This is topic The story of "Sensurround" and "Sensurround Plus"? in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Thomas Hauerslev (Member # 566) on 03-27-2001, 08:55 AM:
Does anyone at FT have any recollection of Universal's Sensurround system (developed by W. O. Watson and Richard Stumpf). How it worked, BGW amplifiers, Cervin Vega speakes, procesors etc.?I saw, or rather heard "Earthquake" in 70mm with Sensuround in August 1979 at the 3 Falke Bio http://hjem.get2net.dk/in70mm/cinemas/bioweb/sjaelland/cph/3fb/3fb_gb.htm
It was quite spectacular for a 16-year old film-buff like me at that time. Apparently there were several kits in Denmark that was moved with the films from cinema to cinema that showed either: "Earthquake", "Battle of Midway", "Rollercoaster" and "Battlestar Galactica".
In 1981 I worked briefly at Cinema International Pictures (European distribution arm of MGM, Universal and Paramount at that time). I remember all the speaker cabinets had been chopped to pieces and the woofers were stored in the basement. And there were MANY! Some amps were still there, but they were sold off later.
I was thinking of publishing a story about Sensurround in "..in 70mm", but information about this is rare.
Can anyone help, or would anyone consider writing the story???
All the best
Thomas
..in 70mm - The 70mm Newsletter
www.hauerslev.com
Posted by Evans A Criswell (Member # 381) on 03-27-2001, 09:27 AM:
According to one source, Sunsurround worked by injecting 5-40Hz tones at 110-120 dB based on information on the control track on the film.Source: http://www.mtsu.edu/~smpte/seventies.html
Here is another source that says the same thing:
http://www.geocities.com/Rag_Tag_Fleet/secondcoming.html
I was hoping a WWW search would show more information. This type of information needs to be preserved.
Evans
Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 03-27-2001, 09:49 AM:
Thomas:I've worked with Richard Stumpf on several SMPTE and Inter-Society projects. I will forward your request for information directly to him.
------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion
Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 03-27-2001, 09:58 AM:
this is the patent on the system
US1978000907838
Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 03-27-2001, 10:52 AM:
Thomas
I think if you look back in the archives you will find a pretty good discussion about this topic. I remember one, maybe a year ago or so.
I saw Earthquack 
and Midway. The sensurround effect was amusing but the movies weren't to good------------------
Greg Mueller
Amateur Astronomer, Machinist, Filmnut
Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 03-27-2001, 12:23 PM:
Yep; check out the postings here for "Sensurround" dated 02-01-2000.Were there any 70mm Sensurround films besides Earthquake?
Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 03-27-2001, 12:36 PM:
John: To quote from the link Evans cited:"Later that year Sensuround, a system developed by W. O. Watson and Richard Stumpf at Universal Pictures, was released. This format injected tones from
5 - 40 Hz at 110 - 120 dBbased on control track information on the film. Sensurround Some Sensurround movies included Earthquake!, Midway,
Battlestar Galactica, and Rollercoaster.
"
In those days, there may have been a few 70mm prints of each. Widescreen Review had a recent listing of every 70mm release they could recall, even if it was only a few prints.
------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion
Posted by Jeff Taylor (Member # 443) on 03-27-2001, 01:12 PM:
FWIW, I clearly remember seeing Midway first run in a 35mm-only single screen 750 seat suburban theater in New Jersey years ago. It definitely had the full Sensurround effects, so the 70mm prints weren't the only ones sent out with the control tracks and audio packages. Even without sensurround, though, I still enjoy my print of the title.
Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 03-27-2001, 02:13 PM:
I remember seeing an ad for the movie Midway in 35 mm Sensurround for the UA Ayers theatre in Corpus.
Posted by Thomas Hauerslev (Member # 566) on 03-27-2001, 02:34 PM:
Thanks so far, keep it coming. I shall have a look at previous discussions on Sensurround at FT.It just struck me why Dolby Laboratories named their 70mm format "Baby Boom". Quite obviously, Sensurround was the BIG boom.
"Earthquake" was the only Sensurround title shown in 70mm in Denmark.
------------------
Thomas Hauerslev
..in70mm - The 70mm Newsletter
Posted by Robert Throop (Member # 61) on 03-27-2001, 02:45 PM:
In 1982 I bought 2 complete Sensurround installations from Universal. I was an exhibitor at the time and I used the power amps (Cerwin Vega A 2200) and the subwoofers at a couple of my theatres. I also have an installation manual. Afaik 70mm prints were only used in Europe. Even the Ziegfeld in NYC and the Chinese in LA used 35mm prints(albeit 4 track mag).------------------
Bob Throop
Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 03-27-2001, 04:32 PM:
Robert;It would be great if you could copy that Sensurround installation manual (or loan it to Brad to copy.) He could put it on the manual download page. I know several people would be very interested to read it.
