Multiple Stage Theater

Abstract

A building structure that consists of several individual theaters each of which has three distinct levels. There is a balcony level for first class patrons with separate entrance and exit areas. There is a lower viewing level for regular class patrons. The projection level is for motion picture projection equipment and is located between the upper and the lower viewing levels. This gives all patrons of the theater an optimal look and feel for the reality of the motion picture shown on the projection screen. Additionally multiple audio speakers are located throughout the theater empirically so as to eliminate sound dead spots.

Description

[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/490,948 filed Jan. 24, 2000, now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to a theater structure which is comprised of numerous individual theaters. This relates to theaters for the showing of live performances, regular motion picture productions, large format film productions, and other productions simultaneously in one large building.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] One favorite leisure time activity of persons in our society is the viewing of theatrical performances. In our present complex electronic age there are numerous structures for the viewing of specific performances. There are structures for viewing of so called regular motion picture productions; structures for the viewing of so called live television performances such as sporting events; structures for viewing so called large format film productions, structures for viewing of so called IMAX.TM. large format film productions, and the like. The present theater structure is designed primarily for purposes of construction of a single building that is comprised of individual theaters each individual theater being capable of the showing of specific kinds of theatrical performances, each of which individual theaters being designed for the specific theatrical performance for which there is a general audience and a general supply of theatrical material to be shown at the individual theater.

[0004] At present there is a broad viewing audience or market for what is called regular motion picture film productions and a more limited viewing audience or market for so called large format film productions. The IMAX.TM. Corporation of The Dominion Of Canada is committed to the concept of so called large format film productions. Due to the present high cost of land and buildings in populated areas for which there is a viewing audience for the film productions it is desirable to maximize the use or utility of the theater building constructed. This involves in the present theater structure one large building that houses a plurality of individual theaters with the building designed to accommodate the local viewing audience or market for the kinds of productions that the local market or viewing audience will patronize.

[0005] In the past there have been structures for theaters that generally involve multiple seating arrangements for patrons of one single theater. While this is a desirable feature for the structure of a theater in the real world of audience patronage of theaters there are generally only two general classes of patrons that is a first class and a regular class of viewers.

[0006] The so called first class would consist of celebrities or so called public figures such as the so called rich and famous and others similarly situated even if not so well known. These first class patrons of the theater would expect amenities, special treatment, more luxurious seating and other arrangements, and the like. The so called regular class of patrons generally are expected to demand minimal conditions of luxury, lower seating prices, and to generally experience more discomfort than the so called first class of theater patrons. Accordingly it is a primary objective of the present invention to design a theater structure that caters to the diverse desires of these two general classes fo theater patrons, the first class patrons and the regular class patrons.

[0007] Some of the patrons of theaters are so called disabled persons that are confined to so called wheel chairs or who have other disabilities that require special seating arrangements for the disabled person. At present these special seating arrangements are provided in relatively undesirable areas of the theater such as the very front viewing area of the theater. One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide seating areas for the disabled patrons throughout the theater so that the disabled person would have a better viewing angle and look and feel of the presentation that if the disabled person were confined to seating at the very front of the theater.

[0008] A secondary objective of the present invention is to design a theater structure that permits more than one type of theater presentation within the structure of only one major theater building including but not limited to presentations of live theatrical performances, regular motion picture presentations, large format motion picture presentations including IMAX.TM. presentations, and other specialized theatrical presentations inside of only one theater building structure.

[0009] Another objective of the present invention is to prevent so called sound dead spots by providing multiple speakers throughout the theater and eleminating any so called sound dead spots thereby.

[0010] In the past there have been theater structures that generally are the opposite of the present invention in that the prior theater structures involve multiple seating arrangements for one theater. The present invention includes this concept in the overall structure of the theater then goes beyond this to disclose a theater structure that permits multiple individual theaters to be part of the overall theater design.

[0011] Blankston in U.S. Pat. No. 3,545,143 discloses a theater structure within which separate viewing booths are arranged in the theater in tiers. This structure accomodates numerous classes of theater patrons inside of one theater building. The disadvantage of such a theater concept is that in the real world there are generally only two general classes of theater patrons, the first class patrons and the regular class patrons.

