You're Flying, Swerving - It's Cinerama

The motion picture that induces its audience to swerve with banks and turns of an airplane, lean, list and even holler on a roller coaster ride is coming to Salt Lake City.

Displaying vast progress since the days of the "flickers," Cinerama will be permanently housed in its own exclusive theater premiering July 21.  And Lowell Thomas, narrator for the film, has been invited to the opening night performance.

Equaling the vastness of this new entertainment media are the preparations being made to exhibit not only "This Is Cinerama" but four other like made films.

Curved Screen

Ted Kirkmeyer, manager of the Villa Theater, said installation of the huge curved screen, 35 feet high, 91 feet wide, and construction of the new projection rooms is nearing completion.

First nighters will see curtains drawn back and up to reveal the immensity of this great Cinerama screen, stunning to viewers.

Then, following a brief filmed introduction by Mr. Thomas, you, the spectator, will ride the Rockaway Playland roller coaster, view a first act finale of Verdi's "Aida," see breathtaking views of Niagara Falls from a helicopter, hear unique stereophonic effects while the Long Island Choir sings Handel's "Messiah," tour the canals of Venice, join the kilted Scottish bagpipe clans in Edinburgh, and attenda a Spanish bullfight.

Tours America

Before you gain your equilibrium, it's fiesta time in sunny Spain, the famous Vienna Boys Choir perform Stauss's waltzes, speed boats fly thrillingly through Florida's Cypress Gardens, and to climax the extravaganza, an aerial tour of America.

Mr. Kirkmeyer predicts record extended showings due to local aspects of the movie.  "Our own Bingham Canyon copper mine, Zion National Park and air views of Salt Lake City will catch the eye of Utah viewers combined with music performed by the famed Tabernacle Choir," he said.

Sponsoring the July 21 premiere is the Deseret News along with Gov. George D. Clyde.  Proceeds from ticket sales, at $3 per seat, will be turned over to Days of '47 Inc.  This will aid the non-profit organization in staging various events commemorating Utah's settlement.

The unusual Cinerama screen consists of 2,800 plastic ribbons placed as an inverted Venetian blind.  Curved at 140 degrees, the louvered sections reflect projected images so that all distortion is eliminated.  Mr. Kirkmeyer estimated costs of installation in excess of $100,000.

"The Villa is first to have an improved method of screen suspension and will be the largest Cinerama screen anywhere in the world," he added.  Special engineers will have worked five weeks with the technicalities of the screen and camera placement.

Three projectors run in synchronization with seven sound track films.  Sixteen speakers surround spectators.  Two new projection booths have been built 100 feet apart, firing their scenic wonders criss-cross through the theater.  An extra row of seats is being added at the rear bringing a total to 1,000.

Through the revolutionary effect of peripheral vision, Cinerama's inventory, Fred Walter, produces a sense of depth and space pulling the audience almost physically into the picture.

Following the first of the new dimensional attractions, other productions, including "Cinerama Holiday," "Seven Wonders of the World," "South Seas Adventure," and "Search for Paradise" will be presented, said Mr. Kirkmeyer.

Now in production are "How the West Was Won," and "The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm."  Cinerama productions have been shown in 21 foreign countries with translated narrations in languages of those countries.