The IMDB lists Earthquake (Earthquack! ha-ha!) as the only 70mm Sensurround feature (I'm not counting theme park rides, etc.) Although I know the IMDB is not the most accurate source.
Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 03-27-2001, 06:37 PM:
In toronto sensurround was 70mm at 2 of the odeon theatres except for battlestar
earthquake was also in 4 track mag with dbx NR
it required the projectionist to push a button from a cue sheet
The system also used the tones to stear the lf noise in somecases
Each film had mods required to the unit
Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 03-27-2001, 09:36 PM:
We just had a monthly SMPTE/AES meeting at the Hitchcock Theater on the Universal Studios lot. This theater uses eight modified Sensurround cabinets lined up under the screen for subs. The staff indicated that the room is flat down to 15Hz (was 10Hz but it was making people ill). For the meeting they ran the depthcharge reel from U-571. Those concussions were making me ill sitting about 3/4 of the way back.Using such a theater as a mixdown stage makes me wonder though, since no commercial theater would have a sub system like that. But that's another thread...
Paul Mayer, OOF SMPTE
Co-Manager (Projection), SPJA Anime Expo 2001
Long Beach, CA USA
Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 03-27-2001, 09:50 PM:
I believe there were 3 types of Sensurround. In EARTHQUAKE, there was a low frequency random noise generator that was toggled on and off at, if I recall correctly, 2 different sound levels. In MIDWAY, ROLLERCOASTER and BATTLESTAR GALLACTICA, there were tones that triggered sound through the Sensurround speakers. There was also another form that was used in ZOOT SUIT. I don't know many details of this, but it was more for sound quality than power. I know this played the Cinerama Dome, but I don't know of any other engagements. I have an issue of AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER that has a number of details on the system used in EARTHQUAKE.
Sensurround was really a cheesy gimmick, but when those speakers kicked in, you knew it! On the LP for Earthquake, there was a short section recorded with the full low-end range of the earthquake, You could see the individual grooves on that section. It also wiped out the amp stage of my receiver at the time!
Slightly changing gears here, does anyone remember a film in the early '80's by AC-DC that toured around with its own sound system? It wasn't Sensurround, but it was a powerful system.
Mark Lensenmayer
------------------
"As a moral to young men who come down to the city, don't go round breaking people's tambourines."
Posted by Thomas Hauerslev (Member # 566) on 03-28-2001, 01:46 AM:
If anyone have some good stories related the side effects of the Sensurround sound system, I'd be happy to include them in the article.One story from the 3 Falke Bio in Copenhagen was about Liza Minnelli. She was rehearsing a concert, but was interupted frequently because "Earthquake" was thundering in the cinema next door.
Btw the cieling lamps in the cinema, had to be secured from faling down during the performances.
I'm certain there are many other colorful stories. Bring them forward, please.
------------------
All my best
Thomas
..in70mm - The 70mm Newsletter
www.in70mm.com www.dp70.com www.70mm.dk www.hauerslev.com
Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 03-28-2001, 09:10 AM:
At the Pendale cinema the sensurround for eathquake killed the goldfish in a adjoining petshop
Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 03-28-2001, 09:42 AM:
One of the most interesting aspects of the senssurrond "experience" was watching the crowd reaction. I saw a couple people get up and run out of the theater in fear! Really!
The down side was going to a movie in a auditorium next door.------------------
Greg Mueller
Amateur Astronomer, Machinist, Filmnut
Posted by David Hitt (Member # 294) on 03-28-2001, 11:36 AM:
Here is a link to the U.S. reissue patent to the Sensurround system:
http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=USRE030278__ David
Posted by Christos Mitsakis (Member # 143) on 03-28-2001, 12:31 PM:
During the first run of Battlestar Galactica (when I was then just a little spectator)
there was a warning before the feature that the theatre personnel was not responsible if something happened to the audience due to the film's exessive bass. The film was not recomended for people with heart problems and for those easily scared by sudden increase of the volume (especially in the low area).FYI. Sensurround is mentioned (and I think with complete filmography) in the Carr Hayes book "Wide Screen Movies".
C.
