tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45952359950386991402012-01-13T10:40:48.710-06:00Chronicling the international attractions industry (parks, museums, casinos, expos, live spectaculars, 4D theaters, performing arts centers, retail, etc.) in terms of design, technology, media, development, safety and more. By Judith Rubin, top editor, journalist and publicist in the field of themed entertainment.Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comBlogger861100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-74892056675341277642012-01-13T10:40:00.004-06:002012-01-13T10:40:48.741-06:00

www.silentfilm.org Jan 13, 2012 -- Chris Reyna wrote the following tribute to his father, Leo, who has just died. Chris has given us permission to share it so that the community can know of his loss. "Yesterday was a sad day for me....my dear Dad, Leo died in his sleep at my sister Susan¹s home in Tallahassee. He had become increasingly frail since Thanksgiving. He was fiercely independent

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-77095824707599591292011-12-01T20:49:00.002-06:002011-12-01T21:06:09.804-06:00

Turtles and Cruise Ships are the new black: More notes from IAAPA At left: Patsy Tillisch, principal of EDG. She is holding the press release announcing the 18th Annual Thea Awards recipients, who were announced during IAAPA by the Themed Entertainment Association. Patsy, a former Disney Imagineer, is a longtime colleague of Joe Rohde, who was named for the Buzz Price Thea Award, a lifetime

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-32926108118117729302011-12-01T20:49:00.001-06:002011-12-01T20:58:04.117-06:00

IAAPA snaps from Wednesday Nov 16 Top: Jonathan Casson and Tisa Poe in a mustachioed moment at the BRC booth. Below, Robert Ward cruises the floor. Click the link to see more pictures from the IAAPA Attractions Expo 2011 in Orlando. Photos by Judith Rubin, all rights reserved.

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-48774039691224913852011-12-01T20:49:00.000-06:002011-12-01T21:14:07.725-06:00

Some IAAPA snapshots Photos from the 2011 IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando, Florida. Our industry's biggest trade show of the year. At left, I am sitting with Jim Benedick of Management Resources. We are in the ice room at the Ice Bar, at a party generously hosted by BRC Imagination Arts. Click the link to see more pictures. Photo by Martin Palicki; all rights reserved.

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-63677423669500580702011-12-01T20:47:00.000-06:002011-12-01T21:12:21.034-06:00

News stories from IAAPA - Museum, zoo & specialty cinema projects Captured on the IAAPA floor near the Technifex and TEA booths, from left: Brian Yessian, Dave Goodman (Goodman Experiences), Chris Barbee (Bandit Lites), Doug Yellin (Matilda Entertainment), Rob Wyatt, Vijay Sehgal (FSY Architects). Photo: Judith Rubin; all rights reserved. Why are these guys all posing together looking so

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-45915290556601076012011-10-06T23:36:00.015-05:002011-10-07T10:52:26.548-05:00

The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) hosts a professional design conference called SATE (Storytelling, Architecture, Technology, Experience). SATE '11 Orlando took place at SeaWorld on Sept 22-23. I handle much of the PR and social media for TEA, and I was on the SATE conference committee so was very gratified to see the event sell out for the first time this year, with record attendance of

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-63507624295245285152011-06-30T11:44:00.002-05:002011-06-30T11:46:29.475-05:00

The "digital starball" effect in the Grainger Sky Theater. Photo: Adler Planetarium. A convergence is taking place among the giant-screen cinema, digital video, planetarium and themed entertainment communities. Here, we look at several examples - new theaters and guest experiences at two of the world’s oldest and best-known planetariums, Chicago’s Adler Planetarium and Russia’s Moscow

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-8629639760129363082011-06-03T11:49:00.001-05:002011-06-30T11:56:00.927-05:00

After 13 years developing and building museum, theme park and visitor attractions as Show Systems Manager with BRC imagination Arts, technical designer Tom Tait is now independent and looking for his next challenge. I interviewed him for InPark Magazine. Here's an excerpt: Tom Tait: "If you are able to make a design at the beginning of design development and produce it all the way through

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-87162649364771740812011-05-30T11:13:00.002-05:002011-06-30T11:47:13.857-05:00

Monkey King Co. Ltd, a subsidiary of the real estate, financial and cultural industry investment enterprise Zhonghong Real Estate announced on May 28 that Thinkwell Group would design the park, which will form the first phase of a planned, major mixed-use complex and total investment of 10billion RMB ($1.53billion USD). I interviewed Craig Hanna about the project, for InPark Magazine. Here's

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-76903417523851189212011-05-13T11:15:00.002-05:002011-06-30T11:47:29.559-05:00

Photo courtesy The Hettema Group It might seem incongruous for a company coming off an American historical attraction (Beyond All Boundaries at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans) to next announce designing an entire family theme park in China, but as Hettema points out in the following interview, storytelling is storytelling. And he’s no stranger to large-scale undertakings:

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-68670258189911621882011-04-25T10:59:00.001-05:002011-06-30T11:05:16.215-05:00

www.looptrolley.org The Loop Trolley is the brainchild of local entrepreneur Joe Edwards, a well known local figure and the developer of The Loop, the metro area’s popular, six-block, retail/entertainment strip and an award winning example of successful urban revitalization.  The Loop Trolley is envisioned as a fixed-track, vintage-style system to serve locals and tourists alike. It would

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-42656186170239766242011-01-17T10:11:00.009-06:002011-01-17T12:45:27.319-06:00

Open Air Theater, Doha Tribeca Film Fest. Photo: Doha Film Institute For the past several years, Christopher Reyna of New Paradigm Productions has been imaging producer for the nonverbal film Samsara - a sequel to Baraka - working with producer Mark Magidson and director/cinematographer Ron Fricke. Between Samsara production episodes, Reyna has pursued a variety of projects that involve his

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-39624694598364958582011-01-12T15:06:00.001-06:002011-01-12T15:09:28.518-06:00

LF Examiner, an industry newsletter published by James Hyder for the special venue cinema industry, particularly giant screen cinema, has announced that its January issue will feature an editorial by Hyder titled "The Death of the Giant Screen." Writes Hyder, "The history of motion pictures is full of technologies that were revolutionary when introduced, provided a new and exciting movie-going

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-77714584196563152042010-12-07T12:56:00.004-06:002010-12-07T13:01:09.349-06:00

Emden, Germany -- FUNA International, a global design, engineering, integration and consulting firm employing more than 200 professionals in 11 international locations, provided technical design and engineering for entertainment, display and communications in most of the theaters, restaurants, clubs, and public spaces - as well as the crew recreation and support areas - of Royal Caribbean

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-23403039070454939362010-11-09T11:00:00.016-06:002010-11-10T12:11:18.482-06:00

My suggestions for people to meet, companies to check out and booths to visit at the IAAPA Attractions Expo Nov 16-19 in OrlandoShowSys – This Orlando-based company, providing tech design and tech management, audio system customization and some ingenious, proprietary control software, counts SeaWorld, Six Flags, US Space & Rocket Center, Princess Cruises and Sam’s Town among its clients. ShowSys

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-12404686879176435952010-11-05T15:49:00.006-05:002010-11-05T17:30:36.379-05:00

David Aion, president of the Western Division of the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), strayed east to Pittsburgh for the TEA mixer at ETC (Carnegie Mellon Entertainment Technology Center, a specialized graduate program created by Don Marinelli and the late Randy Pausch). There, he found himself in the role of TEA industry ambassador.On Wed 27 October, the day before the mixer, Aion gave a

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-40623603688272492172010-10-29T00:27:00.002-05:002011-10-29T00:34:17.887-05:00

by Jumana Brodersen, The Jco, LLThis article has been published in the 2010 TEA Annual & Directory as well as on Blooloop.com. Jumana Brodersen is president of the J Co, LLC, a design consulting firm that specializes in planning and design of venues that entertain and immerse guests. With a background in architecture, she has designed and managed projects as a consultant since 1982. Since 1998,

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-4451605907884110362010-10-28T20:37:00.000-05:002011-10-28T20:42:54.656-05:00

by Alfred Heller with commentary from Judith Rubin and Gordon Linden The USA Pavilion at the upcoming Shanghai Expo 2010 marks a significant turnaround (hopefully for the long term) in the US administration's attitude toward participation in world's fairs. Since around 1990, US presence at world expos has been very uneven and Federal support had fallen off dramatically. This 1992 editorial by

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-62333321234838819842010-09-14T15:01:00.035-05:002010-09-14T23:09:55.030-05:00

Under the umbrella of the Themed Enter-tainment Assoc-iation (TEA) Western Division, Robert Simpson and Chris Conte of Electrosonic addressed a crowd of almost 80 attendees at the company's Sept 2 TEA presentation, held at Electrosonic's Burbank office. Conte introduced and Simpson narrated an AV presentation about the various pavilions at Shanghai Expo 2010 for which Electrosonic was an AV

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-41634339011520129262010-09-10T09:47:00.019-05:002010-11-07T12:07:40.995-06:00

The late Harrison "Buzz" Price, who died August 15 at the age of 89 was, as many better acquainted with him than I have already said, a person of great vision and accomplishment, with both hemispheres of the brain deeply engaged, and also a man of wit and warmth. I had the good fortune to meet Buzz shortly after I stumbled into the themed entertainment industry in 1987. That was the year I joined

