Microsoft Word - 2011 Ed 27 Page13..doc

Paddy Baker Picture Show man

Book Review by Jack Honniball

The Shadowcatchers

A photographic history of Australian

Cinematography

ongratulations to our long-time member Max Bell in

achieving publication of his second book relating to

Western Australia’s cinematic history. It is primarily a

biography of Clarence Patrick Baker (1898-1988), a well-

known identity who devoted nearly 80 years of his long life to

films and the venues in which they were shown.

SPECIAL PRE-PUBLICATION OFFER

his stylish and beautifully produced 288-page coffee table

book (340 x 245 mm) contains over 380 photographs of

working cinematographers taken on film sets from 1901 to the

present, along with a ground-breaking historical text,

biographies of significant Australian cinematographers, and

fascinating personal anecdotes from some of the great

characters of our industry.

Born and raised on the goldfields, as a boy Paddy assisted a

local travelling exhibitor and soon went on to establish his own

Baker’s Photo Plays de Luxe. Over the years he developed a

large circuit that screened in town halls and later in drive-ins in

both the goldfields and the wheatbelt. In 1951 he bought the

attractive Regal Theatre in the Perth suburb of

Subiaco. After the introduction of television the venue

eventually wound down as a viable cinema but increasingly

housed a wide range of stage shows. It was the climax to his

generous nature that, shortly before his death, Paddy set up a

trust and gave his beloved theatre to the people of Perth.

The new book runs to 56 pages of the A4 or quarto size that is

now the favoured format of

its publisher, Hesperian

Press, of Victoria Park. The

Press has earned a high

reputation for its wide-

ranging and scholarly output.

Indeed, a majority of the 500

items it has produced contain

the stories of explorers,

pioneers, miners, naturalists,

and particularly of characters

who made their mark in rural

and outback areas; so Paddy

fits the criteria well!

Selected from private sources and from a range of institutional

holdings, the images display the artistry of leading stills

photographers, past and present. The result is an insiders’ view

of what happens behind the camera: the highs and the lows, the

changing culture and technology, the dangers, the

commitment, the hard yakka, the relationships with directors,

cast and crew, the incredible places cinematographers travel to

and what it takes to get the shot.

A simple map pinpoints the

locations of the 33 drive-in theatres which Paddy owned or

operated, and there are 30 photos showing many of these and

several hard—tops. Most of them also rate a clearly defined

section of the text in turn, and descriptions of the projection

equipment also feature prominently.

Published by the Australian Cinematographers Society, The

Shadowcatchers was written by film scholar and former

cinematographer Martha Ansara, under the guidance of veteran

members of the ACS. The book is produced to the highest

possible standards and printed through Sydney’s specialist art

book printer, Ligare, on 150gsm art paper with a sewn binding.

It is available in two formats: – Soft-cover standard edition

retailing for $66 (GST inclusive) and– Hardbound limited

edition for collectors $250 (GST inclusive). This never-to-be-

repeated collectors’ release consists of 250 numbered copies,

signed by the Society’s five Academy Award winning

cinematographers.

The author first met Paddy Baker in 1973 and their ongoing

contact and co-operation drew much of the information he has

carefully assembled here. Paddy was also a great help in the

preparation of Max’s earlier book of 1984, Perth: A Cinema

History, now out of print. Max has long been an

enthusiastic operator/exhibitor himself, currently with modest

ventures in and near his home base of Wagin.

As there will be only 2,000 copies of the standard edition and

250 copies of the Collector's Limited Edition, members of the

film industry are being notified early so that they may have a

chance to secure copies before sales are opened up to the wider

public. The book is already selling fast, so take a look at the

sample pages on the website, and if you want to be sure of

getting a copy, order now – don't miss out. (There's also a

downloadable gift certificate.)

http://www.shadowcatchers.com.au/

Please be aware there is a similarly named web address which

does not have the “au” at the end.

Max has also kindly

presented the

AMMPT with an

album containing

112 of his own

photographs, mainly

of Western Australian

drive-ins, country

halls used for films,

rural cinemas and the

projection equipment

installed.

The new book is available from the author at 20 Arnott Street,

Wagin, 6315; phone 9861 2614 (after 6 pm).

The cost is $23 including postage.

SMPTE Journals

opies of back some issues are available free to members.

Check out these and other surplus publications on Page 5.

Page 13.