Theater will close from July 29 to late November for digital upgrade
On July 29th, the OMNIMAX® Theater will be closed to begin renovations to upgrade the facility to IMAX® with Laser. In addition to upgrading to digital, the OMNIMAX will undergo other updates including a new NanoSeam™ screen, upgraded sound technology, wider seats with retractable armrests, updated accessibility options and more. With construction beginning on July 29 we are celebrating the history of the OMNIMAX while looking forward to a new generation of IMAX technology.
Grand opening in the 1990s
The OMNIMAX was created in 1991 to create an immersive and educational movie-watching experience for the greater St. Louis area. During this time, large movie theater screens existed, but the possibility of finding a dome-shaped IMAX screen was almost unheard of.
The OMNIMAX was finished in the fall of 1991 and had its grand opening on November 2. The first film to be shown in the theater was To the Limit, a film following various athletes that gave a unique view into their vital organs using endoscopic cameras and advanced computer technology. The five-story theater instantly captivated visitors with its detailed imagery and intense sound technology.
Feature films and expanded film options in the 2000s
In 2004, the theater closed for renovations to install a new reel unit to allow showings of feature-length films without needing intermissions. The first feature-length film shown at the OMNIMAX was Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
A memorable film that opened in 2014 was D-Day: Normandy 1944. This film celebrated the anniversary of D-Day by providing a detailed experience about the events that took place during the Battle of Normandy. The opening event welcomed and celebrated many World War II veterans, and the film has been brought back to the theater during D-Day’s anniversary.
IMAX is known for their epic portrayals of nature and space in film. Notable titles shown in the OMNIMAX include: The Dream is Alive, Fires of Kuwait, The Greatest Places and Born to Be Wild.
Serving more than 8 million
Throughout its history, 121 films have been shown to 8,750,000 visitors in the OMNIMAX. After the upgrade, the OMNIMAX will be the only IMAX with Laser in a Dome theater in the region, providing a greater experience and have a wider variety of choices in film selection.
July 29 will be the last chance to see Superpower Dogs and CUBA: Journey to the Heart of the Caribbean in the OMNIMAX. Volcanoes: The Fires of Creation will be returning after renovations are complete this November.
For more information about the digital upgrade of the Theater, please visit https://www.slsc.org/omnimax-theater-will-be-transformed-with-next-generation-imax-with-laser/
For more information about the OMNIMAX Theater, please visit slsc.org/omnimax
