The Agony and the Ecstasy: The North American Roadshow and 70mm Engagements | Read more at in70mm.com The 70mm Newsletter |
| Compiled by: Michael Coate | Date: 28.09.2024 |
 The following is a reference / historical listing of the roadshow and 70mm presentations of The Agony and the Ecstasy in the United States and Canada.The Twentieth Century-Fox release, produced in Todd-AO, was directed by Carol Reed (Oliver!) and starred Charlton Heston as Michelangelo and Rex Harrison as Pope Julius II. The films North American premiere was held October 7th, 1965, at the State in New York. (The films world premiere was held September 16th, 1965, at Kristall-Palast in Dόsseldorf, West Germany.) The presentations cited in the main section of this work were hard ticket roadshow engagements (i.e. special, long-running, showcase presentations in major cities prior to the film being exhibited as a general release). Much like a stage production, these typically featured an average of only ten scheduled screenings per week, advanced admission pricing, reserved seating, and an overture/intermission/entracte/exit music. (The Agony and the Ecstasy lacked an overture and instead included a prologue.) A souvenir program booklet and soundtrack album were sold, as well, and, in some roadshow venues. The print types utilized during the films roadshow release were, depending on the booking, (1) 70-millimeter (2.20:1 from Todd-AO) with discrete magnetic six-channel stereophonic sound, (2) 35-millimeter anamorphic reduction with discrete magnetic four-channel stereophonic sound and optical monaural sound, (3) 35-millimeter anamorphic reduction with optical monaural sound. Out of the hundreds of films released in North America during 1965, The Agony and the Ecstasy was among only ten given deluxe roadshow treatment and among only eleven released with 70mm prints (eight, including The Agony and the Ecstasy, from 65mm origination, plus three blow-ups). PART 1: FIRST RUN / THE ROADSHOW ENGAGEMENTS (reserved-seat policy and [except where noted otherwise] a presumed 70mm presentation w/ six-track magnetic audio) Opening date YYYY-MM-DD locale cinema (duration in weeks) [notes] 1965-03-26 Minneapolis (St. Louis Park), MN Park [sneak preview] 1965-10-07 New York, NY State (21) 1965-10-20 Los Angeles, CA Carthay Circle (27) 1965-11-03 Washington, DC Uptown (18) 1965-11-09 Boston, MA Saxon (17) 1965-11-10 Philadelphia, PA Goldman (16) 1965-12-22 Minneapolis, MN Academy (13) 1965-12-22 San Diego, CA Capri (13) 1965-12-23 Buffalo, NY Granada (12) 1965-12-23 Chicago, IL Cinestage (19) 1965-12-23 Detroit, MI Music Hall (14) 1965-12-23 Kansas City, MO Capri (14) 1965-12-23 New Haven, CT Whalley (10) 1965-12-23 Pittsburgh, PA Squirrel Hill (8) 1965-12-23 San Francisco, CA Parkside (15) 1965-12-25 Cleveland, OH Palace (11) 1965-12-25 Jacksonville, FL 5 Points (7) 1965-12-25 Louisville, KY Penthouse (6) 1965-12-25 Memphis, TN Crosstown (12) 1965-12-25 Miami (Miami Beach), FL Lincoln (11) 1965-12-25 Montreal, QC Alouette (8) 1965-12-25 Providence, RI Elmwood (14) 1965-12-25 St. Louis, MO Ambassador (10) 1965-12-25 Toronto, ON University (15) 1966-01-19 Rochester, NY Riviera (11) 1966-01-19 St. Petersburg, FL Center (8) 1966-01-19 Vancouver, BC Park (11) [35mm] 1966-01-20 Des Moines, IA Ingersoll (9) 1966-01-20 Omaha, NE Cooper 70 (11) 1966-01-26 Baltimore, MD Mayfair (10) 1966-01-26 Charlotte, NC Capri (7) 1966-01-26 Denver, CO Continental (13) 1966-02-02 Hartford, CT Strand (8) 1966-02-09 Oklahoma City, OK Continental (11) 1966-02-17 Dallas, TX Tower (6) 1966-02-17 Houston, TX Tower (9) 1966-02-22 Tulsa, OK Continental (12) 1966-02-23 New Orleans, LA Orpheum (6) 1966-03-02 Cincinnati, OH Capitol (8) 1966-03-02 Salt Lake City, UT Centre (10) 1966-03-16 Columbus, OH Cinestage (9) 1966-03-23 Las Vegas, NV Cinerama (7) 1966-03-29 Albany, NY Hellman (4) 1966-03-30 Dayton, OH McCook (10) 1966-03-31 Phoenix, AZ Cine Capri (13) 1966-04-01 Edmonton, AB Westmount (6) [35mm] 1966-04-05 Toronto, ON Nortown m/o (3 [18]) 1966-04-06 Albuquerque, NM Fox Winrock (4) 1966-04-06 Indianapolis, IN Indiana (12) 1966-04-06 Richmond, VA Westhampton (6) 1966-04-06 Seattle, WA Paramount (10) 1966-04-06 Wichita, KS Sunset (10) 1966-04-08 Atlanta, GA Capri (8) [35mm] 1966-04-27 Portland, OR Hollywood (9) 1966-04-22 Calgary, AB Chinook (6) 1966-04-28 Norfolk, VA Rosna (9) 1966-05-17 San Jose, CA Century 22 (8) 1966-05-25 Honolulu, HI Cinerama (5) [seating not reserved] 1966-05-25 Syracuse, NY Eckel (4) 1966-09-23 Fort Wayne, IN Holiday (3) [seating not reserved] 1966-10-21 Chattanooga, TN Brainerd (2) [seating not reserved] 1966-11-30 Reno, NV Century 21 (4) [35mm] 1966-12-25 Fresno, CA Country Squire (8) [35mm] PART 2: SUBSEQUENT 70MM ENGAGEMENTS (second run, re-issue, revival, etc. / unreserved seating / general release policy) 1966-09-23 Oak Brook, IL Oakbrook (1) 1967-01-25 Calgary, AB Capitol (3) 1967-05-04 Edmonton, AB Paramount (1) 1976-03-17 Wichita, KS Uptown (1) [70mm festival] 1977-10-05 Kansas City, MO Midland (1) [70mm festival] PART 3: THE RESTORATION AND DIGITAL SOUND (New 70mm prints with DTS audio) 2005-01-21 Los Angeles, CA Egyptian [70mm festival] 2005-01-28 Santa Monica, CA Aero [70mm festival] 2005-08-27 Austin, TX Paramount [70mm festival] 2005-08-28 Austin, TX Paramount [70mm festival] 2013-08-16 Santa Monica, CA Aero [70mm festival] 2014-08-16 Silver Spring, MD AFI Silver [70mm festival] 2014-08-17 Silver Spring, MD AFI Silver [70mm festival] 2017-07-08 Chicago, IL Music Box [70mm festival] 2017-07-11 Chicago, IL Music Box [70mm festival] 2017-09-20 Somerville, MA Somerville 5 [70mm and widescreen festival] The information included in this article was principally referenced from film industry trade publications and regional newspaper promotion. Special thanks to Herbert Born, Sheldon Hall, Wolfram Hannemann, Bill Kallay, Bill Kretzel, Mark Lensenmayer, and Paul Linfesty. International 70mm presentations of this title have not been accounted for in this work. If you believe this article contains any errors or omissions, please consider emailing the author or editor. | 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 |
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