DC Video sees a "Classic Ghost" in the Two-Inch Tape Room!

DC Video has worked with the UCLA Film and Television Archive in the restoration of 2” videotapes from the series: ”The Classic Ghosts”. Using our Ampex AVR-1 as playback, 10-bit uncompressed digital files were made.

This series has now been released on Blu-ray. Here is a link to this product:

https://kinolorber.com/product/the-classic-ghosts?srsltid=AfmBOopTZ8nZDc_Kuh_dSrOkPnwpjxIvfl9rf2qor0nR2RyatKw28R9G

Here is information taken from the Blu-ray publication:

Virtually unseen since their late-night airings on ABC television in 1973, The Classic Ghosts is a series of five feature-length teleplays, shot live on videotape (in the style of daytime dramas) and meticulously restored by the UCLA Film & Television Archive. Not only do these gothic thrillers showcase an array of celebrated actors, but are notable for having been produced by a primarily female creative team, including producer Jacqueline Babbin (Sybil) and directors Lela Swift (Dark Shadows) and Gloria Monty (Sorority Kill). This two-disc edition includes all five productions: The Haunting of Rosalind, The Screaming Skull, The Deadly Visitor, The House and the Brain, and And the Bones Came Together.

Product Extras :

• Interviews with Mark Quigley (John H. Mitchell Television Curator, UCLA Film & Television Archive), Maya Montañez Smukler (Head of the UCLA Film & Television Archive Research and Study Center), and Amanda Reyes (Made for TV Mayhem)

• Demonstration of 2" video technology, featuring David Crosthwait (DC Video)

Publish Date : 2024-08-15

Several interviews and other “behind the scenes” productions occurred for the making of this release.

The above picture was taken during the video/interview shoot. Left to Right:
Mark Quigley: John H. Mitchell Television Curator, UCLA Film & Television Archive
Maya Montañez Smukler: Head of the UCLA Film & Television Archive Research and Study Center
David Costhwait: DC Video
Jim Kunz: Cinematographer. Owner · Creatively Bankrupt Productions

Here is a link to a short section of one of the interviews:

https://youtu.be/3Nd6UKAfj98

DC Video Transfers a Rare Two-Inch Quad Videotapes: Frank Sinatra "Live From Caesars Palace"

A funny story about these videotapes and this program:

In 2004, we received a call from a client to transfer 3/4” U-matic tapes of this concert for non-broadcast use. Upon receipt and playback, it was determined that the tapes (with TAV labels) were offline copies with very large timecode in the picture. I gave the client the bad news and their initial thought was to simply blow up the picture to lose the code. However, this was deemed impractical. I gave my unsolicited opinion that these 3/4” tapes were most likely struck from two-inch Quad originals for the purpose of an offline cut (and read between the lines-this must be on two-inch Quad somewhere). Upon my personal urging of this client, I asked him to go back to the vault in Hollywood and see if the two-inch originals still existed. He thought not but went anyway for the search.

About two hours later, I received a frantic call from my very excited client almost screaming that he had found the two-inch original tapes (line cut plus ISO) and that he was “on his way for delivery”. I could not believe it but I was happy for my client!

The two-inch Quad tapes were first-generation recordings of Frank Sinatra at Caesars Palace in May 5, 1978. They were in very good condition and the Trans America Video remote truck Norelco cameras looked great. Upon delivery of the transferred tapes to the client, they were so thrilled with this “finding” along with the recovered quality that it was decided to add this Caesars Palace videotape performance to a Frank Sinatra 4 CD boxed set already in pre-production.

This “Sinatra Vegas” boxed set hit the market in 2006.

