60's video jukebox. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Kentode · 24th Mar 2021, 10:18 am

On TPTV this morning is "Twist or stick" a film from the 1960's and it shows a jukebox with a screen attached (See picture).

I have a memory of being at Butlins and seeing Telstar by the Tornadoes on a screen above a jukebox.

Did this really happen or is it time to call the doctor?

red16v · 24th Mar 2021, 10:51 am

Scopitone? Lots of info on the www, including many ‘videos’.

Trevor · 24th Mar 2021, 11:52 am

I used to in the early 70,s wok at a local coal mine They had one of these in the canteen
Havin said that I never saw it working
Trev

electronicskip · 24th Mar 2021, 12:09 pm

According to wiki the last Scopitone film was shot in 1978 on 16mm film.
Interesting film here about how the Scopitone ST-36 operated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIQSZ2DwbW8

Kentode · 24th Mar 2021, 12:31 pm

Thanks for the replies, it's nice to know I've still got some of my marbles!

I've told this story for years and got some disbelieving looks, now I'll just say "Google Scopitone"!

Trevor · 24th Mar 2021, 1:49 pm

In the eighties we also had a video jukebox in a Pub The rigger in Newcastle Staffordshire
I will never forget Freddie Mercury ( I got to break free)
And also the Producers spring time for Hitler and Germany
That was of course a video recorder in the juke box
Trev

Andrew2 · 24th Mar 2021, 2:11 pm

In the mid 60's I went to a cafe in Stockport with my mum and they had a video jukebox. I was fascinated by it and was delighted when someone put a selection on. IIRC it was The Bachelors' Diane or Charmaine.
I can't recall the make of the box but I was impressed by the large screen.

Kentode · 24th Mar 2021, 2:18 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew2

I can't recall the make of the box but I was impressed by the large screen.

Yes, the screen was huge in comparison to the television we had at the time, probably less than 20" inches.

telstar · 24th Mar 2021, 3:16 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kentode

On TPTV this morning is "Twist or stick" a film from the 1960's and it shows a jukebox with a screen attached (See picture).

I have a memory of being at Butlins and seeing Telstar by the Tornadoes on a screen above a jukebox.

Did this really happen or is it time to call the doctor?

Hi Ken
Yes many groups and singers appeared on this video jukebox. I do know that Telstar by The Tornadoes was one of many. Also Robot by The Tornadoes was on the video jukebox.
Mike

Panrock · 24th Mar 2021, 3:33 pm

"Soundies" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soundies go back to 1940 in the US and were a similar idea.

Steve

wd40addict · 24th Mar 2021, 4:02 pm

One of these systems used non-standard picture sound separation to try and discourage people from showing the films on conventional projectors.

electronicskip · 24th Mar 2021, 5:14 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by wd40addict

One of these systems used non-standard picture sound separation to try and discourage people from showing the films on conventional projectors.

I think the Scopitone system used a cartridge like device for the film?

Kentode · 24th Mar 2021, 5:30 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by telstar

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kentode

On TPTV this morning is "Twist or stick" a film from the 1960's and it shows a jukebox with a screen attached (See picture).

I have a memory of being at Butlins and seeing Telstar by the Tornadoes on a screen above a jukebox.

Did this really happen or is it time to call the doctor?

Hi Ken
Yes many groups and singers appeared on this video jukebox. I do know that Telstar by The Tornadoes was one of many. Also Robot by The Tornadoes was on the video jukebox.
Mike

Hah, my Telstar story, vindicated by telstar!

wd40addict · 24th Mar 2021, 6:36 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by electronicskip

I think the Scopitone system used a cartridge like device for the film?

But inside the cartridge was standard width 16mm, the non-standard separation discouraged theft.

I have actually seen two of the films, albeit with wrong separation. One was someone called 'Rubber Lips Len', or similar, playing a jazz version 'Bill Bailey', that was B&W. The other was a better known 60s pop tune, I've forgotten which, but it was in colour.

peter_scott · 24th Mar 2021, 10:35 pm

What an amazing device!

