‘Hoe The West Was Won’ was the last of the three-strip Cinerama films. Thereafter all ‘Super Cinerama’ presentations were either 70mm, 65mm or 35mm prints. ‘The Greatest Story Ever Told’ started to be made in 3-strip but after a week it was decided to make it in 70mm. I firmly believe there is a new market for 3-strip Cinerama and i hope someone will take the plunge one day soon. There is nothing to equal the clarity and depth of focus in Cinerama, except maybe IMAX, but then again, that is another story…
Vincent: Another good source for information about Pictureville is at In70mm – http://www.in70mm.com/index.htm where you will find more photos of the interior.
RobertR: The figures you quote are about right. As Pictureville is part of the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television which in itself is part of the Science Museum, funds are limited of course. I believe attempts are bing made via various sources here and in Holland, the USA and elsewhere to persuade MGM to release new prints of all the three-strip movies. Anyone correect me if my facts are slightly adrift!
The Cinerama screen was constructed in front of the original proscenium and was covered by huge red curtains. It had three-strip Cinerama initially, ‘How The West Was Won’ probably being the theatre’s biggest box-office! Later it showed 70mm films on the Cinerama screen.
Maybe ‘hoeing’ the west wasn’t such an error, eh? ;)
‘Hoe The West Was Won’ was the last of the three-strip Cinerama films. Thereafter all ‘Super Cinerama’ presentations were either 70mm, 65mm or 35mm prints. ‘The Greatest Story Ever Told’ started to be made in 3-strip but after a week it was decided to make it in 70mm. I firmly believe there is a new market for 3-strip Cinerama and i hope someone will take the plunge one day soon. There is nothing to equal the clarity and depth of focus in Cinerama, except maybe IMAX, but then again, that is another story…
Vincent: Another good source for information about Pictureville is at In70mm – http://www.in70mm.com/index.htm where you will find more photos of the interior.
RobertR: The figures you quote are about right. As Pictureville is part of the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television which in itself is part of the Science Museum, funds are limited of course. I believe attempts are bing made via various sources here and in Holland, the USA and elsewhere to persuade MGM to release new prints of all the three-strip movies. Anyone correect me if my facts are slightly adrift!
The Cinerama screen was constructed in front of the original proscenium and was covered by huge red curtains. It had three-strip Cinerama initially, ‘How The West Was Won’ probably being the theatre’s biggest box-office! Later it showed 70mm films on the Cinerama screen.