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

The Todd-AO projector was developed in this house on Jacques Perkstraat in surburbian Eindhoven. Picture by: Thomas Hauerslev

"... changeover from 35mm to 70mm will be accomplished by flicking a switch and twist one or two dials. It will be unnecessary to interchange film movements, gates etc".

The final version, however, did indeed require change of gates, pressure rollers, pressure bands etc. With a handy storage case containing all necessary parts for 35mm film, change-over from 70mm to 35mm could be done in less than four minutes. Philips claimed a four minutes conversion time, but that would be only the mechanical parts and not other aspects such as checking screen illumination, framing and centering. Jan Kotte worked day and night with his colleagues and even went as far as installing a home-office in Jacques Perkstraat in surburbian Eindhoven with a large drawing board. A work-from-home set-up was completely unheard of in 1953.

• Go to Jan Jacob Kotte and His Dollar Princess by Anton Kotte
• Go to A Brief History of Philips Cinema by By C. G. Nijsen
• Go to Construction of the Philips “All Purpose” projector DP70
 

Prototypes

The name “DP70”

Cine Apergons - The Todd-AO projection lens

Where were projectors manufactured?

Shipment

Todd-AO outside the US

The DP70 Cinemas

The DP70 Serial Numbers - How many DP70 were made?

The serial number is the small metal plate on the back of the mechanism between the two oil taps, or on earlier models, just above the shutter.

"How many DP70 machines did Philips Cinema produce in Eindhoven, Holland?"

That is a question which I have been trying to find the answer to for many years. The short answer is 1577 machines. This is a qualified guess, based on all the numbers in this list. "Huh! How is that?" Well, since the early 1980s I have been collecting DP70 serial numbers as a hobby. Whenever I visited a cinema with one or more DP70s I wrote the number down, and recorded the theatre name. Over time, many friends and projectionists have sent me similar information, and to date, this list now includes nearly 700 machines. The list of serial DP70 numbers has been assembled over nearly 40 years and serves no other purpose than being a very needy interest, but also a work of love.

The serial number is the small metal plate on the back of the mechanism between the two oil taps, or on earlier models, just above the shutter. The number plate changes location between machines: #1459 and #1473 (Original install: Palladium, Copenhagen, Denmark). The list of numbers starts off at #601 and ends with #2532 and then jumps to a final stop at #2729. There are no numbers between 999 and 1300 (with a few exceptions, which I think are mistakes). On many machines found in the US, additional United Artists number plates have been added to the machines. Those, I assume, are Todd-AO Corporation numbers.
 

This in not the DP70 serial number plate. It is the American Optical Company upper base plate. This number plate is only seen on the DP70 base in the United States. Plates like this have the following number ranges: 59-- _ _ _. 1 _ _  and 6 _ _ _

I have been unable to find precise information as to the exact number of machines manufactured. It will remain a total mystery how many DP70 projectors Philips Cinema manufactured from 1955 until the end, around 1966. The Philips company has been very helpful, but alas, have been unable to find any records. Kinoton was kind to reply in 2001, and they estimated around 1500 machines had been built. Kinoton was located in Munich, Germany, and became the distributor of spare parts for the DP70.

28. August 2001

Dear Mr. Hauerslev

Unfortunately I cannot give you any information about the production figures of the DP 70. You would have to turn to Philips Eindhoven in the Netherlands. The only thing I can tell you is a number of 1500 DP 70 projectors which we sold in the period from 1955 until 1968. I hope this will help you a little bit.

Regarding spare parts for the DP70 fortunately we cannot confirm your statement. It is true that not all service parts for the DP70 can be supplied, but most of them are still produced and supplied.

Best regards
Renate Zoller
Kinoton, Germany

If I assume that all numbers collected so far gives a random image of all the machines ever made, then my guess is that Philips Cinema made 1577 DP70 Todd-AO projectors. In the table, you can see a breakdown of each series with my notes. The list is not complete, nor will it ever be, but it does give a very good depiction of how popular the Todd-AO Projector was. Especially since everything Todd-AO is now long gone in Hollywood, and digital cinema has taken over mainstream cinema, we still have the original 70mm projector left in many cinemas. Perhaps the most successful element of the entire Todd-AO Process?  

