Hey David. Is it possible that they renumbered the seats since then? The 2 seats house left of the console in BB are actually 412-413. They are definitely used as handicapped seats if needed. There was a wheelchair there yesterday for one of the shows. I looked at the ticket list and every show seems to be sold out for those seats till the end of the run. Sorry.
The false proscenium was added for 2 reasons. First it hides the speakers used for the show. Remember how the speakers used to be hung from the ceiling in plain sight? Secondly, it added surface area for the digital projection elements used for the Christmas show and spring show so it actually didn’t save money at all.
As far as the organs go, they do sound great. The reason they do is because components that haven’t worked in years, were all fixed. They are now able to use the entire range of effect available to them.
Crowds have been decent. Remember, the official opening night is not until this Thursday. After that, attendance usually picks up.
The girls scouts were gone before our test so I was able to go down. Unfortunately, because of the angle the projectors shoot down at, the hotspot that you’re seeing is more prevalent in the front parts of the orchestra seats. The further back you go, the less the hot spotting seems. Curving the screen would lessen this, but there is just no room to fly a curved screen up. As Vito was saying, the 3D effect usually is lessened the further off center you go. The one good thing about the screen here not being curved is that it actually does not lessen the effect. I checked out the side seats last year during a test and there was very little drop off of light. I took a few pictures that I will post in a few minutes.
Thanks Mark. It’s good to know your exact seat. I will have to check it tomorrow. Girl Scouts are here today.
Vito mentioned how clean the equipment was. For a week and a half during load in this year, we completely torn down both 70MM projectors. Everything was cleaned and parts were replaced as needed. Very few parts. I will try and post some pictures later.
Thanks for the update Mark. I will go down tomorrow morning during our testing to check on it. Most likely it’s because we use a silver screen and it’s not curved like it is supposed to be. It’s bad enough when it IS curved. You will get hotspots. When a silver screen is not curved, the hotspots are worse and they change depending on where you sit.
It was more than just an appropriate staffing change made. Many changes were made. Some of which I scratch my head at. Typical for around here. Nothing is ever set in stone. As we found out last spring.
Both. It is the film stock size. Everyone refers to seeing it in 70MM because there was really only one plate to cut for 70MM. 35MM had many different aspect ratios so many different plates were cut depending on the aspect ratio.
I forgot to add that one of the main things that helped that was the change to 7000 watt lamps. Add in all many, many minor changes and adjustments the last few years and the 3-D effect works very well.
During various morning tests last year, I walked around the entire house to look at the 3-D effect. There are really no bad seats anymore. Obviously, the more centered you are, the better the effect. However, even in the seats way off to the side, the 3-D effect was VERY apparent.
We are fairly certain that the 3-D film will still be used for next year. It just works too well and is still an important feature in the show. They still had some problems with the LED 3-D wall this year so it would be risky putting it on that. In the 7 years or so that I’ve been here, we lost the film for a show only 2 times.
The surround speakers that were put in actually are used for the entire show, not just film. They are also used in a lot of the events during the year.
Thanks for your comments Mark but the legend here is Bob Endres. Also, few people know that the man that worked with Bob here, is retired but still works about 10 days doing the Christmas Show with us. Andy plans on being here next year too. Remind early in the show next year and I will give you a tour of the booth.
Mike, the 3-D video game sequence is on a separate LED wall made up of many horrible looking panels that do indeed have distracting seams (film wouldn’t do that…but that’s for another discussion). The second 3-D scene that I’m assuming you’re talking about is the Santa fly-in to Radio City. That is still 70MM film shown on the large silver screen and not the picture sheet. As I said earlier, the picture sheet has been removed.
First off, get used to the stuff hanging everywhere. With more and more shows and the “need” for “effects”, more things will be added. Of course things change from show to show but there be always be equipment hanging everywhere……..
……On a sadder note, the house picture sheet has been removed and most likely discarded. Also, the speaker border with the stage speakers has been dismantled and most likely permanently removed……….
I’m not getting the emails either. I just dropped by to post a picture and saw all the responses….
The interior “proscenium” was put in 3 years ago for the content from the digital projectors. We had to re-lens the film projectors because it shrunk the image size (yes, the picture was even bigger than it is now). The video walls are what they are. They look like crap close up but it’s good enough I guess. I’m very surprised about the theater not being cleaned well from the show before. They usually are very good about that.
No premieres in the near future. Vito, they may be bringing in more digital projectors for the spring show. It looks like they will not be using film now for the spring show. This is what we heard yesterday from someone. Info does not travel well to us hear so that may still change. The trailer for the spring show is 90 seconds and being shown on the 3D wall. It looks amazing on the wall…….if you like the look of content on a cinderblock wall with cold colors……..makes no sense at all.
Was the theater running again since the last Indian owner?
Hey David. Is it possible that they renumbered the seats since then? The 2 seats house left of the console in BB are actually 412-413. They are definitely used as handicapped seats if needed. There was a wheelchair there yesterday for one of the shows. I looked at the ticket list and every show seems to be sold out for those seats till the end of the run. Sorry.
