Everyone who grew up in the Boston area in the '80s and '90s knew actor Leonard Nimoy from a very special role: he did the voiceover for the introduction to the Mugar Omni Theatre at the Museum of Science, Boston. The audio and video introduction explained various features of how the Omnimax theatre and soundsystem worked. Nimoy was the voice of the film because, as he says in his signature baritone, "I grew up three blocks from here!"
Nimoy died on Friday from end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at age 83.
Listen to Leonard Nimoy's "who put the bomp?" introduction:
View this video on YouTube
After a demonstration of the "omnistorm" where sounds and lights would shoot from every angle of the theater, a short film called The New England Time Capsule played. The essence of New England...is in the way we look at things," Nimoy explains as footage of a helicopter over Boston, a pitch from Roger Clemens at Fenway Park, and traffic on the Central Artery played on the screen.
Growing up in the '90s, going to see a movie at the Omnimax was a huge treat, and the introduction and the short film were my favorite part. It felt so special that this famous actor with this big, booming voice was talking about growing up in Boston. For so many people who sat in those super-sloped Omni Theater seats, Nimoy's voice was the soundtrack to these moments of wonder about science and the world around us.
Wayne Bouchard, chief operating officer of the Museum of Science, Boston provided this comment to BuzzFeed News:
The Museum was deeply saddened to learn of Leonard Nimoy's passing. From a child that grew up just blocks from the Museum's current location, to a career on TV and in films that inspired so many people to explore and instilled a passion for science, he was a natural choice for the voice of the preshow of our Omni theater. Since we first presented the preshow in 1988, Nimoy has helped welcome more than 15 million visitors over 27 years to the Mugar Omni Theater, inspiring generations of future scientists. He was, and always will be, the Museum's friend.
Here's the short film "A New England Time Capsule", also narrated by Nimoy:
