  |
Specialty Markets Rear Window FAQs Resources IdeaExchange Site Map Contact Home | |
|
| ||
    
 |
 |
|
 Boston Light & Sound Brings Stellar Cinema Experience to El Paso Plaza Theatre
Designed as a modern film house with the flexibility of presenting stage shows, the Plaza Theatre in El Paso, TX opened in 1930, and became a fixture in the lives of theatergoers for generations to come. Its size, elaborate decor, and technical innovations made it stand out. No expense was spared in creating this elaborate building, designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style of architecture.
After a period of neglect in the 1980s, the theatre nearly fell victim to demolition to make way for a parking lot. Spurred by a groundswell of community support, the El Paso Community Foundation—with support from actress Rita Moreno—raised the funds for a major renovation. Having been returned to its original splendor, the theatre was donated to the City of El Paso in 1990.
The Plaza's main theatre is the 2,000-seat Kendle Elizabeth Kidd Performance Hall. Also contained within the Plaza complex is a 191-seat performance venue called the Philanthropy Theatre, the Bernice Dittmer Donor Salon, the elegant Betty Moor MacGuire Hall, plus a wonderful rooftop garden and reception area called the Alcantar Sky Garden.
Philanthropy Theatre Project
While the theatre remained a popular venue for live concerts and plays, it hadn't served as a movie house in years. In 2007, the city hired Boston Light & Sound (BL&S) to change all that. First, the BL&S team set to work creating a state-of-the-art screening room for the beautiful Philanthropy Theatre. Prior to this project, this venue was most commonly used for community performances, recitals, and corporate meetings. The theatre's production staff wanted to incorporate video projection and high performance, multi-channel audio playback, while still maintaining the room's ability to accommodate live performances on the stage.
Video projection and audio system design and installationSince the room was already 90 percent built out when BL&S came on board, retrofitting a high performance video projection and audio system was a creative challenge. It was imperative that the equipment would not detract from the aesthetics of the room. BL&S designed and installed a motorized lift system for the video projector that retracts into the ceiling. Working alongside the general contractor, BL&S made sure that the finish work on the equipment matched perfectly with the theatre's ceiling.
Next, the team designed a motorized roll-down screen with custom masking curtains to accommodate multiple film and video formats. BL&S also provided custom fabricated portable speakers. Thus, all the theatre needs to do to present a movie is lower the screen and roll the speakers into left-center-right positions behind the screen—ensuring the proper soundstage for cinema audio playback.
The BL&S team also integrated a touch-panel automated control system for ease of use. With this novel setup, the stage crew has the flexibility to run the show from backstage or from the lighting console at the back of the house.
Main Theatre Project - Kendle Elizabeth Kidd Performance Hall
Custom projection screen Based on the success of this project, the city engaged BL&S to develop a more ambitious projection system for its main theatre. This included designing a custom framed screen and masking system built on a line set controlled by a counter-weight system. This enables the stage crew to simply lower the entire projection screen and side masking system fully intact to prepare for "movie night." BL&S put additional masking panels in place, giving the theatre the classic look of an old movie house. When a live performance follows a cinema showing, the crew simply raises the line set above the stage and stores it out of sight.
Audio upgradesEnhancing the audience's audio experience, BL&S installed a Dolby Digital audio system that patches into the theatre's left, center, right, and subwoofer loudspeaker arrays, and set the equalization to comply with industry standards.
Multi-media presentationTo support the theatre's need to run everything from 35mm film prints to newly released digital cinema presentations, BL&S installed two identical Kinoton Film Projectors, allowing reel changeover capability to run archival films. The team also installed a state-of-the-art digital cinema DLP Projector and D-Cinema Server, conforming to the exacting standards for resolution, clarity, and color space required by Hollywood studios for digital cinema showings. This configuration enables the theatre to run any type of video or film media with the best possible presentation. This customized system also supports computer-generated presentations, controlled via an intuitive touch panel system that walks users through the system operation.
Today, audiences enjoy not only renovated aesthetics but also optimal presentation of movies of all kinds under a striking dome ceiling emulating the night sky in El Paso. BL&S worked carefully to implement high performance projection and audio systems while maintaining the integrity of this beautiful theatre.  Request an Estimate  Download Client List
|
|
| ||
|
Home  AboutSoundProjectionEquipment SalesFAQsConsultingRentals
Rear WindowSite MapContactCopyright 2010 Boston Light and Sound, Inc. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Hours: M-F 9am-5:30pm Phone: 617.787.3131 Fax: 617.787.4257 Site by Merry Perry Design + Innovation |
|
| ||