Hearst Metrotone Newsreels Akeley 35mm motion picture camera....

Description

Hearst Metrotone Newsreels Akeley 35mm motion picture camera. (ca. 1920s-1930s) Hearst Metrotone Newsreels used Akeley Pancake cameras such as this to photograph major news events from the period such as the Hindenburg disaster. The Akeley 35mm camera was developed by explorer Carl Ethan Akeley in 1914 as a petite and portable means of filming outdoor scenes. Prominent Hollywood cinematographers embraced the Akeley on the greatest of silent motion picture sets, including Ben-Hur: A Tale of Christ and the aerial footage for Paramount's Wings. The "Akeley Pancake Camera" was so-named for its peculiar rounded shape and sported an internal gyroscope, which allowed the camera to tilt straight up while the viewfinder remained fixed. This Akeley 35mm camera includes cradle mount with tripod and legs, very rare original Akeley working geared head, lens attached, electric motor and comes complete with 13 x 10 x 16.5 in. case. Camera measures approx. 38 x 54 in. assembled on tripod. This is likely the only surviving Hearst Movietone Newsreels camera. From the collection of Debbie Reynolds.

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