Richard Balzer Collection at The Academy Museum

 I visited the "Path To Cinema" exhibit at The Academy Of Motion Pictures Museum in Los Angeles.  Dick Balzer was a well known member of The Magic Lantern Society and was both a collector and performer. 

Much of Richard's collection can be seen in this YouTube video. 

Although Richard passed away in 2017, his collection was donated by his wife Patricia Bellinger to the Academy Museum. 

The exhibit had a variety of different lanterns spanning multiple types and styles. 

There was also a good display of hand painted Magic Lantern slides. 

Besides the lanterns and slides, there was a good display of other entertainment technologies. 

There was also some original literature and posters. 

One of the walls had a display of several slides being performed.  There was no narration, just a demonstration of the slides, but it still did a pretty good job of showing what the capabilities of the media. 

Art

Phantasmagoria

Story

Travel

Science

The exhibit is being retired and put back into storage on March 12, 2024 so make sure to see it before it goes away.  

A Guide To Kodak Safelights

All safelight photos are from specimens in my personal collection

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Number	Color	Picture	Usage
OA	Greenish Yellow	N/A	Black and White contact and duplicating materials, Projection Films.
OC	Light Amber	N/A	Contact and enlarging papers. TRANSLITE Film 5561.
OO	Light Yellow	N/A	Used for flashing halftones through a KODAK Contact Screen to control contrast.
No. 1	Red	KODAK No. 1	Blue-sensitive materials, most phototypesetting materials, KODAGRAPH projection, and some LINAGRAPH Papers.
No. 1A	Light Red	KODAK No. 1A	Slow orthochromatic materials, KODALITH and KODAGRPAH Orthochromatic Materials, High Resolution Plates
No. 2	Dark Red	KODAK No. 2	Fast orthochromatic materials, some green-sensitive x-ray films, EKTALINE Papers, Orthochromatic LINAGRPAH Papers
No. 3	Dark Green	N/A	Some panchromatic materials
No. 6B	Brown	N/A	INDUSTREX Films and Papers
No. 7	Green	N/A	Some black and white infrared materials.
No. 8	Dark Yellow	N/A	Some EASTMAN Color Print and Intermediate Films.
No. 10	Dark Amber	N/A	RESISTO Rapid Pan Paper, VERICOLOR Slide FILM 5072, VERICOLOR Print Film 4111. PANALURE Portait Papers
No. 11	Appears opaque but transmits infared	N/A	For use with KODAK Infrared Scope or similar inspection devices.
No. 13	Amber	KODAK No. 10	PANALURE, PALALURE II RC, PANALURE Portait, and RESISTO Rapid Pan Papers. EXTACOLOR 74 RC and 78 Papers.
No. ML-2	Light orange	N/A	Intraoral dental x-ray films.
No. GBX2		N/A	Blue-sensitive x-ray films except KODAK SB Films; most green-sensitive mediacal x-ray films except KODAK CFA, PF, Single-Coated Medial X-ray film-Green Sensitive, and KODAK PHOTOLURE FIlm-Green Senstive, which rquire KODKA Safelight Filter No. 2. KODAK SB Film.

 

Reference - Kodak Safelight Filters Published by Eastman Kodak 1978. Revised 12-1980.

Poor Things Costume Exhibit at FiDM

The costumes from the film  Poor Things were on display at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FiDM) in Downtown LA.  As someone who gives 1800's Magic Lantern shows, I was especially interested in how the costumes helped tell the story of the film and how I could use costume as part of my performances with the Magic Lantern.  The film takes place in the late Victorian period which was also a time of great popularity for Magic Lantern shows. 

The museum was open to the public and did not require tickets. Costumes worn by Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe and Ramy Yousef were on all on display. 

Upon entering, you get an overview of the film and one of Bella's (Emma Stone's Character) costumes.  was used to tell the story.

Several of Bella's costumes were on display.  The costumes increased in complexity and depth throughout the film as Bella's character grew. 

This costume was worn by Bella's mother who, if you saw the movie, is also Bella and played by Emma stone. Such elegant Victorian fashion!

Here was Willem Dafoe's costume for his scientist character. 

And Ramy Yousef's costume.

For my Lantern shows, I was especially interested in Mark Ruffalo's costumes. Oh how I wish I could get that ruffled shirt! 

Also this velour dinner jacket.

A look at Shoes!  

Finding period shoes can be a challenge.  There are not a lot of choices out there. I was impressed with the variety in the shoes and how they told the story. For example, Ramy Yousef's character was an assistant.  His shoes are simple laced shoes with plan leather and well worn. 

Mark Ruffalo's character had button boots with broguing.  These I would love to wear!

Willem Dafoe's scientist had more utilitarian shoe. 

And some props!

Having period items as part of a performance helps bring context.  I especially enjoy doing shows in historic venues for this reason.  Here's some film props that were shared at the exhibit. 

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More information on the costume design for Poor Things can be seen in these YouTube videos.