The 70mm, Cinerama and Cinemiracle Engagements of Dayton, Ohio |
Read more at in70mm.com The 70mm Newsletter |
| Compiled by: Mark Lensenmayer | Date: 22.10.2018 |
 Dayton, Ohio…home of the Wright Brothers, National Cash Register, The
National Museum of the Air Force and a surprising number of 70mm and wide
screen engagements. This article will document the widescreen theatres and
the movies they played. It will not include the New Neon’s resurrection of
Cinerama page, which deserves an article all its own.This information was obtained from The Dayton Daily News and The Dayton Journal-Herald through Newspapers.com. Many thanks to the search function of Newspapers.com for finding some of the more obscure engagements. Theatres listed were located in Dayton proper or nearby suburbs. Beaver Valley (4-70mm) Beaver Valley cinema was opened in 1977 by Mid-States Theatres. There were 6 screens, with the 4 central screens using 2 projectors each stationed on a platform in the lobby, open to dust, dirt and smoke. After a number of openings and closings, it was finally closed for good in 2009 and demolished in 2015. Beavercreek (1-70mm) The 7-screen Beavercreek was operated by Chakeres Theatres and was opened in 1985. It closed on February 21, 2000. Dabel (3 - Cinerama 3 strip, 15 - 70mm) Mid-State’s Da-Bel theatre opened officially on April 22, 1947. The 980 seat theatre was named “Da-Bel” for the city of Dayton and the neighborhood of Belmont. A few days after opening, all newspaper listings for the theatre became Dabel, without the hyphen. In 1963, the theatre was converted to a three-strip Cinerama theatre, installing a 75-foot screen and decreasing the seating capacity to approximately 780. The 70mm version of Cinerama opened in 1964 after just 2 3-strip engagements. SOUND OF MUSIC set the record for the longest run in Dayton history at 105 weeks. In 1977, projectionist and Cinerama curator John Harvey installed a special lens for screenings of ROLLERCOASTER and A BRIDGE TOO FAR, claiming that his lens would allow regular movies to be shown on a full Cinerama screen without distortion. These appear to be the only uses for the Wonderama process. (An earlier version of the lens was named Ultrarama. John Harvey also installed a version of this lens in the Dayton Cinema East theatre in 1966) The theatre was closed on September 29, 1992. Dayton Mall 1 (20 - 70mm) Christmas Day, 1969 saw the opening of the 1,000 seat Dayton Mall Cinema, operated by Chakeres Theatres. The first 70mm engagement was HELLO, DOLLY, which began on February 19, 1970 for a 14 week run. The screen was approximately 60’ wide. Before the opening, manager Jim Cotterman noted, “The present day female patron has been catered to in all our plans…the décor, with its lushly carpeted lobby…the crystal chandeliers…French-Mediterranean Provincial theme of the lobby which is warmed by the red-flocked fabrics covering the walls. All ladies will be interested in the ladies’ powder bar and the individual vanities provided for them.” Dayton Mall 1 became the prime 70mm location in Dayton for the blockbusters of the 1970’s and 1980’s, beginning with ALIEN in 1979. The final 70mm screening came in 1990, with the theatre closing on January 21, 2001 Dayton Mall 2 (5 – 70mm) Chakeres theatres opened a smaller 375-seat theatre on the Dayton Mall Mezzanine on August 4, 1972. Advertisements called this the “mini cinema to bring you warmth of living room viewing” and “Everything mini except your comfort.” It was also advertised as the Dayton’s first automated cinema, equipped with Cinemeccanica projection. The theatre closed on January 24, 1993. Dayton Mall 4-6 (3 – 70mm) On July 30. 