Daily Archive for September 9th, 2005

IMAX Niagara Falls Theatre leaflet

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by
Graham
on September 9, 2005
in Niagara Falls Attractions
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For almost 30 years, one of the most distinctive landmarks in Niagara Falls has been the pyramid housing the IMAX Niagara Falls Theatre. For almost the last 20 years they have shown Niagara: Miracles, Myths and Magic, the second most watched IMAX film ever.

I’ve scanned their promotional leaflet and included the text below:

Front of leaflet:

2005
The Falls Movie
Legends & Daredevils
Only at IMAX
Live like a daredevil from the edge of your seat

Back of leaflet:

The Falls Movie
The Daredevil Gallery
The Adrenaline Rush

Experience the Falls Legends & Daredevils
Let the power of IMAX take you there

Discover the thundering Falls from a totally new and awesome perspective, on a screen that’s SIX STORIES high with 12, 000 WATTS of earth shaking digital surround sounds.

Visit Niagara Falls’ Only Daredevil gallery
Free admission
See & touch the actual barrels, spheres and chambers of death that carried the daredevils over the Falls, and re-live the stories of those who dared to take the plunge.

National Geographic Store
IMAX Theatre Niagara Falls

6170 Fallsview Blvd.
Next to the Skylon Tower
905-374-IMAX
Shows on the hour

www.imaxniagara.com

PDF IconI have also created a PDF file of the leaflet if you’d like to download it and see it in full size/colour. You can download it here:
IMAX Niagara Falls Theatre leaflet

The 2003 leaflet was significantly different (the 2005 leaflet looks much better). The 2003 leaflet used the real name of the movie, and had more text about the movie and the daredevil exhibit. You can see it here.

IMAX Niagara Falls - The Daredevil Exhibit

Published
by
Graham
on September 9, 2005
in Niagara Falls Attractions
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This post is continued from IMAX Niagara Falls - The Movie.

The Daredevil Exhibit at the IMAX Niagara Falls theatre is a gem! Admission is free, and you have the chance to see a large number of the devices that the daredevils used to go over the Falls. The movie discusses briefly the experiences of Blondin and Roger Woodward. As you exit the theatre, you are right in the exhibit, and can’t help but look around.

The Daredevil Exhibit has been open for many years. Over time, the pieces have been purchased outright, some have been donated, and some are rented. All of the pieces shown in Superman II are in the exhibit.

A couple of months ago, long before I received the passed to see the movie, I went into the exhibit and took pictures of all the items and all the signs. I have typed up the descriptions as well. You can find them all in the AccessNiagara.com Daredevil Exhibit image gallery. The images aren’t the best, and even if they were perfect, it doesn’t replace the experience of being there, touching the boats, and sensing what the daredevils went through.

The admission tickets into the movie have a variety of nice write-ups about the daredevils. The two that we had were about Dave Munday and Blondin. As well, the backs of the tickets have a Niagara Falls fact.

Dave Munday was the 13th person to survive a barrel trip over the Falls in 1985. Perhaps the most celebrated of the Niagara daredevils, Munday performed 2 successful trips over the Falls, with his second one taking place on September 27, 1993 in this 1.2m diving bell.

Jean Francois Gravelet (a.k.a. The Great Blondin) performed the first tightrope walk over the Falls between the Canadian and American sides on June 30, 1859. His feats became progressively more daring after his first trip; he was later blindfolded, rode a bicycle, walked backwards, and even carried his manager on his back.

Did you know? One fifth of the world’s freshwater flows over Niagara Falls.
Did you know? Niagara Falls is approx. 12,500 years old. (image not shown)

IMAX Niagara Falls - The Movie

Published
by
Graham
on September 9, 2005
in Niagara Falls Attractions
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This post is continued from IMAX Niagara Falls - The Theatre

The Falls Movie signSince 1987, the IMAX Niagara Falls Theatre has been showing Niagara: Miracles, Myths and Magic. With most of the promotional material you see now, you wouldn’t know that was the name of the movie. Everything talks about The Falls Movie Legends & Daredevils. I asked Karen Mariano, Sales Manager at IMAX Niagara Falls Theatre, about this. She explained that they found that people really were not aware of the purpose of the film so they “decided to incorporate the FALLS MOVIE logo to create awareness that the film is the perfect Prelude to your Niagara Experience.”

