A few, very rare times, the cinema owner or projectionist would keep the print instead, and store it away.
That lead to a secretive ‘grey market’ for 35mm theatrical prints amongst private collectors…
Well I’ll be damned. Talk about a history lesson. Thank you for taking the time an effort to write all of that Poita. It’s like we’re all a band of rebels trying to do our part to fight an empire…that sounds familiar.
I remember when all of this technology was dawning. The fantasies of everything being preserved. Anything you wanted would be at your fingertips anytime. Amazing how greed and ego can continuously stifle progress.
I can’t wait for Harmy to release what may wind up being the best archival representation of this important piece of our culture.