,9
Upper base	118,0	260,1
Lower spool box	12,5	27,6
Mounting table for lamp house	38,5	84,9
Projector mechanism	106,0	233,7
Lens slide and holder	18,5	40,8
Compartment door	13,0	28,7
Magnetic sound head	16,5	36,4
Optical sound head	12,0	26,5
Motor	10,0	22,0
Gear (two speed clutch)	10,0	22,0
Upper spool box	23,0	50,7

Total	Kg 455,5	Lbs. 1004,2

Shipment

The DP70 prototype at American Optical's ½-scale cinema. Image by Thomas Hauerslev.

In the fall of 1955, 50 DP70 projectors were shipped from Holland to the United States for the Michael Todd Company, Inc., just before the opening of "Oklahoma!" on Broadway October 10, 1955. Those 50 machines were numbered from no 601 - 650 as the first machines (Some projectors were marked "Property of the Michael Todd Company, Inc").

By late 1955 the first 4 Todd-AO cinemas were:

1: Rivoli, New York, USA (13.10.1955) (4 machines)
2: Egyptian, Hollywood, USA (17.11.1955)
3: Los Angeles, Hollywood, USA (24.12.1955)
4: McVickers, Chicago, USA (26.12.1955)

Usually there were 2 machines in a projection room. A left and a right projector (as seen from the rear of the machines toward the screen). But in some cases 3 and 4 machines were needed. A 4-projector example is the Palais de Festival in Cannes and Musee du Cinema in Paris, both in France. Today it is not unusual to find a 1-projector installation. The DP70 also works with platters (non-rewind/cake stands) and towers.

Todd-AO outside the US

Three DP70 at French film museum. Image by Thomas Hauerslev

By the time of Photokina Exhibition (29.09.1956 to 07.10.1956) in Cologne, Germany there were 21 Todd-AO cinemas in the US. Todd-AO installations in the US were planned and carried out by The Todd-AO Corporation.

The speed of installing Todd-AO equipment in the US took of slower than expected due to the lack of film in the Todd-AO process.

In 1957 there were 60 Todd-AO installations and Germany, Italy, Malta and Japan were about to get Todd-AO.

By 1958, there were 10 DP70 installations in England and by January 1960 there were 34 cinemas (19 CMA and 15 ABC) in Great Britain with the DP70.

The number of Todd-AO installations had risen to 86 in the US and Canada alone by 1959.

A pair of DP70 at Manchester Film Theatre, Manchester, England, 1969. Believed to be the last pair of DP70's to come out of Eindhoven in 1968. Image by Don Sykes

By August 1960 the DP70 was installed in 231 venues = 462+ machines (US and rest of the world).

By OSCAR Night, in March 1963, there were 525 DP70 installations (= more than 1050 machines) in 39 countries. Another source says that on 15.04.1963 there were 450 DP70 Todd-AO installations all over the globe.

Other 70mm projector manufactures were: Bauer, Cinemeccanica and Century.

By December 1964 more than 1100 cinemas worldwide had 70mm installed. Most of them were with the DP70.

During the 1966 Photokina exhibition (in Cologne, Germany), Philips Cinema presented the new DeLuxe Projector for 35/70mm, widely know as the DP75 and manufacture of the popular DP70 had finally come to an end.

Roll out of Todd-AO cinemas by date and country:

Country	City	Cinema	Date
USA	New York	Rivoli	13.10.1955
Canada	Toronto	Tivoli	__.04.1956
Japan	Tokyo	Shinjuko Koma Stadium	28.12.1956
Italy	Rome	Adriano	14.02.1957
Germany	Hamburg	Savoy	14.03.1957
England	London	Dominion (London) #2 Gaumont Theatre, Manchester #3 Drake Film Centre, Plymouth	21.04.1958
Scotland	Glasgow	Gaumont	22.09.1958
Denmark	Copenhagen	3 Falke Bio	24.10.1958
Switzerland	Zürich	Apollo Cinerama	25.10.1958
Australia	Sydney	Mayfair	26.12.1958
Ireland	Dublin	Adelphi	26.12.1958
Sweden	Stockholm	Ritz	07.04.1959
New Zeeland	Auckland	Plaza	1958

Austria
Belgium
Finland
France	Paris
Holland

The Price of a DP70

The DP70 was a very expensive 70mm projector to install.

Thanks to Craig Binnebose and hans Frahm it is now possible to add the original price of a complete machine.

This one from Craig Binnebose: The Cecil Theatre, Mason City, Iowa. Two DP70 cost USD $6225.00 each. August 10, 1966. Quotation No. 447 from Ballantyne of Omaha.

To be added to the web site, The price of a complete Todd-AO installation at the Savoy in Hamburg, Germany. The first purpose built Todd-AO cinema in Europe.