I’m not denying the fact that it looks bad. It also cut into the size of the 3-D image. We had to make the picture smaller.
The false proscenium was added for 2 reasons. First it hides the speakers used for the show. Remember how the speakers used to be hung from the ceiling in plain sight? Secondly, it added surface area for the digital projection elements used for the Christmas show and spring show so it actually didn’t save money at all.
As far as the organs go, they do sound great. The reason they do is because components that haven’t worked in years, were all fixed. They are now able to use the entire range of effect available to them.
Crowds have been decent. Remember, the official opening night is not until this Thursday. After that, attendance usually picks up.
The girls scouts were gone before our test so I was able to go down. Unfortunately, because of the angle the projectors shoot down at, the hotspot that you’re seeing is more prevalent in the front parts of the orchestra seats. The further back you go, the less the hot spotting seems. Curving the screen would lessen this, but there is just no room to fly a curved screen up. As Vito was saying, the 3D effect usually is lessened the further off center you go. The one good thing about the screen here not being curved is that it actually does not lessen the effect. I checked out the side seats last year during a test and there was very little drop off of light. I took a few pictures that I will post in a few minutes.
Thanks Mark. It’s good to know your exact seat. I will have to check it tomorrow. Girl Scouts are here today.
Vito mentioned how clean the equipment was. For a week and a half during load in this year, we completely torn down both 70MM projectors. Everything was cleaned and parts were replaced as needed. Very few parts. I will try and post some pictures later.
Thanks for the update Mark. I will go down tomorrow morning during our testing to check on it. Most likely it’s because we use a silver screen and it’s not curved like it is supposed to be. It’s bad enough when it IS curved. You will get hotspots. When a silver screen is not curved, the hotspots are worse and they change depending on where you sit.
70MM 3-D as always. Hopefully that will never change.
It was more than just an appropriate staffing change made. Many changes were made. Some of which I scratch my head at. Typical for around here. Nothing is ever set in stone. As we found out last spring.
We will see. Don’t get your hopes up too much……
Greenport ran their last 35MM film on Labor Day weekend. Starting in the spring, they will be fully digital.
Both. It is the film stock size. Everyone refers to seeing it in 70MM because there was really only one plate to cut for 70MM. 35MM had many different aspect ratios so many different plates were cut depending on the aspect ratio.
The curtain will be used.
I forgot to add that one of the main things that helped that was the change to 7000 watt lamps. Add in all many, many minor changes and adjustments the last few years and the 3-D effect works very well.
During various morning tests last year, I walked around the entire house to look at the 3-D effect. There are really no bad seats anymore. Obviously, the more centered you are, the better the effect. However, even in the seats way off to the side, the 3-D effect was VERY apparent.
We are fairly certain that the 3-D film will still be used for next year. It just works too well and is still an important feature in the show. They still had some problems with the LED 3-D wall this year so it would be risky putting it on that. In the 7 years or so that I’ve been here, we lost the film for a show only 2 times.
The surround speakers that were put in actually are used for the entire show, not just film. They are also used in a lot of the events during the year.
Thanks for your comments Mark but the legend here is Bob Endres. Also, few people know that the man that worked with Bob here, is retired but still works about 10 days doing the Christmas Show with us. Andy plans on being here next year too. Remind early in the show next year and I will give you a tour of the booth.
Congrats Mark. Hope she is back next year. Also, I can see the seams from the booth.
It will be removed next week during load out and installed again next October during load in for next year’s show.
Mike, the 3-D video game sequence is on a separate LED wall made up of many horrible looking panels that do indeed have distracting seams (film wouldn’t do that…but that’s for another discussion). The second 3-D scene that I’m assuming you’re talking about is the Santa fly-in to Radio City. That is still 70MM film shown on the large silver screen and not the picture sheet. As I said earlier, the picture sheet has been removed.
First off, get used to the stuff hanging everywhere. With more and more shows and the “need” for “effects”, more things will be added. Of course things change from show to show but there be always be equipment hanging everywhere…….. ……On a sadder note, the house picture sheet has been removed and most likely discarded. Also, the speaker border with the stage speakers has been dismantled and most likely permanently removed……….
I’m not getting the emails either. I just dropped by to post a picture and saw all the responses….
The interior “proscenium” was put in 3 years ago for the content from the digital projectors. We had to re-lens the film projectors because it shrunk the image size (yes, the picture was even bigger than it is now). The video walls are what they are. They look like crap close up but it’s good enough I guess. I’m very surprised about the theater not being cleaned well from the show before. They usually are very good about that.
No premieres in the near future. Vito, they may be bringing in more digital projectors for the spring show. It looks like they will not be using film now for the spring show. This is what we heard yesterday from someone. Info does not travel well to us hear so that may still change. The trailer for the spring show is 90 seconds and being shown on the 3D wall. It looks amazing on the wall…….if you like the look of content on a cinderblock wall with cold colors……..makes no sense at all.
Didn’t see any during spring show rehearsals. “Snow” was only thing added for Christmas Show.
Other than “snow”, which has a kick line, same show as last year
That was a great response David. Also, this just in……..we will be running a “trailer” at the beginning of every show for the spring show……