Fan’s Tales
The Story of the Lost Film
I saw a photo recently of a fan’s bedroom walls covered in posters of David. I so regret not having a photo of my bedroom back in the early 70’s. My collection was quite something, but there was one special and rare item I treasured that I let slip through my fingers.
In March 1974 when I attended the DC outdoor concert in Perth, Western Australia, cameras were not allowed into the venue. I was ok with that because my brother-in-law took his newly bought Super 8 film camera along so he could take footage of David on stage. He captured a just few minutes of great footage…amateur and very experimental, but it was David and that is what mattered to my 14-year-old self
I loved that colour film, however there was no sound. Due to the clarity though, I could synchronise it with the correct song by lip reading David as he sang, then I would put the record needle on the LP at the right moment to match. It was a very amateur hit-and-miss method, but it was better than silence.
Later that year, I did something I would regret.
The fan magazines sometimes had penpal names and addresses towards the back where you could become friends with fans from other countries. For about 6 months or so, I had a penpal from LA who worked at NBC. He told me he was friends with Susan Dey and together they were collecting TPF and DC memorabilia with the intention of gathering enough memorabilia for a museum worthy collection. He asked if I would send him the film footage to add to his collection
I did! I sent it away to him!
I was young and naïve. I just wanted to help him with this collection.
Perhaps I thought it would be returned, but I really do not remember.
In time, I felt embarrassed and ashamed to admit to anyone that I had sent it away, so I would just say I lost it from all the moves I had done over the years. My sister would say, ‘Oh no, you lost it! Imagine if you still had it!’ I felt bad because it was my sister and her husband who took me to the concert and filmed a little bit of it.
The letter writing with the LA guy only lasted 6 months or so. As usual, life became busy with growing up, studying, living my life and raising children. I eventually forgot his surname and lost his address, but oh how I regretted having foolishly given that film away to somebody. Who was this person anyway? Was he genuine? Did he really know Susan Dey?
Many years went by, but I never forgot his first name and that he worked for NBC in LA. I even tried to find him online, but without a surname it was impossible. Sometimes I would wonder if he still had it or had he died or was it deteriorating in the hot Californian sun?
As the years went by and I connected with fan friends online and in life, especially after David had passed away, I thought about that little colour film even more. I imagined it might be found one day by a thoughtful fan and sent to the official DC website for safe keeping. The chances of that seemed slim. A 50-year-old piece of film would be lost and discarded by now, surely.
This March, 2024, it was 50 years since that Perth concert, so my local fan friend, Lanie, and I treated ourselves to a Melbourne trip together to celebrate the anniversary and to meet Jim and view his amazing DC and TPF collection. We also spent time together with 2 very generous and devoted Melbourne fans, Sara and Chiarina. Viewing Jim’s collection was such a highlight. We ‘touched’ and ‘held’ (and laughed and cried about) the red jumpsuit David wore on stage that night in Perth exactly 50 years ago to the day.
Jim’s collection is wonderful and extensive. The memorabilia display takes up the space of 2 rooms. Jim was in one room with Lanie and Sara. I was in the other room talking with Chiarina for a while, then we joined Jim and the girls who were chatting about David and the collection.
A moment later, I heard Jim say something like, ‘…a collector from LA…’
I said, ‘What? A collector from LA? Did he work for the NBC?’
Jim said, ‘YES!’
It was the same guy, the penpal I had so long ago, the same guy I had sent the film to. Jim knew about him.
Can you imagine my surprise? I blurted out that I had sent him colour film footage of David way back around 1974 and all these years I have wanted it back!
So….
Jim reminded me of his full name which sounded familiar to me. Lanie found an email address and when I arrived home in WA, I emailed the guy in the hope that he still had the Super 8 film after all these years.
He replied.
He wrote that he could remember my first name but not a lot else, that he had sold off most of his collection as it was spread about in different storage places, he wasn’t sure if he still had any film and after a few days thinking, he decided he might know where to look.
He found it!
Yes, after all that time.
I honestly thought he was about to write, ‘sorry I no longer have it,’ but for some crazy reason the stars aligned to create good fortune. Imagine if I had not walked into the room when Jim happened to speak about a collector from LA.
I hoped it would still be in good condition. I had a plan to have it professionally converted for easier viewing and safe keeping. More than anything I wanted to share it with other fans so they too could enjoy it.
At last, it arrived in the post and once again I held it in my hand. There I could see my young handwriting style in faded pencil on the cover. I took it to be converted into digital format, then brought it home & put it on our big screen.
There was young David, almost 24, moving and jumping about on the stage just as I remembered, however, the quality was not at all what I had hoped it to be. Time and conditions had caused deterioration to the film. Clarity and colour were lacking and David appeared as a glowing white and blurred figure. I could make out the white glittery suit and baton, I could sometimes see the red of the jumpsuit, but I felt quite deflated and decided to just put it away for a while.
Eventually I played it for my son, Sam, who has a degree in film & video. His attitude & appreciation of old film offered an alternative perspective, which made me think. My son loves it the way it is because it tells the story of the age, fame, authenticity, fandom, film and deterioration over time. I have decided to embrace it for what it is and now I love it. The glowing white of David on stage gives an ethereal quality, as though he is and always will be the shining star.
The LA penpal and I have exchanged emails over the last few months. He is as delighted and happy as can be, just as I am. He fully appreciates the amazing circumstances that took place in leading that film back to me after such a long time.
He did date Susan Dey for a while and they both did build up a collection. Over time they went their separate ways. The collection was kept in various storage places and most pieces were sold to other collectors as the years went by.
Im hoping to meet up with him next time I visit California.
We can talk and laugh about the little old piece of film footage that travelled twice across the Pacific Ocean 50 years apart.
We will also, of course, reminisce and smile about that multi talented man who started it all, David Cassidy.
Erin Sullivan, Western Australia, 2024.