[0012] Kawake in U.S. Pat. No. 4,686,799 discloses a outdoor type theater design also comprised of a tiered arrangement of enclosed individual suites formed in an arcate patter. This type of theater structure does not cater to patrons of motion picture productions for which there is a broad general market or viewing audience. Also this type of theater structure provides for multiple classes of patrons whereas the present invention is restricted to only two recognized classes of patrons.

[0013] Alter in U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,669 discloses a permanently constructed theater with a ground level lobby. There is a projection screen and on the opposite end or the theater there is a motion picture projector. The motion picture projector is movable. This theater structure is specifically designed for so called large format film projection or IMAX.TM. film production. The individual theater design does not accomodate multiple classes of patrons nor is there special seating for the disabled in this structure.

[0014] Errato in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,850,712 and 5,890,323 discloses a theater structure which is modular in that modules can be added or removed from the structure to accommodate different theatrical productions. This is similar to the present invention. However, the present invention is comprised of permanently constructed individual theaters whereas the modules of these structures must be movably attached to each other for individual theatrical presentations.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0015] One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a theater building that is comprised of two levels of seating that is to say first class seating and regular class seating. This permits patrons of a class such as celebrities and others similarly situated to be seated in one section of the theater and all others seated in yet another section of the theater. The first class seating area of the theater would have its own entrance and exit facilities separate and apart from the regular class seating facilities. Also the first class seating area would have its own separate concession stand and other amenities separate from the regular class seating section.

[0016] Another and further object of the present invention is to provide a theater structure with three levels, which is to say a ground level for regular class patrons, a projection level for the projection of motion pictures to a screen whether for regular motion picture projection or so called large format film projection such as IMAX.TM. film projection, and then a third level for the seating and viewing of first class theater patrons. This results in seating arrangements that provide for optimal viewing of the screen of both the regular class of patrons and the first class theater patrons.

[0017] A further object of the present invention is to provide a theater structure that has a projection level for motion picture film projection to a screen on a separate and distinct level of the theater from the other levels of the theater. This provides for minimum disturbance of the patrons seated in the theater by the motion picture projection system and at the same time for optimal viewing angles for all patrons seated in the theater.

[0018] A further object of the present invention is to provide a theater building that has a plurality of theater structures all in one large theater building. Each structure may be designed for specific purposes such as IMAX.TM. or large film format production, for regular film production, for live audience viewing, and the like.

[0019] A further object of the present invention is to provide a theater design that has numerous speakers placed throughout the theater so as to eleminate so called sound dead spots in the audience area.

[0020] A further object of the present invention is to provide a theater design that has special seating arrangements for so called disabled patrons throughout the theater instead at the very front viewing area of the theater which will give these patrons more of a look and feel for the theatrical production being viewed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 is a side view of an individual regular theater.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a top view of the ground floor level of the individual regular theater.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a top view of the individual regular theater showing the projection booth.

[0024] FIG. 4 shows the upper viewing level.

[0025] FIG. 5 is a top view of the overall ground level of the entire building.

[0026] FIG. 6 is a top view of the overall projection mezzanine of the entire building.

[0027] FIG. 7 is a top view of the overall upper viewing level of the entire building.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0028] In the drawings:

[0029] The individual theater 1 has a lower viewing level 2 and an upper viewing level 3. There is an upper seating area 4 for first class patrons 19 and a lower seating area 5 for regular class patrons 20.

[0030] The individual theater 1 has a theater entrance corridor at ground level 6 for regular class patrons 20. There is a projection mezzanine 7 and an upper mezzanine 8. The upper mezzanine 8 is the first class area leading to the first class seating area 4 and is completely segregated from the regular class area. The theater has a motion picture projector 9 located in the projection level 22. The theater has at least one heating, ventilation, and air conditioning unit 10 located on the theater roof. There is a viewing screen 11, a front sound system 12, wall mounted speakers 13 and a speaker platform 14. There is a baffle wall 15 for the front speakers. The speakers are emprically placed so as to eliminate any so called sound dead spots in the theater.

