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DP70: The Story of the Todd-AO Projector |
Read more
at dp70.com and at
in70mm.com |
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| Written by: Thomas Hauerslev, editor | Date: 11 June 2005 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Jan
Jacob Kotte with a prototype DP70. Newspaper clip.The birth of the DP70 projector dates back to October 1952 and the beginning of the Todd-AO process. Michael Todd, not satisfied with technical limitations of the Cinerama process, he formed a company with some investors, including Rodgers and Hammerstein II, Joe Schenk and George Skouras and named it MAGNA. The purpose of Magna was to develop a new wide screen process. Magna Theatre Corporation commissioned American Optical company to develop the system which was named Todd-AO. The purpose of the process was lined up like this: "TODD-AO film, plus the TODD-AO camera, plus the TODD-AO "all-purpose" projector, plus TODD-AO Orthosonic sound, and the great, arced TODD-AO screen equal clarity of perspective, delineation, and color reproduction. But, most important with TODD-AO, audience participation now has its fullest expression." |
Additional dp70 reading here: Go to Todd-AO Jan Jacob Kotte "Oklahoma!" Internet link: |
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 For
Todd-AO a new projector was required.
Unable to make one in-house, American Optical Company asked several US projector companies to build a new
70mm projector. None of them, however, believed a completely new 70mm projector could
be ready in only 9 months as required.In September 1953 Magna Theatre Corporation approached Philips Cinema, a division of Philips Electro Acoustics division (ELA) in Eindhoven, Holland. Dr. Brian O´Brien, AO heads of Research and Development knew a tremendous number of people and he was well aware of Philips projectors and their reputation of excellence. Headed by Philips Cinemas chief designer Mr. Jan Jacob Kotte (Note 6) Philips Electro Acoustics division (ELA) was asked to manufacture a multi purpose projector suitable for all 70mm and 35mm formats. Kotte and Philips knew it would be expensive, and Magna Theatre Corporation had to buy 50 machines (For the 25 Todd-AO installations) in the first order (Note 11). In 1953, Philips Cinema was also very busy making new equipment for CinemaScope. A list of some of the people working at Philips ELA |
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| William
(Bill) E Peck of American Optical Company and Jan J. Kotte, jointly designed and built the projector from ground up in only 9
months as required by Magna. It was a revolutionary
projector and so versatile it could show any film format except horizontal
double frame VistaVision. The DP70: "...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" (Note 9). The final version, however, did require change of gates, pressure bands etc. Jan Kotte worked day and night with his colleagues and even went as far as installing a home-office with a large drawing board. Completely unheard of in 1953/54. |
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Prototypes |
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 Towards the end of 1954 the first set of three DP70 pre-production models
were delivered to Magna Theatre Corporation and pictures began to appear in
magazines.By February 1955, "Oklahoma!" was expected to open in early May 1955. And by April 1955, the opening was expected to be on July 17, 1955. They design was a little different from the following machines. Interestingly, the mechanism door was mounted on the left side of the mechanism (door opened right to left). The interior was not painted white, but rather in the Philips Hammer tone Epoxy paint finish like the rest of the machine. Prototypes did not carry serial numbers. Prototypes are here referred to as pre-production numbers X1, X2 etc. Although not an original installation, the two DP70 prototypes are still being used at Todd-AO Stage #2 in Hollywood to this day. Nearly 50 years after delivery! |
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Where were projectors manufactured? |
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 All
projector mechanisms were made in Holland in series of 100 at a time.Other projector parts (lower base, upper base, spool boxes, mounting table for lamp house) were also made in the United States by American Optical Company and are clearly noted: Made in Buffalo, New York. In the US brochure dated S-61 (probably 1961) parts were made in Mount Vernon, New York. Projector parts made in the USA carry a serial number on the upper base with a production year and a production number. An example is 59-175. Later models only carry a 4-digit serial number. |
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The DP70 is Heavy |
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 If
you consider having a DP70 installed in your living room you must check two
things first. What will your wife say, and will the floor hold? I cannot
answer for your wife, but here is the weight of a DP70: |
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Shipment |
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 The DP70
prototype at American Optical´s ½-scale cinema. Image by Thomas
Hauerslev.In the fall of 1955, 50 DP70 projectors were shipped from Holland to the United States for the Michael Todd Company, Inc., just before the opening of "Oklahoma!" on Broadway October 10, 1955. Those 50 machines were numbered from no 601 - 650 as the first machines (Some projectors were marked "Property of the Michael Todd Company, Inc"). By late 1955 the first 4 Todd-AO cinemas were: 1: Rivoli, New York, USA (13.10.1955) (4 machines) 2: Egyptian, Hollywood, USA (17.11.1955) 3: Los Angeles, Hollywood, USA (24.12.1955) 4: McVickers, Chicago, USA (26.12.1955) Usually there were 2 machines in a projection room. A left and a right projector (as seen from the rear of the machines toward the screen). But in some cases 3 and 4 machines were needed. A 4-projector example is the Palais de Festival in Cannes and Musee du Cinema in Paris, both in France. Today it is not unusual to find a 1-projector installation. The DP70 also works with platters (non-rewind/cake stands) and towers. |
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Todd-AO outside the US |
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By the time of Photokina Exhibition (29.09.1956 to 07.10.1956) in Cologne,
Germany there were 21 Todd-AO cinemas in the US. Todd-AO installations in
the US were planned and carried out by The Todd-AO Corporation. The speed of installing Todd-AO equipment in the US took of slower than expected due to the lack of film in the Todd-AO process. In 1957 there were 60 Todd-AO installations and Germany, Italy, Malta and Japan were about to get Todd-AO. By 1958, there were 10 DP70 installations in England and by January 1960 there were 34 cinemas (19 CMA and 15 ABC) in Great Britain with the DP70. The number of Todd-AO installations had risen to 86 in the US and Canada alone by 1959. By August 1960 the DP70 was installed in 231 venues = 462+ machines (US and rest of the world). By OSCAR Night, in March 1963, there were 525 DP70 installations (= more than 1050 machines) in 39 countries. Another source says that on 15.04.1963 there were 450 DP70 Todd-AO installations all over the globe. Other 70mm projector manufactures were: Bauer, Cinemeccanica and Century. By December 1964 more than 1100 cinemas worldwide had 70mm installed. Most of them were with the DP70. During the 1966 Photokina exhibition (in Cologne, Germany), Philips Cinema presented the new DeLuxe Projector for 35/70mm, widely know as the DP75 and manufacture of the popular DP70 had finally come to an end. |
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Roll out of Todd-AO cinemas by date and country: |
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The Price of a DP70 |
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| The DP70 was very expensive and
thanks to several sources the price of a machine has been recovered from
years of dust. This one from Craig Binnebose: The Cecil Theatre, Mason City, Iowa. Two DP70 cost USD $6225.00 each. August 10, 1966. Quotation No. 447 from Ballantyne of Omaha. To be added to the web site, The price of a complete Todd-AO installation at the Savoy in Hamburg, Germany. The first purpose built Todd-AO cinema in Europe. Thanks to Hans Frahm in Johannesburg, South Africa, the price of a DP70 in 1962 and 1964 has been found. The price is in the international currency of 1962: British Pound Sterling. |
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The name “DP70” |
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 Philips
originally named the new machine the EL4000/01 in their catalogue, but it
quickly became the DP70. The DP is short for Double Projector and the 70
meant it was designed specifically as a 70mm projector. With a handy storage
case with all necessary parts for 35mm film, change over from 70 to 35 could
be done in less than 4 minutes. See DP70 features from the fifties.In the United States it simply became the Todd-AO projector Catalogue 3070. Later the name was changed to Universal 70/35 and finally from 1963, it became the Norelco AAII. AA was very likely short for “Academy Award”. II meant “Version 2” because of the many new changes and improvements introduced to this model after winning the OSCAR. Philips Cinema nicknamed the projector the Dollar Princess because they made a considerable amount of money developing it for Magna Theatre Corporation. It is interesting to note that in the state of Victoria, Australia, it was known as EL4000 and in the state of New South Wales, also Australia, it was know as DP70. |
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Cine Aperagons - The Todd-AO projection lens |
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 The
Todd-AO projection lenses, known as Cine-Aperagons, were specially designed
for each cinema with aspherical surfaces on some of their elements.Available focal lengths 2,6" = 66mm 3" = 76mm 3,5" = 89mm 4,1" = 104mm 5,6" = 142mm 6,6" = 168mm Additional DP70 70mm projection lenses: |
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Automation of a DP70 or Disposal |
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 The
DP70 is not made for automation, remote control and multiplex operation. So
with increasing demand for cost saving, theater managers 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. in England became distributor of Cinemeccanica's projectors. DP70s were removed in more than 20 ODEON cinemas and replaced by the popular Italian Cinemeccanica Victoria 8 70mm projector. The Victoria 8 can be fully remote controlled. A reasonable but VERY expensive action by Rank facing the increasing competition. Some of these DP70s went to the United States, but most of them was 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. |
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 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! *). It is interesting to note
that Hoyt's did not buy another Philips projector for about 10 years after
DP70 production ceased. During this time they bought Cinemeccanica Victoria
8s. In 1976 Hoyt's again began to buy Philips machines mostly FP20s but some
DP 75s for new locations. From South Africa there are reports of an actual burial of a DP70! Back in England, the ABC cinema group also replaced some DP70s with the brand new DP75. Most DP75 installations were set up for the 70mm presentations of “Doctor Zhivago” (in 1966). Many DP75 installations were new 70mm installations. Some ex-ABC DP70s went to the United States. In the early 1990s some DP70s were still maintained by Steven Krams and his company in Florida and he had at least 20 machines in stock. *) There is no evidence of this statement. But as theatres were closing in the 60s and 70s a lot of theatre owners had the problem of disposing of equipment that had no resale value, and the DP70 had not reached the cult following that it now has, so many were simply thrown out. |
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| The DP70 also
inspired at least three different machines, which have striking similarities
with the DP70. The Toshiba Photo Phone Co., Ltd. in Japan
introduced their TP 70/35 Imperial projector (Motion Picture Almanac 1972
page 64A). Spool boxes, lower- and upper bases were more or less identical
to the DP70. Another interesting DP70 look-a-like projector was the Russian KTT15-A. This projector do not look like a DP70 at all on the outside. Inside, however, some striking similarities were apparent. The lens mount bracket, 70mm film gate and the shutter were a very close variation of the DP70. Theres also the Incol 70-35 from Brazil where the film gate have some similarities with the DP70. |
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The Academy Award |
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 In
the early 60s Philips Cinema was probably the worlds largest Cinema
Equipment supplier and Jan J. Kotte´s projector quality was unrivalled.How many 70mm projectors will allow one 70mm print 1600 passes? That was the case of Dominion's "South Pacific" Todd-AO print, which ran 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: "The design and engineering of the Norelco Universal 70/35mm motion picture projector". It was furthermore 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”. |
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 Reportedly, the Award is the first ever given to a projector in the
Academy's history. In 1999 the IMAX projector, with the unique Rolling Loop
principle, was awarded a similar award.At that time (OSCAR Night) there were 525 DP70 installations (= more than 1050 machines) in 39 countries. The OSCAR was well deserved. The DP70 was and still is the "Rolls Royce" of 70mm projectors. Later that same year 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 came (Note 11). |
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DP70 Still With Us |
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| DP70 projectors are sold at very high prices. 10.000 dollars is not an
unlikely price for a projector fully reconditioned and in perfect working
order. Worn and badly maintained projectors are much cheaper of course. Many DP70 projectors have found a safe home in the hands of DP70 devotees who restore them to original glory. Some people even strip them and have them completely repainted in the original Phillips Hammer tone Epoxy paint. How hard it may seem, 70mm projection and 6-track stereo in a private theatre in the basement is not uncommon. It is not only film collectors and projectionists who appreciate the DP70. Many cinemas, laboratories and film studios like Technicolor Ltd., 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers and Paramount Pictures in Hollywood have several DP70s in the their screening cinemas. Todd-AO in Hollywood have 6 projectors and Paramount Pictures at 5555 Melrose in Hollywood runs at least 5 machines. And with good reason too, as the DP70 is the "Rolls Royce" of 70mm projectors. A large number of DP70s are still running today, nearly 50 years after the first one came of the assembly line in Eindhoven, Holland. A well kept DP70 will (probably) never fail in operation. The DP70 is a beautiful projector, outstanding craftsmanship and a piece of contemporary art from the 1950s. |
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