'80s widescreen TVs? (1 Viewer)

[Kyle McKnight]

I SO MISS Incredible Universe. If only I would've had a digicam back then I would've documented the place. The "Zombie Screen" that had a ton of screens set up and spanned to make one...the area to test out RC devices and such, the way I could listen to multiple CDs...the pizza parlor upstairs etc...I loved that place!

With Fry's, your right, it's like "uh...ya, lets go to Fry's".

 

[ChrisMatson]

I never had the pleasure of going to a store, but you had me interested in the history.
Wikipedia to the rescue: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incredible_Universe

Sounds like it was a great concept, but like the old F.A.O. Schwartz stores, perhaps too big and extravagant to have more than a handful of successful locations.

 

[Greg_S_H]

Was that the one in Arlington? I don't remember a pizza place at the Garland store, but maybe I just missed it.

That wiki description is right on. You'd enter to a darkened rotunda where anything could be going on--RC racing, a stage show, a product demonstration. From there, there were other departments branching off, including the music store, the video game store, and the TVs and electronics. The music store was bigger than a lot of standalone music stores. It's hard to believe how much time has passed since IU was around, but the game systems on display included the Jaguar, the Virtual Boy, the Sega 32x, and the aforementioned 3D0. The only CD I remember buying at the time was Queensryche's Promised Land (the day it was released).

The facility was completely remodeled when it became Fry's. Now, you can see the entire store when you walk in. The ghost of the rotunda remains if you look at the ceiling, but there are no divisional walls. In a way, I guess it's better if you're just wanting to go in and find something. But, it doesn't have anywhere near the personality of Incredible Universe.

 

[Arthur S]

For a minute I thought I remembered the Kloss Novabeam, from the late 60's being widescreen, but that just can't be true. BTW, for those not familiar with the Novabeam it was a front projector complete with a curved 6.5 foot screen that cost $6,500. Henry Kloss was so far ahead of his time. He was the K in KLH, desiged some fine speakers, started Cambridge Sound Works. One of the founding fathers of the AV industry.

 

[alan halvorson]

I seem to recall a Phillips crt widescreen in the 80's, but it may also have been in the early 90's - my recall abilities ain't what they used to be. The display was running a normal 4:3 program with three boxes fitted vertically to the right. I didn't see the point of this set then and it didn't sell very well.

 

[Brandon_T]

I remember the movie Heat had a widescreen CRT in it towards the end, that movie was from what, 1994?

 

[mylan]

Close, Heat was made in 1995, although I do not remember the scene. I had a friend back during that time, maybe 1992, who had a widescreen Pioneer that he used primarily for laserdiscs. Everything else like broadcast tv was presented in 4x3. I thought at the time that it was a huge expense just for laserdiscs but of course now with HD and DVD, it makes much more sense.

 

[Brandon_T]

The scene is when Neil goes to kill Van Sant. He is in his living room by the pool watching tv when the chair comes flying through the window.

 

[mylan]

Ahh, I know the scene well, he is watching a hockey game. I'll have to get the movie back down, after all, it is one of my top ten favorites!