Hayden Cinema goes 3D

Getting to the future sometimes requires a little help from the past.

The Hayden Cinema Six Theater will unveil its first 3D movie presentation today using two of the industry's most iconic names: Technicolor and the Silver Screen.

Hayden Cinemas owner Curtis Deming recently upgraded one of his two stadium auditoriums with a projector equipped with Technicolor 3D - a lens that can project 35 mm prints of 3D films. The lens requires a special silver screen, which Deming installed after securing a two-year lease on the lens.

"We're one of the first theaters to get it," Deming said. "There's now a 10-month long waiting list just to get the screen."

The lens seamlessly projects two images for each single film frame, projecting a blurry image that is enhanced once you put the glasses on. Deming said he couldn't tell the difference between the 3D on the Technicolor system and the more-expensive digital projection systems.

"You read a lot of hype about Real 3D and all these different kinds of 3D, but if you put someone in front of all the screens, they probably won't be able to tell the difference," Deming said.

The race to upgrade theaters with 3D technology has been a daunting one for independent theater chains. The Technicolor lens is significantly cheaper than installing digital 3D systems, which can still cost more than $100,000 per screen.

The Hayden Cinemas will debut the new technology this weekend with the Dreamworks Animation blockbuster, "Shrek: The Final Chapter." Deming was sold on the Technicolor lens by viewing trailers of the Dreamworks hit, "How to Train Your Dragon."

"It looked like the dragon was sitting there right in front of the screen," Deming said. "It was just like watching the 2D version but with real depth."

The Hayden Cinemas now has the ability to screen all movies available in 3D except those produced by Disney, which only releases its films on the Digital 3D format.

Like all theaters, Deming is required to charge additional fees for 3D presentations. Each 3D showing is $3 extra, making ticket prices $11 for adults, $10 for students and military, and $9 for children, seniors and matinee showings. 2D ticket prices will remain the same, which run $8 for adults, $7 students/military and $6 children, seniors and matinees.

"We keep trying to give more and more back to our patrons, and we try to keep the ticket prices as low as we can," Deming said.

Deming hopes the 3D presentations will help him make more improvements to the theater in the future, like installing more 3D-capable projectors and converting the rest of his auditoriums to stadium seating.

By banking on 3D, Deming hopes to tap into what he sees could be a new golden age of the silver screen.

"I think 3D will always be here," he said. "They were able to bring it back by making it better. Hollywood is getting with the times. We demand more so they're giving us more."

"We're excited about the opportunity, and we're looking forward to the chance of bringing in better movies."

Visit www.HaydenCinema6.com for showtimes and more information. Showtimes can also be found by calling 762-SHOW.