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-56099978837496173782010-08-07T09:53:00.014-05:002011-10-28T19:37:30.896-05:00

The video speaks for itself. Thanks to Nick Winslow, BRC Imagination Arts, Clive Grout, Norm Elder, Hillary Clinton and other determined and talented individuals in government and in business, plus the generosity of the pavilion's sponsors, the US has a meaningful presence at the largest international cultural event in the history of the planet. This team knows what world expos are all about,

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-88224456806188715982010-08-02T20:57:00.007-05:002010-08-02T21:11:01.407-05:00

What's going on in this picture? At the recent Asian Attractions Expo in Malaysia, Garner Holt Productions (GHP) attracted plenty of booth traffic with the company's popular animatronic gorilla. "We were virtually inundated with people attracted to the gorilla," reports Jody Van Meter, VP marketing and sales for GHP. "We had it on a radio controlled sensor that lets the operator decide when to

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-24995484668949994352010-07-17T13:05:00.003-05:002010-07-17T13:22:16.771-05:00

Flightdeck Air Combat Center in Anaheim was the venue for the July 14 Western Division mixer of the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA). TEA Western Division prez David Aion of Aion Creative is shown here getting 100% into the spirit of the event, which was completely full - 23 industry members suiting up for simulated in-air combat. Working in this industry does have its perks!

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-85970553181667470212010-06-21T20:30:00.009-05:002011-10-28T19:38:46.755-05:00

My column for The Planetarian, published by the International Planetarium Society, and reprinted on Blooloop.com. This first appeared in June 2010. Excerpt: "The rapid growth of digital dome theaters in planetariums and science centers signals an exponential and very welcome increase in the potential distribution market for creators of educational content for special venues. In addition to the

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-83209503386642755692010-06-21T20:18:00.006-05:002011-10-28T20:13:51.201-05:00

My tome on Oasis of the Seas, said to be the largest passenger cruise ship ever built, gets into detail about some of the many, very impressive audiovisual and control systems on this vessel and the companies and consultants who worked with Royal Caribbean to build it. It was published in the March edition of Sound & Communications magazine and can be viewed in the digital issue here. Another

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-57373701968251103782010-04-26T14:16:00.003-05:002010-04-27T12:12:48.246-05:00

Full story here.

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-70587596364446357582010-04-23T16:40:00.001-05:002010-04-26T14:21:29.972-05:00

'IMERSA News - Digital Dome Immersive Experiences - April 2010'

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-3239830211417990682010-01-23T10:31:00.011-06:002010-02-24T13:29:28.760-06:00

Here's an article about the genesis of the theme park special effects industry, tracing it from Yale Gracey and Bill Novey at Disney to the post-Epcot diaspora and formation of such companies as Art & Technology, WET and Technifex. I first wrote it in 1997, and it is now on Blooloop, with some where-are-they-now updates and photos. It is timely in light of Mark Fuller (WET founder and CEO) having

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-85342288912694424042010-01-04T11:22:00.005-06:002011-10-28T20:44:17.078-05:00

This excellent Jan 2 story in the New York Times by Mark Lander and David Barboza chronicles Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's role in raising awareness and funds for the USA Pavilion at Shanghai Expo 2010. This reprint of a 1992 World's Fair editorial by Alfred Heller (with updates and commentary) provides background on the thorny political climate that has hampered the US participating in

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-33286198236803405142009-11-15T18:05:00.006-06:002011-10-28T19:43:29.234-05:00

Nick Winslow This article originally appeared in the 2010 TEA Annual And Directory, published by the Themed Entertainment Association. Three Pavilions at Shanghai Expo 2010 by Judith Rubin The USA Pavilion: Triumph against the Odds With the authorization of the US Federal government, Nick Winslow and his team are heading up the official USA participation in Shanghai Expo 2010. What that means,

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-56895004873745464162009-11-10T11:42:00.008-06:002010-05-01T17:23:20.673-05:00

"Fear not: The pavilion will not resemble the mobile home shacks the Bush administration gave to Southerners displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Do expect a nice blast of air and a spray of water - in a good way..."China Daily copy editor Brad Webber wryly spells out the struggles the USA Pavilion has overcome to bring itself into existence, conveying the spirit and optimism of the enterprise, and

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-86464651500992318942009-10-18T22:42:00.005-05:002009-12-15T12:29:27.003-06:00

This article by Jumana Brodersen explains how she's adapted to being an independent after having always worked for large firms - most recently, 10 years as director of creative development at Busch Entertainment Corp. It's an inspiring story of a resilient and successful business person, and it has struck a chord in the themed entertainment industry. It's been widely read and commented upon, and

