One difference between each of the formats mentioned in the column is that most have different “aspect ratios”–that is, the ratio of the width of the image to its height differs between different anamorphic “scope” formats–largely, I suspect, in order to allow the studios to patent or copyright their various processes (many of the differences are quite slight).
At present, the “standard” ratio for a theatrical film is 1.86:1, almost, but not quite, identical to the 16:9 ratio of a widescreen television. Prior to the 1950s, virtually all films were shot in “Academy ratio”, which was 4:3, the same aspect ratio as a conventional TV set. Panavision is in the 2.35:1 range, Super Panavision is a bit wider, and I haven’t the faintest idea what the others are. There are two different lenses for the Todd-AO process, depending on whether 35mm or 70mm film is used, but I believe the aspect ratio is identical.
Just when you thought things were beginning to make sense, several films have been released using different processes for different releases. “2001: A Space Odyssey” was originally filmed in Cinerama and projected on a curved 150 degree screen. As there were only a limited number of Cinerama theaters in existence, however, a Super Panavision print was created for wide release (similar “adaptations” were done for virtually every movie ever filmed in Cinerama). Stanley Kubricks’ “A Clockwork Orange”, is filmed in several different aspect ratios, though during theatrical release, projectionists rarely bothered to “change gates” where called for. The film as released on DVD has all of the changes in aspect ratio intact–it is difficult even to notice and why Kubrick did it, no one seems to know.
As the column notes, a fair amount of the reason behind all of this was simple Hollywood hype. I can recall seeing films which were purportedly “filmed in Fantavision” but did not appear to be anything other than standard theatrical lensing. Undoubtedly there are others out there–indeed, if you’ve seen an oddball screen format, I’d be interested in hearing about it.