(By Ma Zhiheng, science fiction and science writer, original work, reproduced with credit to Knowledge is Power)
(Foucault Pendulum allows one to visualize the rotation of the Earth, Contributed by: Griffith Observatory)
After this expansion, Griffith Observatory has six different themed exhibit areas in addition to the Samuel Oschin Astronomical Theatre and the Leonard Nimoy Sci-fi Film Theatre. In addition to the Samuel Oschin Theater and the Leonard Nimoy Science Film Theater, the Griffith Observatory has six different themed exhibit areas: the William Myron Keck Foundation Rotunda, the Wilder Room (Eye Room), the Ahmanson Room (Space Room), the Cosmic Corridor, the Gunther Room (Deep Space Room), and the "Edge of the Universe" mezzanine. It also boasts the catering service "The Restaurant at the End of the Universe", a name that apparently pays homage to The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, the second book in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series of science fiction novels by British sci-fi author Douglas Adams.
The William Myron Keck Foundation Rotunda, the equivalent of the Observatory exhibit's Prologue, features a Foucault Pendulum, which was commissioned when the Observatory was built in 1935, in the center of the room, so that visitors can recognize the fact that the Earth rotates on its axis. Above the Foucault pendulum are murals of astronomical subjects. In the Rotunda, there is also a small exhibition that allows visitors to learn about Griffith's decision to donate funds for the construction of the Observatory. Between this hall and the planetarium theater is a gallery displaying astronomical photographs and other artwork.
(Mia and Sebastian hold hands next to the Foucault Pendulum, "Philharmonia" photo)
The theme of the Wilder Room is "The Eye," which showcases the advancement of the means of astronomical observation from the telescopes of Galileo's time to the sophisticated instruments used by modern astronomers. The dome above the east side of the hall houses the 12-inch aperture Zeiss telescope, which has been in operation since 1935. Since its completion, the observatory has received more than 7 million visitors. Whenever there is a major astronomical event, such as the return of Halley's Comet in 1986, this is the "hot spot" for the entire observatory.
(The theme of the Wilder Room is "The Eye", showing the progress of human astronomical observation, photo: Griffith Observatory)
(12-inch Zeiss telescope, photo: Griffith Observatory)
(Mia and Sebastian visit the Wilder Room, a still from "Philharmagic") )
At the entrance to Wilder Hall, there is also a rare Tesla coil. This high-voltage discharge device was built by the hands of American flight pioneer Earl Ovington in 1910. At that time, the famous inventor opened a medical equipment company specializing in the production of high-voltage generators for hospital X-ray machines and electrotherapy instruments. For commercial promotion to attract orders, he built this Tesla coil to perform high-voltage discharge shows.
Before he passed away in 1936, Ovington gave the Tesla coil to an old colleague, Frederick Finch Strong, who in turn donated it to the Griffith Observatory the following year. By that time, the coil had lost some parts and was no longer available for demonstrations. Fortunately, with the help of sci-fi movie stunt expert Kenneth Strickfaden, Observatory staff member Leon Hall managed to restore it and keep it in service in the showroom to this day.
(The Tesla coil at the entrance to Wilder Hall, which performs a high-voltage electrical discharge and was featured in "Philharmagic," photo: Griffith Observatory)
Amanson Hall's theme is "The Sky," and it showcases the nature of astronomical phenomena such as solar activity, including sunspots, and the changing seasons of the Earth, extreme day and night, and the phases of the moon. A telescope for observing the sun is mounted in the dome above the west side of the hall.
As long as the weather is clear, the telescope will use a fixed sky mirror to "track" the sun, so that people can see sunspots and other solar activity "live". When an eclipse occurs, visitors can watch the sun being obscured here.
(Solar activity display in Ahmanson Hall, courtesy Griffith Observatory)
(Telescope used to observe the sun, courtesy Griffith Observatory)
The Cosmic Corridor, a cane-shaped, accessible corridor that connects the upper and lower floors of the Observatory, has been transformed into an innovative exhibit area. Here, nearly 2,200 pieces of astronomical jewelry (earrings, etc.) from the 25-year collection of the Observatory's longtime friend, Carla Nack, are carefully arranged according to subject matter to chart the "history" of the universe from the Big Bang to man's entry into the space age, a span of 13.7 billion years.
(Part of the history of the universe made up of nearly 2,200 pieces of astronomical jewelry, photo: Griffith Observatory)
The theme of Gunther Hall and the "Edge of the Universe" mezzanine is "deep space". In recent years, space observations, especially deep space exploration, have improved mankind's understanding of the universe itself and the place of the solar system in it. In this section, visitors can see the results of astronomers' exploration of extrasolar planets, as well as the latest in astronomy, such as lunar exploration and the recovery and study of meteorites.