Below is a Wikipedia link summarizing this boxed set:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinatra:_Vegas#:~:text=Sinatra:%20Vegas%20is%20a%202006,Sinatra%2C%20recorded%20in%20Las%20Vegas.&text=This%20box%20set%20covers%20some,Casino%2C%20and%20at%20Caesars%20Palace

DC Video Restores "Music in Monk Time: A Retrospective Tribute to Thelonious Sphere Monk"'

DC Video has restored a one-inch type C videotape that has not been widely seen in the United States for years. For the program: “Music in Monk Time”, the client supplied various source reels on 1” type C (NTSC and PAL) and on 3/4” U-matic for evaluation. After much analysis and cleanup, the “best of the best” video and audio created a new master file..

Music in Monk Time​, a film produced by Paul Matthews and Stephen Rice, was considered by Los Angeles Times jazz critic, Leonard Feather, to be “surely the best jazz film in at least 25 years” in 1983. However, aside from premieres in Los Angeles and San Francisco, almost no one in the United States has seen it. 

A detailed history of this program can be seen here::

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_in_Monk_Time

A trailer from the final delivered product can be seen here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEXAFgWaSM4​

“Music in Monk” poster.

One of several shipping containers containing tape for “best source” evaluation for the creation of a new master program. This shipper and the tape had been to France and to Spain.

One source reel had mold buidlup that had to be removed.

This reel had mold buildup on the outer edge of the upper part of the pack. Most likely, this issue is from the tape having long-term exposure to moisture.

DC Video Recovers and Restores The Two-Inch Quad Videotape of "The Jazz Singer" Starring Jerry Lewis

This is the main title card from the 2” Quad videotape recovery of the 1959 recording: “The Jazz Singer” starring Jerry Lewis.

DC Video was chosen to recover a very early color videotape recording of: “The Jazz Singer” starring Jerry Lewis. Chris Lewis, president of Jerry Lewis films, brought to us a challenging project: The recovery of the sole-surviving videotape of this 1959 production. There were many technical challenges to overcome in this incomplete recording. Using a kinescope of the final air version mostly for audio sourcing, this program was restored and is now available to the public.

A clip of the program can be seen here:

https://youtu.be/RKGuJvshnQg?si=H0_B6QAll8zN_sQa

A behind the scenes interview with Chris Lewis can be seen here:

https://youtu.be/_1KFWgHNU2Y?si=lRjGhY1a3APqgaCE

Content Link Block

Select a page and create a visual link to it. Learn more

DC Video News

DC Video Transfers Historic John Lennon-Yoko Ono Mike Douglas Appearances from Two-Inch Videotape

DC Video was tasked with the recovery of five very rare Mike Douglas Show programs with guest hosts John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Each program was recorded on two-inch Quad videotape but there were several catches:

1) Each of the five programs was recorded on used and ancient 3M 379 non-back coated videotape stock.

2) These tapes were heavily worn, each having been played many times over the course of 50 years due to the unique content.

3) The normal two-inch Quad record speed of 15 I.P.S. (inches per second) had been discarded in favor of the 7.5 I.P.S. speed (resulting in more record time per tape but with less audio and video quality).

4) These were dubs of the original recording tape, thus further reducing the possible quality.

Using a dedicated Ampex AVR-1 with a specially-built MK XX 5 mil head (for 7.5 I.P.S. playback), each delicate tape was carefully recovered for max. quality. The AVR-1 design has unique demodulation and filtering circuitry along with the “buffer” (TBC) to be able to handle non-standard 7.5 I.P.S. recovery without unwanted artifacts.

Apple Quicktime files were made for delivery to Shout!.

In consideration of the physical and electronic challenges, the recovery of these five shows was well received.

Here is a short video on this Mike Douglas series:

https://youtu.be/GkjiRlTVVnQ?si=8kGOnulx7y6rfurA

Pictured here is one of the reels of two-inch Quad tape containing this program.

This is an example of a dilapidated container which housed two-inch videotape for shipping.

A closeup inspection of one of the reels in this series exhibits step winds from the non-back coated stock slipping and possibly cinching the pack. This issue was one of the reasons why this older brown tape stock had been replaced by back-coated product but not in this case with these dubbed and archived programs.

