SIFF Cinema Downtown
2100 4th Avenue,
Seattle,
WA
98121
2100 4th Avenue,
Seattle,
WA
98121
47 people
favorited this theater
Showing 76 - 100 of 266 comments
Does anyone remember the sound at the Seattle Cinerama before Dolby was installed? It was more realistic & less “pumped up”. This was the only Dolby installation I have heard that was NOT an improvement. From reports since the rescue of the theatre that misfire installation no longer exists.
I hope they don’t attempt to LieMax the place.
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Cinerama-to-close-for-months-5660009.php
Closing for a few months starting August 4, 2014.
Also, seeking a liquor license.
The 70mm single projector presentations of films originally in 3 projector Cinerama at the Cinerama Festival at the Cinerama Dome in LA had little of the impact of the originals, with the exception of South Seas Adventure which was restored by an outfit in Austin, Texas. The sound on all the 70mm presentations was nothing like the original 7 channel Cinerama sound.
Recently Dave Strohmaier exhibited snippets of the Smilebox restoration of “Cinerama Holiday” on the full Cinerama screen at Bradford, UK. It is an improvement to see the film without the jiggling that couldn’t be helped when three filmstrips were being run in the three projectors required for the original Cinerama process and presentation. I neglected to ask Dave whether the original seven-track sound system was preserved or that a downsizing to fewer tracks was employed. You can see the presentation here:
http://www.davidstrohmaier.com/TEST/Smilebox%20BrafordiPad%20and%20iPhone%204.m4v
I saw Blade Runner here once in an expanded Cinerama size presentation years ago. Special lense? Don’t know but it appeared to be just as expansive and large as the Cinerama process. Great! Also Days of Heaven.
To Ken’s comment…I wonder if there is a technology that can take the digital elements of the blu-ray (BD) restoration of How the West Was Won and create a utility to stitch the seams together as beautifully as is done for the BD. The BD is quite amazing in SmileBox on a “large” projected HT screen. The seams are all but invisible. If the 2K files made of each strip for the BD were used to create a 6K Cinerama screen at DCI specs, projected with laser projectors, that could be quite an impressive “restoration” for the big screen events. Ahem..Mr. Allen…we have an idea. ;–)
I’m all for purist screenings of the three 35mm strips, but a big screen “digital” Cinerama could be pretty cool.
I’d want to see films in their original Cinerama projection process on film not digital video projection.
I sure hope this extremely rare surviving Cinerama house continues to show 2001 (and other classic 70mm films) and How the West Was Won. Paul Allen paid for new prints of those films. I myself have no interest in those other films you mention.
The Seattle Cinerama will get the first permanent commercial installation of Christie’s new 4K laser digital projector in Feb. or March of 2014, replacing their current 4K Christie system. The new projector is capable of up to 60,000 lumens, and will handle both 2D and 3D presentations.
Oops. Their post was all to be on curved Cinerama screen. I’m interjecting the original way 2001 & Patton were meant to be seen. More on those 2 films- Wikipedia says theater savior Paul Allen paid for a new 2001 print last year. I saw a fantastic print several weeks ago of Patton, at AFI Silver Theatre.
No, though your guess is logical, they posted as a reply comment on their most recent Facebook post that the curved Cinerama screen will be used the entire time, for 70mm films as well as Cinerama and at least 2 of the films- 2001 and Patton were meant for a curved screen. I’m sure most people are happier with this choice. The Cinerama films may be clustered together because they need a projectionist for each of the 3 projector booths needed for Cinerama but that’s just my guess.
I think they will be using the deep-curve screen only for the three strip Cinerama films since those screenings are all scheduled on the final weekend. Just a hunch…
i saw This is Cinerama, 2001 and Sound of Music two years ago at their first 70mm Film Festival. This is Cinerama was a giant marketing piece for US tourism but was interesting to see the 3 strip film.
during Sound of Music there was an intermission and parents were just letting their kids run a muck all over the auditorium, i was pretty shocked. in the lobby i don’t think i would have minded as much.
See official website for September’s 70mm festival and also including two 3 strip Cinerama films (This is Cinerama and How the West Was Won). Lawrence of Arabia, Spartacus, Vertigo, Sound of Music, 2001, Patton, Hamlet, Baraka. the Big Screen so I suppose on the 90 foot x 30 foot Cinerama screen rather than 68 foot flat screen. That would mean 70mm films at 2.20 aspect ratio would be 66 foot wide but on the curved screen.
i did see the 70mm print of Ghostbusters after having seen a standard print at the Egyptian a few months earlier, and it did indeed look much better.
The Cinerama is still running THE MASTER in 70mm (looks and sounds great!). Next three regular attractions will be CLOUD ATLAS, SKYFALL, and THE HOBBIT (hopefully in 48fps).
The Datasat (formerly known as DTS, DTS sold their movie division to Datasat in 2008) soundtrack for 2001: A Space Odyssey is a straight digital transfer off the original 6 channel mag. The mag soundtrack was cleaned up to remove any analog artifacts, but the mix was not altered.
I saw 2001 here in the 60’s. Great experience. Also Bladerunner in a Cinerama style presentation with a special lense on the projector and it looked like authentic Cinerama. That was the best experience. Years ago too.
did anyone see ‘Ghostbusters’?? I really want to know if the 70mm print looked any better than the craptastic bluray edition.
You are not the only one who thinks so!
I asked about the sound via email to the staff at the Seattle Cinerama; their reply indicated that sound is six channel Digital Theater Sound (DTS).
wouldn’t the 70mm have the superior soundtrack five across sound (+ mono surrounds), does the ‘digital’ version retain this? (I doubt it)
And, not only is this theater getting this new print pf “2001” for this sci-fi festival (which is planned now to be an annual event), but Warner’s is providing it to the Seattle Cinerama on a permanent loan basis according to this article.
Paul Allen and his management team are continously making a mockery out of ArcLight/Pacific/Decurion. Seattle gets a new 70MM 2001 print while The Dome gets a 1 time only “digital” one. Shame.