Seattle Cinerama
2100 4th Avenue,
Seattle,
WA
98121
2100 4th Avenue,
Seattle,
WA
98121
34 people
favorited this theater
Seattle’s Martin Cinerama opened in 1963 using the original Cinerama 3-strip projection technique. But with a shift underway towards 70mm projection, the theater was altered just a few months later, although the enormous curved screen was kept.
The 70mm Cinerama screenings lasted until 1969, when the theater switched to more conventional 35mm projectors. Eventually Cineplex Odeon took over operations. By 1997, the theater was struggling and developers swooped in with plans to repurpose the theater.
Very quickly, Seattle Cinerama lovers began a grassroots effort to save the theater. A year later, Paul Allen (of Microsoft fame), bought the theater for $3 million. Soon after, he orchestrated an immense restoration project that enhanced the theater’s appearance and returned it to its roots—showing films in the Cinerama format.
Re-opened in 1999, the Seattle Cinerama Theater is now one of only three operating Cinerama theaters in the world. This beautifully restored shrine to Cinerama is now one of the most technologically advanced movie theaters ever erected.
Contributed by
Ross Melnick
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Recent comments (view all 178 comments)
The announcement does not make clear if these showings will be on the theater’s Cinerama strip screen or not. Last September, during the Seattle Cinerama’s wide screen festival, all of the films shown were on the magnificent Cinerama screen, but given that some of the films in this upcoming series are in 35mm, I am guessing that the strip screen won’t be used this time around.
According to Martin Hart’s Widescreen Museum website, only films shot in Ultra Panavision 70 were rectified for Cinerama screenings; films such as “2001” which were in Super Panavison 70 were not. So this new print should be comparable to original roadshow screenings, except that I would bet in has a digital soundtrack instead of the original magnetic tracks.
A very large, slightly curved screen is normally used at the Seattle Cinerama; the Cinerama strip screen is behind it and I have read that it takes a day or two to get the Cinerama screen ready for use. Some previous showings of “2001” at the Seattle Cinerama over the last few years have been on the regular screen.
Thanks for the info, CSWalczak!
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.
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.
Nothing mentions the soundtrack. Traditional married magnetic tracks? Synchronized digital? Anybody know?
wouldn’t the 70mm have the superior soundtrack five across sound (+ mono surrounds), does the ‘digital’ version retain this? (I doubt it)
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).
CSWalczak – thanks, that’s what I thought it would be. And it sounded great btw. However, and this is possible memory idealizing, the old oxide/magnetic stripes seemed to have more depth, more umph.
You are not the only one who thinks so!
did anyone see ‘Ghostbusters’?? I really want to know if the 70mm print looked any better than the craptastic bluray edition.