Prompt Cast
The Rise and Fall of Smell-O-Vision: A Failed Attempt to Incorporate Smells into Movies
TLDR Smell-O-Vision was an earnest attempt to enhance the movie-watching experience by incorporating smells, but it ultimately failed due to the rise of television and lack of interest. Despite its failure, the concept of incorporating smells into movies has resurfaced in recent years with the popularity of 4D movie theaters and devices for home theaters.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Smell-O-Vision was a failed attempt in the 1960s to accompany motion pictures with smells, similar to how sound is accompanied with movies.
04:50
Smell-O-Vision was an earnest attempt to incorporate smells into movies and stage plays in order to enhance the viewer's experience, but it ultimately failed and was named one of the worst 50 inventions by Time magazine.
09:19
The first attempt at incorporating smells into theaters was made by Roxy Rothafell in 1916, but it wasn't until Hans Lobb came along that someone successfully made it work, debuting the idea at the 1939-1940 World's Fair with a 35-minute film called "My Dream or Mind Traum" that featured 32 different chemical odors.
14:00
Hans Lobb's successful debut of Smell-O-Vision at the CentoVision was followed by a decline in interest due to the rise of television, prompting theater owners to seek ways to enhance the in-person movie experience.
18:47
Michael Todd, a producer known for pioneering 70mm format and Cinerama scope, had a big hit with the movie "Around the World in 80 Days" and almost used it as the debut for Smell-O-Vision, but decided not to.
23:03
Michael Todd, Jr. invented the "smell brain" as the central component of Smell-O-Vision, which was originally called Center Vision, but was changed to Smell-O-Vision because Todd didn't think it could be dignified. The smell brain was a mechanical solution that used chemical vials attached to a belt and motor to release scents into the theater at specific times during the movie.
27:32
The film "Center of Mystery" was directed by Jack Cardiff and received fairly positive reviews, featuring a well-written script that effectively dramatized the smells, and starred dental melliot and Peter Laurie.
32:20
Smell-O-Vision had some plot-centric elements, such as identifying imposters through different smells, but ultimately it was a flop and the creators, Hans Lobb and Michael Todd Jr., did not find success with it.
36:52
4D movie theaters, which incorporate moving seats, various sensory effects, and smells, have become popular in recent years, with close to 800 theaters operating worldwide.
41:37
There is a company called Olorama that sells a device for your home theater that syncs up with movies and releases corresponding smells, ranging from a basic package of 20 smells for $5,500 to a 40-smell version for $20,000.
Categories:
Society & Culture
