College 'Lens' Its Talents to Community Theatre League
Published 09.09.2004
Members of the Penn College community recently completed work on a unique prop for the local production of "The Taffetas," starting Friday, Sept.17, and running for two weekends at the Community Theater League in downtown Williamsport. The mockup of a 1950's-style television camera, complete with an authentic-looking Dumont network logo, was a combined effort of faculty, staff and students.
Using Internet photographs as a guide, Media Specialist Randall K. Curry spearheaded the project. Curry spent a number of years in theater work and built many props during that time, including a similar video camera.
He assembled many of the parts for the camera in his sun porch over the Labor Day weekend so the glue and paint would have ample opportunity to dry. Assistance was provided by Civil Engineering faculty and Carpentry students, including Joshua M.Bundy, a Building Construction Technology major from Colora, Md., who fabricated many of the parts used in the frame.
The camera features surplus 16mm projection lenses, an old audio switchplate from the former Williamsport High School and Williamsport Area Community College auditorium, and a variety of knobs and controls from spare parts kept by Media Services.
The interesting project began about two weeks ago with a phone call from CTL member Peter DePasquale to Ben Pelipesky, media technology coordinator at Lycoming College. Pelipesky recommended that the group call Joe Miller, instructional media specialist at Penn College, who enlisted the support of a number of staff members in assembling the various parts for the look-alike camera.
DePasquale extended his appreciation to the Penn College community for its support of the theatrical production.