RETRO GLAMOUR, 21st CENTURY EFFECTS

When you take an old dilapidated building that was "like a shell" and now a "dramatic but not overdone" showplace, you've got Club Ember in the Historic Colony District of Anaheim, California (opened June, 2008). The 6,000 sq. ft., two-story structure is home to a restaurant on the second floor multiple VIP lounges, three full bars and a DJ/dancing are. While the club looks like it's out of the golden age of Hollywood, its home to high video technology.

Getting Theatrical

The main floor of the Club Ember has cabanas around the dance floor. One of the Ember's full service bars is in full view of the cabanas. The bar, located in front of the club's outdoor smoking patios, is where three SANYO PLC-XU74 LCD video projectors are situated. The back wall of the bar is triple-frosted glass and appears to be all video. (The PLC-XU74 features a Black Board Mode which adjusts white balance and gamma correction automatically to project an intelligible image onto darker surfaces or where there is not a true projection screen.) This glass is visible both inside and outside. The engineers here have opted not to go HD with the content for the projections, because the resolution on frosted glass would not improve much. The concept was for adaptable eye candy, not a sports bar environment. Conceptually, the owners wanted to provide simple operation and flexibility.

Take it up Stairs

The upper level of the nightclub has a SANYO PLC-XU101 with 4,000 ANSI lumens. This brightness is needed as a visual backdrop for the entire room. The backdrop consists of 20" diagonal picture splashes across a series of motorized Lutron window shades. This is an astounding effect.

Raising the Bar

The SANYO projectors, teamed with other AV equipment, helps the club management achieve a high level environmental effect. More specifically, the overall goal was to create a "feel" with the video and lighting that enhanced the look of the club without taking away from it. SANYO helped to do it's part in creating an environment that provides the visual sensuality, intellectual interest and appropriate focal points to high-function building locations like the back Club Embers bars.

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For more detailed specifications and connections, check out our Sanyo PLC-XU74 projector page.