THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 23, 1996 TAG: 9602220122
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DEBBIE MESSINA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
A 4,000-pound IMAX 3D projector and reel unit was hoisted by crane this week and lowered through an opening in the roof of a six-story theater under construction at the Virginia Marine Science Museum.
The installation of the projector and reel is the first of the final steps to ready the theater for its upcoming curtain raising. The IMAX 3D theater, and the rest of the $35 million museum expansion, is scheduled to open this summer.
The theater will show primarily marine science and nature films.
The theater is one of the first IMAX 3D theaters in the country, said Mac Forehand, museum spokesman. Three are already operating - the closest is the Sony Theater in Manhattan. Two more, including the Beach museum's, are under construction.
The IMAX 3D projector is a high precision piece of technology. Its unique ``rolling loop'' advances film in a gentle wave-like motion that allows viewers to enjoy films with remarkable sharpness and clarity.
Projected images are 10 times larger than a conventional 35mm frame. They are viewed on a giant rectangular screen, which makes even humpback whales appear life-size.
Construction of the frame for the giant screen will begin soon. The screen is made of a vinyl sheet stretched and raised onto the frame. The sound system will be installed behind the screen.
Some IMAX 3D films already completed include ``Into the Deep'' and ``Across the Sea of Time.'' IMAX 3D projectors also can show original IMAX two-dimensional films.
The Family Channel has donated $1 million toward the completion of the theater, which will be named after the Virginia Beach cable company.
The expansion will triple the museum to 120,000 square feet and increase its site on General Booth Boulevard from nine to 45 acres. Other new attractions will include a 300,000-gallon ocean aquarium, a 70,000-gallon sea turtle aquarium, an indoor/outdoor river otter habitat and a marshbird aviary.
The original museum has remained open during construction. The Owls Creek Marsh Pavilion, part of the expansion, opened in January.
Neither a grand opening date nor a new fee structure has been set yet. However, entrance to the IMAX theater will require separate admission, either an extra charge or a combination museum-theater ticket.
For more information, call the museum at 437-4949. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by D. Kevin Elliott
Gerry Thompson with the IMAX Corp.of Toronto, Canada, unwraps the
lamphouse for the IMAX 3D projector being installed at the Virginia
Marine Science Museum. The IMAX 3D theater is part of a $35 million
expansion that will triple the museum's size. The six-story theater
will boast one of the tallest IMAX 3D screens on the East Coast and
is one of the first IMAX 3D theaters in the country. The projector
and reel unit, weighing 4,000 pounds, were lowered through the
roof.
by CNB