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-39954450391701366912009-10-18T22:23:00.003-05:002009-10-18T22:31:57.090-05:00

I wrote this article for IMERSA, the trade group that is working to spread the word about fulldome digital technology to the planetarium community and to the themed entertainment community at large. The issue is that Most digital projectors do not produce true blacks, but instead fade to a uniform gray sky. The traditional optomechanical projectors give you the deep blacks but not the versatility

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-77710100887579995812009-07-30T10:33:00.006-05:002009-07-31T09:55:46.228-05:00

The very, very good news is that the USA Pavilion is officially moving forward -- with a signed participation agreement between the US Fed and the Shanghai Expo, an official groundbreaking in Shanghai on July 17, and a first-rate project team headed by Nick Winslow and Ellen Eliasoph, with veteran expo designers Bob Rogers of BRC Imagination Arts and Clive Grout of Clive Grout Architect.I've

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-24072932280695322062009-07-01T16:54:00.030-05:002011-11-30T10:41:17.475-06:00

From the USAP website World Expos: USA Pavilion Groundbreaking in Shanghai  (Originally published on Blooloop.com in July 2009) by Judith Rubin Nick Winslow It's official: the USA Pavilion (USAP) at Shanghai Expo 2010 is a done deal. The governments and people of both countries welcome a positive new chapter in what has been a difficult, suspenseful and sometimes uncertain

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-10823423908809275022009-06-09T08:38:00.001-05:002009-06-09T08:43:42.875-05:00

Transfer of knowledge is all-important to world's fairs because these gigantic, expensive undertakings are one-off events. A city or region gets one chance to do it right and the potential long-range benefits are huge. Accurate documentation of an event provides material for future organizers to draw upon and the opportunity to bestow (and receive) credit where it is due.Click here to read my new

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-90836808747360625972009-06-01T10:30:00.006-05:002009-06-01T10:42:56.403-05:00

Some good news from Hank Levine's blog, Behind the Curtain, about US-China relations."Shanghai Expo: A Corner TurnedReaders may have noted the most recent bit of positive news regarding the US Pavilion for the Shanghai Expo: the adding of Yum Brands as a sponsor (here’s one report from AP via LA Times.But the fact is, something much more profound has taken place. Secretary Clinton and her

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-71508508663344324252009-05-15T08:46:00.003-05:002011-10-28T21:01:02.506-05:00

Image from Cinnabar Inc., producer of exhibits for the Kimball Museum of Natural History at the new California Academy of Sciences In Style and Content, the California Academy of Sciences Points the Way to a Greener Future... I wrote this detailed feature for Lighting & Sound America magazine. It is a definitive study of the design, tech design and installation of all the exhibits in all three

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-32523307074952746092009-04-28T10:14:00.005-05:002009-04-28T10:21:58.720-05:00

"It has been coined AIR (Acoustically Integrated aRchitecture) and we have been practicing it for much longer than we've had a name for it," says Steven J. Thorburn, PE. His company, Thorburn Associates Inc., specializes in building technologies and acoustical engineering, and counts numerous architectural firms among its 800-plus clients. Says Thorburn, "Green building ideals and LEED, the role

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-61779008701281012652009-04-28T09:52:00.007-05:002009-04-28T10:04:22.441-05:00

The 2008 attendance numbers for the world's top theme parks and waterparks have been compiled by ERA (Economics Research Associates) and published by TEA (Themed Entertainment Association). Destination parks took something of a hit from the recession but regional parks are holding their own. Economic recovery might start to manifest by the end of 2009 or it might hang fire until 2010. Europe is

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-23952834112537964652009-04-28T09:28:00.007-05:002011-10-28T20:55:07.806-05:00

Deep Space Adventure, Adler Planetarium As IMERSA’s director of communications, it’s my job to help spread the word about fulldome (the medium of digital dome video projection) within the planetarium community and also to its other developing markets in entertainment and education. My April 2009 column for The Planetarian, published by the International Planetarium Society, examines branding

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-65388987703867578582009-04-28T08:59:00.005-05:002009-04-28T09:07:04.576-05:00

On the heels of the recent Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA) film expo in Los Angeles, Charles Read and I connected with Steve Judson (Vice President of Film Production and Post Production, and a 25-year veteran of the company) and Chris Palmer, (President, MacGillivray Freeman Films Educational Foundation). MacGillivray Freeman Films is one of the most successful producers and distributors

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-42298570960750220072009-03-31T08:28:00.004-05:002009-03-31T08:33:33.801-05:00

