|
Date |
Time Line |
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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.
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|
30.09.1952
|
"This
is Cinerama"
world premiere in New York.
|
|
15.10.1952
|
 Dr
Brian O'Brien
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
|
 American
Optical Company
Todd-AO
photographic lens commissioned (late November 1952).
•
128’ =
22mm (The Bug-Eye lens)
•
64’ = 44mm
•
48’ = 58mm and
•
37’ = 76mm)
decided later.
|
|
27.11.1952
|
 Joseph Schenck
Magna Theatre Corporation was incorporated in Delaware on November 27, 1952 and organized on March 25, 1953. Michael Todd owned 31% of the shares. Through Magna Theatre Corporation they commissioned American Optical Company of Southbridge, Massachusetts, USA to develop the lenses, camera, screen, sound and the projector.
|
|
25.03.1953
|
 George P. Skouras (president of United Artists Theatre Circuit), Joseph Schenck and Michael Todd formed
Magna Theatre Corporation
to:
• Develop Todd-AO process
• Raise money to produce "Oklahoma!" in Todd-AO
|
|
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
|
 Spyros
Skouras
The Todd-AO Corporation was formed in June 1954 to be:
•
"Technical agent for the process" and "To supply and service the necessary equipment".
The company was owned by Magna Theatre Corporation (75% of the shares) and American Optical Company (25% of the shares). American Optical Company owned all patents to the process, which were licensed to The Todd-AO Corporation.
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22.06.1954
|
First public Todd-AO process performance at MGM's stage 2 in Culver City (CA).
On June 22, 1954 the first industry and press demonstration of the Todd-AO process took place at the large Stage 2 at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in Culver City (CA).
Test footage projected in 65mm: A test sequence from "Oklahoma!" directed by Fred Zinnemann and filmed by Robert Surtees ASC and Harry Stradling, ASC one of which were filmed August 3, 1953 on the MGM lot. The roller coaster Atom Smasher filmed at Rockaway Playland near New York photographed June 15, 1953, a bull ring in Madrid and the canals of Venice photographed June 9, 1953 all directed by Michael Todd and photographed by Harry Stradling.
The MGM screen measured 51 by 25 feet (15,5m x 7,6m). The curve had a depth of 13 feet (4m). The overall curve measured 60 feet. At the screening were Brian O'Brien, Michael Todd, Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II, Fred Zinnemann and Jan J. Kotte.
Dr Brian O'Brien explained how
"The curve helps to develop the illusion of audience participation and peripheral vision".
Joseph Schenck (Head of Magna Theatre Corporation) also attended and said
that "Oklahoma!" would be road shown in 45-50 theatres in Todd-AO before being reduced to 35mm film.
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|
xx.xx.1954
|
 Todd-AO
Conference 1954 at American Optical Company Research Center
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14.07.1954
|
Filming of "Oklahoma!"
began with two 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.
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|
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.
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06.12.1954
|
Filming of "Oklahoma!"
ends. At that time six Todd-AO cameras were used.
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|
xx.02.1955
|
"Oklahoma!"
scheduled for a May opening.
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23.04.1955
|
"Oklahoma!"
scheduled for a July 17 opening.
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10.10.1955
|
"Oklahoma!"
invitation premiere in New York. Also October 11 & 12.
 New York's 40-year old Rivoli Theatre, which was completely modernized and
remodelled for the two-a-day reserved seat performances of Todd-AOs
"Oklahoma!" will also serve as a sales room, in the mornings, to
demonstrate Todd-AO equipment. Interested exhibitors may inspect the
Todd-AO
projector and screen at close hand and may view the film as projected from
either a high or low booth, depending on weather a slanted or straight throw
is desired for his particular theatre. Jules Catsiff, who supervised the
reconstruction of the famous Broadway house, revealed that the
rehabilitation job cost about $ 350.000, not including the Todd-AO
equipment. For example, wider seats were installed measuring 22 inches as
against 18 and 19 inches for the replaced chairs. The decision reduced the
seating capacity of the theatre from 2094 to 1650. The mohair-covered seats
are the Bodiform type made by American Seating Co.
New Leedom carpeting and
a special "Oklahoma!" curtain have been installed. New screen
measurements were given as 66 feet x 27 feet (20 x 8,23m), with the curve of the screen
measuring 13 feet at the center.
No popcorn is sold at the Rivoli, and only
25 cent candy and ice-cream bonbons are available to the patrons. The
theatre is getting a $ 3.50 top for evening performances, and a $ 2.75 top
for matinees. Balcony and mezzanine prices are $ 2.25 and $ 1.75 evening,
and $ 1.75 and $ 1.50 for matinees.
The Independent Film Journal 15.10.1955.
|
|
13.10.1955
|
"Oklahoma!"
world premiere at the Rivoli Theatre in New York. Two shows a day.
|
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15.10.1955
|
 Ten Todd-AO
cameras available.
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29.10.1955
|
"Oklahoma!"
Hollywood
premiere at the Egyptian
Theatre in Hollywood.
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|
02.11.1955
|
It was
announced that Michael Todd had sold his holdings in
Magna
Theatre Corporation Theatre Corporation.
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17.10.1956
|
"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
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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).
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|
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
|
 Jan
Kotte
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'
|
|
1996 + 1997 |
 Henry
Cole
Visits in Pomfret (CT) by Dick Whitney, Willem Bouwmeester and
Thomas Hauerslev to talk about the history of Todd-AO
|
|
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.
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|
05.05.2002
|
Michael Todd, Jr.,
passed away
|
|
04..07.2009 |
Robert E.
Hopkins, passed away
|
|
26.06.2012 |
Walter
Siegmund, passed away
|
|
11.09.2013 |
Brian O'Brien, Jr. passed away
|
|
11.08.2015 |
Richard Vetter
passed away
|
|
2025 |
70th anniversary of the premiere of the Todd-AO process
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