Robert D. Lindner OMNIMAX
1301 Western Avenue,
Cincinnati,
OH
45203
1301 Western Avenue,
Cincinnati,
OH
45203
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When “Blue Planet” opened up the Robert D. Linder Family OMNIMAX Theater on November 10, 1990, a total of 500 people packed the Museum Center at Union Terminal. According to Duszynski, he replied that the OMNIMAX literally did hosted the “World Premiere” of “Blue Planet” without notice, which was shown six days before their scheduled premiere showing at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. The 269-seat theater features cushioned Burgandy seats with headrests, and the entire five-story 260-degree screen measures 72-foot-wide.
According to the Cincinnati Post, the OMNIMAX was first announced five years earlier on November 13, 1985 as part of a massive upgrade and expansion to the Heritage Center at the terminal. This part of expansion has also been spoken of as a “permanent legacy” project to help observe Cincinnati’s Bicentennial in 1988, but the Bicentennial Commission has decided to focus more on fund-raising efforts on completing Sawyer Point Park for $14 million. And as mentioned, the theater never made it to open by the bicentennial year.
Opened on November 10, 1990 with “Blue Planet”. Its original projectionist is Dave Duszynski.
One can still view the exterior of the original Newsreel Th. with its walkup window within the Terminal building.
The Museum Center is one of the most beautiful buildings in Ohio. The inside is spectacular, with huge murals in the great rotunda. OMNIMAX is toward the rear of the building with a glassed-in projection booth so you can see the system in operation. Great fun to watch the projector climb into position.
There is an organ in the rotunda area that I hope to hear in concert some day. An organ in that huge room would be amazing.
Boy, you gotta wonder where Google gets the location depicted on the map here.
The Museum Center at Union Terminal is, of course, in downtown Cincinnati. It’s a remarkable structure that is well worth a visit for the museum, the OMNIMAX theater, and the overall architectural beauty.