1982, Chakeres added 4 new screens to the outside rear of the Dayton Mall. The only 70mm engagements here were move-overs from screens 1 & 2. Final screenings here were on May 31, 2000. McCook (37 – 70mm, 1- Cinemiracle) Todd-AO opened in Cincinnati, Ohio on June 13, 1957. The manager at that theatre stated that “there is no possibility of Todd-AO opening in Dayton.” He was wrong. On Saturday, March 15, 1958, Herman Hunt’s McCook closed for installation of the Todd-AO 70mm system. The seat count was reduced from 900 to 708 and a 24’ x 48’ curved screen was installed. Beginning with AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, the McCook ran an almost unbroken 70mm series for over 4 years. In March of 1961, 70mm took a brief vacation for the running of a Cinemiracle 3-strip presentation of WINDJAMMER. Throughout the ‘60’s, 70mm was the primary format of the McCook with long runs of Dr. Zhivago, My Fair Lady and Ben Hur. RYAN’S DAUGHTER in 1971 was the final 70mm presentation at the McCook, which continued as a sub-run theatre. In its final years, the theatre ran adult movies. The theatre was demolished in 2013. |
More in 70mm reading: 70mm Cinemas in North America in70mm.com's list of films blown up to 70mm 70mm Engagements by Title 35mm to 70mm Engagements by Year Large Format 7OMM Engagements Month by month premiere list of wide gauge and 3-strip films Chronological premiere list of major 70mm films 70mm Blow Up List Dolby Stereo |
 Neon Movies (5 – 70mm)GONE WITH THE WIND was the first movie shown at the Dayton Movies on August 21, 1986. Ticket sales began dropping soon after opening and the theatre was closed in April of 1988. Aegean Cinemas took over the location and renamed it the Neon Movies. One unique screening at the Neon in 1990 was the 70mm version of APOCALYPSE NOW, which was obtained by the Wright State Cinema department. The last day for the Neon Movies was January 7, 1993. New Neon Movies (26 – 70mm) On January 8, 1993, the New Neon Movies appeared with a double feature format. The Neon should have been renamed the BARAKA, as it had 9 separate engagements of that 70mm feature. (One article mentioned they kept BARAKA in the booth to show as desired.) In 1994, there was even a twin-strip 3-D series. Most of the 70mm engagements at the New Neon were short runs of 1 or 2 weeks. The New Neon is still open. Page Manor ( 5 – 70mm) Century Theatres opened the Page Manor on May 24, 1967. 70mm projectors were installed at the time, but only a monaural sound system. When owned by Telkamp Theatres, Page Manor’s entry to the 70mm club came quietly in 1994, running GETTYSBURG, ALIEN and 2001. The only other 70mm engagements came in 1997. The theatre went through a number of owners over the years, opening and closing a number of times. The theatre was torn down in 2011. Salem Mall (probably 10-70mm) Oh, Salem Mall…how you tempt me. Showing so many roadshows in the ‘60’s and never once mentioning 70mm. So, I just have to guess. For movies through 1970, I have listed the ones that I assume were in 70mm. All runs from 1980 until 1985 are confirmed. Salem Mall Theatre was opened November 23, 1966 with 1,000 seats. One of the opening attractions was HAWAII, for which they gave a record $150,000 guarantee. Before the engagement of PAINT YOUR WAGON, the theatre offered a free preview of the first reel of the film. They advertised that their usherettes were “prettier than boys…and more polite too. We’ll have our Usherettes attired to suit the mood of the film.” After going through many owners over the years, the theater was closed and demolished in 2005. Showcase Cross Point (1 – 70mm) Advertising 70mm screens from opening day, National Amusement’s Cross Point 12 opened on November 11, 1988. The only 70mm engagement was a late pickup of FAR AND AWAY. It closed on June 18, 2006. |
