Spartacus: The North American Roadshow and 70mm Engagements |
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| Compiled by: Michael Coate | Date: 14.06.2024 |
 The
following is a reference / historical listing of the roadshow and 70mm
presentations of Spartacus in the United States and Canada. These were the
first and best cinemas in which to experience this motion picture.The Universal International release was directed by Stanley Kubrick (2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange) and starred Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov and John Gavin. The films world premiere was held October 6th, 1960, at the DeMille in New York. The presentations cited in the Part 1 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. A souvenir roadshow program booklet and the films soundtrack album were sold, as well, in some locales. And, unlike the majority of the films general-release presentations, these roadshow engagements were presented in 70-millimeter (from Technirama Large Aperture and billed as Super Technirama 70) with six-track magnetic stereophonic sound. Out of the hundreds of films released in North America during 1960, Spartacus was among only eight given deluxe roadshow treatment and only five released with 70mm prints. PART 1: FIRST RUN / THE ROADSHOW ENGAGEMENTS (reserved seat policy and 70mm presentation w/ six-track stereophonic sound) Opening date YYYY-MM-DD locale cinema (duration in weeks) [notes] 1960-10-06 New York, NY DeMille (53) 1960-10-13 Chicago, IL McVickers (23) 1960-10-19 Los Angeles, CA Pantages (61) 1960-10-27 Boston, MA Astor (22) 1960-11-02 Philadelphia, PA Goldman (23) 1960-11-03 Detroit, MI Madison (21) 1960-12-15 Miami (North Miami Beach), FL 163rd Street (14) 1960-12-22 Atlanta, GA Roxy (13) 1960-12-22 Cincinnati, OH Grand (13) 1960-12-22 Cleveland, OH Palace (16) 1960-12-22 Houston, TX Delman (12) 1960-12-22 Montreal, QC Alouette (22) 1960-12-22 Pittsburgh, PA Nixon (12) 1960-12-22 St. Louis (Richmond Heights), MO Esquire (15) 1960-12-22 St. Petersburg, FL Center (11) 1960-12-22 San Francisco, CA United Artists (15) 1960-12-22 Seattle, WA Music Box (15) 1960-12-22 Toronto, ON Uptown (18) 1961-01-18 Washington, DC Warner (24) 1961-01-19 Baltimore, MD Town (11) 1961-01-19 Denver, CO Aladdin (22) 1961-02-01 Milwaukee, WI Towne (11) 1961-02-02 Portland, OR Broadway (8) 1961-02-02 Salt Lake City, UT Centre (15) 1961-02-21 Kansas City, MO Capri (26) 1961-03-08 Dallas, TX Capri (9) 1961-03-09 Indianapolis, IN Lyric (10) 1961-03-09 Vancouver, BC Strand (18) 1961-03-16 Louisville, KY Brown (8) 1961-03-16 Minneapolis, MN Mann (12) 1961-03-16 Rochester, NY Monroe (19) 1961-03-23 Syracuse, NY Eckel (11) 1961-04-20 Oklahoma City, OK Criterion (26) 1961-05-04 Buffalo, NY Granada (12) 1961-05-19 Phoenix, AZ Palms (8) 1961-05-25 Albany, NY Ritz (9) 1961-05-25 Asbury Park, NJ St. James (17) [reserved evenings only] 1961-05-25 Atlantic City, NJ Virginia (19) 1961-05-25 Omaha, NE Dundee (18) 1961-05-25 Richmond, VA Willow Lawn (12) 1961-05-25 San Antonio, TX Woodlawn (12) 1961-06-01 Wichita, KS Sunset (13) [un-reserved seating] 1961-06-15 Honolulu, HI Kuhio (9) [un-reserved seating] 1961-06-15 Nashville, TN Crescent (6) [un-reserved seating] 1961-06-21 Norfolk, VA Memrose (10) [un-reserved seating] 1961-06-22 Columbus, OH Cinestage (21) 1961-06-22 Toledo, OH Pantheon (12) 1961-06-23 Memphis, TN Crosstown (11) [un-reserved seating] 1961-06-28 Hartford (West Hartford), CT