“Almost like a real web site”
 

IN7OMM.COM
Search | Contact
News | e-News |
Rumour Mill | Stories
Foreign Language
in70mm.com auf Deutsch

WHAT'S ON IN 7OMM?

7OMM FESTIVAL
Todd-AO Festival
KRRR! 7OMM Seminar
GIFF 70, Gentofte
Oslo 7OMM Festival
Widescreen Weekend

TODD-AO
Premiere | Films
People | Equipment
Library | Cinemas
Todd-AO Projector
Distortion Correcting

PANAVISION
Ultra Panavision 70
Super Panavision 70
 

VISION, SCOPE & RAMA
1926 Natural Vision
1929 Grandeur
1930 Magnifilm
1930 Realife
1930 Vitascope
1952 Cinerama
1953 CinemaScope
1955 Todd-AO
1955 Circle Vision 360
1956 CinemaScope 55
1957 Ultra Panavision 70
1958 Cinemiracle
1958 Kinopanorama
1959 Super Panavision 70
1959 Super Technirama 70
1960 Smell-O-Vision
1961 Sovscope 70
1962
Cinerama 360
1962 MCS-70
1963 70mm Blow Up
1963 Circarama
1963 Circlorama
1966 Dimension 150
1966
Stereo-70
1967 DEFA 70
1967 Pik-A-Movie
1970 IMAX / Omnimax
1974 Cinema 180
1974 SENSURROUND
1976 Dolby Stereo
1984 Showscan
1984 Swissorama
1986 iWERKS
1989 ARRI 765
1990 CDS
1994 DTS / Datasat
2001 Super Dimension 70
2018 Magellan 65

Various Large format | 70mm to 3-strip | 3-strip to 70mm | Specialty Large Format | Special Effects in 65mm | ARC-120 | Super Dimension 70Early Large Format
7OMM Premiere in Chronological Order

7OMM FILM & CINEMA

Australia | Brazil
Canada | Denmark
England | France
Germany | Iran
Mexico | Norway
Sweden | Turkey
USA

LIBRARY
7OMM Projectors
People | Eulogy
65mm/70mm Workshop
The 7OMM Newsletter
Back issue | PDF
Academy of the WSW

7OMM NEWS
• 2026 | 2025 | 2024
2023 | 2022 | 2021
2020 | 2019 | 2018
2017 | 2016 | 2015
2014 | 2013 | 2012
2011 | 2010 | 2009
2008 | 2007 | 2006
2005 | 2004 | 2003
2002 | 2001 | 2000
1999 | 1998 | 1997
1996 | 1995 | 1994
 

in70mm.com Mission:
• To record the history of the large format movies and the 70mm cinemas as remembered by the people who worked with the films. Both during making and during running the films in projection rooms and as the audience, looking at the curved screen.
in70mm.com, a unique internet based magazine, with articles about 70mm cinemas, 70mm people, 70mm films, 70mm sound, 70mm film credits, 70mm history and 70mm technology. Readers and fans of 70mm are always welcome to contribute.

Disclaimer | Updates
Support us
Testimonials
Table of Content
 

 
 
Extracts and longer parts of in70mm.com may be reprinted with the written permission from the editor.
Copyright © 1800 - 2070. All rights reserved.

Visit biografmuseet.dk about Danish cinemas

 

My first encounter with 70mm film
Gaumont, Manchester, England

Read more at
in70mm.com
The 70mm Newsletter
Written by: David Slack, Boston UK Date: 09.11.2008
The Gaumont, Manchester, must be one of the least photographed cinemas in the world - especially the interior! However I have attached a sketch of the theatre and a copy of the original newspaper announcement for "South Pacific". These are taken from a book, 'Magic in the Dark' by Derek J Southall

It was in summer, 1958 when I first saw a 70mm film - "South Pacific" - "The First show in Todd-AO", when it played at the Gaumont Cinema,
Manchester, UK. This was the first Todd-AO installation after the film premiered at the Dominion, London. The experience launched my interest in widescreen movies and especially 70mm and Cinerama.

One day I overheard a work colleague telling another about a 'marvelous film' she had seen the night before and how 'fantastic' it was on a 'huge curved screen' - not to mention the sound! This caught my imagination, for until then I had only experienced CinemaScope in those cinemas which had, until then, installed it. I asked my colleague for more details about the film which was "South Pacific" and where it was showing. Later that day I bought a local evening paper and turned to the cinemas listings page to find out showing times, etc. I was surprised that the performances were at set times, and not continuous, and pre-booking was advised. I noted the cinema telephone number and later phoned to book myself a seat. I was astonished that the cheapest available would cost me 7/6, (35p), but realizing that this must be quite an event, I went ahead a booked a seat in the Gaumont rear circle.

To go to Manchester from my home in Cheshire, in those days, was quite an event in in itself and to make my first visit to a city cinema was a great thrill. When I arrived in Oxford Street, Manchester I was amazed to see so many cinemas in close proximity; the Odeon, the Gaiety, the Theatre Royal, the Oxford, the News Theatre, the Regal Twins, and, most impressive of all, was the Gaumont.
 
More in 70mm reading:

A Visit to Manchester
"The Miracle of Todd-AO"
"The March of Todd-AO"
"South Pacific"
"Oklahoma!"
Todd-AO

My First 70mm


Internet link:

 

 

The original newspaper announcement for "South Pacific". These are taken from a book, 'Magic in the Dark' by Derek J Southall

It had a huge marquee displaying large red neon letters announcing the film and its stars. Wrapped around the base of the building were large colourful signs with the "South Pacific" logo and scenes from the film. I collected my ticket from the somewhat modest ticket booth and entered the downstairs foyer. It was magnificent! Very elaborate carvings everywhere and chandeliers and a winding staircase which I ascended to the Mirror Gallery from where there were two entrances leading to the dress and rear circles. The auditorium was stunning, absolutely beautiful. Rich and ornate plasterwork, subtle lighting and statues! A Compton (I think) organ was raised at the left side of the stage where the organist was playing a medley of tunes. The atmosphere was one of anticipation, everyone was smiling.

Eventually the lights dimmed and the curtains opened to reveal a huge deeply curved screen as the title of the film appeared on the screen: "The Miracle of Todd-AO". This short demonstration film preceded "South Pacific" at its initial roadshow presentations in the UK, although it was originally shown with "Oklahoma!" in the USA. Later, when "Oklahoma!" was re-released as a Todd-AO presentation in this country,
"The March of Todd-AO" was presented with that feature.

What a brilliant introduction to Todd-AO! Breathtaking! "The Miracle of Todd-AO" was just that. At the point in the film where the police motor cycle crashes into the side of a van on a hill in San Francisco, the screen went black, and nothing further was shown.
 
 
The big building to the left is a car park. Built where Gaumont cinema once were. Image by Thomas Hauerslev, September 2007

The theater was shrill with laughter, what a great start. But before everyone could get their breaths, and with nothing more than a five second pause, house lights kept down, the titles for "South Pacific" came up and we were immediately smothered by that wonderful title music and stunning images. A brilliant piece of presentation which remained thoughout the films long run.

"South Pacific" ran for over two years at the Gaumont and returned later for a further six months. I saw it many times during that period and introduced countless others to the wonder of 70mm. I saved all my ticket stubs and later presented them with all my other movie memorabilia to the National Media Museum in Bradford. A few months later I discovered Cinerama at the London casino, but that is another story...

Now I own the roadshow version of "South Pacific" on DVD along with the two Todd-AO demos and I never tire of looking at them. Wonderful memories of an era never to be repeated.
 
 
 
Go: back - top - back issues - news index
Updated 21-01-24