Ben-Hur: The North American Roadshow and 70mm Engagements
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| | Compiled by: Michael Coate, Hollywood, USA | Date: 13.06.2024 |  The following is a reference / historical listing of the roadshow and 70mm presentations of Ben-Hur in the United States and Canada.
The MGM release was directed by William Wyler (The Best Years of Our Lives, Funny Girl) and starred Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Haya Harareet and Stephen Boyd. The films world premiere was held November 18th, 1959, at the State in New York.
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. (Unlike many roadshows during this era, Ben-Hur lacked exit music.) 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 (2.76:1 from MGM Camera 65) with discrete magnetic six-channel stereophonic sound, (2) 35-millimeter reduction with discrete magnetic four-channel stereophonic sound and optical monaural sound, (3) 35-millimeter reduction with optical monaural sound. The 35mm roadshows have not been cited in this work. The majority of the films early bookings in the large markets was 70mm including all bookings during the first six months of release.
Out of the hundreds of films released in North America during 1959, Ben-Hur was among only four given deluxe roadshow treatment and only five released with 70mm prints.
| More in 70mm reading:
Ultra Panavision 70 - almost like a real story
Motion pictures photographed in MGM Camera 65 / Ultra Panavision 70
To commemorate William Wyler's monumental epic "BEN-HUR" shot in MGM's Camera 65
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
| | | | PART 1: FIRST RUN / THE ROADSHOW ENGAGEMENTS
(reserved seat policy / 70mm presentation / anamorphic 2.76:1 aspect ratio)
Opening date YYYY-MM-DD
locale cinema (duration in weeks) [notes]
1959-11-18
New York, NY State (74)
1959-11-23
Boston, MA Saxon (56)
1959-11-24
Los Angeles, CA Egyptian (98)
1959-11-24
Philadelphia, PA Boyd (62)
1959-12-17
Montreal, QC Alouette (52)
1959-12-18
Dallas, TX Tower (42)
1959-12-23
Chicago, IL Michael Todd (74)
1959-12-23
Miami (Miami Beach), FL Lincoln (48)
1959-12-23
San Francisco, CA Coronet (75)
1959-12-23
Toronto, ON University (71)
1959-12-25
Atlanta, GA Roxy (42)
1960-01-20
Pittsburgh, PA Warner (48)
1960-01-20
Portland, OR Music Box (52)
1960-01-26
Cleveland, OH Ohio (47)
1960-01-28
Kansas City, MO Capri (50)
1960-02-03
Seattle, WA Blue Mouse (56)
1960-02-04
St. Petersburg, FL Center (34)
1960-02-16
Detroit, MI United Artists (65)
1960-02-19
Omaha, NE Cooper (48)
1960-02-23
Indianapolis, IN Lyric (36)
1960-02-26
Minneapolis, MN Academy (49)
1960-03-02
Salt Lake City, UT Centre (38)
1960-03-02
Vancouver, BC Stanley (54)
1960-03-15
Buffalo, NY Teck (40)
1960-03-15
Cincinnati, OH Capitol (41)
1960-03-15
Washington, DC Warner (44)
1960-03-29
Baltimore, MD Town (42)
1960-04-12
Denver, CO Denham (58)
1960-04-12
Milwaukee, WI Strand (49)
1960-04-13
Ottawa, ON Nelson (28)
1960-04-29
Houston, TX Tower (26)