Although much effort has been made to keep the list up-to-date, you must be prepared to find that some machines have been removed. The machines have been located at one point since 1982 and may not be installed any longer. The list does not necessarily reflect where all machines are today. Some projectors have been moved or scrapped since the date of recording between 1982 and today.  Also, please take a look at this list on this page called "Missing DP70 numbers", which are theatres with DP70s where the mechanism serial number has not been recorded yet, or where the serial number plate is removed etc. As soon as the mechanism numbers are added, the machines are moved to the regular lists.
 

"And the OSCAR Goes to...PHILIPS"
The 1962 Academy Award

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

The DP70 was extremely gentle to 70mm film, and allowed many passes through the gate, without significant wear and tear. 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 also 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”.

Actually there were two OSCARS made. The original OSCAR was was awarded to the Philips Company and brought back to Europe by Mr. Kees Nijsen, who was Sales Promotion & Advertising Manager of Philips Cinema's Publicity department. The Philips company ordered a second OSCAR to award to Mr. Jan Kotte personally in appreciation of his dedication to Philips. The 1962 Award (given in March 1963) was the first ever given to a projector in the Academy's history. The OSCAR was well deserved. The DP70 was, and still is, the "Rolls Royce" of 70mm projectors. In 1999 the IMAX projector, with the unique rolling loop principle, was also awarded a similar award.

Later in 1963 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 arrived.

The DP70 was a heavily advertised by Philips's creative department for commercial activities. Kees Nijsen remember:

There was a split-up of responsibilities: The "Factory" taking care of development, construction and manufacturing, and the "Commercial Department" being in charge of marketing, planning and sales, plus keeping in touch with international markets and sales representatives (Philips and non-Philips products) abroad.

• Go to A Brief History of Philips Cinema
• Go to DP70 Brochures

• Go to Two Norelco AAII 70mm Projectors on Display @ Claremore Museum of History at Claremore, Oklahoma, USA

Commercially responsible for cinema activities were:

• H. Opdenberg, Commercial Director
• H. A. H. M. Nillesen, Commercial Director Cinema Department (later succeeded by H. L. A. Gimberg.)
• W. Jansen, Technical-Commercial liason officer
• C. (Kees) G. Nijsen, Sales Promotion & Advertising Manager
• G. Hooghiemstra, Sales Representative USA area

The 55th Anniversary of the DP70 Academy Award was celebrated at the Philips Museum, Eindhoven, Holland with the exhibition "And the Oscar goes to ... Philips" from 2 March to 13 May, 2018, with Mr Anton Kotte present with his dad's OSCAR and Emiel de Jong's beautiful DP70 #1656.

• Go to 55th Anniversary of the DP70 Academy Award
 

Which is the longest running DP70?

Competitive 70mm projectors and DP70 Clones

Automation of a DP70 or Disposal

Cannibalized #681 in Hollywood. Image by Thomas Hauerslev

The DP70 had not been made for automation, remote control and multiplex operation. With increasing demand for cost saving, theater owners 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. became distributor of Cinemeccanica's projectors in England. DP70s were removed in more than 20 ODEON cinemas and replaced by the popular Italian Cinemeccanica Victoria 8 70mm projector. The Cinemeccanica Victoria 8 can be fully remote controlled. A VERY expensive decision by Rank facing the increasing competition. Some of these DP70s went to the United States, but most of them were 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.

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! There is no evidence of this statement, but it is colorful.

"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".

Eric White, Melbourne, Australia, 29.09.2003

The end of an era and new use of old machines

Legacy of the DP70

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

The DP70 projector is arguably the most successful part of the Todd-AO system. Despite the arrival of digital cinema, the DP70 can still be found in analogue cinemas here and there.