Elm (14) [un-reserved seating] 1961-06-28 Washington, DC Uptown m/o (11 [35]) [un-reserved seating] 1961-06-29 Youngstown, OH State (10) [un-reserved seating] 1961-07-06 Ottawa, ON Nelson (7) [un-reserved seating] 1961-07-20 Chattanooga, TN Brainerd (4) [un-reserved seating] 1961-07-27 Tulsa, OK Brook (10) [un-reserved seating] 1961-08-02 Erie, PA Strand (7) [un-reserved seating] 1961-08-09 San Diego, CA Capri (20) 1961-08-09 Springfield, MA Arcade (6) [un-reserved seating] 1961-08-16 Winnipeg, MB Garrick (4) [un-reserved seating] 1961-08-30 Edmonton, AB Rialto (3) [un-reserved seating] 1961-09-14 Providence, RI Elmwood (8) 1961-09-28 Calgary, AB Uptown (4) [un-reserved seating] 1961-10-05 Dayton, OH McCook (14) [un-reserved seating] 1961-??-?? New Bedford, MA Arcade (1+) Quasi-roadshow Wave Two and general release bookings have not been included except in cases where the presentation is believed to have been 70mm. The first international roadshow presentation commenced December 8th, 1960, at the Metropole in London. PART 2: SUBSEQUENT 70MM ENGAGEMENTS AND SCREENINGS (second run, re-issue, revival, etc. / unreserved seating / general release policy) 1961-06-14 Detroit, MI Mercury (9) 1961-08-04 St. Louis Park, MN Park (9) 1961-08-09 Philadelphia, PA Midtown (7) 1961-10-25 Philadelphia, PA Cheltenham (5) 1962-03-02 Edmonton, AB Rialto (2) 1962-04-18 Redondo Beach, CA Strand (6) 1962-05-23 San Diego, CA Midway Drive-In (3) 1962-05-23 San Diego, CA Rancho Drive-In (3) 1962-06-13 Thornton, CO North Star Drive-In (2) 1962-06-27 Cranston, RI Cranston Drive-In (4) 1962-07-25 Levittown, NJ Fox (1) 1962-08-22 Maplewood, MN Maple Leaf Drive-In (1) 1962-10-03 Atlanta, GA Thunderbird Drive-In (1) 1962-10-25 Minneapolis, MN Century (1) [70mm festival] 1963-04-17 Shrewsbury, MA Edgemere Drive-In (1) 1964-01-17 Harrisburg, PA Eric (1) 1964-04-22 Flint, MI South Dort Drive-In (1) 1964-05-20 Los Angeles, CA Egyptian (1) 1964-06-17 Philadelphia, PA Orleans (1) 1964-07-08 Annandale, VA Bradlick (4 days) 1964-07-08 Greenbelt, MD Beltway Plaza (4 days) 1981-05-20 Toronto, ON Science Centre # 1982-11-26 Toronto, ON Palace 1 (1) PART 3: THE RESTORATION RE-ISSUE & SUBSEQUENT ENGAGEMENTS (Harris/Katz restoration / New 70mm prints / Dolby SR audio) 1991-04-21 New York, NY Ziegfeld [restoration premiere] 1991-04-26 Los Angeles, CA Century Plaza 4 (6) [THX] 1991-04-26 New York, NY Ziegfeld (4) 1991-04-26 Toronto, ON York Twin (6) [THX] 1991-04-26 Washington, DC Uptown (4) 1991-05-03 Boston, MA Charles Triplex (5) 1991-05-03 Chicago, IL McClurg Court Triplex (3) [THX] 1991-05-03 Denver, CO Continental (9) 1991-05-03 Seattle, WA King (3) 1991-05-05 San Francisco, CA Kabuki 8 [San Francisco International Film Festival] 1991-05-10 San Francisco, CA Kabuki 8 (6) [THX] 1991-05-24 Baltimore, MD Senator (3) 1991-05-24 Chicago, IL 900 N. Michigan Twin (3) 1991-05-24 New York, NY Worldwide 6 (7) [THX] 1991-05-24 Seattle, WA Cinema 150 (3) 1991-06-07 Los Angeles, CA Century Plaza 4 (6) [HPS-4000] 1991-07-03 Detroit, MI Fox (2) 1991-07-19 Norfolk, VA Naro (1) 1991-08-05 Atlanta, GA Fox [14th Annual Summer Film Festival] 1991-08-21 Hartford, CT Trinity College Cinestudio (4 days) 1991-08-22 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan (1) 1991-08-30 Portland, OR Roseway (2) 1991-09-20 Kentwood, MI 29th Street Quad 6 (2) 1991-09-20 Los Angeles, CA Avco Triplex (2) [THX] 1991-10-11 Richmond, VA Ridge 7 (1) [70mm festival] 1991-10-19 Cleveland, OH CWRU