1960-05-12
Columbus, OH Cinestage (40)
1960-05-13
Rochester, NY Riviera (39)
1960-05-13
San Antonio, TX Broadway (22)
1960-05-19
Fort Wayne, IN Clyde (18)
1960-05-19
Hartford, CT Strand (25)
1960-05-19
Louisville, KY Brown (23)
1960-05-19
Syracuse (DeWitt), NY Shoppingtown (31)
1960-05-20
Youngstown, OH State (25)
1960-05-26
Asbury Park, NJ St. James (23)
1960-05-26
St. Louis, MO Mid-City (27)
1960-06-09
Birmingham, AL Ritz (16)
1960-06-10
Chattanooga, TN Rogers (16)
1960-06-15
Dayton, OH McCook (38)
1960-06-15
Richmond, VA Willow Lawn (20)
1960-06-16
Nashville, TN Crescent (13)
1960-06-16
San Diego, CA Capri (49)
1960-06-23
Oklahoma City, OK Cooper (29)
1960-06-23
Providence, RI Elmwood (29)
1960-06-24
New Orleans, LA Civic (29)
1960-07-07
Honolulu, HI Kuhio (15) [evening shows reserved]
1960-07-29
New Haven, CT Whalley (36)
1960-08-25
Lexington, KY Strand (9)
1960-09-14
Calgary, AB Capitol (8)
1960-09-23
Corpus Christi, TX Tower (7)
1960-09-28
Albany, NY Ritz (19)
1960-09-28
Edmonton, AB Paramount (9)
1960-09-29
Erie, PA Strand (14)
1960-09-29
Springfield, MA Arcade (20)
1960-10-06
Sacramento, CA Alhambra (14)
1960-10-13
Little Rock, AR Capitol (7) [un-reserved seating]
1960-10-13
Utica, NY Uptown (10)
1960-10-14
Beaumont, TX Liberty (7)
1960-10-14
Worcester, MA Warner (1+)
1960-11-02
Phoenix, AZ Vista (45)
1960-11-10
Des Moines, IA Capri (22)
1960-11-10
Waco, TX 25th Street (5)
1960-11-10
Wichita Falls, TX State (5)
1960-11-18
Terre Haute, IN Grand (5)
Roadshow runs (i.e. bookings with a reserved-seat or reserved-performance policy) shown with a 35mm print have not been included in this chronology, nor have any of the thousands of general-release bookings except for the few known to have been exhibited with a 70mm print.
The first international booking commenced December 16th, 1959, at the Empire in London.
PART 2: SUBSEQUENT 70MM ENGAGEMENTS
(second run, revival, etc. / unreserved seating / general release policy)
1961-03-10
Portland, OR Hollywood (15)
1961-07-14
Pontiac, MI Miracle Mile Drive-In (2)
1961-11-10
Ottawa, ON Nelson (2) #
1961-12-25
Redondo Beach, CA Strand (8)
1962-06-13
Anaheim, CA Brookhurst (2)
1962-08-01
Atlanta, GA Thunderbird Drive-In (1)
1962-08-30
Minneapolis, MN Century (1) [70mm festival]
PART 3: ROADSHOW RE-ISSUE
(reserved seat policy / 70mm presentation / spherical 2.21:1 aspect ratio)
1969-02-25
Miami (Miami Beach), FL Lincoln (9)
1969-02-26
Chicago, IL Michael Todd (16)
1969-02-26
Detroit, MI Madison (13)
1969-02-26
Montreal, QC Imperial (18)
1969-02-26
Toronto, ON Uptown (13)
1969-03-19
Omaha, NE Indian Hills (14)
1969-03-26
Indianapolis, IN Indiana (9)
1969-03-26
Los Angeles (Beverly Hills), CA Fox Wilshire (18)
1969-03-26
St. Louis, MO Ambassador (9)
1969-03-26
Salt Lake City, UT Utah Penthouse (12)
1969-03-26
San Francisco, CA Golden Gate Penthouse (13)
1969-03-26
Seattle, WA Paramount (9)
1969-03-28
Dallas, TX Wilshire (8)
1969-03-28
Houston, TX Village (8)
1969-03-28
Phoenix, AZ Bethany (10)
1969-04-02
