| Aston-Under-Lyne |
Metro |
| |
Three DP70
(872+1397+1405). 872 is used for spares. Machines to The
Rex Cinema in Berkhamsted |
| Barry, South Wales |
Steven Keenan
(Private) |
|
Three
DP70 (870+892+896). DP70 892 & 896 sold late 2007 to a Private Collector in Norfolk, currently being restored and future use in a Private Cinema Museum complete with working Cinema Organs late 2009. |
| Berkhamsted |
The Rex Cinema
(P) |
| |
 Five DP70
(1397+1405+872+868).
The close-up photo is projector 1, either 1405 or 1397. Image by John Croft, Cinema Technology
Opened November 2004 for 35mm and
70mm. Machines from Metro (Aston-Under-Lyne) September 2004.
1405 and 1397 are main projectors; 872 has half of the parts
missing, and will be used for spares; 868 has virtually all
the parts gone, but we have it just in case. 872 & 868 are the mech heads only. 5th from MOMI (London) - unfortunately
the serial number is missing.
Projector 1 is 1405, and Projector 2
is 1397. At the Metro, Ashton, they were the other way
around. As they were using a tower, they had used 1397 for a
much longer time, and now the Rex use 1405 most of the time
with the same tower. So in about 5 years' time, they should
have evened themselves out, and had about the same amount of
use each! |
|
 Mr.
Ed Mauger checking the DP70. Image by John Croft, Cinema Technology
The DP70s are running very well, although the picture is not
quite as steady as a new projector would be. I am ordering
some new gate pressure bands for 35 and 70mm, so this might
improve the picture. We completely rewired the machines and we
sent the original motors away and had them rewound as 3-phase
230 volt, with inverter drive; they are very smooth now.
|
|
 Mr.
Alun Rees, was and still is the
original chief projectionist at the Rex. Image by John Croft, Cinema Technology
The installation is capable of running 35mm with 1.37, 1.66, 1.85 and 2.35 ratios, and all 70mm formats. We have installed the Panastereo CSP4600 70mm processor for this.
Ed Mauger
(20.06.2005).
|
| Birmingham |
ABC
Coleshill Street |
|
 Two
DP70 from ABC Bristol Road (Birmingham). Installed for the
1964/5 Midlands Premiere of Warner's 70mm production "My
Fair Lady". Several other 70mm films opened at ABC
Coleshill St prior to this. "Cheyenne Autumn", and
"Becket". A European "Western" was also played in 70mm,
it's name escapes me, as apart from the stunning 70mm
photography, it had very little to commend it.
DP70s moved to the new ABC DONCASTER for its opening. At which
time the "important official" at this new cinemas opening
ceromony, "congratulated the ABC company for its faith in the
future of the cinema busines through installing the latest
projection equipement."
John Duddy Chief Projectionist (Retd) ABC Coleshill St
Birmingham 1958 --1969.
Philips DP70 at the ABC Coleshill Street, Birmingham,
England
|
| Birmingham |
ABC Bristol
Road (*») |
| |
Two DP70. 3-strip
Cinerama from 14.09.1963 on 78 x 28 ft screen from single
box. Multi from 1978 and demolished 1988. Now a drive-in
McDonalds. Machines moved to ABC Coleshill Street around
1964. |
| Birmingham |
Gaumont
Cinerama (») |
| |
3-strip
Cinerama on 146 dgr screen from 30.09.1943. Demolished after
1975 |
| Birmingham |
West End (*») |
| |
DP70 installed
for "South Pacific" 22.09.1958. Ran 67+
weeks. |
| Blackpool |
Princess |
| |
Opened
12.12.1912. 900 seats. Taken over 10.04.1929 re-modled 1770
seats. Renamed ABC (North Shore) 1960. Originally DP70
projectors were meant for ABC Hippodrome. Renamed ABC
Princess 1963. Closed 1981. Now indoor market. |
| Blackpool |
Palladium |
| |
Two DP70 from
late fifties. Cinema closed. Resent (1992) recovery of this
theatre projectors revealed rusting Victoria X's. Now a
bingo. |
| Bournemouth |
ABC |
| |
Closed |
| Bournemouth |
Odeon (*») |
| Bradford |
Pictureville
Cinema |
| |
 Two DP70 (1622+1915)
1622 from Imperial Bio, Copenhagen, Denmark. Imported in November
1998.
