Scopitone Archive

1960s matchbook advertising Scopitone at Ed Stewart's Country Fair Supper Club in Reisterstown, MD (near Baltimore). For sale now on eBay.

On May 16, 2026 Janus Films posted on X that Scopitone will come back in style in late 2026. I wonder what this is about? An upcoming documentary? An official rerelease of Scopitone films on physical media or streaming? One can only hope.

Brenda Reid, the dynamic lead singer of the Exciters, died on April 29, 2026 at the age of 80. Although the band was from New York, The Exciters made two wonderful Scopitone films in Paris, "He's Got The Power" and "Tell Him," in 1963.

For more info, see:

Dodge-Thomas Funeral Home, "Brenda L. Reid Obituary," https://dodgethomas.com/tribute/details/2333/Brenda-Reid/obituary.html

Brian Ferrari's Blog, "She Knew Something About Love: Brenda Reid (1945-2026)," May 16, 2026, https://brianferrarinyc.com/2026/05/16/she-knew-something-about-love-brenda-reid-1945-2026/

The Exciters, "He's Got The Power," Scopitone GB-3, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOu5jM_un3Q

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

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

"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

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

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

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/

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

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.