Thanks to Hans Frahm in Johannesburg, South Africa, the price of a DP70 in 1962 and 1964 has been found. The price is in the international currency of 1962: British Pound Sterling. The exchange rate (deemed by the Bank of England( ie. the British Government)) was 2.80 dollars to the pound. (Until 1964 when it had to be devalued!)

Projector part	1962	1964

EL4000/01 complete	1140.00	1560.00

Film spools 35mm	5.00	5.90
Film spools 70mm	5.10	6.10
Set spare parts	11.70	15.40
130 A carbon Arc Lamps 18" mirror, Peerless rotating carbons, water cooled	395.00	480.00
Rectifier 45-150 Amps	335.00	380.00
85A Arc lamp for 70-35mm	200.00	380.00
Todd-AO lenses 62mm	94.00	146.00
Todd-AO lenses 175mm	54.00	55.00
Minifier	31.50	36.50

The name “DP70”

Rene Pfaff operating the DP70 at Kinopalæet in Copenhagen. Image by Jan Niebuhr

Philips originally named the new machine the EL4000/01 in their catalogue, but it quickly became the DP70. The DP is short for "Double Projector" and the "70" meant it was designed specifically as a 70mm projector. With a handy storage case with all necessary parts for 35mm film, change over from 70mm to 35mm could be done in less than 4 minutes. See DP70 features from the fifties.

In the United States it simply became the "Todd-AO projector Catalogue 3070". Later the name was changed to "Universal 70/35" and finally from 1963, it became the "Norelco AAII". AA was very likely short for “Academy Award”. II meant “Version 2” because of the many new changes and improvements introduced to this model after winning the OSCAR.

Philips Cinema nicknamed the projector the Dollar Princess because they made a considerable amount of money developing it for Magna Theatre Corporation.

It is interesting to note that in the state of Victoria, Australia, it was known as EL4000 and in the state of New South Wales, also Australia, it was know as DP70.

Cine Aperagons - The Todd-AO projection lens

The Todd-AO projection lenses, known as Cine-Aperagons, were specially designed by American Optical Company for each cinema (so the pres said) with aspherical surfaces on some of their elements.

Cine Aperagons were available in these basic focal lengths

2,6" = 66mm
3" = 76mm
3,5" = 89mm
4,1" = 104mm
5,6" = 142mm
6,6" = 168mm

More DP70 70mm projection lenses

They were very sturdy and heavy lenses. The pair used in Copenhagen almost "painted" an extremely sharp 70mm image on the curved 17 meter Todd-AO screen. Always in focus, great contrast and very bright images.

The Academy Award

In the early 1960s Philips Cinema was one of the worlds largest Cinema Equipment supplier and Jan J. Kotte's projector quality was unrivalled. The DP70 was the crown jewel in a long line of Philips machines that include: FP4, FP5, FP56, FP20 and FP30.

How many 70mm projectors will allow one 70mm print 1600 passes? That was the case in London and the Dominion Theatre's record breaking "South Pacific" 4-year run. One Todd-AO print was shown from 21.04.1958 until 30.09.1962 London.

The DP70 was truly a remarkable 70mm projector and on Monday April 8, 1963 Fred J Pfeiff, technical manager of the motion picture equipment department of Norelco (North American Philips), received the 1962 Class 2 Oscar plaque for on behalf of the Philips company:

"The design and engineering of the Norelco Universal 70/35mm motion picture projector".

It was furthermore stated by the Awards Committee that:

“it´s unique design provides for rapid conversion to either 70mm or 35mm projection and for operation with significantly reduced film wear and damage”.

Kotte's OSCAR photographed in 1998 by Thomas Hauerslev

Actually there were two OSCARS made. The original OSCAR was was awarded to the Philips Company and brought back to Europe by Mr. Nijsen, who was head of Philips Cinema's publication department. The Philips company ordered a second OSCAR for Mr. Jan Kotte personally in appreciation of his dedication to Philips.

The 1962 Award (given in 1963) was the first ever given to a projector in the Academy's history. In 1999 the IMAX projector, with the unique Rolling Loop principle, was also awarded a similar award.

At that time (OSCAR Night) there were 525 DP70 installations (= more than 1050 machines) in 39 countries. The OSCAR was well deserved. The DP70 was and still is the "Rolls Royce" of 70mm projectors. Later that same year Philips Cinema received the largest one-time order for the DP70: 100 projectors to one projector company in the United States. A few days later another order for 50 projectors came (Note 11).

Automation of a DP70 or Disposal

Lens turrent in Austria

The DP70 is not made for automation, remote control and multiplex operation. So with increasing demand for cost saving, theater managers started to break up cinemas into several screens and cut down on projection staff. There was a need for cinemas to be automated.

