|
Date |
Time Line |
|
22.06.1907
|
Avrom
Hirsch Goldbogen was born in Minneapolis. Later known as Michael Todd
(height 173 cm).
|
|
08.10.1929
|
Michael
Todd, Jr is born.
|
|
30.09.1952
|
"This
is Cinerama"
world premiere in New York.
|
|
15.10.1952
|
 Michael
Todd approaches Dr Brian O’Brien of The Institute of Optics of the
University of Rochester, New York in a bar across Rochester airfield to
discuss new process.
A letter from Brian O´Brien, dated April 20, 1953
|
|
Late
11.1952
or early 12.1952
|
Todd-AO
photographic lens commissioned (late November 1952). 128’ =
22mm (The Bug-Eye lens). 64’ = 44mm, 48’ = 58mm and 37’ = 76mm)
decided later.
|
|
25.03.1953
|
Magna Theatre Corporation organized.
|
|
xx.05.1953
|
Construction
of Todd-AO "Bug Eye" lens completed in only 6 months (It was 9
inch across front element).
|
|
15.06.1953
|
65mm test
footage shot with vintage 23-year-old Paramount camera
filmed by Michael Todd. Actress is Evelyn Keyes.
|
|
14.08.1953
|
The Regent Theatre in Buffalo (800 seats). First screening of prototype Todd-AO
process.
|
|
August 1953
|
 Todd-AO
Corporation came into being at Wilmington, Delaware, US.
|
|
September
1953
|
Magna
Theatre Corporation places an order
of 50 Todd-AO multi purpose projectors from Philips in Holland.
|
|
xx.01.1954
|
More Todd-AO
process tests shown in Regent Theatre in Buffalo.
|
|
xx.06.1954
|
 Todd-AO
Corporation formed.
|
|
22.06.1954
|
First public Todd-AO process performance at MGM's stage 2 in Culver City (CA).
|
|
14.07.1954
|
Filming of "Oklahoma!"
began with 2 Todd-AO cameras at MGM sound studios and at locations in
Arizona.
|
|
03.08.1954
|
 More
test 65mm footage filmed by director Fred Zinnemann and filmed by Harry
Stradling ACS. Scenes are a 2-horse carriage with two people filmed in
California.
|
| Fall
1954 |
First DP70 prototype. Three DP70 pre-production models delivered
from Philips in Holland. May have been installed like this: 2 at American Optical Company in Southbridge and in Buffalo and one in MGM´s Stage 2 in Culver City. One machine also installed at Philips ELA Department in Holland.
|
|
15.10.1954
|
A Todd-AO
demonstration with one DP70 concluded a long period of laborious research
and experiments. This was the first presentation with the DP70.
|
|
06.12.1954
|
Filming of "Oklahoma!"
ends. At that time 6 Todd-AO cameras were used.
|
|
xx.02.1955
|
"Oklahoma!"
scheduled for a May opening.
|
|
23.04.1955
|
"Oklahoma!"
scheduled for a July 17 opening.
|
|
10.10.1955
|
"Oklahoma!"
invitation premiere in New York. Also October 11 & 12.
|
|
13.10.1955
|
"Oklahoma!"
world premiere at the Rivoli Theatre in New York. Two shows a day.
|
|
15.10.1955
|
10 Todd-AO
cameras available.
|
|
29.10.1955
|
"Oklahoma!"
Hollywood
premiere at the Egyptian
Theatre in Hollywood.
|
|
02.11.1955
|
It was
announced that Michael Todd had sold his holdings in
Magna
Theatre Corporation Theatre Corporation.
|
|
17.10.1955
|
"Around
the Wold in 80 Days"
premiere at the Rivoli
Theatre in New York
Brian O'Brien, Jr.
tracks American Optical Co's development of the Todd-AO process
|
|
22.03.1958
|
Michael
Todd is killed in a plane crash near Grants, New Mexico and laid to
rest at Jewish Waldheim Cemetery,
Chicago (Remains moved to Hollywood,
CA during the 1990s).
|
|
26.03.1958
|
1957
OSCAR. Todd-AO Corporation and Westrex Corporation for developing a method
of producing and exhibiting wide-film pictures, known as Todd-AO System
(Scientific and technical awards. Class 1 awards).
|
|
xx.12.1958
|
20th
Century Fox invests USD 600.000 in the Todd-AO company and the rights to
produce three films in the Todd-AO process.
|
|
08.04.1963
|
 Todd-AO
Projector awarded an Oscar
AMPAS
president Wendell Corey presents the 1962 OSCAR
to Norelco president Fred Pfeiff.
|
|
Mid 1960s |
Todd-AO introduced its new
compact
Mitchell / Todd-AO 65mm
Camera AP-65
|
10.08.1987
|
Todd-AO introduced its new
CINESPACE 70 series of cameras at a
special meeting of the American Society of Cinematographers on
August 10, 1987.
|
|
01.07.1992 |
Brian
O'Brien passed away
|
|
1994 |
Todd-AO and Dan Leimeter hosts
The 70mm Promotion
Tour to Los Angeles 1 - 15 October
Go to gallery
Visit to
Todd-AO Studios, October 1994
Todd-AO Compact Distribution
Print Tested
|
| Late
1990s |
Dr. Richard Vetter
and some other associates decided to give the large format image
another chance to show its abilities. In the process changing the
name from "Cinespace 70" to "ClearVision 2000".
Dr. Richard Vetter about
ClearVision 2000 +
US6242150 patent for 'ClearVision Panoramic 7OMM Film System'
|
|
1999 |
Marshall Naify died and
Todd-AO
camera department is sold and closed.
Dan
Leimeter:
Marshall was the head of the
family that had owned controlling interest in Todd-AO since the
1950's, and when he passed away his family was eager to cash in
their tremendous assets in the profitable company that was a leader
in it's field. Liberty
Media buys Todd-AO.
Soon, the name was gone, the people were gone, and
the facilities were gone.
|
|
05.05.2002
|
Michael Todd, Jr.,
passed away
|
|
2005 |
50th anniversary of the premiere of the Todd-AO process
|
|
04..07.2009 |
Robert E.
Hopkins, passed away
|
|
26.06.2012 |
Walter
Siegmund, passed away
|
|
11.09.2013 |
Brian
O'Brien, passed away
|
| |
|
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