Peter

McMurdo · 25th Mar 2021, 12:27 pm

we learned about these when I started o-level french in the early 80's. I had no idea why they only had them in france but this thread led me to google them and apparently Scopitone was a french company.

Brigham · 26th Mar 2021, 9:42 pm

The one I remember was in the Sports Stadium Cafe at Butlin's Filey.
There was some kind of 'attract mode' throwing a moving pattern on the screen when it wasn't in use.
Which was often. It was frequently 'out of order', and the coin slot said 'Insert 2/6d', which put it well out of reach as far as I was concerned!

Kentode · 26th Mar 2021, 10:29 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brigham

The one I remember was in the Sports Stadium Cafe at Butlin's Filey.
There was some kind of 'attract mode' throwing a moving pattern on the screen when it wasn't in use.
Which was often. It was frequently 'out of order', and the coin slot said 'Insert 2/6d', which put it well out of reach as far as I was concerned!

Yep, that's where I saw it! I was a Butlins Beaver.

Like you l could only sit and wait for someone else to feed it Money. Telstar was so otherworldly to listen to and it was disappointing when Acker Bill came on the screen instead.

telstar · 31st Mar 2021, 2:40 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by McMurdo

we learned about these when I started o-level french in the early 80's. I had no idea why they only had them in france but this thread led me to google them and apparently Scopitone was a french company.

Telstar was a big hit in France in 1962, the group went to perform concerts there. Wonder if they were the first U.K group to be on these video jukeboxes? Interesting to read that the manufacturing company was French. The Clavioline keyboard that was used to play this tune was also French. Shame that an unknown French music composer tried to claim that Meek had used his ideas for the tune.
Cheers
Mike

phildil · 3rd Apr 2021, 9:13 pm

Scopitones... I am a bit late to this thread but maybe I can add a bit more info. They were indeed French, and the machines were very popular in some of the European mainland countries (a few made it to the UK too) during the 60s. I remember seeing one woking in a Guernsey cafe when on a family holiday ca 1970. Lots of artists recorded short quirky musical films for Scopitone and for the other similar "film jukebox" systems like the Italian "Cinebox" and "colourSonic" systems.

Most if not all the European Scopitone films were printed on Eastman 16mm stock, and as a result have now faded to red (altho there were some American films made for the system that were dye transfer). They had a mag soundtrack: as other posters have noted this was not at the regular frame offset ahead of the action, and the images were printed in reverse since the Scopitone machine's projection path incorporated a mirror to get the picture onto the screen.

As an aside, Jack White (ex White Stripes) has a working Scopitone machine at the Third Man HQ in Detroit, along with one of those "Make Your Own Record" self-recording booths.

hth.
Phil

24th Mar 2021, 10:18 am	#1
Kentode Octode Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Yorkshire, England. Posts: 1,303	60's video jukebox. On TPTV this morning is "Twist or stick" a film from the 1960's and it shows a jukebox with a screen attached (See picture). I have a memory of being at Butlins and seeing Telstar by the Tornadoes on a screen above a jukebox. Did this really happen or is it time to call the doctor? Attached Thumbnails __________________ Regards, Ken. BVWS member

24th Mar 2021, 10:51 am	#2
red16v Heptode Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Winchester, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 639	Re: 60's video jukebox. Scopitone? Lots of info on the www, including many ‘videos’. Last edited by red16v; 24th Mar 2021 at 10:58 am.

24th Mar 2021, 11:52 am	#3
Trevor Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 1,082	Re: 60's video jukebox. I used to in the early 70,s wok at a local coal mine They had one of these in the canteen Havin said that I never saw it working Trev

24th Mar 2021, 12:09 pm	#4
electronicskip Nonode Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Gloucester, Glos. UK. Posts: 2,150	Re: 60's video jukebox. According to wiki the last Scopitone film was shot in 1978 on 16mm film. Interesting film here about how the Scopitone ST-36 operated. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIQSZ2DwbW8 __________________ Oh I've had that for years dear!!

