Go back to the Omnimax Theater at OMSI! This video features the original pre-show audio used at the actual theater; set to a great collection of familiar and behind-the-scenes images.
My favorite part was when they turned on the lights behind the screen and showed off those massive speakers all around you. The whole intro just communicated "we're immensely capable and strong beyond belief and as precise as a razor, and we're going to use all that strength and intelligence expand your mind. You're totally enveloped in great hands".
i'm so happy this has been documented -- this intro still makes my heart race from excitement!! the omnimax was the coolest thing ever i'm so sad that the theater is just regular imax now
@@Steuspeed leave it to Portland..... I remember when they used to have the intro section with the omnimax and they were all about how powerful the sound system was, 50,000 watts Iif i remember correctly , people used to cheer for that in the 90s and early 00s I guess times have changed.
I didn't realize that omsi got rid of the domed screen, I wonder why they didn't upgrade it to a more modern IMAX theater, definitely a lost piece of my childhood now.
They did not want to pay for the IMAX brand, so they tried to make their own. They wanted to do meetings and power point lectures. They thought they would sell lots of pizza and beer like at McMenamin's.
@@Steuspeed branding is one thing, but main reason OMSI got rid of Ominimax was the cost of equipment upgrade. Since Omnimax based IMAX equipments are custom made for each theater (unlike regular IMAX which uses standard IMAX equipments) it would’ve been very cost prohibitive for the museum to continually purchase custom made equipment upgrade that would’ve been obsolete after 3 or 4 years. Hence the decision to just replace it with regular large screen theater.
@@beavermuffin IMAX did not have a digital dome projection solution at the time. $1M was the projected estimate when available. They spent $1.6M to convert. Now running on year 9 with Christie projectors and a flat screen. Previous equipment was cookie cutter by the time we got it. It was the last MK! projector made #112. Same design used in many installations. Ran for 20+ yrs and I was there for the first and last show. There were several other factors behind the scenes other than cost.
we went to the disovery place in charlotte when i was a KID and saw a nasa space film at the omnimax. its crazy how long this tech has been out and unused.
I remember watching a documentary called "the living sea" in omnimax dome screen. Hell of a viewing experience it was. Sadly they have replaced it now by standard IMAX screen.
In 2006 or 2007 I remember coming here watching a movie about humans babies and stuff like that but I honestly don’t remember the name just remember a few things but it was so freaking awesome I just want to rewatch it again
Seeing Star Wars episode 2 as a teen in the omnimax was a lifechanging cinematic experience. I wish someday we can get dome theatres back, but I fear that the time will never come. Still I have great memories of many movies on that Omnimax, I really wish it would have caught on more, it really was a great movie experience
Wow, thanks to the channel owner for posting this! Also appreciate all the info in the comments about the equipment. I don't know how many films I saw here when it was an Omnimax, but it was ALOT more amazing than what these pictures convey. If you didn't get to experience it first-hand, it was alot better than you would think. When they downgraded it to IMAX, it became IMO a rather ordinary theater and lost most of the wow factor. But just walking into the half-dome to find a seat was an experience in itself. The lighting was always really cool and with the ceiling like that, it felt more like a spaceship. It must have good sound-proofing too because the room always had a really hushed effect. The only negative for me was if you didn't watch your step, you could lose your balance and possibly get hurt. But the picture & sound were spectacular! Nothing else like it. BTW, does anyone know who the adult male announcer is on the introduction? I think he was the voice of KXL 95.5 in the 80's, but I don't know his name. Thanks!
I remembered the last time i went noticed distortion in the lens(anything straight was curved on each side of the screen). Was not impressed as I remember it being. But no 3D movie could ever give you the sensation of really moving like this did, oh how i miss it
Sadly, I just called to check for showtimes today and the lady there informed me that since the great Texas freeze of 2021 pipes had burst causing much damage to the theater itself and due to COVID the prices to fix everything skyrocketed and now it is scheduled to reopen in late 2022! What a bummer! Over a year away. I'm speaking of the Omni Theater located in Fort Worth Texas.
