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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Author
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Topic: Downtown Toronto Drive-In
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Dave Bird
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 777
From: Perth, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 05-18-2001 03:35 PM
From another list.....>>>The Docks is a huge (21 acres) entertainment complex, featuring a nightclub, batting cages, indoor / outdoor volleyball, etc. The drive-in will actually be in the same space used as a golf driving range during the day.
This is right downtown on the waterfront. BIG new SCREEN! 65'x135'. The operator claims it is the biggest in North America. Room for 470 cars! It's scheduled to open June 15.<<< So what I'm wondering is just what kind of lamp they'll be using and am interested to know how they'll combat ambient light in downtown Toronto (though it's probably a little darker down on the water).Any of our Toronto locals know anything about it? When's the last time anybody built a drive- in near a major metropolitan area, let alone smack-dab in the middle? Interesting....
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John Pytlak
Film God
Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 05-18-2001 03:41 PM
They better be using 70mm prints for that size screen! If they can somehow have the screen facing Lake Ontario, there's a chance they could keep the stray light in control. And for that size screen, they may be planning to use a high gain screen, and restrict the viewing angle. Keep us up to date on this interesting project.------------------
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
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Dave Bird
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 777
From: Perth, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 05-27-2001 07:33 PM
Well, more bad news as far as the technical side goes. Besides a difficult to manage 135ft. screen, it seems this drive-in will be too close to the Toronto Island Airport and not permitted to use an FM stereo transmitter. Apparently they are going to install an AM "bleeder" under the ramps. Too bad, not much choice. I don't recall my date or I ever being disappointed by the AM sound back in high school  , but the bigger problem will be the huge screen. With a captive market of 2million, I feel they will still do well, especially considering it's just another attraction for them, but I think they'd have done better with 3 50foot screens, mono sound or not.....Gordon, maybe they'll want those twin Cinemaradio units we have, does anyone still make anything like those????
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Peter Berrett
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 602
From: Victoria, Australia
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 05-30-2001 05:25 AM
HiThis is the first I have heard of a drive-in being refused permission to broadcast on the fm band because of a nearby airport.
At the power levels required and with the appropriate antenna system the signal should not reach out far from the drive-in. Further, the fact that aircraft do not use fm radio frequencies means that there should be no interference. There is a greater likelyhood of interference from the large, powerful fm radio transmitters in Toronto. At Dromana Drive-in (near Melbourne) the owner (a ham radio operator like myself) uses a dummy load as an antenna to great efect with his fm transmitters. A dummy load is really not an antenna at all but rather just a load attached to the end of the antenna cable to ensure that the energy being radiated by the transmitter is not relected back into the transmitter. As it was explained to me, there is a strong ground wave that permeates for a relatively small distance only. The effect is that within the drive-in perimeter the signal is quite strong but the moment you get out of the grounds and start to drive away, the signal drops away very quickly and sharply. I have left my radio tuned to the drive-in frequency and driven out of the grounds only to find that after 50 ft or so the drive-in signal dropped away very quickly.
http://www.drivein.net.au/ Here in Australia the licensing system plays a part also. We have what we call a 'class license' for various low powered transmtters. On certain frequencies (including the fm band) one can legally operate a small transmitter provided the EIRP (the output power)does not exceed a certain threshold. One does not need to contact the Government, get a callsign or pay a license fee to do.
http://www.aca.gov.au/legal/licence/class/lipd.htm cheers Peter
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Dave Bird
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 777
From: Perth, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 05-30-2001 08:14 AM
Remember, the "FM not allowed" was passed to me second hand, it's possible there's another reason. But, however they're doing it, the drive-in will open soon, in the old shipyards of Toronto. Of course, should the 2008 Olympics be awarded to Toronto, all this land will be redeveloped, the "Docks" will be no more (owners laughing all the way to the bank). Here's the link, John the characatured image seems to indicate the screen will face the lake, you'll need a high-powered telescope!
www.thedocks.com/nav/drivein.htm
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