Our History
Know the world over Strong Cinema has roots that extent almost 100 years deep. In that time
the Strong name has become synonymous with quality and reliability. Today Strong Cinema builds
on its past to create a future - a future powered by Strong.
Thomas Edison and George Eastman develop the first motion picture film, a standard virtually unchanged over 100 years later.
The initial design of the Simplex Regular Projector is completed.
“Silent” movies are the rage, frequently accompanied by a live piano or organ.
Harry Strong develops an automatic feed technology for carbon arc lamps, and the Strong Electric Company is formed.
“The Jazz Singer” is the first commercially successful movie with synchronized sound, which came from phonograph records belt-driven by the projectors.
The Super Simplex Projector is introduced.
“Sound on film”is introduced — an optical soundtrack printed next to the picture image guaranteed better synchronization and reliability.
Scott Ballantyne, Nebraska native, forms the RS Ballantyne Company located just off film row in Omaha. The Ballantyne “BW” projector is produced.
Strong introduces the “Mogul” Carbon Arc Lamphouse, producing twice the light of competitive systems.
The famous Century Model “C” Projector is introduced. The Strong Utility Lamphouse is introduced. The Utility becomes the most popular carbon arc lamphouse ever manufactured.
Ballantyne is key in the development of amplification systems and speakers for drive-In theatres.
The Simplex XL, the forerunner of modern film projection, is introduced. The basic mechanism design remains the most popular projector more than 50 years later.
The birth of the “multiplex” theatre. By the 1970’s virtually all cinemas being built are multiplexes.
Strong introduces xenon lamp technology to the United States with the X16 Xenon Lamphouse.
A group of Omaha investors form Ballantyne of Omaha, Inc.
Rapid expansion of the cinema industry encourage further development of automated single-projector systems using platter transports & xenon lamphouses. Dolby Labs refines the Optical Soundtrack to provide multiple channel sound from 35mm film providing efficient and relatively inexpensive stereo sound in cinemas.
Strong introduces the Super Lume-X Xenon Lamphouse, the most popular xenon lamphouse ever manufactured.
Digital Sound becomes commonplace, bringing CD-quality 5-, 6- and 8-channel sound to motion picture theatres.
Ballantyne prepares for the next century of image projection technology.