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Panoramas Near Here:

South Hall
Stage - South
Stage - North
Top of Ladder
North Hall
Behind Screen - North
Behind Screen - South

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The Villa's stage, now used mostly for storage.
Villa Theatre, Salt Lake City, Utah
Photo by Grant Smith, 15 May 2002

View of the ceiling of the stage.

This is a view from the tour above, looking up at the ceiling.  You can see here the curve of the TODD-AO screen, which was installed in 1958 for South Pacific.  The screen was not used after Cinemiracle was installed in September 1960.  The TODD-AO screen, unused for 38 years, was finally removed in 1998.
Villa Theatre, Salt Lake City, Utah
Photo by Grant Smith, 15 May 2002
 

Diagram of the TODD-AO screen.

This diagram from a Deseret News article in 1958 compares the curve of the Villa's new TODD-AO screen to the Cinemascope screen installed in 1953.  The diagram incorrectly labels the flatter screen as "Cinerama."  The caption for the diagram reads:

BIGGEST INDOOR SCREEN IN UTAH! - Diagram shows difference between regular Cinerama screen and super-size screen to be unveiled for "South Pacific" premier Thursday. New TODD-AO screen is curved from the axis 7 feet, while Cinerama screens have 38-inch curve.
Deseret News, 28 July 1958, B1

A view of the stage from the north end.
Villa Theatre, Salt Lake City, Utah
Photo by Grant Smith, 18 December 2002

A view of the stage from the south end.
Villa Theatre, Salt Lake City, Utah
Photo by Grant Smith, 18 December 2002

The stage and the TODD-AO frame, seen through a fisheye lens.
Villa Theatre, Salt Lake City, Utah
Photo by Grant Smith, 18 December 2002

Looking across the frame for the TODD-AO screen.  The floor in front of the screen was painted black to keep light from reflecting off of the screen.
Villa Theatre, Salt Lake City, Utah
Photo by Grant Smith, 18 December 2002

The top of the frame for the TODD-AO screen.
Villa Theatre, Salt Lake City, Utah
Photo by Grant Smith, 18 December 2002

In the ceiling of the stage you can see the two large ducts for the heating / cooling system.
Villa Theatre, Salt Lake City, Utah
Photo by Grant Smith, 18 December 2002