#1622 image by Thomas Hauerslev
First performance was "2001: A Space
Odyssey" March 15, 2002 for the Wide
Screen Weekend. Equipped with a D-150 lens. 1915 from Plaza
#1, London - in storage.
|
| Brighton |
Astoria (») |
| |
Opened
21.12.1933. 1823 seats. Reconstructed and reopened
02.08.1958 for "South Pacific". 4th
Todd-AO installation in England. 1st with Philips
sound. Closed 1977. Now a bingo. |
|
Bristol |
ABC New Bristol Centre |
| |
Two DP70. Opened with "Doctor Zhivago". |
| Bristol |
ABC White
Ladies Road (*»P) |
| |
 I may be wrong but I don't think the ABC Whiteladies Rd.
ever had 70mm. It was at the New Bristol Centre which was
the ABC roadshow house for the region.
Ian Riches,
11.06.2009
Image supplied by Steven Keenan
Hi, Just came across this page which as an ex
projectionist I found fascinating. I'm afraid I only handled
70mm briefly when I just after I started my first job, I was
sent for two weeks training at the Manchester Film under Don
Sykes, and then it was back to 35mm at the Bristol Arts
Centre (Kalee 21s with Autoarcs). Where we still showed the
occasional "Nitrate" film well into the early 1970s.
One small correction to the comment about the Bristol ABC
White Ladies Road. Some time before the ABC Cinema in the
New Bristol Centre opened, the Whiteladies cinema was in
fact remodelled with a deep curved screen for 70mm
presentations, and I remember going to see "Ben Hur"
there in "Camera
65" when it was first released. I was once told that the
DP70s in the New Bristol Centre originally came from the
Whiteladies, but don't know if that's really true.
All the best, Paul
Dancey, 25.09.2009
|
| Bristol |
Odeon 1-2-3 (*»P) |
| |
 "South
Pacific" from 26.12.1958. DP70 taken out and stored
in a garage (Unconfirmed). Machines sold for 50 pounds as
scrap. Cine Aperagons to Thomas Hauerslev, Copenhagen,
Denmark March 1998.
Framegrab from my 8mm movie of me in 1971/2 with one of the DP70's I trained on at the Odeon Bristol. Cheers, Steve Grimley
|
| Burton on Trent |
Odeon Cinema
Training School |
| |
One DP70
(841) from
ABC Luton. Moved to ______ in late 2003. |
| Cardiff |
Capitol (*») |
| |
"South
Pacific" from 26.12.1958. Demolished late 70's. Now
a mall. |
| Cardiff |
Olympia (*») |
| |
Opened November
1935. 2047 seats. Closed 03.04.1976 for tripling. Reopened
27.05.1976. Renamed MGM 29.05.1992. |
| Cardiff |
Park Hall
Cinerama |
| |
Two DP70.
Theatre closed and demolished. DP70 fate unknown. |
|
Devon |
David Parker (private) |
| |
Two DP70 (1810+1811). Two former Technicolor DP70's
from Ben Wales. May be installed in a Art Deco Cinema
sometime in the future. |
|
Doncaster |
ABC
Doncaster |
|
Two
DP70 from ABC Coleshill Street (Birmingham). |
| Essex |
Private (p) |
| |
 One DP70 (1391)
from Dolby Laboratories. Originally it came from Portmouth
Odeon.
"Here is the latest picture of my DP70 (1391) , the only
change is I finally got a empty Dolby MPU1 case , so took
the Dolby boards out of the one I built and put them in the
new one". November 2018
|
| |
|
| Gatley |
Tatton |
| |
4 DP70 in store
by 1988. Never used. Exported to a gentleman in Germany. |
| Greenwich |
Picturehouse Cinema |
| |
 One DP70 (1352) from Empire, Leicester Sq. Unused since 2006 for public screenings.
Image by Darren Briggs June 2010. |
| Hackney |
Picturehouse Cinema |
| |
 One
DP70 (1352). The former Empire Theatre DP70 has been
moved from the Picturehouse Cinema in Greenwich to
Picturehouse Cinema, Hackney. The DP70 has not been used for
almost 6 years and now serves as a Display Exhibit in the
Cinema Foyer in City Screen's newest Cinema that opened late
2011. Ben Wales,
16.01.2012
|
| Harlow |
Odeon |
| |
Two DP70 from
around 01.02.1960. 59 x 27½ ft screen. The 19th CMA cinema
with DP70. |
| Hull |
Regal (*») |
| |
Opened
26.01.1934. 2553 seats. taken over by ABC 08.11.1937.
