"Firsts" &
World Records of
The Buhl
Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science
2006 October
Firsts
Ø First planetarium
projector placed on an elevator, to increase flexibility in the Theater of the Stars;
Ø
First
planetarium theater which included a permanent theatrical stage;
Ø
First planetarium theater (and, perhaps, first theater) to install a special
sound system specifically designed for the hearing-impaired (remember, this was in 1939 !);
Ø
First publicly-owned building in the City
(and, possibly, the State) constructed with air-conditioning;
Ø
First permanent
Siderostat Telescope specifically designed for public use;
also, largest such Siderostat Telescope permanently mounted and specifically
designed for public use;
Ø First regional Science Fair for school
students (from 26 counties in
Ø
First
marriage proposal delivered as part of a laser-light concert (and, possibly, first marriage proposal delivered in a planetarium theater): 1990 September 16 at end of "Aerosmith" concert, performed by Laser Fantasy International Operations Manager Curtis Williams, in the Theater of the Stars of the original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science (a.k.a. Buhl Science Center).
World Records
Ø The Zeiss Mark II Planetarium
Projector, which operated as the primary educational instrument of The Buhl
Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science for nearly 55 years, was the oldest
operable major planetarium projector in the world before being
dismantled in October of 2002; the unaltered Zeiss II operated and presented the realistic views of planets and stars in the night sky to the general public, each day of the year (except New Year's Day in the early years; except Christmas Day in the later years) for more than 54 years !!!
Ø The last major planetarium
constructed before World War II (dedicated
1939 October 24);
Ø The last Zeiss
Mark II Planetarium Projector manufactured (dedicated
1939 October 24);
Ø The fifth Zeiss
planetarium installation in
Ø For more than 53 years (beginning in late 1940), Buhl
Planetarium housed an exhibit that was considered the largest Mercator’s
Projection Map in the world;
Ø World
record for showing planetarium shows continuously, back-to-back [Buhl Planetarium maintained this world record, alone, until the record was equaled in 2002 by the McFerson
Planetarium of the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) in
Ø World
record for continuous, back-to-back, public performances in a planetarium [Buhl Planetarium maintained this world record until the record was exceeded by a 32-hour planetarium marathon in 2007 by the Sudekum Planetarium, of the Adventure Science Center in Nashville.] – 14
performances (including
planetarium sky dramas and laser-light concerts).
gaw 2006 Oct. 11
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Internet Web Site Master Index for
the History of
This Internet, World Wide Web Site administered by Glenn A.
Walsh.
This Internet World Wide Web page created on 2006 October 11.
The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science,
Pittsburgh
Disclaimer Statement: This Internet Web Site is not affiliated with the
Andrew Carnegie Free Library,
Ninth Pennsylvania
Reserves Civil War Reenactment Group,
Henry Buhl, Jr.
Planetarium and Observatory,
The
Carnegie Science
Center, The
Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh/Carnegie Institute,
or
The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
Unless otherwise indicated, all pages in this web site are --
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2006,
Glenn A. Walsh, All Rights Reserved.
Contact Web Site Administrator: <
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