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These are the 70mm engagements in and around Dayton, Ohio. |
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 Date …Title…Duration in Weeks [Projection process other than 70mm] 1958/04/05…AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS…McCook (17) 1958/07/31…SOUTH PACIFIC…McCook (33) 1959/03/20…SLEEPING BEAUTY…McCook (10) 1959/05/29…AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS…McCook (6) 1959/10/08…BIG FISHERMAN…McCook (9) 1959/12/25…PORGY AND BESS…McCook (10) 1960/03/04…OKLAHOMA…McCook (9) 1960/05/05…SOUTH PACIFIC…McCook (4) 1960/06/15…BEN HUR…McCook (38) 1961/03/15…WINDJAMMER…McCook (14) [Cinemiracle] 1961/06/29…EXODUS…McCook (13) 1961/10/05…SPARTACUS…McCook (14) 1962/01/19…KING OF KINGS…McCook (10) 1962/04/06…EL CID…McCook (10) 1962/06/28…WEST SIDE STORY…McCook (23) 1963/04/18…MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY…McCook (10) 1963/05/28…THIS IS CINERAMA…Dabel (9) [Cinerama] 1963/07/03…LAWRENCE OF ARABIA…McCook (15) 1963/07/31…HOW THE WEST WAS WON…Dabel (33) [Cinerama] 1963/12/25…KING OF KINGS…McCook (1) 1964/01/04…EL CID…McCook (4) 1964/03/25…IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD…Dabel (47) 1964/07/24…FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE…McCook (6) 1964/09/04…BECKET…McCook (6) 1965/02/17…CIRCUS WORLD…Dabel (7) 1965/02/24…MY FAIR LADY…McCook (42) 1965/04/07…SOUND OF MUSIC…Dabel (105) 1966/03/30…AGONY AND THE ECSTACY…McCook (10) 1966/06/15…DR ZHIVAGO…McCook (48) |
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 1967/04/12…MEDITERRANEAN
HOLIDAY…Dabel (6) 1967/05/24…GRAND PRIX…Dabel (20) 1967/05/24…THE BIBLE…McCook (20) 1967/10/11…SAND PEBBLES…Dabel (15) 1967/10/13…OKLAHOMA…McCook (1) 1967/11/16…GONE WITH THE WIND…McCook (35) 1968/01/24…FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD…Dabel (9) 1968/02/07…CAMELOT…Salem Mall (15) 1968/03/27…DR ZHIVAGO…Dabel (4) 1968/05/22…AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS…Salem Mall (3) 1968/06/12…2001:A SPACE ODYSSEY…Dabel (20) 1968/06/26…DR. DOLITTLE…Salem Mall (9) 1968/07/18…CAMELOT…McCook (12) 1968/10/11…AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS…McCook (8) 1968/10/30…WAR AND PEACE…Dabel (7) 1968/12/18…FINIAN'S RAINBOW…McCook (9) 1968/12/19…ICE STATION ZEBRA…Dabel (13) 1968/12/20…CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG…Salem Mall (12) 1969/02/19…SOUND OF MUSIC…McCook (2) 1969/03/28…SHOES OF THE FISHERMAN…McCook (15) 1969/05/14…SWEET CHARITY…Salem Mall (6) 1969/07/30…KRAKATOA EAST OF JAVA…Dabel (10) 1969/10/08…GONE WITH THE WIND…Dabel (3) 1969/11/12…PAINT YOUR WAGON…Salem Mall (15) 1969/12/25…GOODBYE MR. CHIPS…McCook (12) |
