Cinerama Dome to celebrate with original movies

When the Cinerama Dome opened on Sunset Boulevard in 1963, it was the first new movie house built in Hollywood in three decades. Now part of the Arclight Hollywood, the dome in late September will begin a week of classic Cinerama films, including the comedy that opened the place: "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World." Also on the bill are "How the West Was Won," "2001: A Space Odyssey" and assorted shorts and Cinerama-theme3d features.

From the flackage: "Select titles will be presented in the original 3 strip Cinerama process and additional titles will be digitally projected, re-mastered from the original negatives. All of the films will be presented in the Dome, one of only three theatres in the world capable of projecting in 3 strip Cinerama. Specially designed to project Cinerama, the Dome features a giant, 126-degree curved screen that immerses audiences in the picture. Made of 316 hexagons and pentagons, the Dome is the only concrete geodesic dome in the world."

Though the dome is only coming up on its 50th year, it's the 60th anniversary of the Cinerama technology, so that's what they are celebrating. On the bill is the world premiere of "In the Picture," said to be "the first film photographed in 3-strip Cinerama in 50 years."

Photo of 1963 opening: Herald Examiner collection/LAPL