Dorman film to appear on History Channel
gm...@jfk.org
Dorman film will appear in a History Channel special next week.
The film, first published by LIFE magazine in 1967 and donated to the Museum
by surviving son John in 1995, has been cleaned and repaired as much as
possible. Color and contrast have also been improved, and the film was
transferred to tape at 16 frames per second, which, based on earlier family
scenes, appears to be the correct speed. The Dorman camera was sold years
ago in a garage sale.
Elsie Dorman worked on the fourth floor of the Texas School Book Depository.
Her husband, John, owned the camera and planned to film the motorcade on Main
Street near his place of employment. But John was sick that day, so he told
Elsie to use the camera.
As she related to me back in the 80’s, she had never used the camera before
and couldn’t see much through the viewfinder. So she held the camera next to
her face when Kennedy appeared. That’s why the film is so shaky and she
loses sight of the motorcade.
She remembered that the first shot was very loud and sounded like it came
from behind her. She said she stopped filming just after the first shot, but
it’s hard to tell exactly when that moment occurs in the film. If the
History Channel shows enough, researchers may have some opinions on how the
Dorman film can be integrated with the Zapruder film to add to the clock of
assassination events. It is unlikely the entire film will be shown, as the
tv show is only about infamous guns in history. But here's your chance to
see what real film restoration is all about.
There are no splices or missing frames in the original film, although several
damaged areas have been strengthened with transparent film tape. The tape
edges appear as occasional horizontal and vertical black lines. The annoying
white lines at the right side of the frame are cinch marks and tiny cracks in
the emulsion from rough handling over the years. Unfortunately, the technical
enhancement process tends to make those lines somewhat more prominent.
While doing this work near Boston several months ago, researcher Richard Trask
joined me for part of the tape transfer process. We found two previously
unknown photographers. One is a woman at the southwest corner of Elm and
Houston with what appears to be a camera up to her face. Her name is unknown
and no pictures from her location have ever been found.
The second photographer, a woman, is wearing a blue dress and runs past
Howard Brennan right behind Rosemary Willis. There appears to be a silver
object that could be a movie camera lens barrel in her right hand. Her
identity is unknown and there is no such home movie from her original, or
later, locations. While some of this may be hard to see on your home screen,
the images are quite clear on good monitors.
It's not likely the History Channel showing will include the motorcycle
officer sequence thought by some to show officer H. B. McLain, the one with
the open microphone. Each frame in which he appears is slightly blurred, and
I cannot make out any identifying features. There are some papers mounted on
the left side of his windshield that might be unique, but later films and
photos at Parkland Hospital show at least two other motorcycles with papers
in the same place.
Our restoration work also included full frame transfers showing the sprocket
hole area, and yes, there are ghost, or double-exposure, images in them.
Again, it’s not likely the History Channel will include that version but it
was available to them.
I hope everyone appreciates the "new" Dorman film and I look forward to any
comments you may have.
Here is the History Channel synopsis and schedule. Check your local listings!
Sunday, September 13 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM CDT
Sunday, September 13 11:00 PM - Midnight CDT
Saturday, September 19 11:00 AM - Noon CDT
Tales of the Gun: Infamous Guns
Host Gerald McRaney reviews guns that changed history. We see the firearms
used to assassinate Presidents Kennedy, McKinley, Garfield, and Lincoln. We
meet the gun that triggered WWI when it was used to kill Archduke Ferdinand,
and see candidates for the gun that fired the "shot heard 'round the world"
in the American Revolution. [TV G]
--
Gary Mack
Archivist
The Sixth Floor Museum
-----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==-----
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Vern Pascal
channel's presentation with the Elsie Dorman film.
One question re her hearing the first shot as being from "behind her",
i.e. in the TSBD. Did she comment on where she thought the succeeding
shots originated?------------------
Thanks, Vern
ritchie linton
>
> Tales of the Gun: Infamous Guns
>
> Host Gerald McRaney reviews guns that changed history. We see the firearms
*******************************
What- you mean they finally found it? Now, that would be interesting! :-)
BTW, on a serious note, is the version of the Doorman film you have talked
about available through your museum? I think that would be a great service
and that others, myself included, would be very interested. My copy is
very old and hard to see.Thanks, if you can tell us how to obtain same.
Ritchie
gm...@jfk.org
behind her. Who knows how to figure that one out? She was in her office and
her window, three pairs west of the SN, was partially open.
gm...@jfk.org
ritchie linton <rli...@idirect.com> wrote:
> gm...@jfk.org wrote:*****Please pardon the snip********
> >
> > Tales of the Gun: Infamous Guns
> >
> > Host Gerald McRaney reviews guns that changed history. We see the firearms
> > used to assassinate Presidents Kennedy, ******************************
>
> *******************************
>
> What- you mean they finally found it? Now, that would be interesting! :-)
>
> BTW, on a serious note, is the version of the Doorman film you have talked
> about available through your museum? I think that would be a great service
> and that others, myself included, would be very interested. My copy is
> very old and hard to see.Thanks, if you can tell us how to obtain same.
>
> Ritchie
>
> McKinley, Garfield, and Lincoln. We
> > meet the gun that triggered WWI when it was used to kill Archduke Ferdinand,
> > and see candidates for the gun that fired the "shot heard 'round the world"
> > in the American Revolution. [TV G]
> >
> > Gary Mack
> > Archivist
> > The Sixth Floor Museum
> >
> > -----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==-----
> > http://www.dejanews.com/rg_mkgrp.xp Create Your Own Free Member Forum
>
>
We've thought about it. How many would like a copy and what would be a
fair price? The various blowups, slow motion and unenhanced original
versions total nearly 30 minutes - all from a 3-minute film. I produced
an edited version with the best sequences, including some repeats, that
runs about 15 minutes.