Renamed ABC for "South Pacific" and DP70
install 21.02.1960. Closed 31.07.1976 for quinrupling.
Re-opened 21.10.1976 renamed Cannon. Closed 29.06.1989. |
| Leeds |
Majestic (*») |
| |
 Two DP70.
Opened with "South Pacific" 22.09.1958
Image from Mike Taylor |
| Leeds |
Ritz (*») |
| |
Opened
19.11.1934 1950 seats. Renamed ABC 23.05.1959. Closed
19.07.1969 for twinning. Reopened 04.04.1970. Renamed MGM
21.05.1993. |
| Leicester |
Savoy (*») |
| |
Opened
26.06.1937 2424 seats. DP70 installed 1959 for "South
Pacific". Renamed ABC 1960. Closed 24.01.1970 for
twinning. Renamed Cannon. |
| Liverpool |
ABC Forum |
| |
Two DP70 from ABC Futurist around 1982 |
| Liverpool |
ABC Futurist (*») |
| |
 Opened
16.09.1912. 1029 seats. Taken over by FOX 1954. Taken over
by ABC 04.04.1960 and reopened 10.07.1960 with Todd-AO
installation, 870 seats and 36½ x 16½ ft screen. Closed
17.07.1982. DP70 junked.
The DP70 from the Futurist cinema in Liverpool was not
junked in 1982, if I remember
correctly it was taken to the ABC Forum across the road, as
that cinema did not have 70mm
capability when it closed for refurbishment. The
Phillips amplifier system went with it and also the
platter system. Hope this helps
Douglas Kell,
06.01.2007
I have just read your DP70’s in England and your article
regarding the Futurist Liverpool’s destination of the DP70’s
is incorrect. Both machines where removed sometime after it
closed and they were sold to the Metro in Aston-Under-Lyne.
The ABC Forum opened up after conversion to a triple with
DP75’s. The reason why I know is I was the Chief
Projectionist at the Futurist when it closed and I was asked
back after it closed to assist in the removal of the
projectors. I ran the show the first night of opening at the
Metro with the DP70’s. The remaining equipment from the
Futurist was used at the Forum i.e. speakers non-rewind
Phillips OMA amps etc. The Dolby CP50 was also taken over
but was blown up during the installation by the Sound
installation team and was naturally replaced. Hope that
clears up any misunderstandings.
Kindest regards,
Peter Robertson, 20.02.2010
|
| Liverpool |
Classic |
| Liverpool |
Gaumont |
| |
Two DP70 from
the Odeon |
| Liverpool |
Odeon (*»P) |
| |
 DP70 installed
for "South Pacific" 26.12.1958. DP70 moved
across the road to Gaumont during twinning. Reinstalled in
the Odeon late 60s early 70s after twining was complete. They
were removed from the Odeon 1976-77. The last DP70 sent to
MOMI, London for spares.
|
| London |
Astoria (*») |
| |
Opened 1927. "Around
the World in 80 Days" opened Thuesday 09.07.1957 in
Cinestage
using a special 35mm reduction print with 2,21:1 aspect
ratio and 6-track magnetic stereo on seperate film. Ran for
two years. Due to "British Quota" regulations one
millimeter of the film was removed creating a 34mm
substandard print. DP70 installed for "Sleeping
Beauty" 29.07.1959. Opened again 17.12.1968 with "Around
the World in 80 Days" in 70mm. DP70 removed and
Victoria 8 installed at some point. Cinema closed 1976 and
is now used as a rock venue. Awaiting demolition. |
|
London |
BFI, National Film Institute,
Screen 1 |
| |
Two DP70 (2170+2171)
from December 2018. Imported from Orla Nielsen, Denmark. The
first 70mm film was "The Fall
of the Roman Empire" during Easter 1965 at the
originally instal at the Folketeater in Århus,
Denmark.
|
| London |
Lord Richard
Attenborough, private |
| |
Two DP70 in
private screening room |
| London |
Casino |
| |
 Two DP70.
DP70 at the
Casino. The
first 3-strip Cinerama theatre outside USA. 3-strip from
30.09.1954 until 26.03.1965. 70mm from 08.04.1965. 70mm,
DP70 and Cinerama screen (63 x 23 ft) removed 19.09.1974.
