Fort Worth Flyover
Encyclopedia
Fort Worth Flyover is the name of a short IMAX
film created for the Omni Theater at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
, the first one commissioned by a specific museum. Designed to simulate flying over Fort Worth, Texas
in a helicopter, the movie (and later, a 1992 update) is traditionally shown before each Omni Theater feature, in part to acclimatize new viewers to the IMAX format.
In 1992, the museum produced an updated version, Fort Worth Flyover II, directed by Ben Shedd
; this version continues to be shown before Omni features. This version was shot with the assistance of the CareFlite air ambulance
service, using Bell helicopters.
helicopter flying below. The audience is then zoomed around Fort Worth at night, followed by a similarly speedy daytime view.
Flyover II, like its predecessor, ends with a shot hovering over the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History itself, where a crowd waves and cheers from the roof near the Noble Planetarium's dome (in the later film, decorated as a volcano to promote for the Omni's 1992 engagement of Ring of Fire).
The building pictured in the flyover was demolished in late 2007 to make room for a new museum facility, to be built on its existing site. An updated version of the flyover will likely be produced when the Museum opens its new building in fall 2009.
IMAX
IMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
film created for the Omni Theater at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is located on 1600 Gendy Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76107 in the city's Cultural District. It was opened in 1945 as the Fort Worth Children's Museum and moved to its current location in 1954. In 1968, the museum adopted its current name...
, the first one commissioned by a specific museum. Designed to simulate flying over Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
in a helicopter, the movie (and later, a 1992 update) is traditionally shown before each Omni Theater feature, in part to acclimatize new viewers to the IMAX format.
History
The original Fort Worth Flyover debuted in 1983 as part of The Legend of the Sleeping Panther, a multimedia presentation on the city's history that accompanied the Omni Theater's first IMAX feature, Hail Columbia! Sleeping Panther was retired at the end of Omni's Hail Columbia! engagement, but the helicopter ride feature was returned due to popular demand.In 1992, the museum produced an updated version, Fort Worth Flyover II, directed by Ben Shedd
Ben Shedd
Ben Shedd has been a professional film and video director, producer, and writer since 1970. He has won an Academy Award.He earned a degree from the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts in 1973....
; this version continues to be shown before Omni features. This version was shot with the assistance of the CareFlite air ambulance
Air ambulance
An air ambulance is an aircraft used for emergency medical assistance in situations where either a traditional ambulance cannot reach the scene easily or quickly enough, or the patient needs to be transported over a distance or terrain that makes air transportation the most practical transport....
service, using Bell helicopters.
Content
Both Fort Worth Flyovers are shot by helicopter and feature aerial views of the city, primarily the downtown area. Fort Worth Flyover II begins with a leisurely daytime view of the city, as well as a CareFlite air ambulanceAir ambulance
An air ambulance is an aircraft used for emergency medical assistance in situations where either a traditional ambulance cannot reach the scene easily or quickly enough, or the patient needs to be transported over a distance or terrain that makes air transportation the most practical transport....
helicopter flying below. The audience is then zoomed around Fort Worth at night, followed by a similarly speedy daytime view.
Flyover II, like its predecessor, ends with a shot hovering over the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History itself, where a crowd waves and cheers from the roof near the Noble Planetarium's dome (in the later film, decorated as a volcano to promote for the Omni's 1992 engagement of Ring of Fire).
The building pictured in the flyover was demolished in late 2007 to make room for a new museum facility, to be built on its existing site. An updated version of the flyover will likely be produced when the Museum opens its new building in fall 2009.
Landmarks
In addition to the museum, Fort Worth buildings that can be recognized in Flyover II include:- Tandy CenterCity PlaceCity Place is a mixed-use facility featuring two 20-story buildings in central Fort Worth, Texas . The complex was formerly known as Tandy Center and served as the corporate headquarters for RadioShack for many years...
(now City Place), lit with "TANDY" on one tower and "CENTER" on the other - Bank One Tower, a downtown skyscraper, now renovated and reopened as The Tower after extensive damage from the March 28, 2000 tornadoFort Worth TornadoThe Great 2000 Fort Worth Tornado occurred on March 28, 2000, moving eastward through the downtown area of Fort Worth, Texas .The tornado passed through the west side of Fort Worth at about 6:18 p.m. It tore a 4-mile path through the city, blowing out windows and causing significant damage to many...
- Cook Children's Medical Center, the blue roof of which is lit up in the nighttime sequence
External links
- Shedd Productions, producers of Fort Worth Flyover II
- Fort Worth Museum of Science and History Omni Theater