3D Meet Bob Furmanek: HTF Golden Age 3-D Consultant (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

Home Theater Forum is proud to present Film Historian Bob Furmanek. Mr. Furmanek is our official Golden Age 3-D Consultant who will be contributing content and answering member questions in our 3D Blu-ray forum.
We have provided his BIO below. Please feel free to use this thread to welcome Bob to this forum as well as ask any general questions you may have about his career.
Film historian Bob Furmanek has played an important behind the scenes role in film preservation for more than 30 years.
His first industry job was working at the highly respected John E. Allen film preservation lab in New Jersey. Bob handled nitrate print inspection, including original elements from WAY DOWN EAST and WEREWOLF OF LONDON. In addition, he worked with the handling and inspection of millions of feet of nitrate stock footage, dating back to the turn of the century.
In 1981, he was a research assistant on the David Wolper produced...

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[Matt Hough]

I'm a long time admirer, Bob, and couldn't be happier to have you "officially" join us here at HTF. It's an honor to have you here.

 

[Charles Smith]

Welcome! It's already been a pleasure, and I'm looking forward to much more.

 

[Johnny Angell]

Welcome to the forum and I'd like to ask a question. There has been a lot of talk on the forum about Universal releasing some of their monster films on blu-ray. Do you have any idea if some of them will be released in 3D? Specifically, Creature from the Black Lagoon and It Came from Outer Space.

 

[ahollis]

Another legend in the business attached to HTF! With your expertise and resources along with the other very notable and knowledgeable consultants, I would think that HTF continues to be a leader. I have certainly enjoyed your previous posts and always learn something from them. I look forward to many more in the future and your guidance through this era of 3D,

 

[Stephen_J_H]

My question for Bob is one I'm sure many would like to ask: will there be a 3D Film Expo 3?

 

[JoeDoakes]

2012 will be a most exciting year for 3-D fans as the Archive makes preparations to share their stereoscopic film treasures with the world!

Any hints/details about this?

 

[Bob Furmanek]

Thank you very much for your warm welcome, it's a pleasure to join the team!
As you know, I've been active on this site and have been a participating member for many years. I'm grateful for the opportunity to officially come on board and will be happy to answer any questions that I can. Of course, certain studio updates have to remain confidential. Even though I may be working on a project, I may not always be at liberty to discuss it. I hope you understand.
My particular area of expertise is the Golden Age of 3-D Movies, from SELECTED VIEWS OF YOSEMITE VALLEY in 1922 to THE BUBBLE in 1966.
I've also had the good fortune to work on a variety of different projects over the past 30 years and will be happy to answer any questions about those as well.
So far as plans at Universal, I'm not aware of any developments with their 3-D library. They own six very high quality features from the Golden Age plus three entertaining shorts, including ones with Nat King Cole and Pinky Lee! They were also one of the few studios to produce trailers in 3-D. Five of their six features were intended for widescreen and would look spectacular on the new displays.
Unfortunately, there are no plans for a third Expo at this time. We're focusing all of our energies on restoring the titles that we own. Look for some VERY exciting 3-D announcements on Blu-Ray in the very near future!
Bob

 

[Peter Apruzzese]

Hey...I know you!
I wasn't able to attend either of the World 3-D Expos in LA, but I can say from the times that I ran double-system 3-D at the Lafayette that it is an extremely time consuming and expensive endeavor to undertake. Producing another festival such as they did would be an enormous task given the state of the materials.

 

[Bob Furmanek]

That's very true, Pete. At this point in time, I'm not optimistic...
Bob

 

[Richard--W]

Are the 3-D materials any worse now than they were in 2003 and 2006?
I thought the Expos alerted the studios to the viability of their 3-D films as marketable commodities, and facilitated the striking of new prints and some restoration.
If a 3-D Expo could be done twice before, it can be done again.
And again. And again. And again.
So long as audiences turn out to see them.
With the heightened awareness of classic 3-D now, as a result of the Expos, the progress of the 3-D film industry and its acceptance by the public, I should think another Expo would be more successful than the first two.
Of course it takes effort, but what doesn't take effort in this business.
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Welcome, Bob Furmanek.

 

[Mike Frezon]

Hi Bob! Welcome aboard!

I was delighted to be reading a story in one of the NY tabloids this weekend about the release of the Jerry Lewis 1959 TV version of The Jazz Singer and see your name connected with that project! Very cool.

It sounded like a pretty interesting audio about how you were able to piece together enough elements of that broadcast from the original 2" color tape, a B&W kinescope and separate audio recordings...

 

[Bob Furmanek]

Thank you Mike, I found that "Jazz Singer" color tape 26 years ago and have been patiently waiting to see it restored!
I didn't work on the recent audio restoration. That was handled by the amazing David Crosthwaite at http://dcvideo.com/
I agree Richard and when the time is right, I will do my absolute best to make it happen. Right now, my focus is on the restoration of materials that we own and plan to release this year.
My interest in 3-D preservation began in the 1970's and I started aggressively looking for prints and elements in 1990. I'm in the process of writing a detailed article on the history of the Archive. In the meantime, here's a piece that was published in the Big Reel in November 1999.

 

[moviebear1]

Hey BOB. . . Great to see you are envolved here.
I know you said you can't give any titles out. But you should be able to at least let us know that there will be releases of any of the 1950s 3D titles this year. That would certainly make those of us who are set up with 3D systems happy to look forward to.
Matt Spero

 

[Bob Furmanek]

Hi Matt,
Great to see you again!
I can only say that I will personally be releasing some Golden Age material from the Archive. I can't say for certain anything will happen from the studios. I do know that WB is working on at least one, maybe two titles, as we speak...
Bob

 

[pinknik]

Exciting news, Bob. I've got several questions, so I'll just fire away. I've seen that Sony has 3-D downloads on their PS3 store of The Mad Magician and Pardon My Backfire. Both pricey. Do you know if either is slated for Blu-ray release? Whatever happened to the Hondo restoration? I read about it several times, then . . . nothing. Is there any movement in the industry to do restorations of classic era films that can be shown in a modern digital 3-D theater, such as a Real-D equipped theater? Will low budget independent fair (fingers crossed: Robot Monster) get a fair shake on blu-ray? Looking forward to seeing your 3-D releases.

 

[Chuck Pennington]

Bob, the work you did on your Sinatra set is the BEST those tracks have ever sounded in digital form. Your compilation is apparently the only time the original session masters were used. I wish you had been involved in remastering all of the albums in their entirety.

 

[Bob Furmanek]

Greg: to answer your questions. I haven't heard anything definite about Sony's plans for Blu-Ray. The same with HONDO. The Wayne Estate has the film in a 3-D digital format but have only had two or three screenings.
D-Cinema would be a natural for some of the classics (Wax, Dial M, Kiss Me Kate, Creature, etc) but I'm not aware of any plans at this time.
I approached the copyright holder of ROBOT MONSTER and offered to fund a full restoration off the original negatives. Unfortunately, he declined.
Chuck: all the credit for that Sinatra release goes to my brother Ron. My involvement on that 3 disc set was in the vaults doing preliminary research, Ron produced it and did all the restoration in the studio.
Bob

 

[Richard V]

Mr. Furmanek, any news on Inferno (1953) ?

 

[Robert Harris]

As those on this board become more aware of Mr. Furmanek, one point will become very obvious.

There are few in the industry with more passion and knowledge of their subjects than he. When he believes in something he goes after it, tries to accomplish what needs to be done, and does so with integrity and professionalism.

I couldn't be more pleased that those of you who may not have known who he is, are now being introduced.

RAH