Cinema converted to original Prince Edward Theatre. |
| London |
Coliseum |
| |
 Image by Don Sykes |
| London |
Columbia (*P) |
| |
 Two DP70 (
+838). Opened 03.02.1959. Screen was 10,5 x 5 meters.
Last DP70 removed mid October 1992. Now two Philips FP20.
Cinema renamed Curzon West End. 624 seats. DP70 sold to Film
Institute of Ireland
summer 1998.
Image by Philips |
| London |
Columbia House
(Wingate House) (*») |
| London |
Coronet |
| |
One DP70 (Maybe
two DP70). Coronet, Turnpike Parade, Green Lanes, London
N15. Formerly known as Ritz, ABC, & Cannon. This cinema
has been tripled. The old sound equipment was still there
Feb 1999. |
| London |
Dolby
Laboratories, Ltd |
| |
One DP70 (1391).
Office closed and activeties moved to Wootton Basset 1993.
DP70 to private in Essex. |
| London |
Dominion
(*») |
| |
 First Todd-AO
installation in the UK. Opened 21.04.1958 with "South
Pacific". Screen was 46 x 21 ft with 5ft depth.
Played more than 4 years using at least two 70mm prints. One
print shown more than 1382 times. Special downstairs box in
the rear stalls for Todd-AO. Theatre later used for live
performances. Victoria 8 present 1985, original DP70 lost.
Two DP70 may be installed, however, not the originals.
About "Around the World in 80 Days" in
Cinestage 34mm
|
| London |
ABC Elephant and Castle |
| |
Two DP70 (778+779)
sent to Richmond Film House |
| London |
Empire #1 (*»P) |
| |
 Three DP70 (1349+1352+2125).
Installed for "Ben Hur" 16.12.1959 with
Ascraft carbon arc.
Image by Philips
53ft x 29ft (17,7 m x 7,9 m) curved
Todd-AO screen, THX, CP200, JBL. Dolby Stereo Digital (SR.D).
1330 seats.
|
| |
 Image by Philips
DP70 1349 removed 1995, but still on site used for spares, and replaced by one FP30.
DTS.
DP70 1352 unused since 2006 for public screenings - removed,
and installed at Picturehouse Cinema Greenwich.
|
| |
 DP70
2125 photographed July 2013 by Robin Dakin
DP70 2125 removed and dismantled in November 2008 as space is required for a 2nd 2k 3D Digital Projector, future plans to display this projector in the Cinema Foyer.
|
| London |
Metropole
(Victoria) (*») |
| |
DP70 installed
20.12.1959 for "Oklahoma!" revival. Closed |
| London |
Museum of the
moving image (MOMI) |
| |
 Two DP70 (901+902)
from Drake, Plymouth. Any frame rate from 15 -30 fps
could be
shown. MOMI closed summer 1999. 2 projectors from MOMI
in London were sold to the Kinopolis group in Belgium about a year after it closed.
Also one spare projector head for parts
from Odeon, Liverpool, which
went to
the Rex (Berkhamsted) - unfortunately the serial number
is missing.
Image by Dion Hanson |
| |
 A
few weeks before closure in 1999, Dion Hanson had this display
about movie sound prepared.
Image by Dion
Hanson |
| London |
New Curzon
Indian Cinema |
| |
One DP70.
Frobisher Road, London N8. Formerly known as Premier
Electric Theatre, Regal, Essoldo, & Curzon. This has two
projectors but only one of these is a DP70. Refurbished in
1998, having been out of use as a cinema since 1989. |
| London |
Plaza #1 |
| |
 One DP70 (1915)
from Plaza #2, left projector is DP75, 40ft 70mm screen. 752
seats. DTS. Closed October 2001 - machine to NMPFT, Bradford |
| London |
Plaza #2 |
| |
 One DP70 (1913),
left projector is DP75, 30ft 8in 70mm screen. 370 seats. DTS.
Closed October 2001 - machine to Ben Wales, Southhampton
Image by Thomas Hauerslev, 1981. "Raiders of the Lost
Ark" in 70mm
|
| London |
Queen Elizabeth
Hall (P) |
| |
 Two DP70 very
rarely used. 1100 seats. Philips SPP light. 6-track magnetic
stereo and Dolby A for 35mm. Screen size (CinemaScope): 9,75 x 4,1 metres.
Image by Peter Hall |
| London |
Royalty (») |
| |
 3-strip
Cinerama from 27.11.1963 and 70mm from 16.11.1964
Image by Don Sykes |
| London |
Technicolor
Laboratories #1 (*») |
| |
 Two DP70 (1810+1811).
