Tangible Media: Removable Storage of Image, Sound, Motion and Data
Tangible Media: Removable Storage of Image, Sound, Motion and Data
Tangible Media: Removable Storage of Image, Sound, Motion and Data
Frames
Veriscope

Title:

The Corbett-Fitzsimmons Fight

Artist:

Enoch J. Rector (director)

Date:

1897

Material:

Cellulose nitrate

Dimensions:

63 mm

Company:

Veriscope Co.

Location:

New York, USA

A wide-screen format with an aspect ratio of 1.66:1 developed by Enoch J. Rector. It was used to film the Corbett-Fitzsimmons fight, held in Carson City, Nevada in 1897. The film, which was very successful, had a running time of 100 min., making it the first feature-length film. Filming was accomplished using three cameras in a special light-proof booth to expose 11,000 ft. of film. The booth was essentially a huge camera big enough to hold the cameras, nine human operators and the film reels. The camera and projector were one of the first to use the Latham loop, a way to reduce stress on the film as it was pulled through the gate. A loop of extra film before it entered the gate provided slack that buffered the tension between the reel and the intermittent mechanism that pulled the film through the gate. The Latham loop is still used in modern film projectors.

Adding to the excitement of the match (particularly for the referee), men with revolvers (including Wyatt Earp) were gathered at each fighter's corner. Allegedly, Sheriff Bat Masterson collected 400 guns from the audience as they entered. The fight went 14 rounds, with Fitzsimmons winning with a KO in the final round.