VISITORS to a popular Bradford museum can take part in the delights of vintage cinema over the bank holiday weekend with an exciting screening.

The National Science and Media Museum’s Pictureville, home to the world’s only remaining Cinerama screen, is bringing the rare vintage film technology back to life with a showing of Cinerama Holiday on 2 May.

Cinerama was launched in 1952 as the ultimate in immersive cinema and was considered as the IMAX of its time.

Cinerama sees synchronised 35mm projectors used to project three images simultaneously, producing an ultra-wide picture. A 146-degree curved screen is required to achieve this triptych effect.

Cinerama Holiday premiered in 1955 and became the highest grossing film in America that year.

Filmed like a holiday magazine set in motion, the film sees American couple John and Betty Marsh set out on a European sight-seeing tour, trading places with Swiss pair Fred and Beatrice Troller on their journey across the country.

Previously the site of Bradford’s Library Theatre, Pictureville was converted into the current 306-seat cinema in 1992.

A Cinerama system was installed at Pictureville in 1993, making the screening of this rare format possible in both 35mm and digital.

As well as its Cinerama capabilities, Pictureville screens new releases and classic films, and today the auditorium is also equipped with the latest 4K digital projection system and fabulous 7.1 surround sound.

Bill Bryson famously wrote about watching Cinerama at Pictureville in his book Notes from a Small Island, and Lord David Puttnam, film producer and former CEO of Columbia Pictures, described Pictureville as “the best cinema in the world”.

Kathryn Penny, Head of the Museum’s Screen and Cultural Engagement, said: “Pictureville is home to the only remaining public Cinerama screen in the world, boasting the deeply curved screen needed to show Cinerama films and how they were meant to be shown.

“As Yorkshire's largest independent cinema, located in Bradford UNESCO City of Film, we’re incredibly excited to be bringing this rare vintage technology back to life.

“Whatever your weekend plans, we can take you on an immersive adventure around the globe – without leaving Bradford.

“Tickets are available now via our website, and it will be a fantastic way to experience cinema history and a brilliant introduction to the wonders of widescreen."

For more information and to book tickets, please visit: www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/cinema/cinerama-holiday-u

To read more about the history of Cinerama at Pictureville, visit: https://blog.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/cinerama-in-the-uk-the-history-of-3-strip-cinema-in-pictureville-cinema/