Image by Don Sykes
1810 & 1811 dismantled & removed on 23/12/08 as Theatre was closed down - both DP70's are in storage with Ben Wales in Southampton. Technicolor Ltd (West Drayton) London site to close on January 2009 and relocate to Pinewood Studios.
|
| London |
Technicolor
Laboratories #2 (»P) |
| |
Two DP70 (2505+2509). DP70 2505 & 2509 removed and dismantled in 2004 and may be in storage (unconfirmed) on site. Technicolor Ltd (West Drayton) London site to close on January 2009 and relocate to Pinewood Studios. |
| London |
Technicolor
Laboratories #3 |
| |
Two DP70 in
third screening theatre to check release print quality
(internal use only). Theatre closed. Projectors used for
parts in #1 & #2. Rest was scrapped. |
| London |
Warner Theatre |
| |
 Three DP70.
Opened 1938. Rebuilt and reopened in 23.07.1964 with DP70
projectors for "My Fair Lady" (opened New
Year 1964/65). 70mm screen width: 46 feet and 6 inches.
Depth: 6 feet. Demolished 91. New Warner 7 plex built on
site.
Warner theatre in London had 3 DP70's. Number 1 was so far to the left that the keystone was terrible and we always ran the 35mm ads and trailers on it and 70mm on the centre and right hand machines 2 & 3. Never got the serial numbers. Tom Holdsworth, 10 Dec 2006 |
| Luton |
Odeon |
|
Two DP70 (841+___)
841 to Thomas Degg, Stoke on Trent, England. |
| Manchester |
Deansgate
Picture House (*») |
| |
Two DP70. Not a
matched pair. Opened January 1914. 870 seats. Closed for
reconstruction 18.10.1930 and reopened 17.11.1930. Taken
over by ABC 05.07.1959. Closed for modernisation and Todd-AO
installation. Reopened 04.09.1960 697 seats. Renamed ABC
1961. DP70 taken out 1982. Belived sent to America. Closed
09.08.1990. Screen 38 x 17 " 3`. |
| Manchester |
Film
Theatre |
| |
 Two
DP70
Change of arc lamps from Presidents to Peerless 1969. Image by Don Sykes
I was Chief there for eight years. I installed what I
believe was the last pair of DP70's to come out of Eindhoven
in 1968. The DP75 had been around for sometime but my
preference was for the DP70. Two machines were installed and
initially used the existing G B Kalee mono optical sound
system. After about six months magnetic stereo, four track
only, was installed. Picture width was 36'. seating capacity
was just over 400. The first 70mm print to be shown was
"Becket". Don
Sykes |
| |
 Manchester Film Theatre. Lower spool box before installation. Image by Don Sykes
|
| |
 Manchester Film Theatre. Note wooden casing top and botom. Image by Don Sykes
|
| Manchester |
Gaumont
(*») |
| |
2nd
Todd-AO installation in the UK with "South
Pacific" in Todd-AO from 29.04.1958. "South
Pacific" ran two years and 6 weeks completing 1248
runs. Originally Hippodrome Theatre. Theatre closed 1973 and
demolished. DP70 sent to Odeon, Middlesbrough for spares. |
| Middlesbrough |
Elite |
| |
 Two
DP70
Hi Thomas , I found this picture on Flicker on a stream of
almost 5000 photos by someone called "dusashenka". Its said
to be the Elite Middlesborough taken on 27th november 1964,
that's the only info given.
From Robin Dakin, 19.04.2014
|
| Middlesbrough |
Odeon Film
Centre (*»P) |
| |
Four DP70. Two
originals and two from Gaumont for spares. All 4 DP70
scrapped 1989.
I have been reading with interest the location of the PHILIPS DP70 Projectors, and note that there is one disassembled at the following location in Australia, Leederville Luna Cinema, Cinema #1 One DP70 (819) is sitting in pieces behind the screen. My question is, do you have contact details for this theatre, so that I might enquire as to whether it might be surplus to their requirements. In the late 1950's and into the 60's I operated these machines when they were installed in the ODEON in Middlesborough, England. I fell in love with them then and considered them to be the finest projector ever built. All I have after all these years is an 8"x10" photograph of the installation, and have often wondered what became of most of them and if in fact they had survived (which they obviously have) I would be a wondrous thing to actually own one (working or not). I think they are a sight to behold in their own right and were the most visionary piece of engineering imaginable, so if you can be of any assistance in this regard I would be very grateful. Kindest regards, Trevor Wilson, 10.04.2006 |
| Newcastle upon
Tyne |
Queens Hall (*») |
| |
 Two
DP70 (892+896) from Odeon, Hanley in October 1964. Ran "South
Pacific" from 22.09.1958. Renamed Queens Cinerama
Theatre from October 1964. 3-strip Cinerama 1963-1978.
Todd-AO on 73 ft x 31 ft screen with 90 ft throw. Arclamps:
Super Zenith 130 amp, 48 volts. Last 70mm film was "Star
Wars". Closed February 1980 and demolished 1983. Now a
mall. Machines with Steven Keenan.
John Wood next to #892
It was a sad day indeed when it closed its doors. I'm very pleased to see that the projectors were rescued and I'm certainly curious to know what condition they are now in. I asked about them when I removed the screen from the theatre in March 1980 and it was thought that they were to be relocated. I heard much later that they were still in situ when the building was demolished in 1982. I'd assumed that they'd been scrapped so it was a great relief to see them listed in your website. Very best wishes John Wood MBKS, 13.04.2007 |
| Newport |
Private |
| |
One DP70 from
ABC Sheffield. |
| Norwich |
Gaumont (*») |
| |
According to
the 1964 Norelco list Gaumont was the same as Odeon |
| Norwich |
Odeon (*») |
| Nottingham |
Carlton (*»P) |
| |
Opened
16.10.1939 with 2077 seats. renamed ABC 14.12.1959. Two DP70
taken out 1974 when converted to three screens. Carlton
became EMI, Thorn, Cannon, Pathé and now MGM 21.05.1993. |
| Nottingham |
Odeon (*»P) |
| |
Two DP70. "South
Pacifc" opened 22.12.1958. Ran Cinerama 18 weeks
once, equipment removed. DP70 were taken out 1968 and
replaced by Cinemeccanica Victoria X. When twinned both screens were new; Todd-AO 70mm upstairs
("Sound of Music") and 35mm downstairs ("Mary
Poppins"). Both screens still used; Cinerama screen in Odeon 2 reduced but
they do still fill Odeon 1 with 35mm anamorphic; it is only reduced when
35mm flat is shown.
Actual date of Cinerama opening was 28 June 1969, "Ice Station Zebra" 6 weeks, then
"Krakatoa" 6 weeks till Sept 1969 then nothing until Xmas 1970 -
"Song of Norway" for 13 weeks. Last 70mm Odeon 1 was a reissue of 70mm
"Star Wars" circa 1978. No 70mm today. Barrie Pick 31.10.2000 |
| Oxford |
Ritz (*») |
| |
Opened
20.04.1936 1654 seats. 70mm installed 1959 for "South
Pacific". Renamed ABC 1962. Closed March 1963 by
fire, reopened September 1963. DP70 removed 1975 when Ritz
was tripled. Renamed Cannon and again MGM 09.04.1993. |
|
Peterborough |
Anthony Storey (Private owner) |
| |
Three DP70 (870+892+896). I have recently purchased a pair of Philips DP70 projectors from my friend Steve Keenan (Barry South Wales/Shropshire) so I thought I would provide my details for you to update your DP70 records, Model numbers: 892 (complete) and 896 (complete) 870 (parts only).
The projectors are currently dismantled and awaiting installation in my home cinema which is being created in a converted barn. It should seat about 100 people and will also have a mighty Wurlitzer organ to complete the 1930s feel.
I am just putting the finishing touches to the organ chamber which will form the auditorium front. The screen frame will be erected across the central area and the proscenium will extend either side over the organ grilles to accommodate the curtains. The screen will be 5 meters wide and about 3 meters high. There is still a lot of construction work to do but the projection room and film store are the next priority. As you can see there is not a lot of space to move in yet but this will improve once I start installing the organ. Best wishes, Anthony Storey, February 06, 2009. |
| Plymouth |
Drake
Film Centre (*») |
| |
 Two DP70 (901+902)
in 1959. 3rd DP70 installation in England (after Dominion
in London and Gaumont Theatre in
Manchester). 1650 seats, 18,3 m screen with 2,4 m depth
(with adjustable screen curvature). Ashcraft Super Cinex
lamphouses. DP70 taken out late 70s and stored at cinema.
Removed and sent to MOMI in London.
The Drake closed October 31, 1999. 70mm lenses and oak box
of 793 to Thomas Hauerslev, Copenhagen, Denmark. |
| |
 Chief projectionist R.
J. Macnamara
Hi Bill,
My father was the chief Projectionist at the
Drake Cinema in Plymouth
when it opened in 1958. We had moved from Essex (on the Steam Driven
Cornish Rivera Express) for him to take up the job, having previously
worked at the Plaza, Leicester Sq. London for a number of years after
his demob from the Royal Australian Air force after WWII.
I remember the many visits I made to the cinema with my father to the
projectionist box and would spend many hours watching some of the films
that was shown from the little window next to the projector.
Mike McNamara, 18 Jul
2014
|
| Portsmouth |
Odeon (*»P) |
| |
One of the
DP70s (1391) was sent to Dolby laboratories |
| Richmond |
Film House
Theatre (P) |
| |
Two DP70 (778+779)
installed 1990. DP70 779 removed in August 2008 and is used for Spares for 778. Originally from the ABC Elephant and Castle, London |
| Sheffield |
A.B.C. Theatre
(») |
| |
 Two DP70. Opened
18.05.1961, 1327 seats.
Image from 1962 by Don Sykes
DP70 removed early seventies and
acquired by The North West Cinema Preservation Society which
installed them privately for 10 years. Renamed Cannon and
closed 28.07.1988. Demolished 1992. One DP70 to private in
Newport.
|
| |
 Sheffield ABC Theatre. Image from 1962 by Don Sykes
I
was Chief at this theatre from its opening, in fact I
started there about a month beforehand to be involved in the
installation of the DP70's. I cannot recall the number of
the Philips sound system but it was a two rack system with
the six power amps using E L 84 output valves and E Z 80
rectifiers with E F 86's on the input stage. Arc's were Mole
Richardson Super Seventy's with water cooled jaws. The
picture size was 60' X 29' on opening, the largest picture
in this country at the time. The first 70mm film to be shown
was "Ben Hur" in the Camera 65 process. A
new print was brought in from the States for this run by
MGM. Opening night sold out in less than four hours. Finlay
Currie made a personal appearance on opening night. The film
ran for 12 weeks and admissions were more than 117,000 not
bad for a theatre with a seating capacity of just over
1,300. Other 70mm films to run there were "My Fair
Lady", "Mutiny on the Bounty", "Porgy
and Bess" (one week only) "How The West Was
Won" etc. Don Sykes |
| Sheffield |
Odeon (*») |
| |
 Two DP70 (645+847).
"South Pacific" from 26.12.1958. Cinema
demolished.
Image from Mike Taylor
DP70 sold to Southport Theatre (Southport)
in 1973 at a cost of £2,500.00. This sum was for the
contents of the projection room which included the Arcs,
(Super Zenith 450's) the Rectifiers (Westinghouse) Sound
System (G B Kalee) Rewind Benches, Spools etc but not the
projection lenses. I had to hire a crane with a 100' jib to
crane the dismantled projectors from the box flat roof to
street level. On reaching Southport a crane with a 60' jib
was used to get them up onto the box flat roof there. An
exercise I really wouldn't want to go through again. Don
Sykes |
| Southhampton |
Ben Wales,
private |
| |
 Three DP70. (1913+1810+1811)
fra Plaza #2 in London. 1810 & 1811 From Technicolor, London December 2008.
April 2010 update: See Ben's beautiful
home set up
July 2010 update: July 2010 update: Two former Technicolor
(Theatre one) DP70's (#1810 & #1811) sold to David Parker in
Devon.
They may be installed in a Art Deco Cinema sometime in the
future I believe.
|
| Southhampton |
Forum (*») |
| |
Opened
22.06.1935, 1909 seats. "South Pacific" from
january 1959. Renamed ABC Above Bar 1960. Closed 12.06.1971
for twinning. Reopened 25.11.1971. Closed 21.02.1991 |
| Southport |
Southport
Theatre (P) |
| |
 Two DP70 (645+847)
from Odeon in Sheffield in immaculate condition. The first 70mm film to be shown here being a re-run of "The
Sound of Music". The projectors are now DP75s. |
| |
 DP70s came from Odeon Sheffield by crane in 1973. Image by Don Sykes. |
| Stockport |
ABC Ritz |
| |
Opened
03.01.1938, 2343 seats. Renamed ABC 1961. Closed December
1982 and demolished |
| Stockport |
Davenport
Theatre (*) |
| |
3 DP70.
Originally two was installed. App 1000 seats with Dolby
Stereo. Third machine installed in mini theatre. Closed
September 1997 and demolished. |
| Stoke-on-Trent
(Hanley) |
A.B.C. Theatre
(») |
| |
 Two DP70. Opened 23.08.1963. 1348 seats and 60 x 28 ft
screen. Closed 28.05.1977 for tripling. Reopened 25.08.1977.
