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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Author
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Topic: Shadow Box Screens
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Tom Ferreira
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 203
From: Conway, NH, USA
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 07-16-2000 08:05 AM
Ten years ago, I was managing a three screen theatre for General Cinema in Peabody, Mass. There was one shadow box screen in this theatre, and I loved it. I've always thought this was a unique design that makes the screen seem bigger than it actually is; it works as almost a 3D kind of effect.
What made me think of this is that I happened to be watching The Poseidon Adventure on AMC last night, and I remember as a kid going to see it at the Westgate Cinema in Brockton, MA on just this very kind of screen(I also saw Sound Of Music there). Even as a child, I was impressed with these screens.
Are there any of them left anywhere? I know the Brockton theatre is still open(last I knew it was a Haney; it may be Hoyts now), but this place has been renovated so many times, I'm not sure if the screen is still there.
Has anyone else seen any of this wonderful design?
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John Walsh
Film God
Posts: 2490
From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way
Registered: Oct 1999
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posted 07-16-2000 11:10 AM
Actually, a lot of people did not care for that design, which is why there are very few, if any, left today.I belive the concept was pushed by Ben Schlanger, a well known and respected theater architect in the 1950's and 60's. He wrote several papers for SMPTE. While I think he did a great job designing theaters, sharing his ideas (he also wrote articles encouraging good quality exhibition- we could really more guys like that today!) I can't agree with the shadow box concept- but I also must admit I've never seen it. It seems like it would lower the viewer's contrast. See: "The Synco-Screen as a Stage Setting for Motion Picture Presentation" SMPTE (58) June 1952 pp. 522. and an sort of update: "Criteria for Motion Picture Viewing and for a New 70mm System: It's Process and Viewing Arrangement" SMPTE (75) March 1966 pp. 161.
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Nicholas McRobert
Film Handler
Posts: 38
From: Belfast, N. Ireland
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-17-2000 06:30 AM
A cinema that I used to visit on a regular basis had an RKO synchro-screen installed in the 50's. You can read all about Belfast's Curzon cinema at:
http://freespace.virgin.net/nicholas.m/curzon.htm Unfortunately, I don't have any other details about the screen, apart from the fact that it was eventually removed in favour of the introduction of CinemaScope. Nicholas 
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John Pytlak
Film God
Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 07-17-2000 10:28 AM
I filled in at the GCC Boulevard Mall Cinema in Buffalo in the late 1960's, which had a pair of "shadow box" screens. Idea was sort of like the old Sylvania "halo light" television sets, that surrounded the picture with light to supposedly ease eye strain. Neat looking idea, until you see how the picture washes out from the re-reflected light. A real "Contrast Killer":
http://www.kodak.com/US/en/motion/newsletters/reel/december99/pytlak.shtml ------------------
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 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
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