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 1970/02/18…HELLO DOLLY…Dayton Mall 1 (14) 1970/05/27…2001:A SPACE ODYSSEY…McCook (4) 1970/09/16…WEST SIDE STORY…McCook (2) 1970/12/25…SONG OF NORWAY…McCook (14) 1971/02/03…2001:A SPACE ODYSSEY…Dayton Mall 1 (1) 1971/04/02…MY FAIR LADY…McCook (8) 1971/04/04…2001:A SPACE ODYSSEY…Dayton Mall 1 (1) 1971/05/26…RYAN'S DAUGHTER…McCook (23) 1973/04/06…SOUND OF MUSIC…Salem Mall (9) 1974/09/27…2001…Dayton Mall 1 (4) 1976/09/29…LOGAN'S RUN…Dayton Mall 1 (2) 1979/05/25…ALIEN…Dayton Mall 1 (17) 1980/05/21…EMPIRE STRIKES BACK…Dayton Mall 1 (30) 1980/05/21…EMPIRE STRIKES BACK…Salem Mall (30) 1981/11/20…RAIDERS OF LOST ARK…Dayton Mall 1 (5) 1982/04/09…QUEST FOR FIRE…Dayton Mall 1 (6) 1982/10/08…TRON…Dayton Mall 1 (2) 1982/11/19…EMPIRE STRIKES BACK…Dayton Mall 1 (3) 1982/12/10…EMPIRE STRIKES BACK…Dayton Mall 6 (1) 1982/12/17…EMPIRE STRIKES BACK…Dayton Mall 4 (1) 1983/02/11…LET'S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER…Dayton Mall 1 (2) 1983/02/25…LET'S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER…Dayton Mall 2 (1) 1983/05/25…RETURN OF THE JEDI…Beaver Valley (18) 1983/05/25…RETURN OF THE JEDI…Dayton Mall 1 (18) 1983/09/30…BRAINSTORM…Beaver Valley (5) 1983/09/30…BRAINSTORM…Dayton Mall 1 (3) 1983/10/21…RIGHT STUFF…Dayton Mall 1 (5) 1983/11/23…RIGHT STUFF…Dayton Mall 2 (3) 1984/05/23…INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM…Beaver Valley (12) 1984/05/23…INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM…Dayton Mall 1 (8) 1984/05/23…INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM…Salem Mall (14) 1984/12/07…2010…Beaver Valley (7) 1984/12/07…2010…Dayton Mall 2 (8) 1984/12/07…2010…Salem Mall (5) |
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 1985/02/01…2010…Dayton Mall 5 (1) 1986/05/16…TOP GUN…Dayton Mall 1 (6) 1986/06/27…TOP GUN…Dayton Mall 2 (4) 1986/07/18…ALIENS…Beavercreek (14) 1986/09/05…TOP GUN…Dayton Mall 1 (6) 1989/05/24…INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE…Dayton Mall 1 (3) 1989/12/22…LAWRENCE OF ARABIA…Neon Movies (6) 1990/01/19…APOCALYPSE NOW…Neon Movies (0) 1990/04/21…THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT …Neon Movies (0) 1990/06/01…BATMAN…Neon Movies (1) 1990/06/15…DICK TRACY…Dayton Mall 1 (1) 1990/06/22…DICK TRACY…Dayton Mall 2 (4) 1991/06/07…AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS…Dabel (2) 1991/09/27…OKLAHOMA…Dabel (1) 1991/12/20…SPARTACUS…Neon Movies (2) 1992/06/26…FAR AND AWAY…Showcase Cross Point (2) 1993/10/15…ALIEN/EXORCIST…New Neon Movies (1) 1993/12/24…HOWARD'S END…New Neon Movies (1) 1993/12/24…SHORT CUTS…New Neon Movies (6) 1994/02/04…GETTYSBURG…Page Manor (1) 1994/02/11…ALIEN…Page Manor (0) 1994/04/22…BARAKA…New Neon Movies (2) 1994/04/29…2001…Page Manor (0) 1994/09/09…AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS…New Neon Movies (0) 1994/12/02…LAWRENCE OF ARABIA…New Neon Movies (1) 1995/04/28…BARAKA…New Neon Movies (1) 1995/05/19…BARAKA…New Neon Movies (1) 1995/06/16…BARAKA…New Neon Movies (1) 1995/06/30…MY FAIR LADY…New Neon Movies (1) 1995/06/30…THE WILD BUNCH…New Neon Movies (0) 1995/07/21…MY FAIR LADY…New Neon Movies (1) 1995/07/21…THE WILD BUNCH…New Neon Movies (0) 1995/07/28…BARAKA…New Neon Movies (1) 1995/12/29…BARAKA…New Neon Movies (0) |
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 1996/03/08…BARAKA…New Neon Movies (3) 1996/07/19…BARAKA…New Neon Movies (2) 1996/08/23…THE WALL…New Neon Movies (0) 1996/11/29…2001…New Neon Movies (3) 1997/02/07…VERTIGO…New Neon Movies (1) 1997/04/25…HAMLET…New Neon Movies (4) 1997/09/19…HAMLET…Page Manor (1) 1997/10/31…LAWRENCE OF ARABIA…Page Manor (1) 1998/08/21…TITANIC…New Neon Movies (2) 1998/08/21…THE WALL…New Neon Movies (2) 1998/09/06…BARAKA…New Neon Movies (0) 1999/06/11…LAWRENCE OF ARABIA…New Neon Movies (0) 2000/04/21…BEN HUR…New Neon Movies (0) Thanks to Michael Coate for his editorial help. |
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