Posted by Edwin Graf Diemer (Member # 545) on 03-28-2001, 05:32 PM:
Once I was relief manager at the Branmar Theater in Wilmington, DE, which had shown all the Sensurround films except for "Battlestar" ("Midway" played for several weeks before the first-run of "Rollercoaster".) You could still see the cracks in the projection booth ceiling from the process, and when the theater closed in the late 80's, the monitor rack used was still at the side wall of the booth.
[ 02-15-2009, 08:07 PM: Message edited by: Edwin Graf Diemer ]
Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 03-28-2001, 06:18 PM:
In Billings, Mont. there was a 3-screen theatre, called Cine 3 which was built with a couple of retail storefronts in the same building. (The theatre is now a 7-plex, the store areas being used for more auditoriums. It's a Carmike dollar house now.)Anyway, they opened Earthquake there. One of the storefronts was occupied by a knicknack/china shop. Needless to say, the morning after opening all the wall mounted breakables were in pieces on the floor.
For the rest of the run, that store had to take down all of their wall displays every night and put'em back up the next day!
Posted by Thomas Hauerslev (Member # 566) on 03-29-2001, 01:15 AM:
I recieved an e-mail last night from a gentleman in England who's wife got a nose bleed watching "Earthquake" in Sensurround!------------------
All my best
Thomas
..in70mm - The 70mm Newsletter
http://www.in70mm.com
http://www.dp70.com
http://www.70mm.dk
http://www.hauerslev.com
http://hjem.get2net.dk/in70mm
Posted by John Eickhof (Member # 323) on 03-29-2001, 01:57 AM:
I helped on the installation for earthquake at the Crest Theatre in Reno, NV. we built custom inverted reflex radiators in the back corners of the main floor and the balcony,(these had an array of 8 each 18" loudspeakers and the baffles were 8 feet wide by 9 feet high and reflected off the corner walls of the building) and used two of the large semi-portable
cabinets in front of the stage on the floor. All used Cerwin-Vega 18 loudspeakers with about a 2.5" excursion! We fed them with CV 2200 amps. (The electricians ran in a 100 amp sub panel to feed the sound!)The theatre was equipped for 4 track 35 mag for the voice tracks, the effect was triggered on the optical track with a tone burst at variable level, operating a variable tone generator feeding the amps with a warble frequency of about 5-45 cycles at levels from 0 to + 80 db at amp outputs!
Needless to say, opening nite (Friday) I was
called in to turn it down as it set off alarms and did slight merchandise damage at the Zales Jewelry store next door! The Crest was an 850+ seat house with full balcony.
If I can find the job sheets and installation info, I will send it to Brad to post. It was a fun job!! The film ran for 12 weeks! However, it was the only film in sensurround ever to play in Reno.------------------
John Eickhof President, Chief Slave
Northwest Theatre Equipment Co., Inc.
P.O.Box 258
Wendell, ID. 83355-0258
208-536-5489
email: jeickhof@nteequip.com
Posted by Matthew Bailey (Member # 601) on 03-29-2001, 08:17 AM:
I wonder what the Sensurround titles would
sound like if re-released in THX.
Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 03-29-2001, 06:22 PM:
"I wonder what the Sensurround titles would
sound like if re-released in THX."No different... THX is a good system, but it was not designed to reproduce the high levels of exceptionaly low frequencies Sensurround did. John Eickhof (and other people's) post gives a good idea of the special equipment that was installed all just to produce freqencies below 45hz or so.....
Posted by Thomas Hauerslev (Member # 566) on 03-30-2001, 01:05 AM:
Does anyone know the difference between "Sensurround" and "Sensurround Plus"? I have only seen adverts for "Zoot Suit" presented in "Sensurround Plus". I guess that was the only title in that format.Are there any US cinemas with an intact Sensurround installation left today?
Does anyone recall how the experience was advertised in newspapers, on posters and on marqees? In Denmark, Sensurround presentations was somtimes advertised with warnings if you had heart troubles.
Best wishes for the weekend and thanks for your input on this thread.
------------------
All my best
Thomas
..in70mm - The 70mm Newsletter
www.in70mm.com www.dp70.com www.70mm.dk www.hauerslev.com
hjem.get2net.dk/in70mm
Posted by John Eickhof (Member # 323) on 03-30-2001, 01:10 AM:
All I can say was in the case at Reno, the projectionist, Tony Enos consumed a lot more alcohol on the job than normal to try and numb his headaches from the constant rumble and vibration in the booth! I remember taking my girlfriend to see earthquake there, and she complained about a sick stomache! We were in the balcony and it felt like it was a roller coaster at times! I now think the warble generator ahd found a couple of resonant frequencies that rocked the building more than it should!!
