Monthly Archive for February, 2006

IMAX Niagara Movie - 20 Years Old

Published
by
Graham
on February 28, 2006
in Niagara Falls Attractions
. 0 Comments

From a press release from the IMAX Niagara Falls Theatre:

Niagara Falls, Canada - “It’s been running for 20 years and shows no signs of tiring out with audiences” said Elaine Bald, Theatre Director of the Niagara Falls IMAX THEATRE. Bald is referring to the FALLS MOVIE, Legends and Daredevils, celebrating its 20th anniversary at the Niagara Falls IMAX theatre. IMAX Niagara is affiliated with National Geographic and the authenticity of its product is a primary focal point for the theatre. The film, originally called Niagara; Miracles, Myths and Magic, is one of the longest running films in North America. It is also seen on one of Canada’s largest screens, equivalent to six stories high. In addition to the movie, the theatre boasts the finest collection of Daredevil memorabilia, including several of the barrels that plunged over Niagara Falls. They are housed in the Daredevil Gallery in the theatre adjacent to the National Geographic Store.

The Falls Movie, Legends and Daredevils is the story of Niagara from it’s earliest times and the people and events that make Niagara one of the most recognizable destinations in the world. The IMAX film features historical re-enactments of some of the most exciting feats surrounding Niagara Falls and the incredible stories of daredevils. The story of 63 year old, Annie Taylor unfolds as she enters her barrel above Niagara Falls on October 24, 1901 and makes her plunge over the falls and into the history books. Learn about the “Miracle of Niagara” where a 7 year old boy accidentally gets swept over the falls and lives to tell about it!

The very word “Niagara” conjures up the image of power. From the moment the film begins you’ll not only see the power but experience it with earth shaking digital surround sound.

Bald says, “We are looking forward to celebrating our 20th Anniversary with a variety of special events, the first being the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee, High School Student Film Festival which is a creative film competition with all the local highschools. The Film Festival will take place at the end of April of this year”. Special events will be announced over the year. IMAX Niagara is part of Destination Cinema, Inc. owner and operator of large-format theatres in tourist destinations throughout North America.

Wilkins to talk border security

Published
by
Graham
on February 28, 2006
in Niagara Falls News
. 0 Comments

From the Niagara Falls Review:

With growing concerns over Washington’s plans to require all travellers entering the U.S. to carry a passport or similar documentation by 2008, tonight’s visit to Niagara Falls by the United States Ambassador to Canada will have the close attention of businesses on both sides of the Niagara River.

David Wilkins will be the keynote speaker at the Niagara Falls Chamber of Commerce’s 2006 Outstanding Business Achievement Awards night at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel and Conference Centre.

Carolyn Bones, president of the Niagara Falls Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber wants to take this opportunity to share with Wilkins the position it takes on the U.S. government’s Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

Spring Break For Kids - Niagara Falls Marriott Fallsview

Published
by
Graham
on February 26, 2006
in Niagara Falls Hotels
. 0 Comments

This past Tuesday I received the latest newsletter from the Niagara Falls Marriott Fallsview. They are promoting March Break packages.

You can subscribe by clicking on the Special Email Offers link on the side of the Marriott Niagara Falls Fallsview & Spa main page.

March Break at the Hilton Nagara Falls

Published
by
Graham
on February 25, 2006
in Niagara Falls Hotels
. 0 Comments

Last Saturday I received the latest newsletter from the Hilton Nagara Falls. They are promoting March Break packages.

To subscribe to the newsletter, fill out the form on the left-hand side of any page on the Hilton Niagara Falls web site.

Falls tourism spends money to make money

Published
by
Graham
on February 25, 2006
in Niagara Falls News and Niagara Falls Web Sites
. 0 Comments

From Niagara This Week:

If Niagara Falls Tourism can stick to a business plan which includes a money-making web presence, it hopes to wean itself off municipal funding by 2011.

But for 2006, it will receive funding from the city in the order of $500,000.

Council finally threw its support behind a proposal to allocate almost $900,000 over five years, or $170,000 a year, to Niagara Falls Tourism for the development, maintenance and promotion of a major, world-class website to market the city as a tourist destination.

‘Distinct’ Niagara deserves its own TV station: Wilks

Published
by
Graham
on February 20, 2006
in Niagara Falls News
. 0 Comments

From Niagara This Week:

The man who spearheaded plans to establish Niagara’s first commercial television station has won the support of Niagara Region politicians in his bid to overturn a decision by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) turning the TV station proposal down.

Wendell Wilks said Niagara is a “distinct place” with a large enough market to justify a commercial TV station of its own, rather than relying on tranmissions beamed in from other centres. In a presentation to regional council, Wilks said his company remains determined to carry on with its years-long battle to obtain the necessary CRTC approval to start one here.

