A type of art...old film in canisters...

Not art exacttly, but had to pick a category. Could not resist these at an estate sale today. They look like they've been shipped multiple times, by railroad express, etc.

Inside is film, the title of each, "Your Hidden Talent". First photo is a little disheveled, these both had firm straps horizontally and vertically, just took the pic after I was having a look inside.

I do not have a projector to play these, but unrolled a bit enough to read, Paramount Television.

Could not find anything online about "Your Hidden Talent". Any idea what these might be? A show that never made it?

The film canisters measure approx 13 inches across. General thoughts much appreciated. Just curious about these.

 

It's probably the same film as the case, but may not be. You could unroll a couple feet to check. It's likely an inspirational/instructive film. There are people who collect 8mm-16mm films. I think there's an annual 8mm film festival here in Toronto.

 

Thanks, would this be 16mm? I would love to watch it -- but how? At the moment don't know anyone w/a 16mm projector.

 

Just a thought but . . .

Do you have a museum in your area which might still have such a projector and could you "cozy up" (within limits, of course) to someone at that museum to see if anyone there would run the projector for you on the museum's premises?

 

Thanks, that's an idea. There is also a collector who I bump into a lot at sales, I think he has every projector known to mankind. Maybe could try him.

What do you make the labels on top of labels? Would this have been sent from one place to another for viewing?

 

I'm just thinking out loud. Do you suppose that perhaps the tapes are audition tapes for potential "contestants" in selected cities in a specific geographic area or across the country? Maybe the tapes were sent to local TV stations for filming wannabe contestants.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KSFO
I notice this radio station is listed. It's now a talk radio only, but it was much more. There's a link at the bottom of this page to its history. You might find more information.

 

Hi Lucille,
Are there any dates on the shipping labels? That could help narrow down a production date.

I looked on Internet Movie Data Base for that title. The closest I could find was a 1980s British TV series. Are the "ship to" addresses all to radio/TV stations?

It would be nice if you had a pair of rewinds so you could look at the titles and credits. I have some that I never use anymore. My dad bought a HUGE collection of 16mm and 35mm at the estate sale of an old projectionist and I helped him sort and inspect all the films.
Hundreds of reels.

The first thing film collectors will ask you is if the film smells like vinegar, which I doubt, since it hasn't been sealed in cans. The hardboard shipping cases are not airtight and can breathe, so the film is less likely to go bad and deteriorate.

If you do unreel the film a few feet by hand to look for titles/credits, be careful not to finger print it or scratch it up by letting it drag on the floor. Handle the film by the edges or wear cotton gloves.

Can you tell if it's black and white, or color?

 

It looks to me as if there are no sprocket holes running along the edges. If not then what you have is videotape, not film. The width of the tape might give you a clue as to age. Two inch wide videotape was introduced in 1957 and it was the television studio standard for about twenty five years. One inch wide videotape was in use by 1976.

 

I found this in Google books...

https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&hl=en&q="your+hidden+talent"+"Harry+Von+Zell"&gws_rd=ssl

There was a radio show titled "Your Hidden Talent" that was moderated by Harry Von Zell.

 

It's a standard reel of 16mm film. Probably for broadcast. Try contacting Museum of Television and Radio, New York.

(You can see the yellow leader and sprocket holes)

 

Thanks for all of the responses. Apologies, I had no idea there were replies all this time --only got a notice today (one month later). Very much appreciate everyone taking a look.

Sounds like this is a 16mm -- I have a 2nd one in a similar case titled "Las Vegas". I don't know films, but just looking at the cases would say these are 1950's or earlier. The various labels (many went by "Railway Express", and street addresses had no zip codes.) All addresses shown were U.S. Either LA or San Francisco.

What struck me was that shipping labels were slapped on top of other labels--so it must have gone from broadcasting place to broadcasting place, probably 10-20 labels on this, one on top of the other.

As for the film condition, no vinegar smell thankfully.

If I contacted the Museum of Television and Radio, would I be asking if they recognized the titles?

I know someone in town who is sort of a movie buff, we could probably play these -- He collects old projectors, might have one that would play this. Will be careful to handle the film as instructed.

Thanks.

 

The Von Zell show was in the early 50s, so that sounds right.

 

"If I contacted the Museum of Television and Radio, would I be asking if they recognized the titles?"

Asking for anything they can tell you.

 

Thanks. Just spoke with them. (Now called the Paley Center of Media).

Not sure where this is going to wind up, told them I was doing research, the Paley Center curator spoke to me and I am going to send him a short email with description/photos.

I initially purchased these for resale, but it is not impossible I might donate them to this place, so we'll see how it turns out. Thanks for the tip.