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The editor Receives BKSTS Award Honorary Membership of the BKSTS for the work in preserving the history of 70mm and for keeping it alive in arranging screenings. The award was presented at the 2009 Cinema Technology Christmas Party on 14th December 2009 at the Odeon Leicester Square in London.
Dion Hanson, BKSTS CTC Chairman & Cinema Engineer, the editor and Sir Sydney Samuelson, OBE outside the Odeon Leicester Sq, London. Image by David Hilton
It has been said that Thomas did more for the art of projection when he stopped being one. After a childhood love for the cinema his dreams came true when he became an apprentice in April 1982 at the 3 Falke Bio. By December, the cinema had closed. His next cinema was the City Bio. Thomas didn’t stay long and the cinema managed to survive another 5 years before being demolished.
However, the cinema industry hadn’t learned its lesson and Thomas was able to get work at 3 other cinemas, pursuing his hope of projecting 70mm. Eventually he landed at the Imperial Bio where, not only did he fulfil this ambition, but he also met his future wife Charlotte in box office. Charlotte is a lady of immense patience and understanding but surely didn’t recognise how these talents would be tested in years to come.
The BKSTS (British Kinematograph Sound & Television Society) was founded in London, England in 1931 to serve the growing film industry. As well as meetings, presentations, seminars, international exhibitions and conferences, BKSTS also organizes an extensive programme of training courses, lectures, workshops and special events.
By now, Thomas decided it was time to pursue a new career, one more suited to family life and joined the Danish Railways – and yes the trains do run on time, even today. But the love of cinema is at his very core, his heart and soul. Even his mobile number ends in 70. So when the offer came to edit the International 70mm Newsletter, he grabbed it. He started to build a global network of fellow enthusiasts for the work in widescreen cinema and met many of the great founders and developers of Cinerama, Todd-AO and an increasing number of old and new widescreen formats.
Part of that network soon reached Bradford and the National Museum of Photography Film & Television, where Thomas soon became a key correspondent for the developing Widescreen Weekend. Soon he was a part of the weekend, programming, finding prints, introducing shows and networking on behalf of his new toy. It soon spread and new 70mm festivals started to appear across the globe and Thomas was there, feeding them and helping them grow.
30.06.2010
-, og så er det kommet mig for øre, at du er blevet "Honorary Membership" af BKSTS! Stort tillykke Thomas! Det har du virkeligt fortjent!!! Det er utroligt flot det du har udrettet!
Med fare for at levere ros eller smigr, som ifølge Mikael Bertelsen per definition først kommer når man ikke længere har brug for den, vil jeg ønske dig tillykke med BKSTS prisen, som undertegnede altså først nu erfarer, er kommet dig i hænde december 2009.
Du er virkelig et eksempel par excellence på ægte, varm entusiasme! Mon nogen har fortjent prisen som dig, eller, spørger jeg oprigtigt mig selv, mon nogen klæder prisen bedre end dig!
Thomas Hauerslev and Sir Sydney Samuelson. Image by Paul Rayton
Thomas realised that more could be done in through the web and 10 years ago set out to develop the definitive source of widescreen information. Today in70mm.com is immense and ever expanding. It’s information base is unparalleled but if that is all it was, it would be useful but dull. What is irreplaceable is the first hand testimony of many of the hidden stars of cinema – technicians, inventors , developers and his first love, projectionists. Much of this has been gathered by Thomas on his world travels, and more by his friends and colleagues who lovingly contribute to his masterwork.
12.01.2010
Congratulations on your well deserved BKSTS award.
Thomas doing a very unrehearsed speech. Image by Jim Slater, Cinema Technology
It is easy to forget that this is unpaid, un-financed and English is not his first language - it is all the more remarkable for that. It has to be said Thomas also has grand delusions. Recently he has taken to proclaiming himself the “Mother Teresa of 70mm”. Some have seen him as the James Bond of 70mm, others, less kindly the Austin Powers. What cannot be denied, is that Thomas has a passion for widescreen cinema and technical excellence and has created an international network and resource that celebrates those people and their skills and inventions that have given so much pleasure to the world.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is an honour, privilege and pleasure to be able to say that this year Thomas Hauerslev is made an Honorary Member of the BKSTS.
29.12.2009
I continue to be impressed by the dedication you have to the continuing wellbeing of 70mm. I would like you to have met my colleague and friend, the late Robert Gottschalk, founder and driving force of Panavision. He was of the unshakeable opinion that picture quality, real picture QUALITY, depended on a big piece of negative, the bigger the better.
All good wishes, Sydney
25.12.2009
Many congratulations for your honorary membership at the BKSTS. What a surprise - I was happy too.
Congratulations with the BKSTS Award! You really deserve it.. I don't how you manage that, so much work for the 70mm site. And you have still a "normal" job?
now...in UltraVision70, Paul Rayton managed to make a "video verité" of the speeches - Dogma95 Style
24.12.2009
I just wanted to congratulate you on receiving the BKSTS award this month. It is thoroughly deserved and merits all the hard work you have done to promote wide gauge cinema. I am sure you must feel very proud to have received this and I am sure it will take pride of place in your house.
Projectionists John Sharp (ODEON Covent garden) and Robert Waghorn (right)
Paul Rayton (left) and Thomas Hauerslev on the ODEON balcony overlooking world famous Leicester Square
Nigel Wolland, OBE, talking to Paul Rayton (left)
Michael Weiner alias, nicknamed "bald eagle" ("Mad Max" when he was the 'Arch) from the Kensington Odeon, Bob Bregazzi from Southampton Odeon and Steve Grimley from Richmond Odeon