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Oklahoma commenced at the Egyptian Theatre December 4th, 1955

Todd-AO is a practical scientific system developed by American Optical Company engineers under the direction of Dr. Brian O’Brien, to bring into being an idea envisioned by Michael Todd.

The goal was to develop “a motion picture system that would photograph action in very wide angle … with one camera … on one strip of film … to be projected from a single machine … on a very large screen … with a quality so perfect that the audience will be part of the action, not just passive spectators.” -

Now a completely new system in the photography and projection of motion pictures was under way! First, the screen. To create the illusion of presence a very deeply curved screen was necessary. Dr. O’Brien devised a screen which he describes as “a great, curved, observation window to the outside world.” The Todd-A0 system was first used to film Oklahoma.

Next, the film. The old, standard 35mm film was not adequate. It could not illuminate every part of the large screen. Its pictures were not sharp and clear from every part of the theatre. So a 65mm negative had to be created.

Every existing lens type was tried and rejected. Their use meant losing picture quality. An entirely new system of lenses was required.

Mr. Robert Hopkins at the University of Rochester developed the basic wide-angle camera lens. The 128° covered by this lens “sees” much as you do. But, so that this camera might “see” everything as you do, a whole series of new lenses was necessary. They range from the 128° “Bug-Eye” through 64°, 48° and 37° lenses.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -