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Introduction to stereophonic sound...Doesn't "Fantasia" claim this honor from a decade earlier?

The Cinerama Dome in Hollywood is not on Sunset and Vine. It's more like Sunset and Ivar, I think.

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Very interesting indeed. I am really looking forward to my visit to the Pictureville in November.
To think of the number of projection staff involved for a showing of “This Is Cinerama” at the London Casino 50 years ago, where I first saw the film. The B+W postage stamp introduction was projected from the original projection/spot box above the disused upper circle.

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Assuming that you did know that the November screening will be on the Sunday, and that you are still planning to go, I may see you there, I am thinking of going again.

Just a thought, I wonder if Peter would be interested in going, now that he no longer works at the Phoenix on Sundays. He seldom used to go out on Sundays, he did once go on a CTA visit that I was on, because of work, but he may be interested now. Why don't you ask him?

I saw him at the Open House day, he showed me your card, and was very pleased to have received it.

When you say the upper circle was disused, do you mean that it was taken out of use when Cinerama was installed, or was it already out of use at that time, and do you know if it was later re-instated when the place returned to being a live theatre?

For the record, if anybody is interested, all three London Cinerama venues still exist, but none showing film. Two are now live theatres, one of them also having been used for television productions for a time, the third is now the home of the English National Opera, not to be confused with the Royal Opera House, which is at Covent Garden, not far away.

Might also see you there then Stephen! I will write to Peter, as you say he might be interested now.

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When you say the upper circle was disused, do you mean that it was taken out of use when Cinerama was installed, or was it already out of use at that time, and do you know if it was later re-instated when the place returned to being a live theatre?

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Yes, the upper circle was taken out of use when Cinerama was installed for obvious sightline reasons. I had a look at the Prince Edward Theatre (ex London Casino) website seating plan, and yes the upper circle (the gods) has been re-instated.

Just as a matter of interest, I started my first job as a messenger boy with Pathe News on 31st December 1951 for 3 months, until I could get permission from the council to work as a projectionist under 16 years of age. At the time there was a new variety show going into the London Casino Theatre, which included a mock 10 minute Pathe newreel in one of the acts. I had to attend rehearsals until a final cut was finalised. Of course that meant to my delight several visits to the projection/spot box way up above the gods. For the show a single 35mm projector with no soundhead was installed (the newsreel of course was mute). The Prince Edward Theatre apparently used to show films when it first opened, so the original projection equipment must have been long removed, perhaps when the theatre was renamed the London Casino Theatre.

I also did see at the London Casino, in 70mm Cinerama 2001 - A SPACE ODYSSEY, which was awsome! The theatre came to a sad end showing films, mostly 35mm 2nd run double features on a platter system, the first one I’d ever seen.