Cineworld Cinema - Leicester Square

CF100 on February 4, 2025 at 8:18 pm

Zappomatic: The screen is indeed of the “floating” type with masking wrapped over the sides post-opening.

Going back over some of The Empire’s history, following the IMAX conversion, the 2x4K (DP4K-32B) Barco projection and the sound system was then moved over to the (then named) “IMPACT” auditorium, albeit with the Dolby 3D system replaced by the Masterimage system (polarised type like RealD) and the Atmos processor/rears/overheads replaced.

On my first trip, the image was not satisfactory with barrel distortion to the horizontal edges. And, indeed, the screen was not filled, with–if I remember correctly–slight gaps to the sides, and the screen on frame is taller than the maximum 1.9:1 (or rather 1.85:1 on non-IMAX DCP’s) ratio.

According to Cinema Technology Magazine, the lenses used in the old Empire 1, with a ~120ft. throw to the screen, had not been replaced to suit the much shorter throw.

Changes over time included the addition of masking (as you note), dropping 3D with one projector in use only, and installing Barco’s laser-phosphor light source retrofit to the remaining projector. The projection quality did improve over opening.

I have yet to see a “Barco HDR” release, but on a recent visit, the picture quality did seem to have improved. Centre-to-edge brightness uniformity was excellent, with limited hot-spotting visible, and good colour saturation was achieved. However, the black levels were not comparable to IMAX with Laser GT, and there seemed to be some barrel distortion (like an old CRT display) to the top/bottom edges of the projected picture. It’s slightly hard to say as it could be perceptual and possibly a consequence of the slight screen curvature. I’d prefer it to be slightly pin-cushioned vertically.

If I’m not mistaken, the picture may have been moved up slightly. The masking has been tidied up with the very shabby sections near the front audience left entrance no longer half falling off (staples were visible,) and the slight gap that was on the left of the top edge masking also eliminated.

The JBL ScreenArray stage speakers still have the edge over any other, IMO, for top-end clarity and uncoloured response. Unfortunately, for being equipped with the best available everything, the experience still seems to fall short of the finest venues. It could be said it’s a bland “black box multiplex”-style auditorium, but that doesn’t account for picture/sound not quite being “wow!” It should exceed the high standards of the old Empire 1, e.g., given the far more controlled acoustics. Or, possibly, my “wow” factor expectations have been raised by the IMAX…

Finally (in the unlikely event that anyone has read this far!) the left/right stage speakers are actually beyond the edges of the projected screen area; this can be heard when entering or existing the auditorium from the front.

Zappomatic on November 27, 2024 at 5:20 pm

Visited the Superscreen today and a few seats in row H (two rows in front of the booth) have been removed and the space blocked off.

Screen width is now reduced with what appears to be additional masking but height remains the same, making Scope content look a bit strange with a significant amount of unmasked screen space above and below. Presumably the new projector is unable to cope with the relatively short throw versus screen size - a retrograde step and hopefully something they can rectify in time.

Zappomatic on November 13, 2024 at 10:22 am

The Superscreen is getting a new HDR capable Barco projector, and a new Harkness Hugo screen to coincide with the release of Gladiator II. https://variety.com/2024/film/global/gladiator-2-cineworld-first-hdr-by-barco-theater-international-1236206252/

CF100 on September 2, 2024 at 2:52 pm

The link Zappomatic posted to the video showing the installation of the IMAX screen is no longer working.

However, it’s also been posted by Cineworld on Facebook.

Some comments:

• It appears that Maeve Contractors (IMAX conversion, 2018 Cineworld refurbishment, etc.) were again involved in this.
• The numerous shakers (to reduce laser speckle) can be seen mounted off the screen frame.
• Diagonal members of the primary roof truss can be seen boxed out just behind the sides of the screen frame, as well as two trusses either side. (More on this to come in another post, referencing a 1928 Architectural Review article.)
• With the screen removed, it’s more obvious just how far into the former stalls the acoustic wall behind the screen is.
• Was IMAX’s spray-painted coating pre-applied to the screen? My understanding is that for the largest scale IMAX venues it has to be done in-situ, because there is not enough space in the manufacturing facility(/ies) to hang the screen. Perhaps this applies to 1.43 ratio screens where there is insufficient height; it can certainly be seen in videos of screen replacements over at the BFI showing the computer-controlled rig used.

