The IMAX® Story
The dream that became a reality. . .
The IMAX system's foundation dates back to 1967 when multi-screen film presentations were the hit of Montreal's Expo 67. Popular and critical acclaim for Labyrinth and Polar Life, two outstanding multi-screen films by Graeme Ferguson, Robert Kerr and Roman Kroitor, convinced the long-time friends and program producers that the giant-screen experience could be used effectively in a new generation of motion picture theatres.
Their goal was to replace the cumbersome multiple projectors used at that time with a completely new system using a single, powerful projector. The system their team premiered at Osaka, Japan's 1970 Exposition revolutionized the filmgoing experience.
The image is projected onto a flat screen up to eight stories tall, or a comparably
sized dome. Since the edge of the image is beyond the audience's peripheral vision,
each person has the sense of being totally immersed in the film experience. The
sensation is enhanced by specially-designed theatre seating. By constructing the
theatre seating at a steep pitch, everyone--including children--has a full view of
the screen.
Based on the popularity of IMAX, several large-format theatre and film systems have been developed by other suppliers. The systems are generally known by their film size and include 835, 870, 1070 and 1570. Each of these systems is designed to give the audience the feeling of being involved in the film experience.
Some of the most successful IMAX films include:
Grand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets
To Fly
Speed
The Dream Is Alive
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Text and images used with permission of IMAX® CorporationIMAX® is a registered trademark of IMAX® Corporation, Toronto, Canada