• Go to 55th Anniversary of the DP70 Academy Award
• Go to Gallery: May 1998: Visiting Anton Philip Kotte in Eindhoven, Holland
 

DP70: A Hobby Odyssey

In 1982, as a teenager, I started my film-life as a projectionist apprentice at the 3 Falke Bio, my favourite cinema which was "purpose built" for Todd-AO in 1958. My new interest became the history of the Philips DP70 projector. I was intrigued and wondered "Why did the DP70 receive an OSCAR and what was Todd-AO?". My collection of DP70 information started to build and soon I discovered how much the DP70 was appreciated everywhere. I also discovered the wonderful story about Todd-AO and have spent a lot of effort and time to document the Todd-AO process and the DP70 projector. I remember finding the original European DP70 Brochure with a list all DP70 installations by August 1960. I started to collect DP70 serial numbers from Copenhagen, and soon expanded the search to the rest of Denmark and soon to Malmø in Sweden and in Hamburg in Germany.

"How many DP70 machines did Philips Cinema make?

I wrote letters to cinemas and soon answers arrived with serial numbers and pictures from fans all over the world. This was amazing! Imagine the thrill to receive a letter from The Todd-AO Corporation in Hollywood with serial numbers and images of their machines. What a joy to find 24 machines in Parisian projection rooms one single summer day in 1992. The bonus by the end of the day was my ability to say "70mm" and "DP70" in French - fluently. The list kept growing and I sent out regularly updated lists to all contributors in return for their help. Today, many years later, the lists are too long to print, and instead you can find all the information here on this page.

As my interest developed for the DP70 I created many lists on paper with the DP70 installations. First on a typewriter, and later on a PC in WordPerfect. In 1999, in70mm.com opened, and eventually, all this material was transferred to the internet - and more or less as it looks now. Philips Cinema kept very detailed lists of all cinemas with the DP70, and those lists are the basis of my lists on these pages. The cinema lists also include observations from fans and myself.

•  Go to DP70s in Cinemas All over The World

Additionally, where available, I have noted how many projectors each cinema had, as well as information about screen size, number of seats, technical equipment, Cinerama & Cinemiracle and information about speakers, sound formats etc. For many cinemas the number of seats reflects how many seats the cinema had on the day of DP70 installation. Seating capacity information of early US cinemas is based on Motion Picture Almanac 1961 and Variety.

To separate which installations were the original Todd-AO / DP70 installations, small markers have been included. Where known, I have indicated the source of the information with the following abbreviations:
 

Installations not mentioned in above mentioned official brochures or lists have no marking. It is of course next to impossible to make a record all DP70 cinemas and serial numbers. Projectors are moved and often re-installed in new locations. Cinemas open, close and occasionally the machines are destroyed when cinemas are demolished. When available those details have been included on the cinema lists.

• International Projectionist, December 1959.
• European DP70 Brochure from August 1960
• The ELAgraph vol. 6 no 5 from November 1960 (110 cinemas in the States and 130 cinemas outside the States) (Installations indicated with “*”).
• North American Philips Company, Inc. (Norelco), issued a list dated January 16, 1964 (Installations indicated with “»”).

Little did I know, so many years ago, what this interest and lifelong hobby would bring me. I have only met nice people everywhere who speak fondly of the DP70.

The DP70 seems to be a favourite among projectionists everywhere across country borders and languages. I have had many wonderful visits to projection rooms, cinemas and unique historical places related to the DP70 story. I even had my own DP70 #2171 for nearly 20 years sitting in my office, and it ran 70mm on a curved two (2) foot screen.

I have traced the story back into the home town of the chief engineer, and had the privilege to met Jan Kotte's son Anton and his wife, shared memorabilia and information. I have seen the birthplace of the DP70 and photographed the Academy Award, which Jan Jacob Kotte won in 1963 for his achievement. I have seen the remaining buildings of the American Optical Company in Southbridge, Mass., in the United States, the birthplace of Todd-AO, and met with several key people from the early days of Todd-AO.

It would have been impossible to find all this DP70 information without continuing support and enthusiasm from DP70 devotees everywhere. To those individuals who have assisted me I am very grateful. My thanks to everyone, and keep up the good work. We still have some numbers to find and cinemas to check ;-)

Feel free to send your DP70 information to me: Thomas Hauerslev
 

DP70 Hard Facts

The DP70 is Heavy, but not that heavy

What did a DP70 cost Originally?

DP70 Features
Checklist from the late fifties of many outstanding features of the DP70

Norelco AAII Features
Here are all new features to the NORELCO AA11 model launched in the US during 1963

DP70 Reference notes