24th Mar 2021, 12:31 pm	#5
Kentode Octode Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Yorkshire, England. Posts: 1,303	Re: 60's video jukebox. Thanks for the replies, it's nice to know I've still got some of my marbles! I've told this story for years and got some disbelieving looks, now I'll just say "Google Scopitone"! __________________ Regards, Ken. BVWS member

24th Mar 2021, 1:49 pm	#6
Trevor Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 1,082	Re: 60's video jukebox. In the eighties we also had a video jukebox in a Pub The rigger in Newcastle Staffordshire I will never forget Freddie Mercury ( I got to break free) And also the Producers spring time for Hitler and Germany That was of course a video recorder in the juke box Trev

24th Mar 2021, 2:11 pm	#7
Andrew2 Nonode Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Dukinfield, Cheshire, UK. Posts: 2,038	Re: 60's video jukebox. In the mid 60's I went to a cafe in Stockport with my mum and they had a video jukebox. I was fascinated by it and was delighted when someone put a selection on. IIRC it was The Bachelors' Diane or Charmaine. I can't recall the make of the box but I was impressed by the large screen. __________________ Andy G1HBE.

24th Mar 2021, 3:33 pm	#10
Panrock Nonode Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 2,534	Re: 60's video jukebox. "Soundies" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soundies go back to 1940 in the US and were a similar idea. Steve __________________ https://www.radiocraft.co.uk

24th Mar 2021, 4:02 pm	#11
wd40addict Octode Join Date: May 2009 Location: Stevenage, Herts. UK. Posts: 1,518	Re: 60's video jukebox. One of these systems used non-standard picture sound separation to try and discourage people from showing the films on conventional projectors.

24th Mar 2021, 10:35 pm	#15
peter_scott Dekatron Join Date: May 2003 Location: Edinburgh, UK. Posts: 3,274	Re: 60's video jukebox. What an amazing device! Peter __________________ http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk https://www.youtube.com/c/PeterScott/videos

25th Mar 2021, 12:27 pm	#16
McMurdo Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 5,274	Re: 60's video jukebox. we learned about these when I started o-level french in the early 80's. I had no idea why they only had them in france but this thread led me to google them and apparently Scopitone was a french company. __________________ Kevin

26th Mar 2021, 9:42 pm	#17
Brigham Octode Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Co. Durham, UK. Posts: 1,118	Re: 60's video jukebox. The one I remember was in the Sports Stadium Cafe at Butlin's Filey. There was some kind of 'attract mode' throwing a moving pattern on the screen when it wasn't in use. Which was often. It was frequently 'out of order', and the coin slot said 'Insert 2/6d', which put it well out of reach as far as I was concerned!

3rd Apr 2021, 9:13 pm	#20
phildil Pentode Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: London, UK. Posts: 115	Re: 60's video jukebox. Scopitones... I am a bit late to this thread but maybe I can add a bit more info. They were indeed French, and the machines were very popular in some of the European mainland countries (a few made it to the UK too) during the 60s. I remember seeing one woking in a Guernsey cafe when on a family holiday ca 1970. Lots of artists recorded short quirky musical films for Scopitone and for the other similar "film jukebox" systems like the Italian "Cinebox" and "colourSonic" systems. Most if not all the European Scopitone films were printed on Eastman 16mm stock, and as a result have now faded to red (altho there were some American films made for the system that were dye transfer). They had a mag soundtrack: as other posters have noted this was not at the regular frame offset ahead of the action, and the images were printed in reverse since the Scopitone machine's projection path incorporated a mirror to get the picture onto the screen. As an aside, Jack White (ex White Stripes) has a working Scopitone machine at the Third Man HQ in Detroit, along with one of those "Make Your Own Record" self-recording booths. hth. Phil