As corporate VP, entertainment and corporate VP, brand management, respectively, Saint Louisans David and Linda Smith were front and center for many of the greatest achievements of Busch Entertainment Corporation (BEC) – including the rebranding of SeaWorld Parks and the creation of Discovery Cove. Declining to follow BEC when it relocated to Orlando, the Smiths resigned in October 2008 and

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-50522068691528483062009-02-16T12:48:00.010-06:002009-03-26T13:36:59.398-05:00

Plans for realizing a US pavilion at the upcoming world expo in Shanghai - which runs 1 May to 31 Oct 2010 - appear to be on track and the nonprofit group led by Nick Winslow and Ellen Eliasoph is heading into the design development phase, with detailed estimates in place and major sponsorship announcements imminent, according to Winslow, who spoke with me by phone on Feb 13.In April 2008, the US

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-31725564191877524502009-02-06T10:24:00.005-06:002009-02-06T11:00:08.229-06:00

TEA's 15th annual Thea Awards Gala takes place at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim on March 7, 2009. Tickets are available through the TEA (Themed Entertainment Association) website. It is a really grand evening of music, dining, imbibing and awards, with everyone in tuxes and evening gowns - a valuable and enjoyable networking event for all. This event is open to the public.Here are links to

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-90972295844307614542009-01-09T12:45:00.002-06:002009-01-09T12:53:00.248-06:00

I spent nine years running a small retail music store with my husband, and an ongoing concern was the physical layout of the space. I watched closely how customers moved through the store, what caught their attention, how they handled merchandise and how their behavior indicated comfort or discomfort.We arranged and re-arranged accordingly to maximize sales opportunities, extend the length of the

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-22836295726361841232009-01-09T12:38:00.002-06:002009-02-04T09:46:35.793-06:00

Cinnabar CEO Jonathan Katz, executive producer of 35,000 square feet of multimedia exhibits for the celebrated, new California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, will speak on two industry panels in the San Francisco area, Feb 27 and April 3, 2009.Feb 27:With the exhibits “Altered State,” (executive produced by Katz) the Academy adopted a bold stance on the issue of climate

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-29735539801968131972008-10-15T08:23:00.006-05:002008-10-15T09:06:10.435-05:00

Women In Blogging Women In BloggingView SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: wic blogging) SlideShare Link To create this slideshow, Sallie Goetsch posed an open question on LinkedIn seeking women who have successfully used their blogs to build their businesses. She included my

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-81035389086755255762008-10-05T20:17:00.006-05:002008-10-05T20:26:59.800-05:00

Jonathan Katz, CEO of Cinnabar Inc. and executive producer of 35,000 square feet of exhibits for the new California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, will speak at the next annual conference of the California Association of Museums (CAM), to be held February 2009 in San Francisco. The theme of the gathering is "Building Bridges: Collaboration, Innovation, Risk." Katz will talk about the

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-71843863282454716252008-09-11T10:30:00.000-05:002008-09-11T11:10:00.484-05:00

Cinnabar, Inc. - a leading production and fabrication house for motion pictures, museums and themed entertainment - is in the heady final weeks of installing 35,000 square feet of exhibits the company produced for the new California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, set to open Sept. 27. Cinnabar has commenced installation of "Altered State," 10,000 square feet of contemporary exhibits

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-26063346866743443342008-09-09T22:43:00.002-05:002010-08-31T13:49:43.406-05:00

Thanks in part to ETC lighting products, the Palazzo Las Vegas is not only the newest, tallest and most luxurious hotel and resort complex on the Strip, it is also the greenest. The $1.9 billion, 50-story Palazzo Las Vegas opened in December 2007, located next to its sister property, The Venetian. The largest LEED structure in the world, Palazzo Las Vegas presages a new era of conservation-minded

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-40997180759998573952008-08-30T20:14:00.000-05:002008-09-01T14:11:30.016-05:00

After ten years at the Las Vegas Hilton, Star Trek: The Experience is closing down. Click the title link to see an AP slideshow of this attraction, which was a breakthrough in experience design. I had the pleasure of profiling this attraction when it opened, for Live Design Magazine (back when it was Entertainment Design mag) but alas, haven't been able to find a link to it.In 1998, Star Trek:

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-79037840463590241272008-08-01T16:48:00.000-05:002008-09-11T11:03:49.908-05:00

Renzo Piano's magnificent building designed to LEED standards is getting all the press. But the fact is, this building couldn't support a science museum on its own. What makes it function as a science museum, and gives it its identity as the new California Academy of Sciences, are the amazing "kit of parts" exhibit systems designed and crafted by Cinnabar, executive producer of the exhibits for

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-17783541165897580612008-07-25T09:07:00.000-05:002008-07-25T09:48:58.298-05:00

Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Bayley Silleck (Cosmic Voyage, Wired to Win) delves into the world of fulldome digital immersive presentation and likes what he finds. It's good news for science education - and more. -JR"I found myself sprawled out on the floor in the pitch-dark. A tall, gangly figure loomed in my field of view. I had a brief flashback to the years I lived in London - could this

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-51387616339343869212008-07-25T09:00:00.000-05:002008-07-25T09:06:39.086-05:00

"Through an examination of the basic components of the guest experience - Story, Architecture, Technology, and Experience (SATE) - and how they can be orchestrated to work together for a compelling effect, TEA's second annual SATE Conference on Sept 18-19 in Orlando offers a valuable perspective that members of the international attractions industry can put to use in their own creative efforts,"

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-34107213646012830162008-07-25T08:26:00.000-05:002008-07-25T08:57:34.088-05:00

A revealing and personal article by a very creative person, Chuck Roberts, who is director of design for BRC Imagination Arts. -JRChuck writes...'I have had the privilege to be involved in the design and production of more than twenty themed experience projects. Once you look at themed entertainment through the eyes of a designer, there is no going back to being a normal visitor. Going to a theme

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-15514258772214124062008-06-01T11:08:00.000-05:002008-06-01T11:20:53.668-05:00

The worldwide planetarium and astronomy community will gather at the Adler Planetarium and the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place for the 19th biennial conference of the International Planetarium Society (IPS) June 27-July 2, followed by a special, all-day supplementary session spotlighting FullDome theater technology on July 3.The July 3 FullDome Summit and DomeFest, co-sponsored by the IPS FullDome

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-41211246964670450932008-05-20T09:04:00.000-05:002008-05-20T09:14:14.966-05:00

Less than a month from now, Zaragoza Expo 08, the next world's fair, will open its gates to the public for a three-month run, from 14 June to 14 September, 2008 in Zaragoza, Spain. The theme of the expo is “Water and Sustainable Development.” Commissioner General of Expo 08, on behalf of the government of Spain, is H.E. Mr. Emilio Fernandez-Castaño y Diaz Caneja.After closing day, the 25-hectare

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-58188926435614442572008-04-22T09:38:00.000-05:002008-04-22T11:57:46.297-05:00

Journalist Knute Berger has written a very good analysis of the struggle to realize a US Pavilion at the Shanghai 2010 Expo. It appears in the 4/22 edition of Seattle-based Crosscut.com:"It was looking like the U.S. was about to suffer the international embarrassment of not showing up for what many regard as the new China's coming out party. Expo 2010 will be the largest world's fair ever held,

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-90671219968657961672008-04-17T18:32:00.000-05:002008-04-21T08:49:57.341-05:00

The significance of this announcement is that there's now a good chance the US will have a pavilion at Shanghai Expo 2010. -JR---------------------------------------------U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE - Office of the Spokesman________________________________________________________________For Immediate Release - April 17, 2008Department of State Signs Letter of Intent for World Expo Shanghai 2010The

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-44653531908123061922008-04-16T22:28:00.000-05:002008-04-16T22:31:45.737-05:00

(IPM Magazine)Picture: Venezuela Pavilion at Hanover Expo 2000, photographed by Gordon LindenDUBAI, UAE, April 16, 2008 -- “There is very little published material on how expos are born, organized and operated. As a result, expo organizers often get off to a rough start,” says Gordon Linden AIA, AICP, co-author of The Expo Book, speaking from his current base of operations as Manager of Planning

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-82489375574380171592008-04-16T22:24:00.000-05:002008-04-17T08:31:06.886-05:00

Milwaukee, WI - April 13, 2008 (IPM Magazine)Fulldome video systems are rapidly replacing traditional star projectors in planetariums around the world, and are also being adopted by science centers and other types of museums for their dome theaters, according to an article in the April-May 2008issue of IPM Magazine.The article, "Digital Dome-Ocracy," written by film director/producer Bayley

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-17552478361589953472008-04-16T08:47:00.000-05:002008-04-16T09:15:05.150-05:00

I wrote this article for Exhibit Builder, which published it in early 2008. It has now been reprinted on Blooloop.com:On November 3, 2006, Griffith Observatory reopened after a successful redo of the entire facility, a four-year, $93 million project. First opened in 1935, it was the fulfillment of Griffith J. Griffith’s vision of a public scientific and educational institution. Griffith

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-40149650688884485952008-04-15T08:37:00.000-05:002008-04-16T09:20:57.495-05:00

Here's a useful and thought-provoking article by Mark Glaser about the fluctuating public relations media environment and how to work within it. The way we go about PR and journalism today needs to take this changing environment into account. However, for all the great tips contained here about making a news release compatible with social media, with the hope of something going viral, in the

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-54665539297489358832008-04-08T15:19:00.001-05:002010-06-27T14:07:39.730-05:00

This is an article I wrote for the March 08 issue of Sound & Communications magazine, and I like to think it is the definitive portrait of Shuttle Launch Experience, a unique new attraction at Kennedy Space Center that uses motion simulation in a pared-down and unprecedented way. Here are the opening paragraphs. Click the title link to see the full article and photos, and the AV equipment list.

