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Seattle's Cinerama Theatre is getting technical upgrade | Read more at in70mm.com The 70mm Newsletter
| Written by: SEATTLE,
Aug. 3 /PRNewswire/ — | Date:
06.08.2010 |
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by Jan Niebuhr, 2005
The treasured Seattle Cinerama Theatre is getting a 21st Century technical
upgrade with state-of-the-art digital sound and pictures along with a
refurbishment of the classic, mid-century, wide-screen theater.
The two-month project will ensure that
Cinerama remains a vital piece of Seattle’s entertainment experience,
where movie goers will be able to see a wide diversity of programming, from
the latest 3-D blockbusters to indie films on the festival circuit.
In 1998, philanthropist and investor Paul G. Allen saved the Cinerama from a
fate as a parking lot, dinner theater or rock climbing gym, and restored the
massive, curved screen used for special presentations of Cinerama and 70mm
wide-screen movies. It is one of only three theaters in the world that can
show original Cinerama movies.
Allen and Cinerama have been strong supporters of independent films. Use of
the theater has been donated for numerous festivals, including the Seattle
International Film Festival, the Langston Hughes African American Film
Festival, the National Film Festival for Talented Youth and the Seattle
Human Rights Film Festival.
The upgraded Cinerama will host even more festivals and community events,
according to Lyn Tangen, senior director of Corporate Communications at
Allen’s Vulcan Inc.
Cinerama will close Aug. 30 for two months for installation of cutting-edge
digital sound and projection system and the remodeling needed after a decade
of heavy use.
When Cinerama reopens in the fall it will be operated by a new management
company. Allen has hired Greg Wood, owner and operator of Portland’s Roseway
Theater, to operate Cinerama. Wood recently renovated and reinvented the
Roseway, preserving its original art-deco decor and installing the newest in
digital projection and sound systems.
Wood had extensive theater experience when he purchased the Roseway in 2008,
a beautiful single-screen theater that has won rave reviews and quickly
developed a dedicated following among Portlanders.
“Greg is a great fit with Cinerama and our emphasis on local relevance,
progressive, independent thinking, and attention to detail,” Vulcan’s Tangen
said. “He understands the importance of Cinerama to the community.”
Tangen also thanked AMC Entertainment Inc. for its years of quality
management of the iconic theater. The company will close out its role Aug.
29.
There are few single-screen theaters that still provide the array of movie
choices available at Cinerama. Going forward, Wood and Vulcan will build
even closer relationships with the public as well as the many community
groups around Seattle that will come to Cinerama for fund-raisers or other
special events.
“It’s an amazing opportunity to be taking the helm of one of the coolest
theaters on the planet,” Wood said. “We’re all excited to see these
improvements happen. It will be a wonderful addition to the future chapters
of Cinerama history.”
Seattle movie buffs should watch
Cinerama.com to be
among the first to learn about plans for the grand reopening and to see what
will hit the new, big screen first.
| More in 70mm reading:
Jan Niebuhrs visits Seattle
Cinerama
Brief Cinerama report
from Dave Strohmaier
Matt Lutthans in Seattle
Internet link:
Portland’s
Roseway Theater
Seattle Cinerama
Vulcan Inc.
Paul Allen and Seattle Cinerama
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