Christie
Celebrates 75th Anniversary as Innovator
and Visual Solutions Provider to Film
and Digital Marketplace
Christie
Digital Systems, Inc., a leading provider
of visual solutions for business, entertainment
and industry, announced the official launch
of year-long celebrations in honor of
the company’s historic 75th anniversary
in the industry. Founded in 1929, the
company has enjoyed three quarters of
a century marked by industry-leading “firsts”
in 35mm film projection and digital projection
technology. It has earned a solid reputation
as a provider of choice for film projection
systems for cinema, and has become a recognized
pioneer in the implementation of digitally-based
visual solutions around the world.
Christie’s
proven track record in film includes the
revolutionizing of 35mm projection technology
with the introduction of the Xenon-arc
Lamp in the 1960’s. It also introduced
the first gearless 35mm projector, patented
a unique motorized 3-axis lamp adjustment,
and combined a lamphouse with a power
supply to develop the first Xenon console
system. In the 1980’s, Christie received
its first technical achievement award
from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts
and Sciences for the industry acclaimed,
sealed Ultramittent, and in the 1990’s,
its second award for the Endless Loop
Film Transport System (ELF™). “Film
is an exceptionally durable technology
that has stood the test of time and still
continues to dominate the cinema marketplace,”
remarks Jack Kline, president and COO,
Christie USA. “We are proud to have
made significant contributions to the
evolution of this remarkable technology.
We continue to work with exhibitors worldwide
to improve upon film-based systems with
new, cost-effective features that extend
product life, maximize brightness levels
and minimize maintenance issues. We also
understand that many exhibitors are now
looking at digital technology to gain
the competitive edge. Christie’s
expertise in both worlds is helping exhibitors
seamlessly bridge the transition, successfully
integrating digital projection systems
into their existing networks of film projectors.”
Bridging
the Film and Digital Era
In
2000, while continuing to support its
wide-ranging film market through enhanced
customer service initiatives, Christie
broke new ground by becoming the first
licensee of Texas Instruments’ DLP
Cinema™ technology to manufacture
and market its own brand digital cinema
projector. The company went on to capture
more than 75% of the digital cinema market,
garnering more “firsts” along
the way.
Christie
digital cinema projectors were the first
to be used in a post-production studio
in Japan; the first to be part of the
multi-screen digital cinema presentation
of Universal Pictures’ Jurassic Park
III; and they were the first to be used
in the release of the Star Wars’
Trilogy from production to post production
to exhibition. Christie was also the first
projection manufacturer to provide the
largest projector networking system for
an on-screen advertising application in
theaters.
By
2004, Christie provided the first 2K-resolution
digital cinema projection system, the
Christie CP2000, installed in commercial
venues in the U.S., Asia Pacific and Japan.
As well, most major Hollywood studios
and post-production facilities, including
Deluxe Sound & Picture (Canada) as
the first 2K-site, have purchased the
Christie CP2000 and are employing it for
their diverse needs.
“We
believe it’s a disservice to exhibitors
for a vendor to offer limited capabilities
in either 35mm film or digital technology.
To remain competitive, exhibitors know
they must offer an increasingly demanding
audience the full span of visual solutions,
from 35mm to digital cinema projection
systems,” says Kline. “Our 75th
anniversary celebrates both the remarkable
role Christie has played – and continues
to play – in the 35mm projection
arena, while also looking forward to working
with our cinema partners and others in
diverse markets as they make the transition
to digital technology.”
About
Christie
Christie
is celebrating its 75th anniversary as
a leader in visual solutions for world-class
organizations, offering diverse applications
for business, entertainment, and industry.
With expertise in film projection since
1929 and professional projection systems
since 1979, Christie has established a
global reputation as the world’s
single source manufacturer of a variety
of display technologies and solutions
for cinema, large audience environments,
control rooms, business presentations,
training facilities, 3D and Virtual Reality,
simulation, education, media and government.
Christie has installed over 50,000 projectors
worldwide.