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-80821639509919123582008-04-03T16:58:00.000-05:002008-04-16T09:22:33.534-05:00

I never met the late Ted Allan, but I corresponded with him and worked with him for years. From 1987-1995, I was associate editor of World’s Fair magazine and he was a regular columnist. Mr. Allan was a natural and prolific writer and his submissions were always entertaining and sharply observant. After I left World’s Fair, I invited him to contribute to various publications I edited and he would

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-68951309443207732132008-04-03T09:34:00.000-05:002008-04-16T09:25:01.608-05:00

Super 78 Studios is a non-traditional animation and production house that is actively working with content owners to develop ancillary special-venue products—branded experiences for theme parks, museums and other locations. For the magazine Film Journal International, Judith Rubin interviewed S78 principals Dina Benadon and Brent Young.... [click the title link to read the full interview]Note:

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-68717023886399012052008-04-03T09:23:00.000-05:002008-04-16T09:26:39.717-05:00

Digital projection systems currently on the market have some ideal applications for small theaters in educational institutions, but for theaters with screens wider than 20 feet that show nature and science documentaries and other visually detailed material, museum operators are better off keeping their film projectors for now, says consultant and audiovisual expert Steven J. Thorburn PE, in an

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-21217986668554261562008-03-13T15:00:00.001-05:002008-04-16T09:26:22.051-05:00

On March 14, 2008 at 6:00 a.m. US Eastern Daylight time, the TEA/ERA Theme Park Attendance Report for 2007 will be available on the websites of TEA and ERA as well as at the websites of industry publications Park World Magazine and InPark Magazine (IPM) . It presents global attendance data of top theme parks and waterparks, broken down by geographic region, by chain and by type of venue. The

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-64773751570577248092008-02-10T12:56:00.000-06:002008-02-10T13:05:30.576-06:00

The USS Monitor Center in Newport News is involved in a very longterm project: desalinating and restoring the remains of the historic Union vessel that was part of a critical Civil War encounter. The ironclad ship's turret and other portions were salvaged from the deep not long ago but they will remain in their stabilization tanks for years. In the meantime, the Maritime Museum has produced this

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-30630738926823820942008-02-10T09:17:00.000-06:002008-02-10T09:26:40.881-06:00

The new California Academy of Sciences will open this fall in San Francisco. It has received a lot of media attention for its LEED certification, its living roof and world-class architectural design by Renzo Piano. When visitors get inside the new building and see the exhibits, they will discover that world-class design standards were also applied there. One of the designers who was in charge of

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-84296670727111784532008-02-10T09:11:00.000-06:002008-02-10T09:15:40.732-06:00

Urso Chappell is a world's fair enthusiast and a talented designer based in the San Francisco area. He is, appropriately, the graphic designer of The Expo Book, a book about the business side of world's fairs by Gordon Linden and Paul Creighton. I am editing The Expo Book and it is having its first appearance serially in six installments, in six consecutive issues of InPark magazine.Architect

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-39246099574783419832007-12-16T13:19:00.000-06:002007-12-16T13:22:47.341-06:00

This article in Sound & Video Contractor magazine, by Trevor Boyer, looks at some of the technical wizardry that went into creating new exhibits for Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. This venerable and much-loved facility recently reopened after having been closed for some years to do the renovation. The story spotlights some exceptional accomplishments by AV systems integrator Mad Systems Inc.

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-23145189700722474082007-12-16T13:11:00.000-06:002007-12-16T13:16:27.532-06:00

This article takes a look at world's fairs aka world expositions or expos as they have been occurring in Europe and Asia over the past couple decades, and also details how US participation in world's fairs as well as hosting of such events has fallen off during that same period. Click the title to read the article, which was written by two seasoned consultants in the field, Gordon Linden and Paul

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-43692616416026993142007-12-16T13:07:00.000-06:002007-12-16T13:11:16.290-06:00

The Association of Science-Technology Centers held its annual meeting in Los Angeles in October, and I reported on some promising trends in digital media and dome theater systems. This article appeared first in the newsletter LF Examiner, www.lfexaminer.com, which concentrates on the giant-screen cinema industry. It was subsequently published online at Blooloop. Click the title link to read the

