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I am wondering if this theater (dimensions are below - that is, if I'm doing this right...) can be split into a twin. I was told that at one time it was, but it isn't now; it was most recently a night club. Any help would be...helpful.

More information is needed.

Is this the entire building or just the auditorium area? Where is the lobby, rest rooms etc. in relation to this space? Which end is the screen end? Is the booth still there and where... first floor or 2nd? How high is the ceiling over this space? Is the building free standing or sandwiched in between other buildings. This needs to be known as fire exits will have a lot to do with how the auditoriums are placed. Is there still a sloped floor? Do you want a sloped floor or stadium seating?

If this is just the auditorium I could see it split front and back with screens at opposite ends and one booth in the middle. This would allow wide auditoriums with large screens. If the lobby is at the 52' end a hall could run down the right hand side to the front auditorium. If the lobby is at the 46' end then the hall could still come down that same side giving about a 40' room for the theatre nearest the lobby. If the lobby were to the side along the 100' wall then hopefully an entrance could be opened at the center and no hall would be needed as the entrance vestibule would be alongside of the centrally located booth.

If this is the entire building and the lobby, rest rooms etc. must be taken from this space I think it would be difficult to create a twin theatre with adequate width in each auditorium to have large enough screens for a good film presentation.

Of course there are other considerations as well. What is the film policy going to be? First run, subrun or art? The policy will determine how many seats you will want which again will determine the size of the rooms.

Once we have this information we can better determine what can be accomphished with that space.

Go for the largest screen size that puts most of the audience 2 to 4 screen heights from the image. Really short throws and large screens that require very short focal length lenses will be more prone to focus flutter issues. Pay attention to acoustic isolation between the auditoriums. Avoid having to used center aisles that eliminate the best seats.

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services
Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Eastman Kodak Company
Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Telephone: 585-477-5325 Cell: 585-781-4036 Fax: 585-722-7243
E-Mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

Sorry about the lack of info, I wasn't even thinking. Here goes: This is for an art theater in a downtown. The image is of the building space, not just the auditorium. It was used initially (in 1920s) as a single screen. It was converted to a twin in the late 70-early 80 (I am told). I've only been in the building once, so I may not be 100% acurate. It's a freestanding building with space on all 4 sides. It currently has a stadium sloped floor, with the screen at the 46 ft side. The lobby/restrooms are at the front (the 52' side). I am told that this was once a house with 450+ seats. If you need any more info, I'll tell you all that I know. Thanks again.

You should be able to get two nice size theatres by "piggy backing" them (one in the front and one in the back). The front theatre would lose about 5 feet on the right hand side for you to put a corridor to the back theatre. The screen for the front theatre would be aproximately where the 54' marking is on your diagram and the screen for the back will remain the same. An exit door would need to be added to the left of the front screen. The new projection booth would be supported by a new I-beam that would be over about 2 - 3 back rows of seats in the back theatre. The new booth and existing booth would be connected though the second floor of the new corridor added. Let me know what you think. If you want I can email you pictures of this concept.

If there is already a booth I'd think about shortening and splitting in 1/2 for two and having a 3rd creen in the far front. More screens is better.

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Michael Hurley
Impresario

If you go for more than two screens and the screens get smaller, remember it's the viewing distance that matters as far as getting a "big screen" feel. Try to put most of your seats in the range of 2 to 4 screen heights from the screen. If you have a long narrow theatre with seats more than about 5 screen heights away, you may as well be watching television!

And please, "Care About Composition" and don't crop the image:
http://www.kodak.com/US/en/motion/newsletters/pytlak/spring2001.shtml

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services
Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Eastman Kodak Company
Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Telephone: 585-477-5325 Cell: 585-781-4036 Fax: 585-722-7243
E-Mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

Thanks to everyone for all your replies. Mike, how would you split this? Looking at the drawing, would you draw a line starting between the '4' and '6' and running toward the far wall (52) creating two long, narrow theaters? I think that is perhaps the most easily doable. Thanks again.

Those "long, narrow" theatres just don't fit the expectations of today's audience. Again, think designs that put most of the seats 2 to 4 screen heights from the screen.

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services
Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Eastman Kodak Company
Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Telephone: 585-477-5325 Cell: 585-781-4036 Fax: 585-722-7243
E-Mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion