The Samuel L. Warner Memorial Medal Award Winners
2008
Shawn Jones
For his many years of innovative work focused on the optical negative recording and multi-format digital mastering. Shawn Jones has been at the forefront of technology with his most recent project accomplishments of a new laser recording system and the design and construction of NT Audio's Quality Control Theatre, overall being responsible for producing millions of feet of high quality recordings comprising hundreds of titles. Shawn’s work at Sony Electronics assisted in the development of the SDDS format, receiving a patent for his contributions. In 2006, together with other Dye Track Committee members, he was awarded an Academy Award of Commendation for their contributions to the environmentally responsible industry conversion from silver-based to cyan dye analog soundtracks. Jones holds a Bachelors Degree from UCLA and is an active member of SMPTE and the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.
2007
Mark F. Davis, PhD
In recognition of his psychoacoustic and electrical engineering work on
audio coding systems for digital sound on film, as well as broadcast, and
consumer applications. Dr. Davis played a key role in the development
of the first audio coding system that coded five full range channels and a
low frequency effects channel into a single compressed data stream. This
became the multichannel audio coding system known as Dolby AC-3, first
employed in the Dolby Digital Sound for film system.
2006
Jack Leahy
For his many years of development and support of RCA sound on film
technology, and in particular, his work on pivotal 35 mm magnetic and
photographic recording devices. In these days of digital "no moving parts"
sound, it is easy to forget that very few years ago, analog, mechanical,
magnetic, photographic systems presented multi-disciplinary challenges to
developers, manufacturers, and film and television production and
distribution support companies. Mr. Leahy is a perfect embodiment of the
skills needed to address these multifaceted challenges.
2005
Robert C. Lovick
For his work and contributions to the science, engineering and practice of
sound on film. It has been said by some that the era of analog sound on film
is winding to its conclusion. In light of that observation, the Samuel L.
Warner Award committee has chosen to celebrate an engineer whose work of
several decades established successful processes for sound on film that form
the foundation for optical film sound practice today, nearly fifty years
later. During his career at Eastman Kodak, he made significant contributions in the
field of motion picture sound on film. Noteworthy among his many
accomplishments are development of silver soundtrack on color reversal film,
magnetic striping on film, and high speed magnetic sound printing. An
innovator who chose to share his knowledge with his colleagues, he authored
more than a dozen papers published in the SMPTE Journal between the 50’s and
the 70’s. He represented the USA on the ISO sound committee, and as well
participating in the EIA and IEEE committees for sound. He also holds
numerous patents in the field.
2004
Tom McCormick
For his work in optical soundtrack recording. His two decades of pioneering
work in half speed recording and multi-format digital mastering have seen
the production of millions of feet of high quality recordings of hundreds of
titles: a testament to his engineering abilities.
2003
Howard J. Flemming
Flemming, while in the employ of Optical Radiation Corporation, Azusa, CA,
and in collaboration with Eastman Kodak Company, was key to the development
of Cinema Digital Sound, a new process for recording and decoding digital
audio information for motion picture film exhibition. The innovative CDS
technology was deployed in a number of theaters across the US from 1991 to
1993, one of the very first commercial digital sound delivery systems for
theaters. Mr. Flemming successfully designed and built the photographic
encoder that exposed microscopic spots across the sound track region on
special sound negative stock, and then implemented a motion picture
projection decoder system which delivered six discrete CD quality audio
channels.
2002
Craig C. Todd
Senior member of the technical staff at Dolby Laboratories, where he has
worked since 1977 and has contributed substantially to developments in
multichannel film sound. He has been working to bring discrete multichannel
audio to the consumer and is one of the primary designers of Dolby Digital
and Dolby E coding technologies. Todd was heavily involved in the ACATS/ATSC
effort to set the DTV standard for the U.S. He is currently working in the
area of Digital Cinema.
2001
James A. (Jack) Cashin
Who in the early 1970s developed the 8-track recording equipment used in
Robert Altman's film, California Split. The system allowed the director to
use streams of sound impressionistically, and the film became a watershed in
the industry for its pronounced effect of coincident speech and sound.
Subsequently, Cashin responded to theater owners' expressed need for
improved two-channel optical sound playback. His solution cancelled the
effect of film weave and soundtrack imbalance.
2000
No award given.
1999
No award given.
1998
Etsuro Saito
For the hardware and software design of the Sony Dynamic Digital Sound
format (SDDS), currently in use in 6,000 theaters worldwide. SDDS places
eight discrete channels of high-quality audio on 35mm motion picture
film.
1997
No award given.
1996
James Ketcham
For his development of both hardware and software design in the interlocking
techniques between film and video equipment, greatly improving time code use
in various aspects of motion picture and post-production technology.
1995
Lynn A. McCroskey
In recognition of his achievements in the development of sound systems for
theatrical and special venue motion picture systems. He headed the
development team that created the Sonics DDP digital sound playback systems
and is a pioneer in the development of digital sound for motion
pictures.
1994
David W. Gray
In recognition of his long-term contributions to the production of Dolby
Stereo soundtracks and his support and participation in the introduction of
the Dolby SRD motion picture format to the Hollywood film community. This
revolutionary concept requires the exposing of digital audio between the
film perforations in addition to the standard soundtrack position. Mr. Gray
has also contributed to the maintaining of the alignment standards in motion
picture theaters and is best recognized for his achievement of the highest
quality optical sound reproduction, particularly at the Academy Theater in
Hollywood.
1993
No award given.
1992
Ed Zwaneveld
In recognition of his initiation and direction of an evolutionary,
compatible approach to the development of digital optical sound-on-film, an
automated R-DAT-based digital sound-effects library system, the development
of dual-element photocell detector technology for monitoring sound-track
application on print film, and the development of digital sound signature
sampling and matching technology for film projectors and VTRs.
1991
Frank E. Pontius
In recognition of his contribution to the consistent improvement in the
manufacture of light valves and optical sound recording cameras, used today
for most optical stereophonic sound tracks for theatrical release around the
world.
1990
E. M. (Al) Lewis
For his important contributions to the development of the Ampex 6-track
theater sound system, the design of solid-state sound systems for motion
picture studios and theaters, the design of magnetic record and reproduce
head assemblies for the film industry, and a continuous stream of technical
advancements over a long and productive career.
1989
John A. Bonner
In recognition of his contributions to the advancement of theaters,
re-recording and live recording rooms, and for his continuing efforts to
improve the quality of motion picture sound in both studio and theater
environments.
1988
Frederick J. Kolb, Jr.
In recognition of his contributions to the development of magnetic striping
formulations for 16mm and 8mm camera and print films; for numerous
significant contributions to the understanding of the physical performance
of motion picture film as it affects audio performance; for long-term
efforts in the field of audio standardization; and for always bringing a
high level of technical expertise and precision to these activities.
1987
Tomlinson Holman
For his important contributions to motion picture sound, in particular his
sustained work in theater electroacoustics, which have yielded better
uniformity and quality of sound in theatrical exhibition.
1986
Richard J. Stumpf
For his continuing efforts to maintain and advance motion picture sound in
production and exhibition.
1985
loan Allen
In recognition of his contribution to the development of the Dolby Stereo
Optical Sound process and his continuing efforts to improve the quality of
motion picture sound.
1984
Ronald E. Uhlig
In recognition of his contribution to the advancement of photographic sound
recording through the development of stereo photographic sound tracks,
improved sound negative film, and continuing work to implement improved
quality control techniques.
1983
Terry Beard
In recognition of his continuing efforts and contributions to the
improvement of the photographic sound-on-film process.
1982
Erik Rasmussen
In recognition of over 50 years of continuing effort in the improvement of
sound-on-film, from the early conversion of silent motion picture theaters
to sound, through the development of optical sound-recording equipment and
the management of studio sound departments, to his current work on the
acoustics of motion picture theaters using pink-noise at films of his own
design and the psycho-acoustic perceptions of the cinema audience.
1981
John O. Aalberg
For more than 60 continuous years of advancing the technology of exhibiting
motion pictures and recording sound.
1980
Arthur C. Blaney
In recognition of his research and development of photographically recording
sound on film, his pioneering of cross-modulation testing and
quality-control techniques related to variable area tracks, and more
recently his contribution to the design of the optical system used in
recording stereo variable area photographic soundtracks, as well as an
optical system for super-8 photographic soundtrack.
1979
Norman T. Prisament
For his noteworthy interest and contributions in the field of sound
reproduction and transfer mechanisms by means of high-speed interlocking
systems. The development of the high-speed electronic looping system
simplified the foreign language dubbing of soundtracks.
1978
Ray M. Dolby
In recognition of his development of a noise-reduction system for use in
motion picture sound recording of music and sound effects and for the
development of a band-selective noise-reduction system for processing
dialogue tracks which had been recorded in a high ambient noise
environment.
