P3D Re: re: Dial M, mag sound

["Norm in S.F." <normlehf@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I had an opportunity to look at an original release print of "House of
Wax" a few years ago. It carried "Warnersound."

There were two mag tracks on each print. The theater I was in was not
equipped to play them (They were running the mono optical track) so I
don't know how they were arranged.

One would imagine that the music was carried in two-track stereo on one
of the prints, with the other one carrying the dialog on one track and
surround effects on the other--although some dialog might have been
mixed on the stereo pair, too. Since there wouldn't have been phase
coherence between the two prints (and not much between the two tracks on
a single print. The tracks were on the outside edge of the film.), the
dialog couldn't have been panned as it is now. It would have to have
been full left, full center or full right channel.

I am speculating of course. Someone who was there will be along any
minute to set us straight.

Norm Lehfeldt



Michael Kaplan wrote:
 
> As for stereo sound: from about 1952 on, almost every neighborhood
> theater in New York City was equipped with stereo sound, presumably
> running off mag tracks. ALL films in CinemaScope - for the first couple
> of years of its existence - were shown with mag tracks at all theaters.
> I believe that was part of the Fox contract, right? I recall seeing
> original screenings of both "House of Wax" and "Charge" in 3-D with
> stereo sound -- at neighborhood theaters.


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