Having attended a few performances since the installation of the replacement screen:

• Perhaps surprisingly, I couldn’t discern any substantive difference in picture quality, e.g., brightness.
• The projection had “developed” an issue where a grid pattern of boxes that were of lower illumination could be seen across the screen. It was more noticeable in high illuminated uniform areas of the picture. This problem appears to have been resolved.
• Possibly, some other subtle digital artifacts have been reduced.

Additional comments:

• During one performance, due to a particularly irritating person sitting in the adjacent seat, I moved to the far back audience left.
• When seated centrally, the centre-to-edge brightness loss remains. However, in this off-centre seating position, the opposite side of the screen became relatively brighter, and hence is caused by the gain/directionality of the screen material.
• There are four Tannoy speakers mounted on the rear wall under the booth level overhang. It turns out that these are fill speakers for the rear surrounds, and are effective. For example, foley panned from the left side speaker to the left surround speaker could be perceived as intended.

Finally, the seating in the IMAX auditorium, particularly in the “sweet spot” central area, is getting tired with one or two cases of poor quality attempts at reupholstering them. AFAIK the supplier (Seating Concepts) is no longer in business. On all occasions, the auditorium was also in need of a full clean.

Lionel on October 3, 2023 at 1:37 am

Another picture of the marquee in the 1990s:

https://www.dreamstime.com/editorial-image-empire-cinema-london-england-image63186885

theatreofvarieties on September 4, 2023 at 5:19 pm

CF100 - please send me your contact details to n.goulding@virgin.net

theatreofvarieties on June 23, 2023 at 9:03 am

I’m having a clear out and have some of the original reclining seats from Empire 1 that were removed when it was converted to IMAX. Would anyone be interested in one?

CF100 on September 8, 2022 at 7:13 pm

Cineworld have announced:

“Cineworld and certain of its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Group Chapter 11 Companies”) have commenced Chapter 11 cases in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (the “Court”).”

Source: Cineworld Group plc - Announcement.

The above link is to a newly launched website pertaining to the proceedings, under the domain cineworldstrong.com, a somewhat odd name.

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Meanwhile, IMAX’s CFO states that IMAX sites operate under a master lease agreement that covers all of an operator’s locations. She goes on to suggest:

“[If they’re going to operate they will] clean up the under-performing complexes and either sell them off or do something with them. But that’s not where IMAX screens are — IMAX screens are all in the top-performing complexes.”

Clearly, in a world where “tentpole” releases still drawn in crowds, whilst streaming is snapping on the heels of mid-budget titles, a cinema with 3 premium format screens, one of which is exceptional, and 6 “studio” sized auditoria, is configured in a way that is more suitable than “megaplexes”…

CF100 on August 19, 2022 at 10:34 am

The Wall Street Journal reports that Cineworld are preparing to file for bankruptcy. The writing has been on the wall, given mounting debts. Will be interesting to see the future of this and their other flagship locations.

Lionel on February 10, 2022 at 12:56 pm

Filmed in 1986 and posted today on YouTube:

Demonstrating screen masking for 35mm and 70mm aspect ratios at the Empire

This was the installation from 1962 on to when they slightly enlarged the screen in the early 2000’s.

CF100 on January 3, 2022 at 2:10 pm

Bagnall Demolition — The Empire.

According to the above-linked page, when UCI operated the cinema, this company performed an asbestos survey, in which asbestos-containing materials identified included “spray coatings, asbestos insulation board ceilings and cement.” Subsequently, removal work took place (logistically not so easy) and a new survey to update the asbestos register was undertaken.

Hmm. I’d still be surprised if no asbestos removal was needed above the ceiling during the strip-out of the old Empire 1. I’m fairly surprised that the old wall/ceiling tiles apparently didn’t contain any… (otherwise the wall tiles wouldn’t have been removed aggressively ASAP after the auditorium closed for renovation.)

CF100 on September 19, 2021 at 9:06 am

Thank you rivest266. That does bring into sharp relief just how long ago it was! The 1960’s auditorium combined modernism with traditional theatrical elements in a way that, unlike those adverts, it never felt dated (even if for practical purposes, it was.)

rivest266 on May 19, 2021 at 1:00 am

December 19th 1962 reopening

Empire Leicester Square reopening 19 Dec 1962, Wed Evening Standard (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com