P3D Re: Dial M, mag sound

[Greg Kintz <gkintz@xxxxxxxx>]

Michael Kaplan <view@xxxxxxxx> 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.


For me the big question would be: Do the original 4 channel
masters still exist? Many studios used to routinely trash or reuse
some of their magnetic audio masters for films a few years after
a film's run was completed. Many of the bigger 3-D films made
in the 1950's were released with multi-channel sound, but haven't
been released in with stereo audio sense. The early 1980's single
strip 3D re-releases of "House of Wax" and "Dial M for Murder"
were also monophonic, even though the Dolby Stereo format was
available at the time of the re-releases. However I have read that
the early 1970's 70mm re-release prints of "House of Wax" did
have the original four track audio intact. Hopefully TCM or AMC
will finally run some of these in the near future with their original
stereophonic soundtracks.

   -Greg-

PS: Sorry to drift from the 3-D discussion, I just like true depth
with my audio as well.   :)


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