DC Video Recovers the Oldest Surviving Color Videotape of an Entertainment Program

The UCLA Film & Television Archive has now posted the recently recovered program: Milton Berle Starring in The Kraft Music Hall (10/8/1958) in color. This is now believed to be the oldest surviving color videotape of an entertainment program. The only older color tape is the WRC dedication.

This program was an NBC Burbank live origination feeding New York and the network. Live color Kraft Food commercials were inserted and hot switched into this feed at NY (and simultaneously hot switched into the Burbank time zone delay tapes-quite a feat!).

The program starts with a minute or so of the previous incoming color program on the network (The Price Is Right). Then black followed by the Berle Program.

The UCLA screening of The Milton Berl Show # 1, October 8, 1958, filled up the Billy Wilder Theatre in Los Angeles for this special screening. It was nice to see the recognition and acceptance of videotape preservation with the attendees (a packed house), among them being Mrs. Lorna Berle! This first Berle program of this series is now considered the oldest surviving color videotape of an entertainment program.

DC Video is proud to have been tapped to recover this Milton Berle Show # 1 from 2" Quad.

Retro Video contributed to the balance of the program with material from other 1958 Milton Berl segments and one complete show.

In the attached photo, left to right:

Professor Shawn VanCour, UCLA School of Education & Information Studies

Mark Quigley, John H. Mitchell Television Curator (arranged Berle acquisition and theatre presentation producer)

David Crosthwait, DC Video

Bill Dicicco, Retro Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nk8jIPbEBwk

DC Video Transfers Rare CCR Royal Albert Hall Perfomance

Using unearthed 625/PAL 2” Quad source tapes sent over from the U.K., DC Video has contributed to archival recovery from multiple source reels for the theatrical release of:

Travelin’ Band: Creedence Clearwater Revival at the Royal Albert Hall

The Trailer can be seen here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSgjNffYBdo

The third-generation Ampex AVR-1 2” Quad videotape machine was used for this project.

We would like to thank Mr. Taylor Umphenour for sending us this historic project.

One of the videotape labels from over 50 years ago.

LEGENDARY DEAN MARTIN AND FRANK SINATRA FAMILY CHRISTMAS SHOW PREMIERES ON PBS STATIONS

DC Video recently completed the transfer of a very special two-inch Quad videotape featuring Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra, recorded on 9-23-1967 and airing on 12-21-1967. The project consisted of recovering as best as possible the original two-inch Quad high-band first generation color videotape and converting it to 1080i HD. This vintage program contained physical splices which held up perfectly throughout the entire one-hour program. The third-generation Ampex AVR-1 was utilized for the 525 line NTSC playback and the Teranex provided the conversion to HD. The result was a program reproduction consisting of remarkable fidelity and color rendition. It can also be noted that this two-inch Quad videotape was recorded at the NBC Burbank studios. Jerry Smith, a master on the TK 41 video controls made the cameras look great and veteran editor Steve Orland performed the physical splices. 

It’s a very entertaining one-hour special, which aired during the holiday season in 1967 across the NBC television network. 

This version of the program, a PBS Fundraising special, will be airing on PBS member stations this fall, its first release since its original airing. Here is a link to more information on the program:

http://www.sinatra.com/news/legendary-dean-martin-and-frank-sinatra-family-christmas-show-premieres-pbs-stations-beginning

We’d like to thank Michael Garrison, Dennis Allen and David Leaf for giving us the opportunity to restore this very special program. 

Zappa Documentary Uses DC Video for Media Restoration

The recently released “Zappa” documentary by director Alex Winters used the services of DC Video to transfer multiple videotape formats from the legendary Zappa vault. The media consisted of 2 inch Quad, 1 inch Type C and Betacam SP videotapes. Over 90 tapes were digitized to hard drives in 10 bit Uncompressed Quicktime .mov files.

We wish to thank Zappa archivist and musician extraordinaire Joe Travers for selecting DC Video for this project.