I personally have never heard of 'Sensurround Plus' ------------------
John Eickhof President, Chief Slave
Northwest Theatre Equipment Co., Inc.
P.O.Box 258
Wendell, ID. 83355-0258
208-536-5489
email: jeickhof@nteequip.com
Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 03-30-2001, 10:14 AM:
Thomas
I think the "heart trouble" warning was just marketing hype. There have been a lot of dumb films like William Castle films that had goofy gimmics and warnings like this. Kind of the PT Barnum effect. I can't recall the name of the film but one of them had in the advertising that a nurse would be standing by in the lobby "for the faint of heart". I love that kind of stuff
But anyway I think in the advertising of Earthquake, it was "Presented in the miracle of Sensurround" or something like that. 
------------------
Greg Mueller
Amateur Astronomer, Machinist, Filmnut
Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 03-30-2001, 10:56 AM:
The senssurround title that I know of are Earthquake, Rollercoaster, Midway and Battlestar Galectica. Does anyone know if there were other titles?If you want to know what the films sound like without sensurround you can find them on DVD. Essentialy they are all mono with no apparent adding of any bass extension.
I would probably think that the closest you could get to sensurround is the Imax sound system when the space shuttle launches. It is recorded at max setting.
Posted by Christos Mitsakis (Member # 143) on 03-30-2001, 03:51 PM:
I hope you will find these enlighting.According to "Wide Screen Movies" by R.E. Carr and R.M.Hayes, McFarland & Co, 1988:
Sensurround
Developed by MCA and RCA under guidance of former Universal Studios sound dept. head Waldon O. Watson.
....for 35mm engagements prints were offered in three different formats:
a) MagOptical (3 channel mag. stereo + 1 optical for sensurround info).
b) MagOptical (1 mag channel of mono dialog, music, effects + 1 optical for sensurround info).
c) Single track optical with all sound info.
For 70mm prints six mag tracks were employed in the same manner as MegaSound [probably other name for the Dolby Baby Boom].
Sensurround changed with each feature even though the soundtrack pattern was followed as noted. "Earthquake" had only rumbles in the Sensurround info. "Midway" included also sound effects. "Rollercoaster" incorporated music along with rumble and effects; and "Zoot Suit" which introduced Sensuround Plus utilized the full system plus Lightsurround, a synced light cueing system for in-auditorium effects.
....Filmography:
in Sensurround:
"Eartquake" (1974)
"Midway" (1976)
"King kong" (1976)(in Sensurround only outside US)
"Rollercoaster" (1977)
"Battlestar Galactica" (1978)
In Sensurround Plus:
"Zoot Suit" (1981)
In Feelarama in Europe only
"Krakatoa East of Java aka Volcano (1975?)
In Vibrasound
"Das Boot" (1982)
Feelarama and Vibrasound were variations of Sensurround. [No further info supplied]
Regards
Christos.
Posted by Rick Long (Member # 213) on 03-31-2001, 02:12 AM:
Shortly after leaving the projection booth to become a technician, I got to assist in the installation of Sensurround for "Earthquake" at the Fairlawn, Toronto. (35MM mag.) As John points out, the surround track was used to trigger the effects.
I also got to set-up a number of the optical 35MM presentations in Ontario. As I recall, three loops were provided with the set-up kit;
35 Hz (used to connect the internal SD5747 "earthquake generator card) to the Cerwin-Vega amps,
25 HZ with 400 HZ tone (used to set the screen channel for double the voltage going to the screen speaker) (necessary because the earthquake effect would otherwise drown out screen dialogue),
and I'll be damned if I can recall what the other loop did. The dbx process was not used in Earthquake, but was used in Midway, Roller-Coaster and Battlestar Galactica. Unlike the Sensurround I system for Earthquake, (which had its own internal noise generator) the Sensurround II system amplified effects on the sound track. It also gave the abiltiy to direct the effects to the front and or rear speakers.
By the time Battlestar Gallactica (released in Canada, AFAIK only in French) they had dramatically improved on the recordings. The dramatic effects were replaced by, for the most part, much more subtle ones. In the interior shot of the ship increasing speed, for example, you could feel the slight vibrations on the theatre floor.
There were, of course, numerous tales associated with the running of this print, such as the elderly lady who lived behind the Fairlawn, complaining to the Toronto Transit Commission that they were running their subways especially loud at 8:00.
