“Please tag yourself and others!”
From 2013 Thea Awards, posted by InPark Magazine on 4/07/2013 (77 items)
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2013 Theas cocktail hour
From Theas cocktail hour, posted by InPark Magazine on 4/07/2013 (115 items)
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TEA Summit Case Studies Afternoon Photos
From TEA Summit Day 2, afternoon, posted by InPark Magazine on 4/06/2013 (33 items)
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Alcorn McBride Takes Perot Museum Visitors into the Earth
Orlando, FL, USA — In the new Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas, the Tom Hunt Energy Hall’s 4D Theater experience, “Shale Voyager,” is controlled by Alcorn McBride’s V4 Pro show controller and 8-channel Digital Binloop HD player.
The $185 million museum opened December 1 near downtown Dallas and is a hands-on destination for discovery featuring five floors of public space with 11 permanent exhibit halls. The Tom Hunt Energy Hall, funded by a gift from Hunt Petroleum Corp., features a small theater, dubbed “Shale Voyager,” whichprovides a virtual experience that educates participants about the process of hydraulic fracturing. Video and motion chairs give visitors the sense of what it would be like to shrink to the size of a grape, travel vertically down a 6,500-foot borehole, come out horizontally through the black rock of North Texas’s Barnett Shale and whoosh back to the surface when the gas is released.
“Shale Voyager was designed as a cylindrical theater with a spherical top,” explains Paul Bernhard of Paul Bernhard Exhibit Design and Consulting who designed, built and programmed the theater. “Three platforms hold seven people each in a semi-circle. Six screens are in the ceiling; three represent portholes. Another screen is in the floor. The screens show visitors what they’re seeing on their virtual voyage to the Barnett Shale.”
Bernhard chose Alcorn McBride’s Digital Binloop HD to play the show’s video and the V4 Pro to control the show, including the doors and seats.
The Digital Binloop HD provides up to 8 channels of HD video in a compact, economical and highly-reliable package designed for continuous daily use with no maintenance. Video clips are stored on Compact Flash media so there are no moving parts to wear out; each card can hold hours of media.
The V4 Pro is a versatile, frame-accurate controller for serial and network devices. It features 16 optically isolated inputs, 16 discrete outputs with self-restoring fuses, video frame sync and a realtime clock/calendar. It’s capable of running every day for years, without ever requiring reboots, software updates or maintenance of any kind.
“Everything is working very nicely; the synchronization is great,” Bernhard reports. “Alcorn McBride has a reputation as the go-to company for complex show control – they’re one of the leaders. Our set up has been very reliable, and visitors are really enjoying the show.”
www.alcorn.com
READ MORE ABOUT THE SHALE VOYAGER AND OTHER EXHIBITS AT THE PEROT MUSEUM OF NATURE AND SCIENCE IN THIS SOUND & COMMUNICATIONS ARTICLE BY INPARK’S NEWS EDITOR JOE KLEIMAN
TEA Summit Case Studies Morning Photos
From TEA Summit Day 2, morning events, posted by InPark Magazine on 4/05/2013 (20 items)
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Wet ‘n’ Wild Las Vegas Names Revenue and Resale Managers
Las Vegas, NV, USA — Wet ‘n’ Wild Las Vegas has solidified its management team with the additions of Chris Hicks as revenue manager and Matthew Watts as resale manager. Both bring extensive operations, ticketing, concessions, retail and systems experience in the water park and amusement industry and large-scale operations to the $50 million Las Vegas water park with more than 25 slides and attractions.
Hicks’ success as admissions manager at sister park Wet ‘n’ Wild Phoenix led to his promotion and position at Wet ‘n’ Wild Las Vegas. He previously served as operations supervisor at two Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. parks, California’s Great America in Santa Clara and Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio; and attractions operations area manager for Hard Rock Park (later Freestyle Music Park) in Myrtle Beach, So. Carolina.
At Wet ‘n’ Wild Las Vegas, Hicks will oversee ticket sales and the front gate, including guest services, season pass processing, and rentals for cabanas, tubes and lockers. He also will configure, set up and maintain ticketing software systems, serve as the IT liaison to Wet ‘n’ Wild Las Vegas parent, Village Roadshow Limited/Village Roadshow Theme Parks, and supervise office staff and group sales ticket sales, fulfillment and accounts receivables.
An Ohio native, Hicks graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from The Ohio State University in Columbus.
Watts was concessions manager at Dallas’ American Airlines Center for the Levy Restaurants operation, retail supervisor at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Ill., near Chicago, and guest arrival area manager at Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach.
At Wet ‘n’ Wild Las Vegas, he will develop and implement a food and beverage program that will feature both premium selections and traditional theme park fare, including specialized treats. In addition, Watts will manage retail operations for the property with a focus on beach attire and souvenir merchandise.
Watts graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in business and marketing from The Ohio State University and is also an Ohio native.
