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Non-Tech : IMAX 3D-the wave of the future -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: bythepark who wrote (135)	8/20/1999 12:30:00 PM
From: George Sepetjian	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 170

Here's some good news. IMAX thrilled with Sacramento attendance By Cathleen Ferraro Bee Staff Writer (Published Aug. 20, 1999) July attendance at the new Esquire IMAX Theatre in downtown Sacramento was among the best grand openings for any IMAX owned-and-operated theater in North America. The number of people who attended showings of "Everest" or "T-Rex: Back to the Cretaceous" hit almost 50,000 -- a figure that's even more impressive because monthly attendance was based on just three weeks starting July 8 when the theater opened. "There's no other competition in the large-screen industry in Sacramento. I think that's why the numbers are so big," said Doug Link, theater director for the Esquire at 1211 K St. IMAX -- known for enormous screens, mega-sound and three-dimensional technology that immerse viewers into each movie scene -- has its technology in 197 theaters worldwide. The Ontario, Canada-based company owns and operates just nine of those screens, where about 400,000 people come each year. "So, obviously, Sacramento is doing very well, reaching 50,000 in less than a month," said an IMAX official in Toronto who asked not to be named. The other eight cities where Imax owns theaters -- including Montreal, South Miami Beach and Las Vegas -- are considerably larger than Sacramento, too. The local IMAX theater has one screen six stories high and 80 feet wide and uses 12,000 watts of digital wraparound sound -- about three times the dimensions of conventional theaters. For downtown promoters who struggle to draw people to the center city at night and weekends, the IMAX news was like a refreshing summer rain. "We haven't turned the corner yet toward revitalization, but every time we get an IMAX or a Starbucks (coffee shop) opening down here, the closer we are," said Michael Testa, director of marketing for the Downtown Sacramento Partnership. The group extended the hours for its community service guides -- the people wearing bright yellow jackets who provide information and escorts to cars -- to 10 p.m. on weekends because of the IMAX traffic. Other downtown developments include several new restaurants -- Starbucks, Gallaghers, The Broiler and Esquire Grill -- all of which will open later this fall on K Street.