Houdini's The Master Mystery at UCLA

[JohnCox]

A few weeks back I was able to watch an (almost) complete print of Houdini's The Master Mystery at the UCLA Film & Television Archive. It was a revelation. There is A LOT more movie here than what had been released on VHS/DVD. However, it appears UCLA is not able to license or copy this important piece of Houdini and silent movie history.

If interested, I've written up the whole whatnot here:
https://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2018/0 ... a-and.html

[Richard Kaufman]

This material is in the public domain and stipulations along the line of the donor's are not legally viable.

[JohnCox]

Oh really? Now that is interesting. Thank you, Richard.

[Bill Mullins]

This material is in the public domain and stipulations along the line of the donor's are not legally viable.

Mebbe so, but OTOH you've still got to follow the University's rules to see the footage, and they are under no obligation to let anyone make a copy.

The University may continue to treat the footage as protected because --

a. They have an ongoing relationship with the original donor or original donor's family, and don't want to jeopardize that relationship (and potential future donations from the donor's family) by going against the donor's stipulations.

b. They don't want to get a reputation for going against stipulations, thus jeopardizing future bequests from other parties who might have weird restrictions they would want to put onto things they might wish to donate.

c. There may be a penalty of some sort for not complying with the stipulations that we don't know about.
(In 1933, the United Daughters of the Confederacy donated $50k to Peabody College in Nashville to build a dorm, with the proviso that the dorm was to be named "Confederate Memorial Hall". Over time, Peabody was absorbed by Vanderbilt Univ, and Vandy wanted to rename the dorm to "Memorial Hall." The UDC sued, and the courts found that Vandy either had to leave the name as is, or return the donation with interest. Vandy changed it and gave the UDC $1.2 million.)

[JohnCox]

So I'm now hearing that I might not have my facts right in regards to why copies can't be made and there's more to the story of the UCLA Master Mystery print. I don't much more that, but I'm hoping to get to the bottom of it. Developing.

If someone has info they want to share, please email me at: johncox@wildabouthoudini.com

[JohnCox]

Okay, with the help of John Cannon and Joe Fox, I got to bottom of where this print came from and who actually owns it. 

A Master Mystery UCLA print update.
https://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2018/0 ... pdate.html

[Chris Aguilar]

Very interesting! Enjoyed reading your article about this John.

[JohnCox]

Thank you, Chris.

[Richard Kaufman]

John, your article doesn't deal with the most obvious question and the subsequent course of action. That is to do what is done with every film release that is in this state: combine the two to produce a complete release of the film with some portions sourced from the lesser surviving print.

[JohnCox]

I thought I did. I identified the owners of the two prints, and the potential issue with combining 16mm and 35mm. All the players are known and the pieces are there for someone with the money, the will, and the expertise to pursue just such a restoration. Let's hope someone will!

[Jonathan Townsend]

I thought I did. I identified the owners of the two prints, and the potential issue with combining 16mm and 35mm. All the players are known and the pieces are there for someone with ...

and the legal right to copy, alter or sell the work.

[JohnCox]

I thought I did. I identified the owners of the two prints, and the potential issue with combining 16mm and 35mm. All the players are known and the pieces are there for someone with ...

and the legal right to copy, alter or sell the work.

Would all need to be worked out.