Queen Elizabeth Takes Up Residence in Hong Kong
Hong Kong — Madame Tussauds Hong Kong welcomes Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who joins the rest of The Royal Family at the attraction, including recently launched Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Diana.
The lifelike new figure of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is dressed in a recreation of the Swarovski crystal covered dress that was worn for her official Diamond Jubilee Portrait. Together with other jewellery the figure also wears a reproduction of The State Diadem, her Garter Star and Badge and two Royal Family Orders.
Having spent 6 months in production and at a cost of HK$1.8 million, the Queen is the most featured personality across Madame Tussauds’ 14 attractions worldwide. Starting now, guests can meet the Queen close-up at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong as her wax likeness resides in the Historical and National Heroes zone for permanent display.
Port Royal Hotel at Heide Park Resort Offering Rooms with Multimedia Pirate Experience
Soltau, Germany — Guests can be amazed with a pirate dream, with all their senses and from the comfort of their bed. The Port Royal themed hotel, the pirate base of the Heide Park Resort in Soltau, now offers a new interactive overnight experience for all landlubbers: Three of the existing pirate style rooms have been extended with multi-media effects to ensure all around pirate nights.
For a unique magical experience, children’s book author Sabine Zett wrote the bedtime pirate story “The Secret of Santa Maria,” and the artist Vitalli Razbarow designed the perfect mural. Pirate adventures become visible in a darkened room as if by magic, set to music while the story is heard in the room. It appears to take small and large pirates from the bed into the world of Captain Grey Beard, his men and the young pirates Paul and Pia. The three magic cabins overlooking the entire park are equipped with a double and two bunk beds for up to six people.
Well rested, guests can start directly from the Hotel Port Royal to the park. Waiting in northern Germany’s biggest family and leisure park are more than 50 attractions and shows, including the “Bay of the Skull Pirates” interactive water battle, pirate show and Germany’s first Dive Coster KRAKE. When guests need a pirate break, there’s the new circus show “Madagascar Live!” with Alex the lion and his friends.
2013 Brings International Flare, Waterborne Fun to Branson’s Silver Dollar Attractions
Branson, MO, USA — With international attention on the recent debut of Outlaw Run, the world’s “most daring wood coaster,” Silver Dollar City kicks off a celebration of global adventure and entertainment with World-Fest. America’s largest international festival presents new shows with drummers and aerialists from Argentina, fire-knife dancers from Samoa and a Russian folk trio, plus the Italian show Spettacolo Musicale and the return of Viva Italia, an entire plaza filled with Italian entertainment. Guests can travel the world and see groups from Switzerland, Peru, Ireland and more throughout the festival, April 17 – May 5, at the Branson, Missouri theme park.
The new show Amamos Argentina presents the Los Pampas Gauchos drummers and dancers, featuring Argentinian National Folk Dancing Champion Andres Sosa, plus aerial dancers from Buenos Aires who soar above the stage. Also new, Island Fire presents the rhythms, music and dances from Samoa, Fiji and the South Sea Islands, and features world-champion fire-knife dancers twirling flaming ceremonial knives.
The popular “Viva Italia” showcase of Italian entertainment returns, presenting Spettacolo Musicale, with tenor Aaron Caruso and Sicilian soprano Cristina Corollo accompanied by the 7-piece live band, The Gondoliers. Viva Italia, a “Little Italy” plaza, comes alive with Italian theatrical entertainment, including “living florals” and statues, stilt walkers, interactive musical comedy, live “music box” performers and colorful costumed characters.
Returning groups include Streichmusic Alder, alphorn players and yodelers from the Swiss Alps, Ireland’s premier harpist Dearbhail Finnegan and English musician Robin Slater, Austrian yodeler Kerry Christensen, plus the melodic pan flute music of Ecuador Manta.
Even the food goes global for World-Fest at Tastes of the World, a pavilion of international specialties. Guests can feast on selections from savory French crepes to German apfel dumplings.
World-Fest, April 17 – May 5, is open Wednesdays through Sundays. Information: www.silverdollarcity.com. World-Fest is presented by Humana.
The Showboat Branson Belle, “America’s Most Entertaining Dinner Cruise,” presents the popular show Made in the USA as it cruises Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri. The show features Janice Martin, the world’s only violin-playing aerialist, and the male vocal group the ShowMen in a celebration of all-American music. The show and a three-course meal are featured on all cruises aboard the authentic 700-seat paddle-wheeler, now through December.
Martin, a world-class violinist, pianist and vocalist whose artistry has been heralded worldwide by The New York Times, Miami Herald and Washington Post, performs new selections, including an aerial act high above the stage as she plays the violin. The ShowMen, five talented male vocalists and dancers, fill the stage with a powerful blend of contemporary harmonies and standout solos, all accompanied by the Showboat’s signature live band Rockin’ Dockers. Comedian and magician Christopher James is the master of ceremonies.
