IMAX THEATER
IMAX is a revolutionary motion picture system that projects
spectacular images with great clarity and impact. The slightly
concave screen and extraordinary sharp images help the audience
feel as if they are part of the action.
IMAX Debut: June 20, 1987
Seats: 400
Screen: The IMAX Theater contains a five-story high,
75-foot wide screen.
Projector: The IMAX projector is the most advanced, high
precision and most powerful projector ever built. Super 70mm
film and special "rolling loop" film movement make
IMAX films unique. The film is almost 10 times the size of a
standard 35mm frame and three times the conventional 70mm frame.
The resulting picture and focus are extraordinary. Only the IMAX
projector can run a large format film more than 1,500 times
without making it. The projector is relatively simple to
operate, but it requires a specialized projectionist in the
booth.
Sound: The 38 speakers of IMAX’ six-channel sound
system give the films their high fidelity sound. The 38 speakers
use 11,000 watts of sound which is equal to about 100 home
stereo systems.
Films: IMAX films are generally 30 to 40 minutes in
length. A sample of the diverse topics includes: space
exploration, special effects, nature, the thrill of flying,
cultural history, a trip inside the human body, a rock concert
and a fierce tornado.
History: IMAX premiered at the World’s Fair in Osaka,
Japan in 1970. Its roots go back to 1967 when a small Canadian
company revolutionized the art of cinema. Their goal was to
develop a completely new system, using a single, powerful
projector instead of the cumbersome multiple projectors used
traditionally. The IMAX system was an instant success, drawing
overwhelming crowds of over 30,000 people a day in Japan.
IMAX Facts:
Approximately 350 feet of film pass through the projector every
minute, which is equivalent to a little mom than one football
field.
About 46 gallons of water circulate through the projector
every 10 minutes.
The projector lamp is 15,000 watts and is cooled by chilled
water to keep it from exploding.
The power used to illuminate the IMAX projector lamp would be
equivalent to lighting 2,142 Christmas tree bulbs.
