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Leicester Square Theatre
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Dolby CP100 & Amplifier Rack
This was the installed for the film "Tommy" with Quintaphonic four track magnetic sound
Track 2 carries the centre channel - dialogue/singing only
Tracks 1 and 3 are matrixed Dolby style to provide front left, front right, rear left and rear right. Music, and effects only
Track 4 standby mono
As well as the speakers behind the screen there were also speaker towers in the auditorium
One tower each side at the front of the stalls
One tower each side of the rear stalls
One tower each side of the rear circle
A Bass bin was also installed under the centre of the screen
If you upset the Ticket Cashier she would sell you a seat in front of one of these towers
The sound was so loud that it could be heard in some of the suites in the Hotel next door
The firm had to rent these suites for the nine month run of Tommy
This was also the first use of the CP100 processor which I believe was specially developed to decode both
Optical and Magnetic sound tracks
The Leicester Square Theatre was the only cinema in the UK to run Quintaphonic sound
The film Opened in March 1975, and closed 31st December 1975
We were not allowed to splice the reels together onto 4000ft spools
This was a nuisance as some parts were only about 12mins running time
Still, the changeovers kept us busy
The organ music in the film was recorded across the road on the organ at the Odeon Leicester Square
by the resident organist, Gerald Shaw
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