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Visit biografmuseet.dk about Danish cinemas
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The Passing of Widescreen Academy Member
John Mitchell, Australia
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Read more
at
in70mm.com
The 70mm Newsletter
|
Written
by: David Coles, Sydney, Australia. Thanks to Bert Murphy and Cameron
Glendinning for pictures |
Date:
07.08.2020 |
John
Mitchell's favorite photo of himself - shot in his projection room by Bert
Murphy 2017
I regret to
advise that
John Mitchell
has died in
hospital aged 79
(not of
Covid-19). He
had been in
declining health
(with a heart
condition) for
several years.
He determined
that the last
3-strip showing
on April 12/13
2019 would be
the last. And so it was.
In the mid-1970s Sydney film collector/enthusiast John H. Mitchell found
himself as the proud possessor of 35mm magnetic soundtracks to a swag of old
Cinerama movies. With several years of dogged persistence (and a lot of good
luck along the way) he managed to obtain 3-strip projectors from our closed
Cinerama theatre in the city, also gathering other parts and print material
from around the country - and the world. Eventually he pieced together a
full collection of 3-strip prints, prologues, breakdown films and trailers
from those features, and set up a fully functional private open-air cinema
in his back garden. Over the years many widescreen enthusiasts found their
way to this location, which would become legendary.
Various local actors and crew from "SOUTH SEAS ADVENTURE" turned up -
along with poster girl Ramine
from Bora Bora. Two
"WINDJAMMER"
boys -
Harald and
Sven - came: all the
way ... from Norway. "SEARCH FOR PARADISE" director Otto Lang - well
into his 90s - arrived from Seattle by ship. Prominent Cinerama promoters
like Keith Swadkins,
Willem Bouwmeester
and Tom March also
made the pilgrimage. After 40 years of showings (usually two weekends a
year): advancing age, and a stroke suffered a few years ago, had slowed John
down to the point where lifting those heavy reels became too much for an old
picture show man.
Despite an eager bunch of helpers being keen to assist, he determined that
the weekend of April 12/13 last year [2019] would bring an end to the
3-strip era Down Under. By then it was not just the projectionist who had
become worn out - most of his prints had deteriorated to un-runability,
while any good ones had been donated to the Bradford museum.
It has been through the efforts of John Mitchell,
John Harvey, Willem
Bouwmeester, Gunther Jung and other enthusiasts (not to mention the goodwill
of Cinerama, Inc.) that enough 3-panel material was saved from destruction
until our savior
Dave Strohmaier and the digital age arrived on the scene to save those
widescreen classics for posterity. Our Mr Mitchell was pleased to have
played a role. John had no close family - just a bunch of like-minded mates
who will mourn his passing, and miss the nostalgic film experiences provided
by his hard work and enthusiasm.
As a 'non-projectionist' Cinerama nutter I still can't believe I had the
good fortune of meeting John, and having been invited to attend the only
3-strip venue in the Southern Hemisphere - just a few miles from my home!
Over my years of research, John was always keen to provide technical
assistance and put up with my ideas (some of which would over-stretch many
friendships). We attended the 1993 Cinerama opening at Bradford, but despite
my encouragement (and indeed pleading) he chose not to attend the 2012 event
where his certificate of meritorious Cineramic conduct was awarded. (In the
early days of picture shows 'limelight' was the projectionists friend - but
John preferred to stay out of it.)
John remained reasonably well until earlier this year when a serious heart
complaint was detected. At the time of his death he was undergoing
chemotherapy treatment - but it would only delay the inevitable. The end
came somewhat sooner than expected. John H. Mitchell (1941-2020) a dedicated
3-strip preservationist who has passed into widescreen history. I (along
with many others) will miss him - and his contribution to 'the cause'.
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More in 70mm reading:
Speech for John
Mitchell
John H Mitchell's Twin
Presentations
Interview with John H.
Mitchell, Australia
Mitchell: Gallery of
older pictures
In The Picture - Tom Down Under
in70mm.com's Cinerama page
Remastering the CINERAMA Library
Louis de Rochemont's "Windjammer"
produced in Cinemiracle
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Updated
21-01-24 |
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