Denver, CO Denham (20)
1969-04-02
Milwaukee, WI Strand (10)
1969-04-02
Kansas City, MO Empire (13)
1969-04-02
Washington, DC LEnfant (9)
1969-05-28
New Orleans, LA Cinerama (6)
1969-06-18
Cleveland, OH Colony (9)
1969-06-18
Des Moines, IA River Hills (8)
1969-06-18
Jacksonville, FL Cedar Hills (8) [un-reserved seating]
1969-06-18
New York, NY Palace (9)
1969-06-18
Sacramento, CA Alhambra (6)
1969-06-19
Montclair, NJ Clairidge (9)
1969-06-19
Plainview, NY Plainview (10)
1969-06-19
Portland, OR Broadway (8)
1969-06-25
Calgary, AB North Hill (6)
1969-06-25
Philadelphia, PA Boyd (9)
1969-07-02
Hartford, CT Cinerama (16)
1969-07-09
Buffalo (Amherst), NY Plaza-North (5) [un-reserved seating]
1969-07-10
Charlotte, NC Carolina (4)
1969-07-16
Orange, CA Cinedome 21 (10)
1969-07-30
Baltimore, MD New (3)
1969-07-30
Cincinnati, OH Valley (7)
1969-07-31
Ottawa, ON Nelson (9)
1969-08-06
Pittsburgh, PA Warner (9)
1969-08-08
Oklahoma City, OK State (9) [un-reserved seating]
1969-08-13
Albany, NY Hellman (5) [un-reserved seating]
1969-08-20
Columbus, OH Northland (6)
1969-08-27
Fresno, CA Warnor (6)
1969-08-27
Rock Island (Milan), IL Showcase 2 (6)
1969-10-01
Honolulu, HI Cinerama (5)
1969-10-22
San Jose, CA Century 24 (8)
PART 4: SUBSEQUENT 70MM ENGAGEMENTS
(general release / unreserved seating / second run, revival, etc.)
1970-03-18
Modesto, CA Briggsmore (3)
1970-03-26
Greenville, SC Astro 2 (2)
1970-03-26
Peoria, IL Beverly (2)
1970-03-27
Greensboro, NC Terrace (2)
1970-04-22
Little Rock, AR Cinema 150 (2)
1970-04-29
Seattle, WA Cinerama (1)
1970-04-29
Tukwila, WA Southcenter (1)
1970-05-13
Toledo, OH Showcase 2 (3)
1970-05-20
Fort Worth, TX Opera House (5)
1970-06-05
Riverdale, UT Cinedome 70 North (3)
1970-06-19
Montreal, QC Imperial (2) [reserved seating]
1970-11-18
Wichita, KS Uptown (3)
1971-02-17
Winston-Salem, NC Thruway (1)
1971-06-09
Atlanta, GA Atlanta (1) [Four in Atlanta festival]
1971-11-05
Toronto, ON Cinesphere (1) [70mm festival]
1972-02-09
Des Moines, IA River Hills (1) [70mm festival]
1972-03-17
Toronto, ON Cinesphere (1) [70mm festival]
1973-11-16
Toronto, ON Eglinton (1) [70mm festival] #
1975-03-05
Tulsa, OK Brook (3)
1977-12-23
Toronto, ON Science Centre
1978-07-17
Atlanta, GA Fox [1st Annual Summer Film Festival]
1978-08-17
Toronto, ON Science Centre
1978-09-08
Detroit, MI Redford (2 days)
1978-09-20
Buffalo, NY Granada (1)
1979-01-02
Toronto, ON Cinesphere (1) [70mm festival] #
1979-02-23
Renton, WA Roxy (2) [70mm festival]
1979-10-05
Salt Lake City, UT Regency (1)
1980-02-28
Toronto, ON Cinesphere (4 days) [70mm festival]
1980-05-15
Tacoma, WA Temple (1) [70mm festival]
1980-05-25
Seattle, WA Crest 1 [70mm festival]
1980-05-26
Seattle, WA Crest 1 [70mm festival]
1980-07-25
Toronto, ON Science Centre [70mm festival]
1980-10-17
Detroit, MI Redford (2 days)
1981-09-06
Seattle, WA Crest 1
1981-09-07
Seattle, WA Crest 1
1981-09-27
Minneapolis, MN Uptown
1982-04-08
Ottawa, ON National Arts Centre Opera
1982-04-09
Cleveland, OH Colony
1983-05-29
