The Dreamworld Cinema was a movie theatre located inside the Dreamworld amusement park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

Dreamworld Cinema
The Dreamworld Cinema in its final stages of renovation.
Dreamworld
AreaMain Street
Coordinates27°51′46.8″S 153°18′57.01″E / 27.863000°S 153.3158361°E / -27.863000; 153.3158361
StatusRemoved
Opening date1981 (as IMAX Theatre)
6 January 2011 (2011-01-06) (as Dreamworld Cinemas)
Closing date2010 (as IMAX Theatre)
2018 (as Dreamworld Cinemas)
ReplacedIMAX Theatre
Replaced bySky Voyager
Ride statistics
Attraction typeMovie theater
Audience capacity315 per show
Screen21x11m (69x36ft)

History

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The former IMAX Theatre at Dreamworld.

IMAX Theatre

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The IMAX Theatre was a movie theatre which opened with Dreamworld on 15 December 1981 that showed IMAX films. The theatre showcased one film, several times throughout a normal operating day. The park rotated the films in which they display. Films included Australia: Land Beyond Time, India: Kingdom of the Tiger, Space Station, Super Speedway and To Fly (the opening day film).[1][2][3]

Dreamworld Cinema

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In preparation for Dreamworld's 30th Birthday celebrations, the park closed the IMAX Theatre on 22 November 2010.[4] During the short period it was closed, the park renovated the theatre to turn it into the Dreamworld Cinema. Dreamworld replaced all of the 315 seats and invested in a new high-tech digital projection system capable of showing RealD Cinema films in 3D on the 21x11 metre (69x36 foot) screen.[5] The Dreamworld Cinema was officially opened on 6 January 2011.[6] Less than a year after opening, cinema operations were ceased with the theatre continuing to offer a free movie during normal park operating hours.

Architectural design

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In 1974, John Longhurst purchased 85 hectares (210 acres) of land at Coomera in order to construct the Dreamworld theme park. Although a lot of the initial work was done by himself, Longhurst spared no expense when he employed designers from Disneyland (in Anaheim, California) and Walt Disney World (in Florida) to design Main Street. The IMAX Theatre's building is modelled after the Emporium at Disney parks.[1]

Cinema

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The Dreamworld Cinema building is located on ground level in Main Street. Guests enter the top of the cinema via a foyer area. The cinema seating steps down under ground level. This allows the large 21x11 metre (69x36 foot) screen to be concealed in the relatively smaller building. At opening, the theatre showcased three films.[5] The first, The Curse of Skull Rock, was shown several times throughout a normal operating day and was included in the normal admission.[7] Other films included Tron: Legacy and Megamind which were not included in general admission and were shown after Dreamworld closed.[8][9]

Sky Voyager

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On 27 December 2017 Dreamworld announced that it had entered into a partnership with Brogent Technologies Inc to bring the Southern Hemisphere's very first Flying Theatre Experience to the park - replacing the Dreamworld Cinema attraction.[10] The Dreamworld Cinema officially closed to guests in early February 2018 to make way for construction of the new attraction which is believed to be opening for the summer season.[11]

It was revealed in December 2018 that it was set to be called Sky Voyager, a simulator ride centred around soaring over Australia.[12] It opened in August 2019.

Films

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As IMAX Theatre (1981–2010)

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As DreamWorld Cinema (2011–2018)

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Dreamworld History" (PDF). Dreamworld. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 December 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
  2. ^ "Imax Theatre (Dreamworld)". Database Entry. Parkz. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
  3. ^ "IMAX Theatre". Dreamworld. Archived from the original on 5 March 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
  4. ^ "Ride and Attraction Maintenance". Dreamworld. Archived from the original on 29 December 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
  5. ^ a b "Dreamworld Cinema – Now Playing". Dreamworld. December 2010. Archived from the original on 26 December 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
  6. ^ "Dreamworld launches new cinema". Gold Coast Bulletin. 7 January 2011. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  7. ^ a b "The Curse of Skull Rock 3D". Dreamworld. Archived from the original on 30 December 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
  8. ^ a b "Tron Legacy". Dreamworld. Archived from the original on 30 December 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
  9. ^ a b "Megamind". Dreamworld. Archived from the original on 30 December 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
  10. ^ "Dreamworld's flying start to 2018 with new world-class attraction announced". Media Releases - Dreamworld. Dreamworld. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  11. ^ "Dreamworld "I-Ride" Flying Theatre Discussion". Parkz. Parkz. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  12. ^ "Dreamworld | Sky Voyager".
  13. ^ Dreamworld (1 January 1998). ""Antarctica" IMAX at Dreamworld". Press Release. Theme Park Press Releases. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  14. ^ Dreamworld (1 October 1997). "Prepare to explore the universe at Dreamworld". Press Release. Theme Park Press Releases. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  15. ^ Potts, Andrew (29 November 2013). "Take a look back at the Gold Coast's first theme parks including Magic Mountain and Grundy's". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  16. ^ Dreamworld (17 June 1998). "Experience a Volcanic Island Adventure at Dreamworld". Press Release. Theme Park Press Releases. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  17. ^ Hong, Tan Bee (15 December 1991). "One man's dream world". New Sunday Times. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  18. ^ "Dreamworld History" (PDF). Dreamworld. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 December 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  19. ^ Dreamworld (19 March 2011). "Dreamworld and WhiteWater World Offer Huge Easter Holiday Lion-Up". Press Release. Theme Park Press Releases. Retrieved 24 March 2012.