Oldest Surviving Projection Screens?

Darren Nemeth · Post by **Darren Nemeth** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 12:20 pm

Just wondering about something.

What is the oldest existing projection screen?

A lot of projection equipment from the 1890s - 1900s survive and I see some of this eBay from time to time. How about their screens?

The oldest projection screen I know of is in Saginaw's Temple Theatre. It was made around 1927 or 28. It is on some type of canvas type material surrounded with ornamentation.

The reason I ask is I have a catalog of projection equipment published around 1908 and it includes screens. I think the largest was about 10 foot and made of muslin.

Gumlegs · Post by **Gumlegs** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 4:12 pm

I strongly suspect that if any pre-sound screens are still extant, they're not in use. Most (if not all)), silent screens had to be replaced by a more porous material to allow for the sound from speakers placed behind the screen to be unmuffled.

Bob Birchard · Post by **Bob Birchard** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 12:17 pm

Gumlegs wrote:I strongly suspect that if any pre-sound screens are still extant, they're not in use. Most (if not all)), silent screens had to be replaced by a more porous material to allow for the sound from speakers placed behind the screen to be unmuffled.

I agree, many early screens were of cloth, but some were also solid pieces of painted wood and a few were even mirrors with sand-blasted surfaces (hance "silver screen"). I doubt there are many that date back to the Silent era.

There may be quite a few from the early sound era. These were usually loosely woven cloth with plenty of small "holes" to let the sound out from behind the screen. These can sometimes be found in older theaters with stage flies. The screens remaining in the flies above the stage when newer wide screen and plastic screens were installed.

Darren Nemeth · Post by **Darren Nemeth** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 12:51 pm

Bob Birchard wrote:I agree, many early screens were of cloth, but some were also solid pieces of painted wood and a few were even mirrors with sand-blasted surfaces (hance "silver screen").

I've heard about this, too. Perhaps this summer I will try sanding a mirror to see what effect it gives.

greta de groat · Post by **greta de groat** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 1:02 pm

Bob Birchard wrote: I agree, many early screens were of cloth, but some were also solid pieces of painted wood and a few were even mirrors with sand-blasted surfaces (hance "silver screen").

BUt i notice when i read sources from the 20s or earlier, i almost always see "silver sheet" instead of "silver screen." Why is that, and when did "silver screen" become predominant?

greta