The University Cinema as it looks today.

    LIVINGSTON, Ala. — University Cinema in Livingston, Ala., will provide moviegoers a unique look into the past today prior to the showing of Jurassic World.

    At 9 a.m. today and again at 1 p.m., paleontologist James Lamb will make a presentation on dinosaurs and will bring with him bones from a full-grown Mosasaur, just like the aquatic dinosaur featured in the movie.

    The movie will air following the presentation.

    “Hollywood is great about giving you the visual excitement,” Lamb said. “I have to go into these movies and remind myself that it isn’t a documentary. But it gets kids excited about dinosaurs, and we want to provide the science behind the film.”

    Sponsors for the presentation are the University of West Alabama Natural Science and Math department, in partnership with the Division of Educational Outreach and the Black Belt Museum.

    In 2007, the University of West Alabama purchased the historic Sumter movie theater in downtown Livingston.

    The theater received a major face-lift, with renovations including a conversion from film to a digital projector.

    “The biggest change was to digital picture and sound,” said Jason Gardner, director of Student Activities for UWA. “We are displaying as good a picture and sound as any movie theater around.”

    According to Gardner, although the university took a financial hit with the digital conversion, the upgrade was worth the cost.

    “The movie industry was making everyone go digital instead of 35mm film,” Gardner said. “But we’re very excited about that because its a lot easier to put together a digital movie than a 35mm movie. Ninety-five percent of our problems have disappeared because of the conversion.”

    The theater has a strong connection with locals and history buffs, but aside from that does not receive a lot of attention because of its location.

    Smitty Boyd, the previous owner, sold the theater to the university after what he called an enjoyable time.

    “I had several dreams,” Boyd said. “I always wanted to work at a bar. I always wanted to live on the beach, and I always wanted to run a movie theater. I got to do one out of the three.”

    After purchasing the theater in 1995, Boyd ran the one-screen movie theater for 11 1/2 years before selling to UWA.

    With the digital conversion comes new opportunities for the small theater. Typically smaller movie theaters like University Cinema will receive movies after the larger cinemas finish running the movies. However, the theater has begun running first-run films.

    “This week we premier Jurassic World on the same day as every other cinema,” Gardner said prior to the movie’s opening.

    University Cinema offers benefits such as free tickets to UWA students, and even if non-students watch a movie, the ticket price isn’t too steep.

    Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for 12 years-old and younger.