Aha! I just remembered the third loop. This was the "shake-down test" in which you were supposed to examine theatre light fixtures, and anything set on an elevated horizontal surface (vases, ect.) for the possibility of things coming loose and falling on someone. It did a real number on any old incandescent bulbs too!
At the Fairlawn (by this time made into a piggy-back dual) during the presentation of Roller-Coaster, it was found that in either theatre, the Sensurround noise would intrude into the sound of the other theatre. The only option was to run the picture simultaneously in both houses. The problem was that the upper booth used Cinemeccanica Vic 10's while the lower one used Century CC's. Although both were equipped with sync motors, it was necessary that both shows start at exactly the same time. As both houses were reel-to-reel, the projectionists (one in each booth) used headphones to call out their motor-start cues.
Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 03-31-2001, 02:31 PM:
"FEELARAMA?" LOL Sounds like a bad '70s porn flick. 
Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 03-31-2001, 03:04 PM:
please stay for our next feature DEEP THROAT 
Posted by Thomas Hauerslev (Member # 566) on 03-31-2001, 11:31 PM:
In Denmark, cinemas showing Sensurround films, had to sign a contract saying, that any complaints (about the side effects), must be answered by the cinema, not the film distributor. The distributor took no responsibilty for any damage to buildings or the audience caused by Sensurround.Did distributors elsewhere do the same thing?
------------------
All my best
Thomas
..in70mm - The 70mm Newsletter
www.in70mm.com www.dp70.com www.70mm.dk www.hauerslev.com
hjem.get2net.dk/in70mm
Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 03-31-2001, 11:36 PM:
Why, the distributors do that for everything... 
Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 04-01-2001, 12:28 AM:
Ijn the United States, adisclaimer appeared before the films thate stated (if memory is correct) EARTHQUAKE:
Attention! Earthquake is presented in the startling new dimension of Sensurround. You will FEEL, as well as see and hear realistic effects such as might be experienced during an actual earthquake. The management assumes no responsibility for the individual reaction of the viewer."MIDWAY:
(a more polite) Your Attention Please! Midway is presented in the startling new dimension of Sensurround. Please be aware that you will feel, as well as see and hear, realistic effects that might be experienced in actual combat. the management assumes no responsibility......
ROLLERCOASTER:
( a generic intro)
Attention: THe following motion picture is presented in the startling (no "new") dimension of Sensurround. Please be aware that you will feel, as well as see and hear, realistic effect. the management assumes no responsibility...
Theatre stories: Chinese (EARTHQUAKE) had a huge net covering their ceiling for this showing (per the LA Times review).
GCC Ghiradelli Square, SF ROLLERCOASTER: A glassworks store above the theatre had lots of glass objects shattered the first show (a very bizarre configuration...one ot the two entrances to the theatre was through this shop (with down staircase).
Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 04-01-2001, 12:31 AM:
BTW, Megasound used some of the same Cerwin Vega units that had been used for Sensurround.Sensurround Plus was used with the movie Zoot Suit and used DBX encoding throuhgout the whole film (this was the only Sensurround advertised film in the US to feature 70mm prints.
Here is a link to a correction to the Carrs and Hayes information on ensurround (these two get MANY facts jumbled up and should probably not be used as a reference). http://members.aol.com/filmteknik/wsmc12.rtf
Posted by David Kilderry (Member # 142) on 04-01-2001, 07:13 AM:
I recall seeing Battlestar Galactica in Sensurround at Village East End One in 1978 here in Melbourne Australia. The most impressive effect was when the fighters took off from Galactica. As they accelerated out of the tubes it was if you were being launched out with them! It was only the second time I wanted to see a movie twice (the first being Star Wars).When I was employed to pull this complex apart in 1986, all the Sensurround gear was still installed, including all the original MCA Universal instructions on the wall. The projectors were Cinemeccanica Victoria 8 70mm. I recall being told that the building was checked for structural damage after several Sensurround seasons.
Wish I had seen Rollercoaster too.
David
Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 04-01-2001, 07:00 PM:
I have yet to find the patent info on megasound though I know Eventide clockwork co made the bass synth units for it
Ass for Carr and Co. there notes arn't worth the paper they were on
Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-02-2001, 11:46 AM:
I have a Sensurround 2 unit if anyone needs one to run a film. Still in the box!
Mark @ GTS
Posted by Mitchell Dvoskin (Member # 751) on 04-02-2001, 04:26 PM:
I saw both Battlestar Galatica and Rollercoaster in the old UA Fox Theatre in Hackensack, NJ. The theatre was an old 1800 seat Egyption Art Deco with an awsome balcony. Sensurround presentations ended when part of the plaster ceiling came crashing down during a showing of Rollercoaster. Nobody was hurt, but the fact that 10 seats got crushed spooked the management.
Posted by System Notices (Member # 2357) on 01-20-2009, 02:20 PM:
It has been 2849 days since the last post.
Posted by Blaine Young (Member # 3992) on 01-20-2009, 02:20 PM:
There was an additional sensurround release that I recall. In Japan they issued a film called "Mission Galactica: The Cylon Attack", which has Sensurround listed in the closing credits.
Posted by Thomas Hauerslev (Member # 566) on 01-20-2009, 04:25 PM:
In June 2010, the great Schauburg cinema in Karlsruhe, Germany will host a Sensurround weekend
http://www.in70mm.com/news/2010/sensurround/index.htm
Posted by Per Hauberg (Member # 529) on 02-14-2009, 06:49 PM:
It's just as the little notes, You get with Your medicine:
"If You eat these pills, You may get sick. That's not our fault. We did not tell You to eat them, -just to buy them, so we could make the money."
Cinema International Pictures' arrogant danish head Svend Aage Henriksen, was deeply offended by my request of technical information on the Sensurround gear. Absolutely nothing came out that way. "You don't any such information to run the film" was the short answer.
I don't recall Rollercoaster to be shown with Sensurround in DK. I think, You had to go to Sweden for that one, Thomas.
It was fun (impressing) on "Earthquake" and a laughing matter on "Midway". A ship blowing up many miles off the coast, causing the shore to tilt.... Thank God, it's over ![[puke]](graemlins/puke.gif)
Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 02-14-2009, 07:00 PM:
The Waikiki #3 was the only theatre in Hawaii to play movies in Sensurround. and had played all of the movies from Universal with the deep bass tracks. I was very amused with the first film EARTHQUAKE but the others were just ok. Universal Home Video released a revised DVD of EARTHQUAKE and advertised it had the original Sensurround track. I have the DVD but the low frequency effects on the disc was nothing to write home about.
-Claude
Posted by Bill Enos (Member # 440) on 02-14-2009, 09:25 PM:
When Earthquake played here at the Byrd the management was advised to enclose the main chandelier in a parachute to protect the audience from falling crystals and that the decorative plaster would undoubted be damaged. The chandelier was covered and the publicity for the movie mentioned it to enhance the hype. Afterward no crystals were found in the parachute and nothing was damaged at all. It was all B.S. to promote the film. I suspect that the warnings may have been pertinent to construction of the '50s and later but not for the massive concrete and steel of a large '20s theatre.
Posted by System Notices (Member # 2357) on 04-06-2010, 05:34 AM:
It has been 415 days since the last post.
Posted by Thomas Hauerslev (Member # 566) on 04-06-2010, 05:34 AM:
Sensurround film festival in Karlsruhe, Germany in early June 2010: http://www.in70mm.com/news/2010/sensurround/index.htm
All films are shown in glorious Sensurround with truckloads of speakers.
Posted by Jean-Marc Toussaint (Member # 4784) on 04-07-2010, 02:16 AM:
Thomas, in which language are you going to screen the films?
(that print of Rollercoaster has me drooling with envy...)
Posted by Thomas Hauerslev (Member # 566) on 04-08-2010, 08:52 AM:
hi there,
from the festival page:
"We will try to show each film, which is German dubbed, with English subtitles via digital projector"
- Herbert Born, Theatre Manager
Posted by Richard P. May (Member # 3598) on 04-08-2010, 09:58 AM:
Last January 19th, the International Cinema Technology Association held a meeting at UCLA's James Bridges Theater.
The subject was entitled "An Evening of Weird, Wacky, and Wonderful Sound".
Among the demos was the reel of EARTHQUAKE where Sensurround was used. The Bridges Theater was outfitted with the necessary reproducing equipment, and we sat thru more shaking than a real earthquake (longer, anyway).
More details of that evening can be found at www.hsmpte.org. Click on the "Meeting Reports" tab, and scroll down to Jan. 19, 2010.
Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 04-08-2010, 10:17 AM:
To run "Earthquake" in Sensurround you need the OPT-1 Sensurround decoder. Dolby has two of those units. The Mod-2 and Mod-3 units are for later Sensurround films.
Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 04-09-2010, 01:24 PM:
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