Beginning in late May, a second Made in the USA show is presented on noon and Sunday cruises, featuring master pianist Julie McClarey, fiddler Dean Church, the female quartet The ShowBelles, along with the Showboat’s live band The Castaways, with comedic magician Mike Bliss as emcee.
New this year, Bluegrass Cruises are presented May 24 -26 at noon, featuring performances by top Bluegrass artists. Performers include: Monroe Crossing on May 24, the Larry Stephenson Band on May 25, and The Special Consensus on May 26. Southern Gospel Cruises return August 25 – September 1 on noon cruises. Southern Gospel music greats featuring: The Talleys on August 25, Crist Family on August 26, Down East Boys on August 27, Blackwood Brothers Quartet on August 28, Primitive Quartet on August 29, Palmetto State Quartet on August 30, Gold City on August 31 and LeFevre Quartet on September 1.
The menu from the Showboat’s chef includes slow simmered Beef Roast and Honey-Dijon Glazed Chicken, and the chef’s own Golden Brittle Lemon-Berry Torte. All meals are prepared onboard in the ship’s galley and served in the three-story atrium dining theater. Specialty dining options include the Paddle Wheel Club Room and Captain’s Row.
The Showboat Branson Belle cruises run through December 31. Cruise information: www.showboatbransonbelle.com
Branson’s White Water presents its most rockin’ season ever, with new events including concerts and dance parties, “dive-in” movies on a giant screen above the wave pool, and an expanded calendar with more days for fun in the sun, plus more nights during Night Water. Expanded picnic areas and additional umbrellas offer more areas to relax poolside, and a special new benefit is added for season pass holders: admission 10 minutes before park opening to select their favorite beach spots. Open May 18 – September 2,White Water features 13 acres of tropical attractions, more than a dozen rides and attractions and two million gallons of cool, water fun.
Concerts and dance parties are planned for select dates throughout the season. A new, 10-foot screen above the 500,000-gallon Surf’s Up Wave Pool displays the “countdown to waves” and then shows “dive-in” movies Thursday nights during Night Water. A popular nighttime event, Night Water returns Thursdays through Saturdays July 4 – August 10, plus Saturdays August 17-31. From 10 a.m. until 10 p.m., guests can play all day and into the night, surfing the wave pool at dusk, floating Aloha River under the stars, or racing down the speed slides in the dark. Night Water evenings are offered August 23 & 30 from 5 – 10 p.m.
Water rides range from mild to wild. For the thrill seekers, Kalani Towers is a 7-story, 6-slide, multi-experience thrill ride, with two 300-foot drop slides for free-fall body sliding and four additional 312-foot slides for lane racing. For the more relaxed adventurer, Aloha River is an 800-foot plus river, where tube riders cast off and float in a setting of lush Polynesian jungles, with twists and turns, water features, fountains, misters, geysers and more. Additional attractions range from the double speed slide Raging River Rapids to the 4-person raft ride Ohana Falls.Splashaway Cay is an interactive family attraction with slides and geysers, and Coconut Cove is a play area specially designed for smaller kids.
Also new this year are Birthday Party Packages and Junior Life Guard classes, offered in June. White Water is open May 18-19, then daily May 25 – August 11, and on select days August 13 – September 2. For more information: www.bransonwhitewater.com.
Skypoint Planetariums Appointed as European Representative for E&S
Salt Lake City, UT, USA — Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation (E&S), the manufacturer of the Digistar® 5 digital planetarium system is pleased to announce the appointment of Skypoint Planetariums as the E&S European representative. According to E&S Vice President and General Manager, Kirk Johnson, “Skypoint Planetariums has a strong knowledge of astronomy and a very impressive number of planetarium installations. Their experience and excellent customer service will enable us to better serve the European community. Skypoint will help our European customers with their system upgrades and new construction projects. Marco and his team bring both experience and a passion for astronomy”.
“Digistar has a strong 30 year history with digital planetariums, and Digistar 5 has the most intuitive user interface of any digital planetarium system,” says Marco Cosmacini, Skypoint CEO. “The Skypoint Planetariums team will provide support to existing Digistar sites as well as expand the business throughout Europe. We are excited to be part of the E&S Digistar team. With Digistar, we finally have access to the most advanced and easy-to-use product for our customers.”
Skypoint Planetariums is a division of Skypoint srl., has specialized in astronomy since 1999. In addition to planetariums, the Astronomy division has achieved more than 80 professional telescope installations in Europe and thousands of public and private customers. The Planetariums division has become well known in Europe, specializing in services for planetariums, with 43 digital planetarium installations since 2007.
Skypoint Planetariums is a system integrator. Skypoint selects the best product combinations to offer to their customers and has a wide range of solutions available to meet any customer need.
Skypoint also manufactures Tecno Dome, a cost effective solution that offers a professional quality projection surface with innovative materials. Visit the new website for Skypoint Planetariums at www.skypointplanetariums.eu.
