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This topic comprises 4 pages: 1 2 3 4
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Author
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Topic: The story of "Sensurround" and "Sensurround Plus"?
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Thomas Hauerslev
Master Film Handler
Posts: 451
From: Copenhagen, Denmark
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 03-27-2001 08:55 AM
Does anyone at FT have any recollection of Universal's Sensurround system (developed by W. O. Watson and Richard Stumpf). How it worked, BGW amplifiers, Cervin Vega speakes, procesors etc.?I saw, or rather heard "Earthquake" in 70mm with Sensuround in August 1979 at the 3 Falke Bio http://hjem.get2net.dk/in70mm/cinemas/bioweb/sjaelland/cph/3fb/3fb_gb.htm It was quite spectacular for a 16-year old film-buff like me at that time. Apparently there were several kits in Denmark that was moved with the films from cinema to cinema that showed either: "Earthquake", "Battle of Midway", "Rollercoaster" and "Battlestar Galactica". In 1981 I worked briefly at Cinema International Pictures (European distribution arm of MGM, Universal and Paramount at that time). I remember all the speaker cabinets had been chopped to pieces and the woofers were stored in the basement. And there were MANY! Some amps were still there, but they were sold off later. I was thinking of publishing a story about Sensurround in "..in 70mm", but information about this is rare. Can anyone help, or would anyone consider writing the story??? All the best
Thomas
..in 70mm - The 70mm Newsletter
www.hauerslev.com
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John Pytlak
Film God
Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 03-27-2001 12:36 PM
John: To quote from the link Evans cited:"Later that year Sensuround, a system developed by W. O. Watson and Richard Stumpf at Universal Pictures, was released. This format injected tones from
5 - 40 Hz at 110 - 120 dBbased on control track information on the film. Sensurround Some Sensurround movies included Earthquake!, Midway,
Battlestar Galactica, and Rollercoaster.
" In those days, there may have been a few 70mm prints of each. Widescreen Review had a recent listing of every 70mm release they could recall, even if it was only a few prints. ------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion
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Thomas Hauerslev
Master Film Handler
Posts: 451
From: Copenhagen, Denmark
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 03-27-2001 02:34 PM
Thanks so far, keep it coming. I shall have a look at previous discussions on Sensurround at FT.It just struck me why Dolby Laboratories named their 70mm format "Baby Boom". Quite obviously, Sensurround was the BIG boom. "Earthquake" was the only Sensurround title shown in 70mm in Denmark. ------------------
Thomas Hauerslev
..in70mm - The 70mm Newsletter
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John Walsh
Film God
Posts: 2490
From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way
Registered: Oct 1999
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posted 03-27-2001 04:32 PM
Robert;It would be great if you could copy that Sensurround installation manual (or loan it to Brad to copy.) He could put it on the manual download page. I know several people would be very interested to read it. The IMDB lists Earthquake (Earthquack! ha-ha!) as the only 70mm Sensurround feature (I'm not counting theme park rides, etc.) Although I know the IMDB is not the most accurate source.
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Mark Lensenmayer
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1605
From: Upper Arlington, OH
Registered: Sep 1999
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posted 03-27-2001 09:50 PM
I believe there were 3 types of Sensurround. In EARTHQUAKE, there was a low frequency random noise generator that was toggled on and off at, if I recall correctly, 2 different sound levels. In MIDWAY, ROLLERCOASTER and BATTLESTAR GALLACTICA, there were tones that triggered sound through the Sensurround speakers. There was also another form that was used in ZOOT SUIT. I don't know many details of this, but it was more for sound quality than power. I know this played the Cinerama Dome, but I don't know of any other engagements. I have an issue of AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER that has a number of details on the system used in EARTHQUAKE. Sensurround was really a cheesy gimmick, but when those speakers kicked in, you knew it! On the LP for Earthquake, there was a short section recorded with the full low-end range of the earthquake, You could see the individual grooves on that section. It also wiped out the amp stage of my receiver at the time! Slightly changing gears here, does anyone remember a film in the early '80's by AC-DC that toured around with its own sound system? It wasn't Sensurround, but it was a powerful system. Mark Lensenmayer ------------------
"As a moral to young men who come down to the city, don't go round breaking people's tambourines."
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and Midway. The sensurround effect was amusing but the movies weren't to good
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