USA & Canada - Niagara rivals

Published
by
Graham
on February 20, 2006
in Niagara Falls News
. 1 Comment

From The Sunday Telegraph (Australian):

NIAGARA or bust”: traditional sign on honeymooners’ cars. “Summer journeys to Niagara aggravate all our cares. We’ll save our fares”: From the Rodgers and Hart song, I’ll Take Manhattan.

Will the real Niagara Falls please stand up? Is it the Marilyn Monroe movie set in faded, mystery motels? Or Canada’s family destination, its Disney and Vegas tumbled into one?

To know Niagara Falls today is to know two mist-split shores: the Canadian city and the American town. Both still attract newlyweds, and science now says it can explain this. Negative ions from the rush of the falls, it claims, cause feelings of attraction.

The article rates both sides in 4 categories, and they each win 2.

Bocelli gala a first for casino

Published
by
Graham
on February 17, 2006
in Niagara Falls Casinos and Gaming, Niagara Falls Events and Niagara Falls News
. 0 Comments

As Dan mentioned in a previous comment…

From the Niagara Falls Review:

Andrea Bocelli, the world-famous singer, will perform in Niagara Falls later this year in a celebrity gala to raise money for an expanding charity that helps families with children who need organ transplants.

Bocelli’s Sept. 16 performance at the Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort will benefit the David Foster Foundation. Foster, the Canadian musician, composer and producer, announced the event at a press conference in Toronto Thursday.

Foster told reporters in Toronto he hopes the foundation rather than his musical successes will become his greatest legacy.

Read more about it at Canada.com…

Read more about it at Yahoo! Finance…

Niagara: Miracles, Myths and Magic - The Making Of

Published
by
Graham
on February 17, 2006
in Niagara Falls Attractions, Niagara Falls Scenery and Niagara Falls in the Movies
. 0 Comments

The Making Of special of the Niagara: Miracles, Myths and Magic DVD is 20 minutes long. There is a fair amount of “raw” or untouched footage shown that is exactly the same as the movie. It wasn’t coloured or adjusted for lighting, and didn’t look nearly as good as the real movie. There was some original information that was shot when the movie was being shot, but there was nothing new in it (no looking back or current interviews).

There are a few points where Kieth Merrill gives some good insight into what he was doing. In talking about making the movie, he said:

The whole concept of this kind of a film is to extend the experience. People come to Niagara, they stand at the lip of the falls, they’re awed by its power, they’re awed by its beauty, but what they d”t relaize is that there is 300 years of white history in this reagion and thousands of years of indian history in this region. There have been some spectacular things that have taken place, some humourous things, some magic, some myths, some miracles, and a good deal of mystery. And what we’ve tried to do is extend the experience of Niagara by capturing all those elements, putting them on the biggest screen in the world, and allowing people for 40 minutes to really live through time and space and go where man has never gone, see what human eyes have never seen, from a perspective known only to the birds, and that’s the real motive, the objective, and the thrust and hopefully the success of Niagara: Miracles, Myths and Magic.

The movie is fantastic, whether in the IMAX theatre or at home. Pictures and reviews don’t do it justice. If you are fascinated by Niagara Falls and its history, then you should definitely see the movie.

Read other articles in this series:

Read previous articles about IMAX Niagara Falls

Search the Niagara Falls Blog for information on the IMAX Theatre

Search Google for information on IMAX Theatre Niagara Falls

See pictures from the Daredevil Exhibit in the Niagara Falls Image Gallery

See scenic pictures of Niagara Falls from the Niagara: Miracles, Myths and Magic movie in the Niagara Falls Image Gallery

Visit the IMAX Niagara Falls Theatre web site…

Niagara: Miracles, Myths and Magic - Roger Woodward

Published
by
Graham
on February 17, 2006
in Niagara Falls Attractions, Niagara Falls Scenery and Niagara Falls in the Movies
. 1 Comment

The seventh and last part of the Niagara: Miracles, Myths and Magic movie is 7 minutes long and is about Roger Woodward. It is a very tense and emotional scene where Roger goes over the Falls in only a life jacket and lives.

The movie is fantastic, whether in the IMAX theatre or at home. Pictures and reviews don’t do it justice. If you are fascinated by Niagara Falls and its history, then you should definitely see the movie.

Read other articles in this series:

Read previous articles about IMAX Niagara Falls

Search the Niagara Falls Blog for information on the IMAX Theatre

Search Google for information on IMAX Theatre Niagara Falls

See pictures from the Daredevil Exhibit in the Niagara Falls Image Gallery

See scenic pictures of Niagara Falls from the Niagara: Miracles, Myths and Magic movie in the Niagara Falls Image Gallery

Visit the IMAX Niagara Falls Theatre web site…