Bob's Electric Theatre (1906)

Year Published: 1906

Creator: Segundo de Chomon

Description:

Although this is one of the earliest stop-motion puppet films ever created, it is quite sophisticated and loaded with charm. The animation is credited to Segundo de Chomon, who in 1901 opened a film lab in Bacelona, Spain, specializing in shooting film titles, as well as hand coloring and tinting films - his exquisite color work is well showcased here. Chomon was a pioneering director of photography and is credited with the invention of the camera dolly (a cart with which to move the motion picture camera) in 1907. He chanced upon the concept of stop-motion animation while filming titles frame by frame. In 1905 he created "El Hotel Electrico," a short about an ultramodern hotel, in which he manipulated luggage and clothing to appear as though they were unpacking themselves. Moving to Paris in 1906, he collaborated with filmmaker Gaston Velle to create this film, Le Theatre de Petite Bob. Both Velle and Chomon were heavily influenced by the films of Georges Melies. The lifelike use of puppet dolls here predates the work of Ladislas Starevitch (pioneering stop-motion puppeteer) and Willis O'Brien ("The Lost World" and "King Kong"). Like in their work, Chomon infuses his characters with personalities that allow us to identify with their actions.

Preservation note:
Until 1950, theatrical prints in the 35mm film gauge were made on nitrocellulose, or nitrate, film stock, after which time the industry standard switched to acetate, or safety, film. Nitrate film is highly flammable, and it also decomposes over time, turning eventually into powder. One quarter of Bob's Electric Theater (the entire third act, except for an opening snippet) was lost to decomposition before the print could be copied. The entire nitrate print has since deteriorated, as have the nitrate prints of several of the preserved films in this presentation.

Music © Michael D. Mortilla (BMI); MIDILifeCrisis.com.

Complete Record: Although this is one of the earliest stop-motion puppet films ever created, it is quite sophisticated and loaded with charm. The animation is credited to Segundo de Chomon, who in 1901 opened a film lab in Bacelona, Spain, specializing in shooting film titles, as well as hand coloring and tinting films - his exquisite color work is well showcased here. Chomon was a pioneering director of photography and is credited with the invention of the camera dolly (a cart with which to move the motion picture camera) in 1907. He chanced upon the concept of stop-motion animation while filming titles frame by frame. In 1905 he created "El Hotel Electrico," a short about an ultramodern hotel, in which he manipulated luggage and clothing to appear as though they were unpacking themselves. Moving to Paris in 1906, he collaborated with filmmaker Gaston Velle to create this film, Le Theatre de Petite Bob. Both Velle and Chomon were heavily influenced by the films of Georges Melies. The lifelike use of puppet dolls here predates the work of Ladislas Starevitch (pioneering stop-motion puppeteer) and Willis O'Brien ("The Lost World" and "King Kong"). Like in their work, Chomon infuses his characters with personalities that allow us to identify with their actions. Preservation note: Until 1950, theatrical prints in the 35mm film gauge were made on nitrocellulose, or nitrate, film stock, after which time the industry standard switched to acetate, or safety, film. Nitrate film is highly flammable, and it also decomposes over time, turning eventually into powder. One quarter of Bob's Electric Theater (the entire third act, except for an opening snippet) was lost to decomposition before the print could be copied. The entire nitrate print has since deteriorated, as have the nitrate prints of several of the preserved films in this presentation. Music © Michael D. Mortilla (BMI); MIDILifeCrisis.com.