Bruce Sanborn, the owner of Downtown Centre Cinemas in San Luis Obispo, is following a pattern set by his grandfather and father: bringing the most up-to-date film technologies to the movie house experience.
In 1918, Sanborn’s grandfather Al brought a mood-enhancing Wurlitzer organ to his Los Angeles theatre. In the 1960s, Sanborn’s father Art built the first multiplex theatre in LA County. Sanborn himself previously implemented stadium layouts, reclining seats, and IMAX technologies in his southern California cinemas.
Now Sanborn can claim the first installation of the newest Dolby sound and sight systems in a United States movie theatre—right here in SLO County.
On December 18, Sanborn invited some guests to view one of the Downtown Centre’s renovated theatre spaces to hear from Dolby Laboratories representatives and to experience in real time Dolby’s Vision + Atmos systems, the most advanced in cinematic post-production.
Assisted by our cell phone flashlights, we entered the darkest black space I have ever seen: black floors, walls, ceilings and recliner seats. The back exit doors have been relocated to recessed alcoves placed along the theatre’s sides so that the code-required exit signs shed no light on the film screen. The blackness is meant to provide maximum contrast with films during screenings.
After finding our seats, a ceiling light illuminated a large floating white movie screen. “Great storytelling is not just seen or heard but felt,” said Dolby sales vice president Michael Archer, introducing some short film segments and a number of filmed endorsements from Hollywood actors and filmmakers—including Avatar director James Cameron.
Dolby Vision projection adds contrast, color, and detail to the image—the 2023 Barbie film employed Dolby Vision to maximize the richness of not just the color pink, but all the movie’s colors.
Dolby Atmos provides a surround sound that comes from all directions, moving around the viewer. It can sound like someone next to you is speaking or it can simulate being in the middle of a full orchestra.
These film technologies can’t be experienced in a small, home screening, and Sanborn thinks they will “bring people back into the theatres.” They are part of a two-year renovation project of the Downtown Centre Cinemas that when finished will provide seven comfortable theatres, four with Dolby’s Vision + Atmos systems. Acoustic isolation between theatres and the addition of multiple speakers is underway, and the access corridors, lobby, restrooms and exterior court also are included in the planned modernizations.
The new Dolby technologies seem ideal for colorful animated productions, Bollywood musicals and action films that offer contrast, movement and a variety of human and mechanical sounds.
As a frequent movie theatre goer, I appreciate Sanborn’s investments in a richer Movie Experience. Now I just need to convince my 31-year-old son, his fiancée, and all his peers to leave their home screens and join me at the Downtown Centre Cinemas.