[0031] The theater has an exit corridor 16 a building wall 17 and heating, ventilating, and air conditioning ducts 18.

[0032] The ground floor level of the individual theater 1 has the lower viewing area 2 for the regular class patrons 20. The lower viewing area 2 has an entry vestibule 21 from the main corridor 6 and an entrance to the lower viewing area 23. There is a ground level aisle 24 with cross aisle 25 and seating aisles 26 with steps 27. The cross aisle 25 is for purposes of seating of disabled persons other than at the very front of the theater. There are side walls 28 to the theater, a front baffle wall 15 and a projection screen 11. There is a handicap person ramp 29 which leads to the disabled person viewing area at the front of the theater 30. The theater has exit corridors 31.

[0033] The projection booth 32 has a motion picture projector 9, a projection port 33 and a projection wall 34. There are seats for disabled persons 35 and ambulatory person seating 36 in the front of the lower viewing level 2. The projection booth 32 is located on its own separate level 22 of the theater. The projection level is located between the upper viewiing level 3 and the lower viewing level 2 in order to completely segregate the upper viewing level 3 from the lower viewing level 2 and additionally to provide the optimal viewing angle for the theater patrons on each of the two viewing levels.

[0034] The upper viewing level 3 has entrance and exit doors 37. There are steps 38 to the upper seating area 4 and a low front wall 39. This front wall 39 is an angled structure that permits optimal viewing of the screen by patrons in the upper viewing level.

[0035] There is a main entrance 40 a ticket booth 41 and a main lobby 42. There is a main corridor 43 and a centrally located concession stand 44. Along the main corridor 43 there are entrances 22 to the individual theaters. There is an escalator 45 and stairs 46 that lead to the upper viewing level. The building is comprised of smaller individual regular theaters 1 and one centrally located large screen theater 47 for viewing of so called IMAX or larger format film viewing.

[0036] The projection mezzanine 7 is reached by way of the escalator 45 or the stairs 46. There is a main corridor 48 which leads to individual projection booths 32 with individual motion picture projectors 9. The main corridor 48 of the projection mezzanine 7 is reached through the entrance door 48.

[0037] The upper level corridor 49 is reached by the escalator 45 or the stairs 46. There is a concession stand 44 at this level. From the main corridor 49 each individual theater 1 is reached by way of entrance and exit doors 37.

[0038] The above description and drawings of the invention are for purposes of description and are not intended for limitations of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1) A structure for theatrical presentations comprising: a plurality of individual theaters each of which has two segregated levels of seating for two classes of patrons and a third level separate from the segregated seating levels for a motion picture projection camera.

2) A structure described in claim 1 wherein the plurality of theaters is comprised of at least one regular motion picture projection theater and at least one large format film motion picture projection theater.

3) A structure described in claim 1 wherein each segregated seating level has seating for disabled patrons at areas other than only at the very front of the theater.

4) A structure described in claim 1 wherein one seggrated seating area of the theater is comprised of a balcony and the other segregated seating area is comprised of a lower ground level.

5) A structure described in claim 1 wherein each individual theater has multiple sound speakers placed throughout the theater so as to eleminate sound dead spots in the theater.

6) A motion picture theater comprising: two segregated seating areas for two distinct classes of patrons and a third segregated area for placement of a motion picture projection system.

7) A theater described in claim 6 wherein one segregated seating area is a balcony level of the theater with its separate entrance and exit areas and the other segregated seating area is a ground level seating area with separate entrance and exit areas.

8) A theater described in claim 6 wherein the motion picture projection level of the theater is located between the upper balcony seating area and the lower ground level seating area.

9) A motion picture theater described in claim 6 wherein separate seating for disabled persons is provided for at areas of the theater other than at the very front of the theater.

10) A motion picture theater described in claim 6 wherein multiple speakers are located in the theater in such a manner that sound dead spots are eliminated.