ARRIVES IN SEATTLE
In 1956 Cinerama was exhibited at the Paramount
Theater with a presentation of
"This Is Cinerama." The three projectors were specially situated on the
main floor in aisles roped
off from the public.
"This Is Cinerama" was
presented in the unsurpassed three-strip film process.
Three projectors shot images over the audience, creating a 3 D effect without
the use of special glasses. A fourth 35 mm reel carried the state of the
art seven
channel surround sound tracks.
Cinerama had the projection booths separated.
Cinemiracle (purchased by Cinerama, Inc.) had projectors in single booth.
Below are pictures of the cameras
simultaneously
filming.
"Windjammer" played after the highly successful run of "This Is Cinerama."
In the early sixties Cinerama Inc
was in an expansion mode. Many new Cinerama theaters
were being constructed. The planning also was well under way for the Seattle
World's Fair.
Matt Lutthans of the Cinerama Society of Seattle shared these rare
photographs
taken by the architect just before the Martin opened in 1963.
(What? I'm not out in front yet? I must be late for work!)
View from screen looking back toward the 827 seat auditorium.
Pictured above: One of three projectors used
" Charlie" Booth with Matt Lutthans
for each presentation. A fourth system was
required just for the sound.
The Martin Cinerama had all the projection
equipment built in. Not even a single speaker
of the surround sound system was visible. A monochromatic color scheme in
shocking
"military red" combined with the dramatic absence of any interior decoration in
the auditorium
was dramatically designed to accentuate the visual majesty of the Cinerama
process.
Click below to return to main webpage...
or here to view posters of early
films.
Seattle's Martin Cinerama