IMAX Theater Coming to Crossroads

Story by Hal Goodtree | July 20, 2010 | Tags: arts, Film, movies, News

Cary, NC – The buzz on Twitter is that an IMAX theater is coming to the Regal Crossroads 20 Cinema in Cary. It will be the Triangle’s second IMAX theater.

A Brief History of IMAX

The concept of super-large projected images, large enough to cover the entire field of view for a person facing forward, was first demonstrated in 1970 at the Osaka World’s Fair. The first permanent IMAX theater was opened in 1971 in Toronto and is still operating.

Standard movie film has a width of 35mm – a little over an inch. But to project really huge movies, a larger negative was required. The designers settled on a 65mm frame.

But dreaming and demonstrating is one thing – commercial success is another. For IMAX to be successful, a new generation of motion picture cameras and projectors had to be invented.

For almost 20 years following its debut, IMAX was a curiosity. Most of the earliest fare were nature films and re-releases of classic titles. The Rolling Stones released an early IMAX film.

The standard size for an IMAX screen is 72 × 52.8 ft. In the last few years, Canadian IMAX Corporation has released a slew of new projectors (including 3D and digital) and opened hundreds of new theaters. IMAX has moved beyond museums and science centers and into the local multiplex.

Comparison of IMAX vs 35mm Movie Film

Just because it’s bigger doesn’t mean it’s better. But IMAX is certainly larger than standard motion picture film.

This image is reduced by about 10%, but you can still appreciate the difference between the two film sizes. Look on WikiMedia for the authoritative picture.

Curtain Rises in Late August

Crossroads 20 remains open during the conversion of one theater to IMAX.

Construction is slated to be completed in late August.

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