A 1930s era Vaudeville theater got a modern makeover recently, when a small regional integration firm installed an NEC Display Solutions video wall (made up of 25 X461UN 46-inch 5x5 screens, totaling more than 3,000 pounds) at the Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs, Calif.

The new wall, which replaced static billboards and curtains, have helped former Hollywood producer Riff Markowitz and the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies performing group develop creative video backdrops since being installed last fall.

“The biggest challenge was figuring out the physical constraints,” says Dennis Pappenfus, general partner at six-person integration firm Fluid Sound in San Diego. “There really was no other technical solution other than the flying wall. They didn’t want to lose any depth on what was already a small stage.”

That led to another challenge: the availability of hardware. That’s where having NEC on the project was a huge help, Pappenfus says. The company was able to coordinate five different distributors for the screens.

Photos: NEC Video Wall Gives Palm Springs Follies Extra Kick

Add to the tight window of about three weeks between seasons and the old construction - which included concrete walls with pockets and uneven surfaces - that the over-55 troupe, which has now performed for more than 3 million people of all ages, was rehearsing as NEC and Fluid Sound were upgrading the theater.

“That window was immovable,” says Pappenfus. “The theater was going to withhold the final payment if we hadn’t finished on time.”

Because of that, Fluid Sound pre-wired the building before knowing exactly what solution they’d use to solve the problem.

“You know the old showbiz motto: The show must go on,” says Phil Borkowski, a partner with Fluid Sound.

Upgrading A Historic Venue
Opened in 1936 for the world premiere of the motion picture Camille, the 809-seat Plaza Theatre was an integral part of the action in Palm Springs. It was also a location-of-choice for radio broadcasts in the 1940s. Jack Benny performed his radio show at the Plaza regularly, and Bob Hope and Amos ‘N Andy were among the many programs that emanated from its stage. The theater closed in the early 1990s, but Markowitz and partner Mary Jardin brought it back, thanks to a push by Palm Springs’ mayor.

The small stage is flanked one wing that’s 15 feet by 15 feet and another that’s 8 feet by 4 feet, so there’s not a lot of room to keep boards on the side. There’s also no way to drop scenery in from above the stage.

Page 1 of 2
1 2 Next »

View the 3 photos attached to this entry

     

View photos

About the author

D. Craig MacCormack

Craig MacCormack is a veteran journalist with more than 15 years experience covering local and national news and sports as well as architecture and engineering. He joined Commercial Integrator in January 2011. Follow him on Twitter: @CraigMacCormack.

View all posts by D. Craig MacCormack