Let's see what the History Channel version looks like first, then please
post or email your thoughts.
David Wimp
expensive?
--
Dave
Define thine enemy and speak for him!
Jerry Organ
You describe two women captured in the Dorman film who may be filming the
motorcade. Could one of these be in a position that conforms to Beverly Oliver?
Beverly said the Grassy Knoll would appear in the background from her vantage
point. I would think both these women could have captured the knoll if they had
continued panning the limousine as it went down Elm.
You do know that Oliver has denied she was the woman known as the "Babushka
Lady."
____________________
Jerry Organ
[Dealey Directory] [Research Tools] [Kennedy's Lincoln]
http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/jojoan/index.html
greg jaynes
>
> Gary:
>
> You describe two women captured in the Dorman film who may be filming the
> motorcade. Could one of these be in a position that conforms to Beverly Oliver?
>
> Beverly said the Grassy Knoll would appear in the background from her vantage
> point. I would think both these women could have captured the knoll if they had
> continued panning the limousine as it went down Elm.
>
> You do know that Oliver has denied she was the woman known as the "Babushka
> Lady."
>
> ____________________
>
> Jerry Organ
Jerry,
What is your source for Beverly saying she was not
the Babushka lady?
Greg
Bill Parker
I can't get the History Channel.
Around $20 would seem to be a fair price for a video.
Bill Parker
Jerry Organ
> What is your source for Beverly saying she was not
> the Babushka lady?
In a letter published in the July 1993 issue of "The Third Decade" (pp.
9-13), Beverly Oliver wrote:
"The photograph of the strange dark haired lady identified as me on page
53 of Cover-Up, is not me!"
In his book, Richard Trask makes reference to this letter.
Jerry Organ
gm...@jfk.org
Jerry Organ <joj...@ns.sympatico.ca> wrote:
> Gary:
>
> You describe two women captured in the Dorman film who may be filming the
> motorcade. Could one of these be in a position that conforms to Beverly
Oliver?
Most unlikely, as the woman in blue running behind Rosemary Willis could
not have reached TBL's position in time, plus she would have had to change
clothes and put on a scarf. The other woman was even farther away from
TBL position.
>
> Beverly said the Grassy Knoll would appear in the background from her vantage
> point. I would think both these women could have captured the knoll if they
had
> continued panning the limousine as it went down Elm.
>
> You do know that Oliver has denied she was the woman known as the "Babushka
> Lady."
I have never heard that - and I'm sure many would like to know the details.
gm...@jfk.org
Way, way too expensive. If there were an issue that digitizing the film
could help answer, then maybe we could look for a donor or some source to
fund the work. What issue do you think the Dorman film might answer?
greg jaynes
Jerry,
I don't have the book but I do not believe it is
Beverly Oliver's position that she was not the babushka
lady. I have video taped her giving a speech at a
conspiracy oriented group called the CLR since 1993
and she told her same story as if it were her position.
Are you saying that she has made contradictory statements
on this issue? Or do you believe she renounced her claim?
Greg Jaynes
jack white
>
> Greg Jaynes wrote:
>
> > What is your source for Beverly saying she was not
> > the Babushka lady?
>
> In a letter published in the July 1993 issue of "The Third Decade" (pp.
> 9-13), Beverly Oliver wrote:
>
> "The photograph of the strange dark haired lady identified as me on page
> 53 of Cover-Up, is not me!"
>
> In his book, Richard Trask makes reference to this letter.
>
> Jerry Organ
She is correct. Not every lady in Dealey Plaza with a scarf over her head
was THE Babushka Lady. There were several so attired, but only one was
Beverly.
ritchie linton
>
> In article <35EE07D8...@ix.netcom.com>,
> joli...@ix.netcom.com wrote:
> > Have you considered digitizing the film, or is that just much too
> > expensive?
> >
> > --
> > Dave
> >
> > Define thine enemy and speak for him!
> >
> >
>
> Way, way too expensive. If there were an issue that digitizing the film
> could help answer, then maybe we could look for a donor or some source to
*******************************
Well, it would explain the only part of the Zfilm that we know for sure
was changed, if you believe in the guy who took the film in the first
place. Zapruder said that he started the camera as the car made the turn,
yet that part is missing. Anyone who has seen what purports to be the
whole of the Zfilm will tell you that the car just jumps into view after a
break in the film pan as the motorcyles approach.Thats right, isn't it? So
Dorman's film may show things that the Zfilm does not, early in the
piece.That has to have a real value, donncha think? I, for one, would be
prepared to absorb the cost of a good reproduction, if you are interested.
Let me know, please.
Ritchie
David Wimp
gm...@jfk.org wrote:
> In article <35EE07D8...@ix.netcom.com>,
> joli...@ix.netcom.com wrote:
> > Have you considered digitizing the film, or is that just much too
> > expensive?
> >
> > --
> > Dave
> >
> > Define thine enemy and speak for him!
> >
> >
>
> Way, way too expensive. If there were an issue that digitizing the film
> could help answer, then maybe we could look for a donor or some source to
> fund the work. What issue do you think the Dorman film might answer?
>
>
I was only thinking in terms of preservation. The image would be
preserved even if the film was lost somehow.