I went to the 4 pm showing of the film on September 6. I expected since this was the day after Labour Day, that the theatre would be empty. To my surprise, there was a fairly good turnout. Most of the people were middle aged, many of them on a bus tour (there were a couple of large buses parked outside).

There is a snack bar just like any other movie theatre. And just like any other movie theatre, the cost of refreshments is rather high. We purchased 2 drinks and a large popcorn and it came to over $9 CDN. My sister wanted an empty cup, and they wanted a quarter for it.

They let us into the theatre right at 4 pm, and we waited a few minutes before anything happened. There is a brief introductory audio message that plays before the movie that gives you a bit of history of the theatre, as well as some facts about the IMAX experience. Apparently the screen is 6 stories high by 8 stories wide and has 15,000 watts lamp that could be seen from the moon. There are a lot more interest bits of information on the IMAX Niagara web site.

As is the case with most IMAX movies, the movie is phenomenal. There are four main parts to the movie. The movie starts with the story of Lelawala, the Maiden of the Mist. There is a re-enactment of one of Blondin’s walks. There is a great scene of the steamship Lelawala going through the rapids (my favourite scene). The final scene re-enacts when Roger Woodward, a 7-year-old boy, went over the falls, and lived to tell about it.

The cinematography is stunning and the sound of the Falls shakes your seat. The story is well told and as far as I know is accurate. It retells old legends, states facts, and leaves you want to see more. The movie is approximately 41 minutes long. If you include the introductory audio message, as well as the concluding message, you are in the theatre for almost 50 minutes.

There are approximately 450,000 people who view the movie Niagara: Miracles, Myths and Magic every year.

The Destination Cinemas website describes the movie as follows:


Daredevils and awestruck explorers play out their drama against the backdrop of the thundering Niagara Falls in “Niagara: Miracles, Myths & Magic.” From a rivet-popping steam ship ride through whirlpool rapids to the heart-stopping plunge of a young boy who survived the 150-foot drop, “Niagara: Miracles, Myths & Magic” examines the lure and majesty of this natural wonder for the adventurers that have challenged her might. Director: Kieth Merrill. Producer: Nicholas J. Gray, Richard James. Formats available: 15/70, 10/70, 8/70. Length: 41 minutes.

Be sure to read the post IMAX Niagara Falls - The Daredevil Exhibit.

IMAX Niagara Falls - The Theatre

Published
by
Graham
on September 9, 2005
in Niagara Falls Attractions
. 0 Comments

On Tuesday, September 6, 2005 I had the opportunity to go to the IMAX Niagara Falls Theatre and view the movie Niagara: Miracles, Myths and Magic. There will be a few posts about the theatre and the movie.

The theatre was built in 1976, with its distinctive pyramid shape. There are over 200 IMAX theatres in the world now. The Niagara Falls theatre was the 15th built. For the first 11 years, there were a variety of films, including “To Fly” which ran for 2 consecutive years. In 1987, Niagara: Miracles, Myths and MagicGrand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets.

The theatre is owned by Destination Cinema, a subsidiary of National Geographic which owns and operates all Destination Theatres. There is a National Geographic Theatre at the Grand Canyon visitors centre, a National Geographic Theatre in San Simeon, CA at the Hearst Castle, a National Geographic Theatre in Victoria, BC, along with the theatre in Niagara Falls.

Due to their location, they have an association with the Skylon Tower. They share a parking lot and do partner program packages together such as “Dinner and a Movie” or “Lunch and a Movie” as well as Educational Packages that are sold to school and tour operators. The neighbouring property, Pyramid Place, is owned by the same people as the Skylon Tower, not Destination Cinema. There is a charge for parking during the summer months and it is a straight $5.00 flat fee Canadian or US. Tour Buses are exempt from any parking charges.

Be sure to read the post IMAX Niagara Falls - The Movie.