Malco Chooses Barco, Dolby for 3D "Beowulf"

By Neal Romanek Jan 2, 2008, 01:27

Digital cinema company Barco has announced that Malco Theatres chose Barco and Dolby Laboratories' 3D Digital Cinema system exclusively for its Malco Paradiso complex 3D unveiling of the world’s largest Dolby 3D showing of "Beowulf" The Dolby 3D Digital Cinema solution is compatible with any of Barco’s digital cinema projectors including the DP-3000, Barco’s new flagship; the brightest “large venue” digital cinema projector in the industry. Using Texas Instruments’ 1.2 inch DLP Cinema chip, the DP-3000 is designed for screens up to 30m (98’) wide. With a 2000:1 contrast ratio, new lenses, a new optical design and high efficiency 6.5kW lamps, the DP-3000 exemplifies Barco’s hallmark attributes of image quality, reliability, and robustness. “Using twin Barco projectors coupled with Dolby 3D allows digital cinema to enter a whole new dimension,” said Mike Thomson, Vice President Operations and Technology, Malco Theatres. “We created the largest Dolby 3D image of Beowulf and it was absolutely flawless. The large screen at our Madison complex delivers a 3D experience unlike anything we've been able to offer our patrons before." The Dolby 3D Digital Cinema system is based on a proprietary color-filtering technology that provides realistic color reproduction and extremely sharp 3D images to the audience from every seat in the house. The Dolby 3D solution adds a retractable filter-wheel accessory to any DLP digital cinema projector that is automatically moved out of the light path when switching from 3D to 2D digital cinema presentations. The Dolby 3D system does not require the use of silver screens to generate the proper light levels, and therefore, exhibitors can easily transfer a movie into a smaller auditorium equipped with Dolby 3D later in the movie's run. “We are pleased to work with cinema solutions providers like Dolby Laboratories, whose reputation is based on a track record of providing high-quality film and digital cinema systems with advanced features that make implementation easy and reliable for exhibitors,” stated Scott Freidberg, VP of Sales, Digital Cinema. “The high level of demand for films in 3D has generated a requirement to equip auditoriums with much larger screens,” said John Carey, Vice President, Marketing, Dolby Laboratories. “Dolby is fully committed to continued development of our 3D solutions to meet the needs of all types and sizes of digital cinema venues. Working together with Barco at the Malco Paradiso has demonstrated the capability of our combined products to meet this demand in the near future.” In 1915, M.A. Lightman opened his first Malco Theatre in a small storefront space in Sheffield, Alabama. Since then, Malco has grown to become the nation's 14th largest circuit, operating 35 sites with over 300 screens in five mid-southern states. Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, Malco is a fourth-generation company that has remained family owned and operated for over eight decades

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