SIFF Cinema Downtown
2100 4th Avenue,
Seattle,
WA
98121
2100 4th Avenue,
Seattle,
WA
98121
47 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 266 comments
Good to learn SIFF has determined the curved screen, one of the last to be manufactured to original Cinerama specifications, and projectors are intact and functional. Also that is true of the 70mm projectors. What about the lenses used on the 70mm projectors that were custom built to fill the curved screen with an undistorted image? A number of these lenses of various lengths were on sale at the Arclight bookshop during a previous Cinerama Festival in Los Angeles. I assume they came from dozens of theaters where deep curved screens were removed.
Reopened April 23rd, 1999 by Paul Allen and General Cinema. Ad posted.
Thank you so much, Mike, for researching that, and linking the article. Good to finally know the reason behind losing the name.
When SIFF acquired the Seattle Cinerama there were unanswered questions. After some effort I was able to get answers about those previously undisclosed details WRT the theater’s new incarnation, including the story behind the loss of the Cinerama name.
Read my article here
Here’s a link to recent article on current Seattle cinemas. Click here
Did they keep the large curved screen?
You are correct, sir.
From what I see here if a theater changes management and/or gets a new name there is only one page for all iterations of that theater, a new one is not created. I saw this for the Ritz/Cine/Pussycat/Miracle in Inglewood, CA and suspect it’s the rule, not the exception. This makes more sense to me from a historical perspective rather than creating a different page for each successor, but that seems to be the way it works here at CT anyway.
Just to clarify, the 70mm prints of Cinerama 3-strip productions are very effective when projected on a deep curved screen. Pacific Theatres was involved in creating these 70mm prints. Apparently they own all the original Cinerama features. Seattle Cinerama presented a terrific restored Lawrence of Arabia 70mm print on the deep curved screen. It would seem the 70mm Cinerama prints could also be presented on that screen.
A new page won’t be created, as the theater reopens December 14 with Wonka. The theater here will be renamed and the Intro adjusted.
Paul Allen paid to have new 3-strip film prints made for This is Cinerama, and How the West Was Won, so I would think that the theater would have those two films, and the rights to show them. No page has been created yet on Cinema Treasures for SIFF Cinema Downtown. Maybe someone with the time might want to do it.
The Uptown Theatre in Washington DC, to the best of my knowledge, is the only theatre on the east coast still equipped for Cinerama, including the curved screen. I don’t think it has used all 3 projectors for at least 50 years and that was when it had the Cinerama banner. Digital projection doesn’t fit on curved screens like film.
Has SIFF engaged in talks with the owner of Cinerama prints, both of original 3-strip and transfers of those titles to 70mm? Exhibition of Cinerama films is certainly a different matter than using a copyrighted name on a building. SIFF could add a small cost to pay for labor setting up the curved screen to each ticket. How committed is SIFF to movie history? Commercial exhibitors are not concerned with history or preservation.
I’d like to hear the question about the Cinerama process directly from SIFF. My understanding was that SIFF couldn’t license just the name for the theater. It doesn’t mean they couldn’t use the process.
Since the SIFF was unable to secure the rights to Cinerama, it is doubtful that they can use the 3 projector process. As for the curved screen, according to the former operators, it was a labor and time intensive process to install and could only be used with film (not digital) presentations. At best, Seattle can hope that the 70mm will be used as frequently as possible. The flat screen, to it’s credit, is immense and looks great in showing both film and digital.
So what is the status of the Cinerama deep curved screen and projectors? I have seen both 70mm presentations combining the 3 Cinerama original 35mm reels on a single 70mm strip, and the 3 projector process itself at the Cinerama Dome in L.A. The big difference was actually the soundtrack transfer to 70mm which did not duplicate the awesome original that required 3 projectionists plus a separate sound operator. The L.A. Dome has a very steep projection angle from high up. Seattle had a better curved screen and 70mm projection location, hopefully both are intact. You cannot duplicate the Cinerama effect on a flat screen.
The theater is reopening in December as the SIFF Cinema Downtown:
Seattle, WA: Former Seattle Cinerama Theatre Reopening in December as SIFF Cinema Downtown [Nov 21, 2023]
A new article has been published cataloging the 70mm presentations of “2001: A Space Odyssey.” The Seattle Cinerama gets several mentions in the piece.
If they can’t use the Cinerama Theatre name they can change to SUPERAMA It will fit in the neon sign light. Go with a different color not red white and blue. I think the Cinerama Inc people will let them keep the name with a fee.
I wrote a couple of articles about the theater a few years ago. I may write a new one with the updates, and have other questions answered.
That’s great news that the theater will finally be reopened. They said that the Cinerama name will be dropped, but I sure hope that they will retain the equipment to show 3 strip Cinerama films, as that is a bit of film history that deserves to be preserved.
Thanks, Neeb! This is incredible news, and who better than SIFF to acquire it!
IT’S COMING BACK!!!!
https://www.siff.net/blog/cinerama-announcement
“TWITTER
INSTAGRAM
SIFF Acquires Seattle Cinerama Theater
Thursday, May 11, 2023
SIFF logo and the Seattle Cinerama Theater
Huge news! We’ve acquired the Seattle Cinerama Theater from the estate of Paul G. Allen and will be reopening later this year. This acquisition adds to our current venue offerings: SIFF Film Center, SIFF Cinema Uptown, and SIFF Cinema Egyptian. We look forward to stewarding this historic venue for magical moviegoing experiences well into the future—with all of you.
In the meantime, please enjoy the 49th Seattle International Film Festival in venues across Seattle now through May 21, followed by a week of select films streaming on the SIFF Channel May 22–28."
Here’s the link to a newly-published 70mm playdate chronology for the Seattle region which, of course, includes numerous mentions of the Cinerama Theater.
Based on what I am able to obtain from different online news sources, it appears Vulcan Inc., owned by the late Paul Allen attempted to renovate the theater (fix wear and tear items and adjust the concession menu..no disclosed tech changes) but stopped in Feb. Now Vulcan puts out a statement that the venue remains closed for the forseeable future and has shut down its arts & entertainment division.
The speculation now is Amazon may be interested in the venue for its own venture into the entertainment business as Netflix has bought the Egyptian in Hollywood. Sounds sensible, if this all turns out to be true.
I can’t imagine anyone dismantling what is in place now, including the 3 strip projection set up. Its just crazy. On the other hand, DC’s Uptown had a 3 strip set up way back when..and it is now currently vacant. Bezos, who has a large presence in DC owning the Washington Post and opening up a campus in Arlington VA, could take over that venue. The 3 strip set up could be transferred there and DC could have show Cinerama. Okay, that last part is my fantasy projection.