Seattle, WA Cinerama [SIFF 70mm marathon]
1984-09-16
Toronto, ON Cumberland 4 (2)
1985-04-05
Detroit, MI Redford (2 days)
1985-04-11
Saginaw, MI Temple (3 days)
1985-09-22
Sacramento, CA Tower 3 (2 days) [70mm festival]
1987-06-11
Toronto, ON Science Centre #
1989-03-17
Detroit, MI Redford (2 days)
1990-04-05
Ottawa, ON ByTowne [70mm festival]
PART 5: NEW 70MM PRINT / RE-ISSUE / REVIVAL BOOKINGS
(70mm presentation / spherical 2.20:1 aspect ratio / six-track magnetic [non-Dolby])
1990-07-10
Detroit, MI Fox (3)
1990-08-20
Atlanta, GA Fox [13th Annual Summer Film Festival]
1990-09-14
Los Angeles, CA Cinerama Dome (3) [w/ C. Heston opening night]
1990-11-16
Seattle, WA Egyptian (2)
1990-12-07
Seattle, WA Guild 45th (2)
1991-01-09
San Francisco, CA Royal (1)
1991-02-22
Boston, MA Wang Center [classics festival]
1991-03-08
Creve Coeur, MO Creve Coeur 3 (1) [70mm festival]
1991-03-22
Portland, OR Roseway (2)
1991-04-19
Baltimore, MD Senator (2) [70mm festival]
1991-05-10
Dallas, TX Glen Lakes 8 (2)
1991-06-28
Chicago, IL Pipers Alley 4 (1) [70mm festival]
1991-08-09
Washington, DC Uptown (1) [70mm festival]
1991-09-27
Boston, MA Charles Triplex (1)
1991-11-15
Richmond, VA Ridge 7 (1) [70mm festival]
1991-12-25
Denver, CO The United Artists Twin (2)
1992-02-23
Vancouver, BC Park [Oscar/classics series]
1992-08-01
Los Angeles, CA LACMA Bing [70mm festival]
1992-09-20
Los Angeles, CA Century 14 [retrospective series]
1992-09-24
Los Angeles, CA Century 14 [retrospective series]
1992-12-04
Seattle, WA Egyptian (1) [70mm festival]
1993-09-17
Omaha, NE Indian Hills 4 (1)
1995-08-25
West Allis, WI Paradise (1)
1996-05-01
Toronto, ON Eglinton [venue 60th anniversary festival]
1997-07-12
Los Angeles, CA LACMA Bing [The Big Sound festival]
1998-03-20
Sacramento, CA Tower 3 (3 days) [70mm festival]
1999-03-31
Indianapolis, IN White River State Park IMAX (1)
1999-05-22
Los Angeles, CA Egyptian [chariot sequence at LACMA conference]
2000-04-21
Dayton, OH New Neon Movies
2000-11-30
Los Angeles, CA Egyptian [70mm festival]
2000-12-01
Los Angeles, CA Egyptian [70mm festival]
# Presentation not explicitly or consistently promoted as 70mm suggesting presentation may have been 35mm
 The information in this article was principally referenced from film industry trade publications and regional newspaper promotion. Special thanks to Jerry Alexander, Claude Ayakawa, Sheldon Hall, William Hooper, Mark Huffstetler, Bill Kallay, Bill Kretzel, Mark Lensenmayer, Stan Malone, Rick Mitchell, Gabriel Neeb, Jim Perry, John Stewart, Bob Throop, Vince Young, and the librarians who helped me research information for this project.
International 70mm presentations of this title have not been accounted for in this work (except for a mention of the London run).
If you believe this article contains any errors or omissions, please consider emailing the author or editor.
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Updated 14-06-24 | |
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