Scopitone Archive

Scopitone News from ScopitoneArchive.com

[scopitonearchive]

Block's Retro Repairs starts to restore its Color-Sonics Combi 150 film jukebox.

[scopitonearchive]

'Bad Cinema', with your host Leonard Pinth-Garnell. From Saturday Night Live on April 9, 1977. - #saturdaynightlive #snl #danakroyd #johnb

'Bad Cinema', with your host Leonard Pinth-Garnell. From Saturday Night Live on April 9, 1977. - #saturdaynightlive #snl #danakroyd #johnb

April 9, 1977 -- Saturday Night Live's recurring sketch "Bad Cinema," starring Dan Aykroyd as "Leonard Pinth-Garnell," makes fun of a Scopitone film. I wonder who at SNL remembered Scopitone in 1977? The film they are mocking is "Zizi La Twisteuse" by Glenn Jack and his Glenners.

[scopitonearchive]

May 2026 Internet Jukebox Film of the Month: Françoise Hardy, “Tous les garçons et les filles," Scopitone CA-137

A beautiful print of a classic Scopitone.

[scopitonearchive]

Cinebox star Gino Paoli died on March 24, 2026 at the age of 91. Paoli made at least five Cinebox films, including "La gatta," "Sapore di sale," "Rimpiangerai, rimpiangerai," "Sassi," and "Vivere ancora."

For more information, see:

"Italian singer-songwriter Gino Paoli dies at 91," RTE, March 24, 2026: https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2026/0324/1565013-italian-singer-songwriter-gino-paoli-dies-at-91/

"Italian singer-songwriter Gino Paoli dies at 91," Reuters, March 24, 2026: https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/italian-singer-songwriter-gino-paoli-dies-91-2026-03-24/

"Gino Paoli dies aged 91," Wanted in Rome, March 24, 2026: https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/gino-paoli-dies-aged-91.html

Nicola Bambini, "È morto a 91 anni Gino Paoli: una lunga storia d'amore," Vanity Fair Italia, March 24, 2026: https://www.vanityfair.it/article/morto-gino-paoli

[scopitonearchive]

[scopitonearchive]

New Scopitone exhibit opening at DeBence Antique Music World in Franklin, PA

"During a rainy Wednesday, DeBence Antique Music World reopened for the season, welcoming visitors eager to revisit its collection of historic instruments and musical machines. . . .

". . . [Executive Director Cassady] Calder said a new exhibit planned for spring will feature one of the museum’s latest acquisitions, a rare Scopitone.

"'It’s a funny machine,' she said, describing it as an audio-visual jukebox that played songs alongside 16mm films — an early form of music video."

For more information, see:

Jamie Hunt, "DeBence Antique Music World enjoys energetic season opening," The Derrick, April 1, 2026: https://www.thederrick.com/news/front_page/debence-antique-music-world-enjoys-energetic-season-opening/article_2839f42e-09bd-4ab3-b417-7fbd068dba89.html

DeBence Antique Music World, https://debencemusicworld.com/

[scopitonearchive]

April 2026 Internet Jukebox Film of the Month: Gilbert Bécaud, "Les Cerisiers Sont Blancs," Scopitone CA-375

An odd little song for the return of Spring.

[scopitonearchive]

Debbie Reynolds' son, Todd Fisher, discusses his mother's investment in Scopitone

[scopitonearchive]

March 2026 Internet Jukebox Film of the Month: Gemini Planets, “You Are My Sunshine,” Color-Sonics

This is from the cache of Color-Sonics films that was recently uploaded to the Internet Archive. I've never seen this film before. Has anyone ever heard of Gemini Planets?

[scopitonearchive]

Color-Sonics Treasure Trove!

A treasure trove of films from the late 60s made for the Color-Sonics film jukebox was recently uploaded to the Internet Archive - 42 films! If you've been paying attention to jukebox films for awhile, you know that Color-Sonics films are rarer than hen's teeth, largely because they're usually found on standard 8mm, magnetic soundtrack, cartridges - a very obsolete format.

The Internet Archive cache was transferred from the original cartridges, but without color correction, and with the soundtrack scanned separately from the films and then reassembled, which results in some not quite in sync sound. So, the transfers aren't the greatest, but it is a very rare opportunity to see these films at all, in any quality. There are lots of films here that I've never seen before.

Check out the films here: https://archive.org/details/colorsonic-video-jukebox-music/

See how the films were transferred here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4fMd4J7HkQ

[scopitonearchive]

Scopitone and Cinebox star Neil Sedaka dies at 86

Neil Sedaka, legendary singer, songwriter, and star of Scopitone and Cinebox films, died on February 27, 2026 in Los Angeles. Sedaka had major hits of his own from the late 1950s through the 1970s with songs such as "Oh! Carol," "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do", "Calendar Girl," "Laughter in the Rain," and "Bad Blood." He also wrote hit singles for others including "Stupid Cupid," "Where The Boys Are," "Working on a Groovy Thing," "Solitaire," and "Love Will Keep Us Together." Sedaka continued to perform into the 2020s.

He was also the star of one of the most iconic U.S. Scopitone films, "Calendar Girl," as well as at least four Cinebox films, including two sung in Italian.

