70mm Presentations in Tucson
A Chronology of 70mm Large Format Exhibition, 1968-Present

Another permanent 70mm installation is on the books! The Loft Cinemas in Tucson, AZ just ran two successful shows of 2001 with a pair Philips DP75s. The 7OMM print was magnetic and DTS70 readers and cat. 701s have also been added, January 2016. Picture: Joel Miller of Northwest Projection & Sound in Portland, Oregon

The Loft Cinema and some recent high-profile 70-millimeter releases have given large-format motion picture exhibition a new lease on life in The Old Pueblo. With the installation of 70mm projection systems and new 70mm films from the likes of P.T. Anderson, Christopher Nolan and Quentin Tarantino, along with bookings of classic library titles, Tucsonans have been able to enjoy high-quality 70mm presentations for the first time in nearly three decades.

As with most contemporary cinemas, The Loft Cinema primarily screens movies via digital projection, but the venue remains committed to celluloid as a way of connecting the history of cinema with the future of cinema.

“In addition to our 35mm projection capabilities, we wanted to have the flexibility of also accessing 70mm film prints and sharing them with our audience,” says Jeff Yanc, Program Director for The Loft Cinema. “As the only theatre in Southern Arizona that still runs celluloid film prints, we think it's important to show film whenever possible, and 70mm is the gold standard for celluloid.”

Yanc believes the format is a draw for moviegoers who really appreciate the experience of seeing movies projected on celluloid, and in particular, the 70mm format, which is still a relative rare opportunity.

“I know that we've had people travel to Tucson from across Arizona, including Phoenix and further north, and even from New Mexico, to attend our 70mm presentations,” Yanc says. “The 70mm format makes the experience of going to a theatre to see a movie on the big screen even more special.”

“Seventy-millimeter is quite probably the best way I've seen a movie presented,” says Phoenix-based film critic Ben Cahlamer, who has traveled to Tucson to attend numerous screenings at The Loft Cinema. “Most audiences might not have the patience for reel changes or the ‘clicks’ and ‘pops’, but the picture quality [of 70mm] is unrivaled in the modern age. With the gimmicks like 3D or Large Format, and prolific directors such as Quentin Tarantino with his roadshow version of ‘The Hateful Eight’ and Christopher Nolan's ‘Dunkirk’, the large format as well as film in general is still relevant for its presentation quality, signifying something truly special.”

Tucson got in on the 70mm trend rather late. While most major American cities began screening 70mm between 1955 and 1960, Tucson did not get their first taste of large-format film exhibition until 1968. (By contrast, Arizona’s other large city, Phoenix, got its first 70mm installations and screenings during 1959.)

During the 1950s and 60s many of the 70mm presentations in the major population centers were also roadshow presentations. That is, films exhibited with advanced pricing and a reserved-seat policy (like stage productions) and with an overture, intermission, and souvenir programs. Tucson played many of these, but without a 70mm venue at the time such attractions were screened in standard 35mm.

El Dorado was the city’s first cinema to be equipped for 70mm and over the years played more 70mm releases than all of the other 70mm-equipped venues in town.

“My favorite Tucson theatre was El Dorado’s large theatre,” says Mark Longoria, an actor who grew up in Sierra Vista and would often travel to Tucson to attend movie screenings. “It felt classy and had a great vibe and they always had great presentations.”

Adding another vote for El Dorado is John Hazelton, who works in the film industry in California but grew up in Tucson. “The El Dorado was my favorite by far,” says Hazelton. “Although it was a twin by the time I attended, both auditoriums were large and well-run. It was, in my opinion, the prime theatre in the city. If I could see a movie anywhere in town, I preferred this place! And if a movie was being shown in 70mm, I'd make the effort to see it that way.”

The draw of 70mm for a lot of moviegoers was the unparalleled sound quality. “As long as I can remember I was obsessed with stereo sound,” Longoria says. “I saw ‘Return of the Jedi’ at El Con 6 and was blown away.”

During the 1980s, Tucson Citizen newspaper film critic Dan Sorenson singled out El Dorado for its sound quality: “El Dorado’s sound system makes those in most other Tucson theatres sound like those tinny-sounding boxes you hang on your window at the drive-in.”

The bottom line is that 70mm presentations are appealing to savvy moviegoers. Time will tell if the recent trend continues, but for now we present this look back at the 70mm exhibition history in Tucson.
 

Part 1: The Cinemas

Part 2: The Engagements