The Cinesphere, the first permanent IMAX theatre in the world, was built at Ontario Place in 1971. After the invention of IMAX by Graeme Ferguson and others, the first IMAX film was shown at Expo '70 in Japan. After the success of the IMAX format, Graeme Ferguson convinced Eb Zeidler to turn his original concept of a dome cinema, with a central projection booth, into an IMAX cinema.

The projector from Expo '70 was moved to Toronto and installed in the Cinesphere. However, in this archival photo you can see the original projection booth for the Cinesphere was indeed in the center of the space. You can also see the newer projection room at the top of the theatre where the IMAX projector would go.



Could it be that after all these years, there is still evidence to be seen inside the building of the original projection room?

Let's take a look down into the basement...



Wow, it looks like these welding power supplies is what is used to power the incredibly bright IMAX bulb.





Lots of old IMAX films being stored down here, not in the greatest of conditions.



Looks like we've found the film storage room -- and wow, look at those titles.









Wait a second -- the ceiling here is made of drywall, instead of concrete. Could this be what we are looking for?

Let's take a look through that little hatch.



Wow, look at that! It's the original projection room, now covered over with seats. So it wasn't a lie!








I bet if you go to exactly this spot in the floor above and bang your feet, you'll hear the soft echo of wood, instead of the unmoving silence of concrete.

And thus, another piece of Ontario Place history is confirmed.

Interesting...I wonder what the difference or benefit would of been had the projection booth been in the middle as opposed to where it was placed. The reasoning to move it must of been to have more seating = more moohlah brought in I would think.

All those reels sure bring back some memories...I remember my first visit here was to see roller coaster rides....was truly jaw-dropping at the time... I miss this place

Thanks for sharing AV

Well, the original goal was to have several projectors in the middle and have it be a dome, with projections all around, similar to what was done at a previous dome cinema during one of the expos.

Posted by Avatar-X Well, the original goal was to have several projectors in the middle and have it be a dome, with projections all around, similar to what was done at a previous dome cinema during one of the expos.

Oh I see....that would of been really cool !! Too bad that never happened, although I am sure it would of spun me right off my rocker considering how mind blown I was the way it was

You detective you! So godamn cool.

Well that's neat!

I watched a documentary about beavers there when I was 6 or 7. I wonder if the film is still in that pile.

That's awesome!

Those reels (the 'historic' ones, anyhow) were supposed to be rescued by the M. Znaimer collection, no? One of the ~2016 developers had their eye on it for their personal collection, before that deal fell through.

J->

Avatar-X returns to the scene in grand style? Awesome stuff!

Posted by Avatar-X Well, the original goal was to have several projectors in the middle and have it be a dome, with projections all around, similar to what was done at a previous dome cinema during one of the expos.

didnt the museum of civilisation in ottawa have a dome screen originally too?

https://www.histor...theatres/cineplus/

its still there, does both IMax and dome

lol there is a movie called All Access, but sadly it isn't the Ninj biopic.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0238015/

Coolest post I've seen on the Ontario forum in a while, really cool to kinda see how it works behind the scenes.

Really interesting!

Cool find! Can anyone make out some of the titles? What do you think the oldest one in there was?