Description
The cinerama process, originally developed by Frederick Waller (1939), was the first effective wide-screen process. The Cinerama
Releasing Corporation (CRC) faced competition from cheaper wide-screen processes and began major construction on new buildings
designed specifically for the Cinerama process (mid-1950s). CRC dissolved (mid-1970s), leaving the buildings, many doomed
to technological obsolescence. The collection consists of nearly all the architectural plans, including brown lines, prints
and unique pencil renderings on tissue from 1960 through the late-1960s collected by Miller for 263 theatres.
Background
The cinerama process, originally developed by Frederick Waller (1939), was the first effective wide-screen process; distribution
required extensive renovation of existing theatres or new construction of buildings to accommodate projection booths, screens,
and surround sound equipment; Cinerama Releasing Corporation (CRC) faced competition from cheaper wide-screen processes and
began major construction on new buildings designed specifically for the Cinerama process (mid-1950s); CRC dissolved (mid-1970s),
leaving the buildings, many doomed to technological obsolescence.This Is Cinerama opened at a world premiere in New York on September 30, 1952. Its record-breaking 122 week engagement there
touched off a wide-screen craze in the 50s that temporarily reversed the flow of audiences from movie theatres to their TV
sets by offering a picture big enough to engulf the audience.
Extent
4 cartons (4 linear ft.)
77 oversize boxes
Restrictions
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright,
are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright
and pursue the
copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Availability
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library Special
Collections Reference Desk for paging information.