In the late sixties Rank Film Ltd. in England became distributor of Cinemeccanica's projectors. DP70s were removed in more than 20 ODEON cinemas and replaced by the popular Italian Cinemeccanica Victoria 8 70mm projector. The Victoria 8 can be fully remote controlled.

A reasonable but VERY expensive action by Rank facing the increasing competition. Some of these DP70s went to the United States, but most of them was scrapped only after a few years of service. Much to the frustration of many projectionists and DP70 devotees. There are reports that many ODEON DP70s were literally scrapped with a large hammer [Source: Dion Hanson]. The reason for this is unknown.

Cannibalized #681 in Hollywood. Image by Thomas Hauerslev

A similar thing happened in Australia when Hoyt's theatres, a large cinema chain, automated all their cinemas. Those DP70 not needed were given away to those who were interested. The rest were thrown away into the Tasmanian Sea or even used as boat anchors in Sydney harbor! *). It is interesting to note that Hoyt's did not buy another Philips projector for about 10 years after DP70 production ceased. During this time they bought Cinemeccanica Victoria 8s. In 1976 Hoyt's again began to buy Philips machines mostly FP20s but some DP 75s for new locations.

From South Africa there are reports of an actual burial of a DP70!

Back in England, the ABC cinema group also replaced some DP70s with the brand new DP75. Most DP75 installations were set up for the 70mm presentations of “Doctor Zhivago” (in 1966). Many DP75 installations were new 70mm installations. Some ex-ABC DP70s went to the United States. In the early 1990s some DP70s were still maintained by Steven Krams and his company in Florida and he had at least 20 machines in stock.

*) There is no evidence of this statement. But as theatres were closing in the 60s and 70s a lot of theatre owners had the problem of disposing of equipment that had no resale value, and the DP70 had not reached the cult following that it now has, so many were simply thrown out.

*) I have an idea where the story about equipment being dumped in the sea developed, but as far as I know, any stuff that Hoyts scrapped went off to a second-hand metal dealer or a conventional rubbish dump. I have heard the "dumped in Port Phillip Bay" story in relation to the Cinerama equipment, too, but most of it has been accounted for. Best wishes, Eric White, 29.09.2003

The DP70 also inspired at least three different 70mm machines, which have striking similarities with the DP70. The Toshiba Photo Phone Co., Ltd. in Japan introduced their TP 70/35 Imperial projector (Motion Picture Almanac 1972 page 64A). Spool boxes, lower- and upper bases were more or less identical to the DP70.

Another interesting DP70 "look-a-like" projector was the Russian KTT15-A. This projector does not look like a DP70 at all on the outside. Inside, however, some striking similarities were apparent. The lens mount bracket, 70mm film gate and the shutter were a very close variation of the DP70.

Theres also the Incol 70-35 from Brazil where the film gate have some similarities with the DP70.

70mm Film Projectors

DP70 Still With Us - New use of old machines

In recent years, the price for a DP70 has somewhat dropped.

Many DP70 projectors have found a safe home in the hands of DP70 devotees who restore them to original glory. Some people even strip them and have them completely repainted in the original Phillips Hammer tone Epoxy paint. However hard it may seem, 70mm projection and 6-track stereo in a private theatre in the basement is not uncommon.

By the mid 1990s, used DP70 projectors were sold at very high prices. 10.000 dollars was not an unlikely price for a projector fully reconditioned and in perfect working order. Worn and badly maintained projectors are much cheaper of course

More and more digital projectors and automated projectors are finding their way into projection rooms across the world. And by the late 2000s, many machines are simply given away or cannibalized and thrown away.

It is not only film collectors and projectionists who appreciate the DP70. Many prestigious cinemas, laboratories and film studios like Technicolor Ltd., 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers and Paramount Pictures in Hollywood have several DP70s in the their screening cinemas. Todd-AO in Hollywood have 6 projectors and Paramount Pictures at 5555 Melrose in Hollywood runs at least 5 machines.

Film museums in Amsterdam, Oslo, Stockholm, Paris, Bradford, and Hollywood, also install the DP70. And with good reason, as the DP70 remains to be the "Rolls Royce" of 70mm projectors.

A large number of DP70s are still running today, nearly 60 years after the first one came of the assembly line in Eindhoven, Holland. A well kept DP70 will (probably) never fail in operation. The DP70 is a beautiful projector, outstanding craftsmanship and a piece of contemporary art from the 1950s.

"I think DP70s are a sight to behold in their own right and were the most visionary piece of engineering imaginable". Trevor Wilson, 10.04.2006

Go: back - top - news index
Updated 26-01-10

The Story of the Todd-AO Projector Dedicated exclusively to the history of one of the most remarkable projectors of all time; the DP70.