Sound Auditorium

        Film distributors were also searching for a system that would give the same effect as Cinerama but for a lot less cost, a system that was relatively simple to install and would fit into a normal sized theatre. Twentieth Century Fox employed a system using an anamorphic lens developed earlier by Frenchman Henri Chretien. The lens squeezed the photographed image horizontally, enabling a wide image to be photographed onto 35mm film. This image was then expanded during projection back to its wider ratio. Four channels of magnetic sound were laid down the sides of the release print to give three screen channels and an 'effects' channel to place sound around the auditorium.Daryl F. Zanuck, the head of Fox at the time, had all production stopped on their latest films 'An American in Paris' and 'The Robe' to have them remade in the new system. The film 'An American In Paris' was in fact completed first but its release held until after 'The Robe' which was thought to cinemas.