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-39260547157462654742007-09-18T09:44:00.000-05:002007-09-18T09:48:25.047-05:00

Letter from Dubai: Head-Over-Heels Race to the Future Causes Growing Pains By Gordon Linden and Rupak Chatterjee With sky-high aspirations to become a world-class destination and business hub, Dubai has mobilized mega-development on multiple fronts, leveraging its geographic advantages and historic trading role. The ambitions of

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-42000721202496369922007-09-18T09:32:00.000-05:002007-09-18T09:34:48.781-05:00

THE EXPO BOOK – Gordon Linden & Paul Creighton’s New Guide To the Business, Organization & Design Of Modern World Expositions To Be Published by InPark Magazine Milwaukee, USA, September 4, 2007 – InPark Magazine (IPM) announced that it will publish The Expo Book: A Guide to THE Hosting, Planning,

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-26109178748739535592007-06-09T20:12:00.000-05:002007-06-09T20:16:39.110-05:00

A 1999 article for Animation World about how digital animation was having a transformative effect on giant screen (70mm) cinema.Thanks to blockbusters such as the Spiderman series being adapted for 70mm/15-perf presentation in Imax theaters, we're seeing quite a bit of digital animation on the giant screen today.

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-7406113481536795092007-03-19T11:53:00.000-05:002007-05-10T20:26:31.200-05:00

An authoritative, annual resource for the attractions industry, travel industry and the media, the current TEA/ERA Global Theme Park Attendance Report was published in April 2007, using information provided by Economics Research Associates (ERA). Executive Publisher: TEA. Editor: Judith Rubin. Sponsorship: Thorburn Associates.The report was printed simultaneously in two magazines, US-based InPark

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-1051761113959732252006-12-30T12:23:00.000-06:002008-05-20T09:43:32.214-05:00

Graeme Ferguson, one of the founders of Imax Corp., was honored in 2005 by the Large Format Cinema Association. For this profile, published in Film Journal International, I interviewed two filmmakers who had been heavily influenced by Ferguson: Stephen Lowe and Dennis Earl Moore.

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-54966624862731597802006-12-30T12:19:00.000-06:002007-01-05T13:38:45.913-06:00

My December 2001 feature article about the making of Pixar's breakthrough animated feature Monsters Inc. was published in Film Journal International www.filmjournal.com. I was living a few blocks away from Pixar at the time so was able to visit the facility and conduct interviews in person.

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-21584409103327053322006-12-30T12:08:00.000-06:002007-01-05T13:39:36.108-06:00

The title link pulls up 16 articles I wrote for Entertainment Design (now Live Design, www.livedesignonline.com) magazine between 1999-2001. Topics include Experience Music Project, Titanic: The Experience, Berkeley Repertory Theater, Volkswagen Autostadt, Legoland and more.

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-88639852760900141282006-12-29T15:23:00.000-06:002007-01-05T13:41:22.502-06:00

This article, Security Procedures Change with the Times, was published in Funworld magazine in 2002 during my tenure as Contributing Editor (Front Row News was my monthly column). It examines safety procedures for large-scale events post 9/11. The link is on the website of architect Gordon Linden, a client of mine who is quoted in the article.

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-41181358616706343112006-12-29T14:04:00.000-06:002007-01-05T19:27:56.535-06:00

Bob Rogers will receive a Thea Award for Lifetime Achievement in March 2007, from TEA (formerly the Themed Entertainment Association.) The title links to a profile I wrote of Bob in 2000, during the several years I spent as Themed Entertainment Editor of Entertainment Design magazine (now Live Design).

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-6355377431475745622006-12-29T13:59:00.000-06:002007-01-05T19:28:48.632-06:00

One of my most-referenced articles is the one I wrote about Sony Metreon shortly after it opened, for the Oct. 1, 1999 issue of Entertainment Design magazine (now Live Design). Alas - although Metreon's themed attractions were fascinating to write about and their creators are amazing talented people - pretty much everything in the complex bombed except for the movieplex and retail. The article

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4595235995038699140.post-88580757448209602562006-12-29T13:18:00.000-06:002007-01-05T19:31:17.996-06:00

Did you know that large-format (70mm-15perf) documentaries such as Everest are among the top-grossing documentaries of all time? I wrote this story for the Oct. 23 2006 issue of Film Journal International. (FJI brought me on as Large Format Editor for several years in the 1990s, during the boom period when many movieplexes added giant-screen 3D theaters. I am still an occasional FJI contributor.)

Judith Rubinhttps://profiles.google.com/107332960755395137729noreply@blogger.com