It's a different kind of theater all together. You're not going in there to see a movie anyways like other theaters or imax's more common screens. You're going in there to watch a documentary and it's quite something else. While movie theaters like to talk to you about being part of the action in a movie I'd say omnimax is an experience since it takes up your entire vision and the screen itself is very close to you also. It's been nearly 20 years since the last time I've seen an omnimax screen and I've seen newer premium format screens and standard non-liemax imax screens and nothing comes even close to watching documentaries on an omnimax screen.
Your wouldn't want to eat in there. At was amazing Way ahead of anything still to this day. 2021. Wouldn't call it a movie theater. More of a ride. really
Transcript For The Big Screen And Speakers Policy From Maruko Cinemas (Japan) (Opens His Door, When He Reveals A Boy Andrea (From Chibi Maruko Chan The Boy From Italy), When He Shows A Control/Movie Proyector Room.) (Andrea Walks And Then He Reveals Maruko Appearing Behind Us, Watching The Computer-Like Movie Projector.) Andrea: Maruko! This Is The Control Room For The Maruko Cinemas, Are You Sure Its Safe In Here? Maruko: Shhh... Sure Its Ok! My Sister Sakiko Told Me When The Projector Room System Its A Best Friend, So I Got Special Colorful Buttons. Andrea: She Got Like Some Buttons, Since Its Spaceship, Hey Maruko! What Is This Button? Maruko: Wait! Dont Touch It! (Andrea Pushes A Red Button, A Buzzing Noise With A Smoke Is Heard.) Maruko: Oh No! You Did It!
Andrea: What Is This Big Red One? Maruko: Better Not! Andrea: Why Not? Maruko: Umm... Because Only Ones He Has Something Worse With This Big Red Buttons, Only With The Green Ones Is Over Here!
(Maruko Pushes These Green Buttons, Then, Maruko Shows A Projection With Some Blender-Like Shapes Are Changing Colors In The Black Background, When The Unknown Some-Of-The-Kind-Of-Music Soundtrack Is Heard.)
Andrea: Cool! Let Me Try. Andrea Push This Green Button, Then, He Will Do The Same Like Maruko, Exept With A Blender Shaped Cube Model That Changes The Colors Is Spinning When It Looks Like Something When He Spins Like An "8", Leaving With A Trail Of Cubes Is Present.
Andrea: That Was Awesome! But Now, Lets Push The Big Red Button. Maruko: I-I... I Dont Think Its Sure... Andrea: Come On Maruko! Here It Was Like The Special Colorful Buttons! Maruko: Uh... Yes, And- Andrea: Then, I Will Gonna Do It! (Pushes The Big Red Button) (Everything Goes Like Earthquake And The Film Projector Rises In And Its Wondering When The Movie Is About To Start) Maruko: Oh No! So Lets Gonna Get Out Of Here!
The speakers were built by Sonics in Birmingham AL. A subsidiary of IMAX Co. Drivers were Electrovoice and JBL. Two horns Hi and low, 2 10" and 2 15" ported. Each speaker had 3 dedicated 2ch amps. One 400 and two 800 watt custom built by Bryston. IMAX always used Canadian vendors when possible. Eighteen 2ch amps total for the 6 speakers. 400w on each horn then 800w on the 10s and 15s. The amps had built-in electronic crossovers, so the speakers would only really work with these specific amps. The idea was to eliminate crossover service at the speakers which could be challenging in some installations. The amps are still in the racks at OMSI. Useless without the speakers. The speakers were all thrown in the trash. The sub-bass is still intact. It's built into the building. It has eight 18" JBL drivers. Four oppose each other in a slot you can stand in. This creates one massive acoustic bass wave when all eight drivers push in. New management just cut the wires and bought new Klipsch subs that are a joke in comparison. I sold the four 800 watt amps to the NY aviation IMAX museum for $100 each. Sad, but at least they went to a good home. It was so overkill we ran it at about 60%. Customers would complain if you turned it up more than that.
@@Steuspeed thank you for telling us the story. I would have bought those speakers knowing there were going to trash them. It is too sad. Though no use for them (horns at least) in home environment. I recall running upstairs trying to get a spot right above the projector. What an experience. I didn't realized that they got rid off the dome screen. Just learned about it today. I thought they switched to digital projectors only but maintained everything else intact. What a sad day...
@@museatex111 @museatex That was the best seat right above the dog house imo. They cut out huge bass wave contol panels above the old dome and HVAC pipes to fit the new equipment. The room was part of the system. Complete hack job.