Re-named Cannon.
Image by: Tom Degg
I
ran the opening night at this venue, The opening film being "The
Cracksman" (35mm) with MONO magnetic sound. This
theatre was the first to have the new Philips OMA 6 fully
transistorised sound system. The projectors were rigged with
a microswitch in the magnetic soundhead and a further
microswitch near the gate which gave automatic selection of
optical, four track or six track sound dependent on how the
film was laced and which gate was in position. Don Sykes
|
| Stoke-on-Trent
(Hanley) |
Odeon (Gaumont)
(*») |
| |
Two DP70 (864+869).
Machines now with Stephen Rowley.
The listing for the Hanley ODEON has '(Gaumont)' after it -
this is incorrect. The 892 and 896 were situated at the
ODEON on Trinity Street, the Gaumont was situated further in
town and is now the Regent Theatre. To clear the naming
issue up, the cinema in Hanley was once called The Gaumont
as part of a national chain (i forget which chain). Either
before or after this the site was bought by ODEON, and so
ODEON and Gaumont should not be used together to label the
site. As far as i am aware this site did not have a DP70
installation (i will double-check this with Tom).
Patrick Brown,
Technician ODEON Festival Park Stoke-on-Trent.
|
| Stoke-on-Trent
(Hanley) |
Odeon Trinity Street |
| |
 Two DP70 (892+896)
installed in July 1959. They both used Mole & richardson
Super 409 arc lamps. Their first show was "South Pacific".
Tom Degg first used these in November 1962, when he was just
15, and they sparked a love affair with 70mm.
The last show for 892 & 896 whilst in Stoke-on-Trent was
"Cleopatra".
In October 1964 they were sent to The Queens (Cinerama
Theatre) in Newcastle-upon-Tyne
as part of a Cinerama installation.
70mm made a return to Trinity Street in 1965 with the
installation of two Cinemeccanica Victoria 8's, showing
"Those Magnificent Men and Their Flying Machines".
Patrick Brown,
Technician ODEON Festival Park Stoke-on-Trent.
|
| |
 I have a photograph of DP70's 892 & 896 from their days at the ODEON Trinity Street (Stoke-on-Trent). Supplied by our Technical Manager Tom Degg.
Best regards,
Patrick Brown, 21.07.2010.
|
| Stoke-on-Trent |
Odeon
Festival Park #7 / Thomas Deg (private) |
|
 Tom
Degg next to his machine, 06.02.2010
One DP70 (841). Originally from a cinema in Luton,
this was rescued by Tom Degg from a technical school in
Burton-on-Trent during the course of it's demolition back in
2005. It is now owned privately by Tom Degg and is in situ
alongside ODEON 7 at the Festival Park site. It's presently
set up for 70mm presentation and is in full working order,
with a 35mm conversion in storage.
Patrick Brown,
Technician ODEON Festival Park Stoke-on-Trent. |
|
Whitchurch, Shropshire |
Stephen Rowley (p) |
| |
 Two DP70
(864+869).
From Odeon Hanley, Stoke on Trent
870, 892 and 896 are also with Stephen Rowley
|
| |
 I
was a projectionist till 1987, My father (Jack) was a BTH
cinema engineer from 1958 till BTH closed it's cinema
servicing dept and he was taken on by Westrex, he was made
redundant in 1978. We lived in the market town of Altrincham
in Cheshire. Dad list of cinemas when he worked for BTH was
from an RAF base at Barrow in Furness to the Odeon Hanley
Stoke on Trent. Dad was one of the BTH engineers who
installed the DP70's in the Odeon Hanley with the new BTH
stereo sound system which looked similar to the Kalee
Duosonic in that the amplifiers were in the same style of
cabinet. I now have those 2 DP70 and are under going
restoration.
Stephen Rowley,
02.05.2016
|
| Wootton Basset |
Dolby
Laboratories, Inc. (P) |
| |
Three DP70 (859+867+___)
in store for later use. |
| Worcester |
Scala (*») |
