Press Room

March 12, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Rodger Pille, piller@cincymuseum.org, (513) 287-7054

The Alps Scaled at Museum Center

New OMNIMAX film celebrates mountain’s timeless beauty beginning May 19, 2007

Plus, Friday Classic Films return and Rolling Stones “At the MAX” extended

“It’s a story of human endeavor and physical endurance, of great beauty and great tragedy, of the forces that can drive an individual to risk everything to climb a mountain, and the sense of personal accomplishment that comes with that...”
                                                    --- Greg MacGillivray, film producer of The Alps

CINCINNATI, OHIO—Celebrated as one of the most magnificent mountain ranges on the planet, the Alps are a vital source of life and energy. From the creators of Hurricane on the Bayou, the NEW Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX Theater at Cincinnati Museum Center is excited to bring you the latest MacGillivray Freeman Film, The Alps opening Saturday, May 19. Follow one man’s triumphant journey and personal quest to make peace with a mountain that took the life of his father 40 years earlier. In a bold attempt to make history, John Harlin III takes on the world’s most difficult rock climb, the North Face of the Eiger, located in the Alps of Switzerland. The Alps film captures unbelievable images and film shots from the side of the mountain, giving the viewer a sense of what it’s like to climb side by side with mountaineers. This film also reveals the lifestyle and culture of the Alpine locale and how the mountains and slopes have helped to shape their way of living.

With a 6,000-foot vertical wall dangerously exposed with jagged limestone and the constant threat of falling boulders, avalanches and unpredictable weather patterns, the Eiger North Face is considered to be the most treacherous climb in all of Europe, taking the lives of more than 50 climbers over time. One of those climbers includes, John Harlin II, aged 30, who fell 4,000 feet while attempting the “direct” route in 1966. This unfortunate event cast a huge shadow on the Harlin family for decades, which John Harlin III was eager to face. John Harlin III was “relieved, after so many years, to have finally made my peace with the Eiger…while this climb does not change the fact of my father’s death, it allows me personally to close a significant chapter in my life.”

John Harlin III made this dangerous climb with members of an elite class of extreme mountain climbers, Robert and Daniela Jasper. The Jaspers live at the foot of the Eiger and have an impressive list of climbing accomplishments. Robert, or Dr. Eiger, as they call him, has had 14 successful attempts on the Eiger.

The Alps was complicated to film due to extreme weather conditions and physical and logistical challenges. Amazing shots were taken from the side of the mountain with a crew that was lifted by long lines attached to helicopters. “We've never attempted a more challenging shoot than this," said director, Stephen Judson.

See amazing views of the Swiss Alps, live vicariously through the adventure of experienced climbers and learn about the Alpine way of life – The Alps is an edgy adventure for all ages.

Friday Classic Films Return
Friday Classic Films are back on Fridays at 8 p.m. in March. It’s a chance to see favorite films from the past or catch up on those you may have missed in the NEW Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX® Theater! Plus, you can make it a double feature and pair the Classic Film with the current film, Hurricane on the Bayou, showing at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Friday evenings.

March’s Friday Classic Film is Mysteries of Egypt (1998). This film will transport you to the ancient kingdom of Egypt and will take you on a personal tour through Egypt’s epic landscape – from the Great Pyramids to the Sphinx, down the Nile and through the desert. Explore the massive pyramids and the temples built for the pharaohs and their gods. Investigate some of the most intriguing leaders, including Nefertiti and Tutankhamen. Watch as a civilization, thousands of years old, comes back to life on the OMNIMAX screen.

Rolling Stones “At the MAX” – Extended Run!
The OMNIMAX could not resist adding just a few more shows to the schedule, due to its popularity. This concert film features the Rolling Stones during their highly acclaimed Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour with a 15-song performance. This incredible experience showcases the OMNIMAX Theater’s new digital sound system with 36,000 watts of power. Catch this concert every Saturday* evening in March at 8 p.m.

*The March 17 show is sold out. Ticket availability and information can be found at www.cincymuseum.org.

Admission Prices:
Adult - $7.25
Child - $5.25
Senior - $6.25
*Admission price for Rolling Stones “At the MAX” is $10 per ticket.

Cincinnati Museum Center gratefully acknowledges operating and capital support from the City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County and the State of Ohio.

Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal is home to the Cincinnati History Museum, Duke Energy Children's Museum, the Museum of Natural History & Science, the Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX® Theater, and the Cincinnati Historical Society Library. It is a nationally recognized educational and research resource and one of the top cultural attractions in the Midwest. Cincinnati Museum Center serves more than 1.47 million visitors annually, reaching out to almost 200,000 young people through hands-on exhibits and programs. Originally built in 1933 as the Union Terminal train station, the building is a national historic landmark and was renovated and reopened as Cincinnati Museum Center in 1990. For information, call (513) 287-7000 or 1-800-733-2077 or visit www.cincymuseum.org.

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