For more info, see:

Jem Aswad & Payton Turkeltaub, "Neil Sedaka, Legendary Singer-Songwriter Behind 'Breaking Up Is Hard To Do,' 'Bad Blood,' and 'Love Will Keep Us Together,' Dies at 86," Variety, February 27, 2026: https://variety.com/2026/music/news/neil-sedaka-dead-singer-songwriter-breaking-up-is-hard-to-do-1236675098/

Peter Appleborne, "Neil Sedaka, Singing Craftsman of Memorable Pop Songs, Dies at 86,' New York Times, February 27. 2026: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/arts/music/neil-sedaka-dead.html

Neil Sedaka, "Calendar Girl," Scopitone S-1062: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7RBPqvgyTA

Neil Sedaka, "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do," Cinebox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22fdTFFQzkk

Neil Sedaka, "The Dreamer," Cinebox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bpfil4KdsUE

Neil Sedaka, "I tuoi capricci," Cinebox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXG8VhY9STY

Neil Sedaka, "La terza luna," Cinebox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zr2RLIuLps

For more information about Neil Sedaka in Italy, please see this wonderful interview by Michele Bovi: https://www.michelebovi.it/?p=15&lang=en

[scopitonearchive]

Scopitone film screening in Portland, OR on February 17, 2026

The late Dennis Nyback's compilation of Scopitone films, which he called "Scopitone-A-Go-Go," will be screened on 16mm film at the Hollywood Theatre in Portland, Oregon on February 17, 2026 at 7:30 pm.

For more info, see: https://hollywoodtheatre.org/show/scopitone-a-go-go/

[scopitonearchive]

Samantha Nye's "Web of Love" installation is on display in San Luis Obispo, CA through March 13, 2026

The Harold J. Miossi Art Gallery at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, CA is presenting "Web of Love," "an immersive video installation by Samantha Nye that reimagines a 1966 Scopitone film of the same title through a contemporary, queer lens. . . . Nye’s near shot-by-shot adaptation stars Annie Sprinkle and Beth Stephens, with music by Erin Markey, and was filmed on location in San Luis Obispo at the Madonna Inn, Sycamore Springs, and within a completely fabricated, custom-built, faux heart-shaped hot tub suite inspired by 1970s romance resorts." The installation will be on display through March 13, 2026.

For more info, see:

"Web Of Love," Cuesta College: https://www.cuesta.edu/community/cuesta-arts/artgallery/2025-2026-Exhibitions/WebofLove.html

Michaela Mastache, "Samantha Nye's 'Web of Love' now open at Cuesta's Miossi Gallery," The Cuestonian, Feb. 2, 2026: https://cuestonian.com/12286/arts-entertainment/samantha-nyes-web-of-love-now-open-at-cuestas-miossi-gallery/

"Cuesta gallery presents immersive Web of Love exhibition," Paso Robles Daily News, Jan. 27, 2026: https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/cuesta-gallery-presents-immersive-web-of-love-exhibition/217693/

Glen Starkey, "Artist Samantha Nye, whose work focuses on older nonbinary women, presents Web of Love at Cuesta College," New Times, Jan. 22, 2026: https://www.newtimesslo.com/artist-samantha-nye-whose-work-focuses-on-older-nonbinary-women-presents-web-of-love-at-cuesta-college/

"Artist Talk: Samantha Nye, 'Web of Love'," Cuesta College: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcyFgKRlvSI

[scopitonearchive]

February 2026 Internet Jukebox Film of the Month: Della Reese, “If I Never Get To Heaven,” Scopitone S-1060

[scopitonearchive]

I 60 anni del nonno italiano di videoclip e Youtube (di M. Bovi)

Sessant’anni fa l’invenzione del Cinejukebox, l’apparecchio tutto italiano che originò gli antenati del videoclip musicale e si rivelò precu

Michele Bovi celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Cinejukebox!

[scopitonearchive]

January 2026 Internet Jukebox Film of the Month: Fran Jeffries, “Show Me The Way To Go Home,” Color-Sonics 036 or 201

[scopitonearchive]

Scopitone legend Brigitte Bardot dies at 91

Brigitte Bardot, legendary French film actress, sex symbol, Scopitone star, animal rights activist, and a person who was convicted multiple times in France of inciting racial hatred, died December 28, 2025 at her Saint-Tropez home. She was 91.

For more info, see:

Anita Gates, "Brigitte Bardot, Movie Idol Who Renounced Stardom, Dies at 91," New York Times, December 28, 2025: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/28/movies/brigitte-bardot-dead.html

Andrew Pulver and Angelique Chrisafis, "Brigitte Bardot, French screen legend, dies at 91," The Guardian, December 28, 2025: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/dec/28/brigitte-bardot-french-screen-legend-and-animal-rights-activist-dies

Richard Natale, "Brigitte Bardot, Star of 'And God Created Women' and 'Contempt,' Dies at 91", Variety, December 28, 2025: https://variety.com/2025/film/obituaries-people-news/brigitte-bardot-dead-and-god-created-women-contempt-1236618646/

Franck Nouchi, "Brigitte Bardot, global film icon and champion of animal rights, has died," Le Monde, December 28, 2025: https://www.lemonde.fr/en/culture/article/2025/12/28/brigitte-bardot-has-died-aged-91_6748890_30.html

Armelle Heliot, "Brigitte Bardot, l'icône du cinéma français, est more à 91 ans," Le Figaro, December 28, 2025: https://www.lefigaro.fr/cinema/webnecro-bardot-brigitte-bardot-l-icone-du-cinema-francais-est-morte-a-91-ans-20251228

Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot, "Comic Strip," Scopitone CA-417: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22Uf4-khGAk

Brigitte Bardot, "Contact," Scopitone CA-392: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SE_K7SSDKg

Brigitte Bardot, "Harley-Davidson," Scopitone CA-386: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5dPPJsJhnA

Brigitte Bardot, "Everybody," Scopitone CA-399: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4wWpeGaNBw