International projectionist (Jan 1963-June 1965)

The Covet Stoty . . . 'Wrap-around' Theatre Amazes Audiences Audiences across the United States and as far distant as New Delhi. India, have been enjoying the sensation of being "inside" a projected motion picture instead of just looking "at" a picture. This effect is achieved by the use of a lens whose angle matches the broad angle of vision of the human eye — plus the screen which curves around and above the spectators. Better viewing for larger audiences in the special type of traveling theatre in which the show is given, however, called for changes. Under the guidance of veteran Jam Handy Organization (Detroit) projectionists, members of IATSE Local 199, the changes were made to effect several improvements. The standard projector was given a lower base so that the equipment would not obstruct the view of any Because of the optical qualities of the projected image on a hemispheric screen, flat photography makes tjhe projection appear distorted. Not so in the theatre, where viewers are transported via three-dimensional effeqt to any place the camera leads. Spectators at the World Agricultural Exposition in New Delhi, India, registered appropriate amazement at the images projected by a prototype "wrap-around" projector on an hemispheric screen. Recent improvements by Detroit's Jim Handy Organization have made the projection system suitable for large enclosures. of the 175 spectators who now can be seated in the Wrap-Around Theatre. Projection is done close to the screen because of the optical qualities of the lens. The theatre is a large portable dome that is easily transported and inflated with compressed air on a show site in quick time. The top magazine also now is installed below the lens, instead of on top of the projector. The exhaust, which was on top of the projector, now is below; only clean, warm air escapes from a filter. So the projectionist may operate the projector while seated and out of the way of front-row spectators; rewiring of all controls also had to be done. The Wrap-Around system has an interesting history, going btck to the day during World War II when the Navy called on Jamison Handy, now president of The Jam Handy Organization, to help create a lens that would simulate natural human observation as realistically as possible by means of motion pictures. The need was urgent, because new developments — such as aircraft moving at vastly greater speeds than ever before — called for a new training device with a much greater angular view of sky and earth. The final design of the lens, which contains 11 elements of glass of different composition, required more than a year of computations by optics engineers and mathematicians. A lens similar to the projection lens is also used in the making of the picture, so there is no distortion when the picture is projected on the hemispheric screen. Obviously, any photo taken of the Wrap-Around Theatre in operation shows distortion; but that is not the way the picture is seen by the audience. The spectators travel along, so they feel, on highways, on roller coasters, under Niagara Falls, or wherever the Wrap-Around cameramen take them. The result is a "you are there" and perfectly natural, if thrilling, visual experience. The latest picture that is being used is appropriately titled "Excitement." iP International Projectionist May 1964