1977
Albert P. Green
For his leadership in the design and implementation of the Groves/Rice Sound
Complex at the Burbank Studios, which incorporated the latest technological
advancements relating to motion picture sound recording and rerecording, for
his significant engineering contributions regarding reversible interlock
motor drive systems for rerecording, and for his continuing efforts to
improve recording standards for the motion picture industry while serving as
an advisor to the Research Council of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and
Sciences.
1976
Alfred W. Lumkin
For his continuing efforts to establish standards for the acoustic response
in cinema theaters and rerecording theaters, as well as describing practical
methods for measuring Suez acoustical characteristics.
1975
Joseph D. Kelly
In recognition of his pioneering use of the 1/4-in. synchronous tape in
production recording of motion picture sound, and the development of
solid-state dubbing and scoring consoles with matrix switching, of an
efficient automatic dialogue replacement system, and of a system for
interfacing motion picture rerecording techniques with videotape using time
codes and multiple-track recording to add effects and music to the original
master videotape recording.
1974
Waldon O. Watson
For his persistent efforts to improve and maintain the sound quality of
motion pictures.
1973
Loren L. Ryder
For his long and continued interest in the improvement of sound-recording
techniques and, in particular, for his pioneering encouragement of the use
of high-quality lightweight equipment.
1972
George R. Groves
For his many technological improvements for motion picture sound
recording.
1971
James P. Corcoran
For his contributions to four-track stereo sound for CinemaScope release,
both for recording techniques and theater-reproducing equipment.
1970
Gordon E. Sawyer
For pioneering and maintaining the highest engineering standards in sound
recording for motion pictures through the development of advanced equipment
and original techniques.
1969
Frederick G. Albin
For his great and many contributions to the advancement of sound
recording.
1967
Stefan Kudelski
For his engineering and development of a portable synchronous l/4-in-tape
recording system of unique design resulting in exceptional speed stability
under widely varying conditions.
1966
Fred Hynes
For his achievements and advancements in the art of stereophonic recording,
for his contribution to improved theater presentation and his continuing
leadership in dramatic use of sound-on-film.
1962
Lawrence W. Davee
For his concept of a fully transistorized motion picture theater sound
system and his engineering guidance in developing and introducing such a
system into many theaters throughout the world and for other outstanding
achievements.
1961
Walter H. Hicks
For his contributions in the design and development of methods and apparatus
for sound-on-film motion pictures.
1959
John G. Frayne
For his contribution in engineering a 70mm stereo soundtrack magnetic film
system and test films.
1958
George Lewin
For his discovery and research on the phenomenon of transparency of magnetic
coatings to infrared light sources and its application to dual sound
reproduction from either the magnetic track or the underlying optical
track.
1957
Richard H. Ranger
For his invention, development and application of a method of electronically
synchronizing sound recorded on magnetic tape to the motion picture
camera.
1956
C. C. Davis
For his outstanding contributions in the field of sound-recording and
reproducing mechanisms, as part of which program he developed the Davis
Drive film-transport mechanism, applied its principle to disk recording
drives, and developed a multitrack magnetic head with extremely low
crosstalk.
1955
Harry F. Olson
For outstanding achievements in audio engineering, and for his contributions
to the development and improvement of phonograph pickup and recording
equipment, underwater sound equipment, and sound motion picture and public
address systems.
1954
Lorin D. Grignon
For his engineering work in stereophonic sound now widely used in
wide-screen film presentations.
1953
W. W. Wetzel
For noteworthy contributions to the development of excellent magnetic tapes
and films now commercially available.
1952
Herbert T. Kalmus
For Technicolor's perfection of the imbibition process for 16mm color prints
and for the techniques of making separate sound negatives for mass
production by the 35mm/32mm method for excellence of 16mm sound.
1951
Earl I. Sponable
For years of research and development in recording of sound on film.
1950
Charles R. Fordyce
For his efforts in and achievement of the development of triacetate safety
base film.
1949
R. M. Evans
For his outstanding work in the field of color motion picture films,
including research on visual effects in photography and development work on
commercial color processes.
1948
Nathan Levinson
For his outstanding work in the field of motion picture sound recording, the
intercutting of variable-area and variable-density soundtracks, the
commercial use of control track for extending volume range, and the use of
the first soundproof camera blimps.
1947
J. A. Maurer
For his outstanding contributions to the field of high-quality 16mm sound
recording and reproduction, film processing, development of 16mm sound test
films, and for his inspired leadership in industry standardization.
