When established in 1941, the Museum was the first children's museum in Texas and one of the first children's museums in the nation.
THRILL RIDE - THE SCIENCE OF FUN
Running Time: 38 minutes
Strap yourself in and get ready to take the plunge in Thrill Ride – The Science of Fun, showing in the Omni Theater, an IMAX Dome, beginning February 18, 2012. Thrill Ride - The Science of Fun is a white-knuckle adventure that takes full advantage of the power of the Omni’s giant screen. Originally released in 1997, this timeless classic puts you in the front seat of some of the wildest rides ever created – the perfect complement to the “engrossing” fun of the Museum of Science and History’s kid-centric special exhibition, Grossology.
The ultimate ride film, Thrill Ride not only traces the history of rides, past and present but also details how the development of the motion simulator ride has become one of the most exciting innovations in recent film history. Thrill Ride takes you on rides you might never dare to attempt, including trips on Big Shot at the Stratosphere, Las Vegas and the rollercoasters Kumba and Montu, located at Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida. The film shows that the possibilities for thrill making are endless and only limited by the imagination or the capabilities of a computer workstation.
Thrill Ride – The Science of Fun shows how ride film animators use CGI by first "constructing" a wire frame or skeleton version of the ride on a computer screen. Higher resolution textures and colors are added to the environment along with lighting and other atmospheric effects to heighten the illusion of reality.
Thrill Ride – The Science of Fun also shows how technology for motion-simulators originally developed by the military and NASA as a flight-training device evolved into the ride simulators of today. The ride film designer’s ultimate challenge is to combine this technology with the excitement of the roller coaster and the latest in computer graphics imaging and filmmaking. Using footage from some of the most popular ride films ever created, including "The Devil's Mine Ride," "Asteroid Adventure," and "Secrets of the Lost Temple,” Thrill Ride shows the capability of large format films to completely immerse an audience into the action on screen while producing one of the most exciting experiences on film.
Thrill Ride was directed by Ben Stassen and produced by Charlotte Huggins in conjunction with New Wave International. It will show daily at the Omni Theater through summer 2012. Tickets are $7 for adults and $6 for children (2-12) and seniors (60+). Museum members received a $3 discount. Get show times and advanced tickets online or call 817-255-9540.
NOTE: Thrill Ride features fast-moving sequences on roller coasters and other amusement-type rides. If you experience motion sickness while in the Omni Theater, you might want to ”jump out of the line” and pass on viewing the film. If you like coasters and the like, you’ll love it!
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