Omnimax Adventure

by David Jasper, January 2023

I am certain that Jack “was Jack” at any SMM (Science Museum of Minnesota) Board meeting he attended. Though I wasn’t on the Board with him, I was with Jack on the subcommittee that oversaw design, construction and function of the first Omnimax Theater and creation of Genesis, our opening film.

He always arrived late, bustling with documents, as if completing a quarter mile paper chase. Often, Jack began speaking the moment he joined us, immediately leading—even re-directing—the discussion. Without apology, he’d simply describe his previous meeting as a “doozy” and explain its import, implicitly to explain his tardiness. We didn’t mind Jack taking charge, because his focus was always relevant and constructive and rarely legalistic.

Each of our meetings was improved by Jack’s participation. He focused on relevant, significant issues and brought wit, insight, energy and clarity to our discussions. His insistence on progress was as heartfelt and moving as it was cheerful and often, even entertaining.

Jack observed no limits to practical, creative thinking. As a regular visitor to the new museum site during construction, Jack actively engaged with the owner’s representative to the contractor about unusual building issues. An example of Jack’s hands-on involvement was his influence on the seating design of the Omnimax Theater. To achieve clear viewing from every row, a 30-degree slope to the seating bank was required. This created a fall-risk if egress and ingress were both at the base of the slope. Noting that it was far safer to fall forward into a staircase than to fall downward, Jack provided the simple solution: put the exit at the rear (top) of the theater.

On a broader horizon of the project, it was Jack’s advocacy that resulted in the hiring of Mike Sullivan, former director of the planetarium in San Diego. Mike had added an Imax projector to that facility and produced short-subject films. A born promotor, Mike’s successful launch of the Omnimax Theater drew 600,000 attendees in just the first 12 months of operations, bringing significant revenues to the SMM—and after business hours, to the central business district of St. Paul.

In an adjunct effort to bolster the Omnimax Theater, Jack and I became business partners. To help promote similar venues throughout the country, we formed a consortium among museums across the country. Jack tackled the legal work in forming the entity for the group. The objective was to produce Omnimax films, such as Atmos and The Great Barrier Reef.  

But film production, we knew, was only a start. New Omnimax theaters were in the works at the rate of four to six a year. Jack submitted a proposal to the Jerome Foundation to fund treatments of new films. He wanted one about Egypt; I wanted one on China; the Jerome Foundation was interested in a trilogy, so we added India to our proposal. It was accepted, and with the grant proceeds, we went straight to work, hiring writers and film-makers and scouting locations in the subject countries.

Characteristically, Jack took a further, creative step. Leveraging his acquaintance with Fritz Mondale, Jack got us enrolled in three in-house State Department courses—one per country—designed for new embassy staff.

Unfortunately, after successful completion of the treatments, we were unable to procure production sponsors, despite Jack’s dogged attempts to land financial commitments.

Opportunities dried up. Omnimax films were being produced, yet none of the owners wanted to get into film distribution. Jack returned to his law practice, but I had nowhere to go. Jack came to the rescue: I had approached a commercial theater next to the aquarium in Seattle about renting the SSM film, The Great Barrier Reef. The theater gasped at the price I quoted, so on my behalf, Jack flew to the 600-theater chain headquarters in Toronto and spoke directly with the president. Jack’s initiative opened the doors for me, and in just three weeks I was able to strike a mutually favorable deal.      

For Jack’s friendship and beneficence—attributes that he shared generously with so many people—I’ll always be grateful.