Electronicam
Encyclopedia
Electronicam was a television recording system that shot an image on film and television at the same time through a common lens. It was developed by James L. Caddigan for the DuMont Television Network
in the 1950s, before electronic recording on videotape
was available. Since the film directly captured the live scene, its quality was much higher than the commonly-used kinescope
films, which were shot from a TV screen.
. Because the camera dollies had to support two cameras -- one conventional electronic orthicon tube TV camera, and one 35mm motion picture camera -- the system was very bulky and heavy, and somewhat clumsy in operation. This made complex productions problematic. Single-stage shows, such as Jackie Gleason
's Honeymooners shows, were relatively easy since they had few sets and generally small casts.
In the studio, when two or three Electronicam cameras were used, a kinescope system recorded the live feed (as if it was a broadcast), so the Electronicam films could later be edited to match. The audio was recorded separately onto either a magnetic fullcoat or as an optical soundtrack negative.
were shot with Electronicams, which meant they could be rerun on broadcast TV, and eventually transferred to home video
. Without Electronicams, almost all The Honeymooners episodes would no longer be available today, as most DuMont kinescope recordings were destroyed in the 1970s.
Also, around 1956 British
producer Joseph Arthur Rank brought three Electronicams to the United Kingdom
to experiment with the system, but he was eventually disappointed with the picture quality.
DuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
in the 1950s, before electronic recording on videotape
Videotape
A videotape is a recording of images and sounds on to magnetic tape as opposed to film stock or random access digital media. Videotapes are also used for storing scientific or medical data, such as the data produced by an electrocardiogram...
was available. Since the film directly captured the live scene, its quality was much higher than the commonly-used kinescope
Kinescope
Kinescope , shortened to kine , also known as telerecording in Britain, is a recording of a television program made by filming the picture from a video monitor...
films, which were shot from a TV screen.
How it worked
The schematic for the Electronicam is fairly simple-- an image is shot through a lens. Behind the lens is then a beam splitter that sends one half of the light to a 35 mm or 16 mm camera mounted onto the right side of the television camera. The other beam splits off to the side onto another mirror at a 45-degree angle that is picked up onto a video camera tubeVideo camera tube
In older video cameras, before the mid to late 1980s, a video camera tube or pickup tube was used instead of a charge-coupled device for converting an optical image into an electrical signal. Several types were in use from the 1930s to the 1980s...
. Because the camera dollies had to support two cameras -- one conventional electronic orthicon tube TV camera, and one 35mm motion picture camera -- the system was very bulky and heavy, and somewhat clumsy in operation. This made complex productions problematic. Single-stage shows, such as Jackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason was an American comedian, actor and musician. He was known for his brash visual and verbal comedy style, especially by his character Ralph Kramden on The Honeymooners, a situation-comedy television series. His most noted film roles were as Minnesota Fats in the drama film The...
's Honeymooners shows, were relatively easy since they had few sets and generally small casts.
In the studio, when two or three Electronicam cameras were used, a kinescope system recorded the live feed (as if it was a broadcast), so the Electronicam films could later be edited to match. The audio was recorded separately onto either a magnetic fullcoat or as an optical soundtrack negative.
Usage
The "classic 39" episodes of The HoneymoonersThe Honeymooners
The Honeymooners is an American situation comedy television show, based on a recurring 1951–'55 sketch of the same name. It originally aired on the DuMont network's Cavalcade of Stars and subsequently on the CBS network's The Jackie Gleason Show hosted by Jackie Gleason, and filmed before a live...
were shot with Electronicams, which meant they could be rerun on broadcast TV, and eventually transferred to home video
Home video
Home video is a blanket term used for pre-recorded media that is either sold or rented/hired for home cinema entertainment. The term originates from the VHS/Betamax era but has carried over into current optical disc formats like DVD and Blu-ray Disc and, to a lesser extent, into methods of digital...
. Without Electronicams, almost all The Honeymooners episodes would no longer be available today, as most DuMont kinescope recordings were destroyed in the 1970s.
Also, around 1956 British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
producer Joseph Arthur Rank brought three Electronicams to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to experiment with the system, but he was eventually disappointed with the picture quality.