Reviving "Williamsburg: The Story of a Patriot" in 70mm Film Projection |
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| Written by: Tanya Lyons, Ticketing Systems and AV Support Specialist. Pictures by: Jeff Raskin. Special Thanks: Rick Raskin | Date: 01.01.2026 |
 Tanya Lyons
next to the 70mm rewind tableMany visitors to Colonial Williamsburg will remember "Williamsburg: The Story of a Patriot" as the film to see in the Visitor Center. The format has changed over the years, from 8-perf horizontal VistaVision projection in its earliest iteration to 70mm, then to DVD from 2017 on. 70mm film projection has returned to the Visitor Center with this author spearheading the effort. I remember walking into my first day as a ticket agent with the intent of working with the film projectors at some distant point in the future. I had worked in many different environments in Williamsburg, from the Kimball Theatre to Busch Gardens as an AV and live-show technician. Here was my chance to work with the real deal. I walked into the booth, saw bits of film sticking up on a platter, and wondered how this would work. I had literally walked into a time capsule. I could see the modern additions for the DVD operation, but the film projectors and everything around them spoke about how the projectionists had worked. |
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 Patriot
Theater projection roomIt all started with research. I spent a few days at the Rockefeller Library going through boxes of materials that came from the booth after the last projectionist left. I brought back manuals for installed equipment and print usage records. I read anything I could access online and watched YouTube videos to see how others worked with the projectors. One of my supervisors, Marianne Johnston, had written a business plan for the Patriot Theaters to revive 70mm film projection for "Story of a Patriot" and other possible uses. Her plan became the framework for revival. I met a few retirees - Richard McCluney, Mike Durling, and Jim Survil. Their knowledge was invaluable. |
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 Tanya Lyons
next to a 1965 Century JJ2 70mm film projectorNone of them had worked day-to-day operations in the booth. Jim came the closest as the former chief engineer. Mike was the manager of Digital Media Services before his retirement. Richard had worked closely with "Story of a Patriot" from the initial filming in 1956 to heading CW’s Production Division. Their knowledge and encouragement were the inspiration I needed to get started. I started by rolling the wild film ends off the platter by hand to create my training film. A few pieces were only a few feet, but many were the better part of a print. Mike Durling and I spent a day in the booth figuring out the best way to thread the projector. I used my skills to trace lines where the wiring diagram ended in nonexistent equipment. I discovered the audio path by trial and error, finally making the correct connections. Jim Survil and I headed into the cove above the East Theater to retension part of the screen that had fallen. The four 1965 Century JJ2 film projectors themselves still needed maintenance. Sitting for a few years had loosened things. I read the manual and learned to retime shutters to prevent the image from bleeding. A film projectionists’ training video from 1983 on YouTube taught me how to properly clean the projectors. The maintenance guides from the previous projectionists provided additional information. There were failures at times. I learned to clean the projector to prevent the intermittent footpad from slipping loose and spewing film into the projector head and then onto the floor. I learned how to splice film back together after I tore a few sections. These failures were intimidating but served as a learning experience. |
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 Screen
image of a scene from "Williamsburg: The Story of a Patriot"Funds were donated to start renovations in earnest. Working from Marianne Johnston’s business plan, I contacted two vendors for assessments on the theaters to get repair quotes. This occurred shortly after the pandemic, when getting electronic components from overseas was a challenge. We got equipment from one vendor but could never get a repair timeline. Another vendor stepped up, giving us the timeline we needed. Digital installation started in November 2023, with other visits to continue refining programming and maintenance of the film projectors. The techs were quite patient with my questioning, since I had no film projectionist to mentor me. These visits made the reopening of the East Theater to show 70mm film a reality. |
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 Tanya Lyons
loading the 70mm print into the Century machine. Note the white gloves and
DTS / DATASAT time code on the 70mm print.I spent a few weeks refining showmanship, but the proof of concept was showing donors "Story of a Patriot" in its 70mm glory. They were elated with the progress, and I was relieved that they were so happy. The doors opened to guests in March 2024 to show 70mm again. I often tell folks there’s so much up here that could go wrong. I could forget to turn something on, or equipment could cease to function. Both things have already happened. But when it all goes right, the guests never know I’m there. I show the single reel prints as the platter system is still a mystery to me. There are things I know that I don’t know, but I look forward to learning every day. Even simple discovery is a victory. I tell folks "Williamsburg: The Story of a Patriot" is an artefact of CW itself. This was filmed at a very different time. I take pride in bringing that time back to life in its original format to marvel and amaze guests. |
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 70mm print stored on the non-rewind platter. |
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Patriot Theater facts & film |
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 The
35mm dubber is the original translation dubber, used for 6 languages
translated for the film.Location: Visitor Center, 101 Vistor Center Dr, Williamsburg, VA, USA Seat capacity per theater: 244, plus 4 wheelchair access spaces Screen size per theater: 26' high by 52' wide (7,9 meters x 17,2 Meters), Todd-AO aspect ratio. Theatre: Built in 1956, the same year "Story of a Patriot" is filmed, to celebrate the US's 180 anniversary. Projection format 70mm with DTS / DATASAT digital sound. Restored in 2004 About "Williamsburg: The Story of a Patriot": Williamsburg: The Story of a Patriot tells the story of how Virginians political leaders in the House of Burgesses—including Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and George Washington— debated and resolved to move from forceful protest to a resolution for independence in May of 1776, risking everything to transform Virginia from a colony of Great Britain to a Commonwealth within the United States. This story depicts Virginia's crucial role in American Independence through the perspective of John Fry, a fictional Virginia planter portrayed by Jack Lord, elected to the House of Burgesses. This groundbreaking film used cutting edge technology utilizing Paramount Studio's VistaVision cameras and Todd-AO six-channel sound to orient guests to the locations and key historical moments they would experience during a visit to Colonial Williamsburg. Running time: 37 minutes Original premiere: March 31, 1957 |
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Original 1957 presentation in VistaVision |
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 VistaVision
fact sheet kindly supplied by Martin Hart, The American WideScreen Museum,
2004 |
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 Faded
35mm VistaVision frame of "Williamsburg: The Story of a Patriot". Vintage
film strip kindly supplied by Rick Raskin |
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 Faded
70mm VistaVision frame of "Williamsburg: The Story of a Patriot". Vintage
film strip kindly supplied by Rick Raskin |
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 Faded
70mm VistaVision frame of "Williamsburg: The Story of a Patriot". Vintage
film strip kindly supplied by Rick Raskin |
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 Faded
35mm VistaVision frame of "Williamsburg: The Story of a Patriot". Note the
"Fox sprockets", and magnetic oxide with 6-track sound. Vintage film strips kindly supplied by Martin Hart, The American WideScreen Museum, 2004 |
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