TODD AO, ICONIC, CineSpace 70, 65mm Film Camera, Circa 1980’s  

Description:

As the TODD-AO factory catalog stated in 1987: “The CineSpace 70 is a complete ’70mm’ camera system offering the convenience and ease of operation found in most 35mm systems. State-of-the-art CineSpace 70 cameras and lenses produce spectacular image quality unlike any ever seen in a 65mm theatrical format.”

The CineSpace 70, 65mm camera by TODD-AO, was designed and manufactured by Douglas Fries (Fries Engineering, Inc) in Hollywood. TODD-AO was founded in 1953 by Mike Todd.

TODD-AO introduced its new CineSpace 70 series of cameras at a special meeting of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) on August 10, 1987.

TODD AO cameras have been working since the mid 1950’s, and the TODD AO CineSpace 70 camera system was developed in 1987.

Some of the feature films shot with TODD-AO cameras were:

OKLAHOMA – 1955

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS – 1956

SOUTH PACIFIC – 1958

CLEOPATRA – 1963

THE SOUND OF MUSIC – 1965

HELLO DOLLY – 1969

AIRPORT – 1970

PATTON – 1970

This camera was fabricated by Doug Fries of Fries Engineering for Mike Todd, the creator of the TODD AO System. This CineSpace 70 camera had a 65mm movement whose negative could be printed onto either 35mm or 70mm film stock.

This very rare artifact of widescreen film production will need a FULL service and overhaul and the operating accessories plus a set of lenses to be ready to shoot, but as it exists today it is a wonderful and authentic, static, non running, display antique of the iconic TODD AO CineSpace 70 studio camera.

Very few, if any, of these exist worldwide as very few were ever made.

Sold as a 65mm spinning mirror reflex silent movement camera body, a 65mm magazine, similar to what is shown and a Fries TODD AO extended viewfinder.

Questions welcomed.