[1] It is designed to introduce the widescreen process Cinerama, which broadens the aspect ratio so that the viewer's peripheral vision is involved.

The film begins in black and white and the standard Academy ratio (also presented in mono sound) as travel writer and newscaster Lowell Thomas appears to discuss the evolution of film entertainment, from the earliest cave paintings designed to suggest movement to the introduction of color and sound.

In September 2012, in celebration of the road show's 60th anniversary, Flicker Alley released the film in its original format on Blu-ray disc.

[9] The image was adjusted with the SmileBox format, as was the Blu-ray release of How the West was Won, and the disc includes an audio commentary and other special features.

On October 18, 2012, the Turner Classic Movies cable network aired This Is Cinerama in its original aspect ratio for the first time (also in the Smilebox format).

In May 2018, Flicker Alley rereleased the film on Blu-ray disc with a remastered audio and video presentation again in the original Cinerama format.

[citation needed] In its opening week in New York, This Is Cinerama was shown twice per day, with an additional 5:00 p.m. showing on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.