The newly opened underground exhibit also features one of the world's largest astronomical photographs: the 150-foot-long (46-meter), 20-foot-high (6.1-meter) "Big Picture," which was created by 13 astronomical photographers. A collaboration of 13 experts in astrophotography and image processing, the photograph captures the Virgo Cluster of galaxies, which contains more than 2,000 galaxies. It makes an interesting and interconnected exhibit, along with an equal-scale bronze statue of Albert Einstein and several telescopes on the "Edge of the Universe" mezzanine.
(The "Big Picture" in Gunther Hall, courtesy Griffith Observatory)
(Einstein bronze statue, courtesy Griffith Observatory)
Einstein stretched out his right hand and placed his forefinger 30 centimeters in front of his eyes, a gesture with a deeper meaning: if a man blocks the night sky with his finger, he will be able to see the sky. If one were to block such a small area of the night sky with one's finger, most people would probably just think they would see a few less stars; this is the area of the sky captured in the "Big Picture".
Or rather, the more than 2,000 galaxies in the photo contain an unknown number of objects waiting to be understood. Whether you're sitting next to a bronze statue of Albert Einstein viewing the "Big Picture" with your naked eye or on the mezzanine level with a telescope, you'll be amazed by the vastness of the universe.
Film and TV "hot spot"
Perhaps because of the futuristic nature of the building itself and its proximity to Hollywood, the center of the U.S. film industry, the Griffith Observatory has been the setting for many movies, TV shows, music videos and other literary works since it was built. Movies filmed here tend to be sci-fi, horror or action films, as well as productions that want to place special emphasis on the fact that the story takes place in Los Angeles.
The first movie to be set at Griffith Observatory was the 1935 series of shorts called "The Phantom Empire" (the movie consisted of 12 shorts but could be linked together to play as a full-length movie). In these films, which were a mix of westerns, song and dance, and science fiction, singing cowboy Keenan O'Derry is friends with two kids who like to play "Thunder Riders". In the children's game, the Thunder Riders come from an unknown civilization and ride with the sound of thunder.
One day, Audrey and the two children are abducted by the real Thunder Rider, who suddenly appears, and they discover that the legend is true, and that there is an ancient civilization living underneath their farm that is extremely advanced in technology. This civilization is the descendant of the "M civilization" that moved underground 100,000 years ago due to climate change, and is now ruled by the evil Queen Tika. Underground, revolutionaries are plotting to overthrow Tikal's rule, while above ground, a crime syndicate led by Professor Bittleson is attempting to infiltrate the underground in order to seize the enormous amounts of radium stockpiled by the descendants of the M civilization.......
() Poster for "Ghost Empire," History Pictures)
There's no shortage of movies set at the Griffith Observatory that are beloved masterpieces. In addition to "Philharmagic," the sci-fi action blockbuster "The Terminator," released in 1984, had some scenes shot there, and the comedy "Who Framed Roger Rabbit," released in 1988, brought a refreshing change of pace to the audience by casting both live-action and animated figures together. The passageway into Toontown, where the animated characters live, is actually a tunnel into Griffith Observatory.
As for "Rebel Without a Cause," which is referenced in "City of Love," there was a lot of filming at Griffith Observatory. Rebel Without a Cause, a film reflecting the confused state of American teenagers in the 1950s, features Jim, a rebellious high school student who often clashes with his family and seeks excitement by racing cars, and who drinks heavily and gets into trouble from time to time, forcing his parents to move frequently and himself to change schools often.
After transferring to a school in Los Angeles, Jim becomes friends with Pluto and Judy, but has constant run-ins with Judy's boyfriend, Buzz, the leader of the campus gang. The two men agree to fight each other in a duel for their lives, where they drive off a cliff at the same time and whoever jumps out of the car first concedes. Jim makes the jump in the nick of time, while Buzz is killed when his clothes get caught in the car door. Due to a great deal of misunderstanding and hot-headedness, this incident caused a conflict between Buzz's remaining party and Jim and others, as well as the police, and led to Pluto being accidentally killed by the police in the observatory.
In addition to the confrontation and violent scene at the end of the movie, the episode in which Jim and Buzz go to war takes place at the Griffith Observatory. Prior to that, Jim had just listened to a science lecture with his classmates in the observatory about a future in which the sun will evolve into a red giant star and destroy the Earth, the passage that was referenced in "Lovejoy. Rebel Without a Cause sets up such a plot, possibly to show the protagonist's sense of confusion or disillusionment.
(A number of scenes in "Rebel Without a Cause" were set at the Griffith Observatory; stills from "Rebel Without a Cause")
Unfortunately, James Dean, who plays Jim in the film, was not able to see the release of his breakout film. Dean, who was also a keen drag racer in real life, was killed in a traffic accident on September 30, 1955, at the age of 24, while racing his car. At this time, he had just finished filming his part in his last movie, "Legend of the Giants".
Edited by Liu Weiqiong
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