Strosacker [CWRU Film Society] 1991-11-15 Seattle, WA King (1) 1991-12-09 Los Angeles, CA Galaxy 6 [THX] (venue grand opening) 1991-12-20 Dayton, OH New Neon Movies (2) 1992-01-26 Vancouver, BC Park [Oscar/classics series] 1992-02-16 Toronto, ON Cinesphere (3) [70mm festival] 1992-03-20 Seattle, WA Cinema 150 (2) [Kubrick festival] 1992-07-11 Los Angeles, CA LACMA Bing [70mm festival] 1996-02-17 Montreal, QC Imperial 1996-03-24 Beverly Hills, CA Beverly (3 days) # 1996-05-08 Los Angeles, CA Four Star (4 days) # 1997-11-09 Long Beach, CA CSULB Carpenter Center [wide screen festival] 1999-11-05 Los Angeles, CA Egyptian [70mm festival] 2000-04-30 Baltimore, MD Senator [Maryland Film Festival] 2000-07-30 San Francisco, CA Castro 2000-09-07 Austin, TX Paramount [70mm festival] 2000-09-08 Austin, TX Paramount [70mm festival] 2000-09-09 Austin, TX Paramount [70mm festival] 2001-08-30 Austin, TX Paramount [70mm festival] 2001-08-31 Austin, TX Paramount [70mm festival] 2001-09-21 Columbia Heights, MN Heights (3) 2010-09-25 Gatineau, QC Museum of Civilization [70mm festival] 2011-08-12 Toronto, ON TIFF Bell Lightbox 5 (1) PART 4: THE RESTORATION WITH DIGITAL SOUND + SUBSEQUENT SCREENINGS (Harris/Katz restoration / New 70mm prints / DTS audio) 2012-07-28 Silver Spring, MD AFI Silver [70mm festival] 2012-07-29 Silver Spring, MD AFI Silver [70mm festival] 2012-08-13 Beverly Hills, CA AMPAS Goldwyn [70mm festival] 2012-08-21 Austin, TX Paramount [70mm festival] 2012-08-22 Austin, TX Paramount [70mm festival] 2012-11-16 Los Angeles, CA LACMA Bing [Kubrick festival] 2013-09-18 Seattle, WA Cinerama [70mm festival] 2013-09-21 Seattle, WA Cinerama [70mm festival] 2014-04-19 Worcester, MA Worcester Polytechnic Institute 2014-04-20 Worcester, MA Worcester Polytechnic Institute 2014-07-12 Chicago, IL Music Box [70mm festival] 2014-07-17 Chicago, IL Music Box [70mm festival] 2014-08-28 Austin, TX Paramount [70mm festival] 2014-11-15 Toronto, ON TIFF Bell Lightbox [70mm festival] 2014-11-21 Toronto, ON TIFF Bell Lightbox [70mm festival] 2014-11-29 Toronto, ON TIFF Bell Lightbox [70mm festival] 2015-01-17 Toronto, ON TIFF Bell Lightbox [70mm festival] 2015-01-24 Toronto, ON TIFF Bell Lightbox [70mm festival] 2015-12-22 Toronto, ON TIFF Bell Lightbox [70mm festival] 2015-12-28 Toronto, ON TIFF Bell Lightbox [70mm festival] 2016-01-03 Toronto, ON TIFF Bell Lightbox [70mm festival] 2016-08-06 New York, NY Museum of the Moving Image [70mm festival] 2016-08-07 New York, NY Museum of the Moving Image [70mm festival] 2016-09-11 Seattle, WA Cinerama [70mm festival] 2016-09-24 Somerville, MA Somerville 5 [70mm and widescreen festival] 2016-12-09 Portland, OR Hollywood Triplex 2016-12-10 Portland, OR Hollywood Triplex 2017-07-08 Chicago, IL Music Box [70mm festival] 2017-07-13 Chicago, IL Music Box [70mm festival] 2017-08-30 Seattle, WA Cinerama [70mm festival] 2018-09-25 Somerville, MA Somerville 5 [70mm and widescreen festival] 2019-07-26 Hartford, CT Trinity College Cinestudio (5 days) 2021-08-21 New York, NY Museum of the Moving Image [70mm festival] 2021-08-22 New York, NY Museum of the Moving Image [70mm festival] 2021-08-27 New York, NY Museum of the Moving Image [70mm festival] 2022-06-19 Chicago, IL Music Box [70mm festival] 2022-06-21 Chicago, IL Music Box [70mm festival] 2022-06-30 Somerville, MA Somerville 5 [70mm and widescreen festival] 2022-07-01 Somerville, MA Somerville 5 [70mm and widescreen festival] 2022-07-03 Somerville, MA Somerville 5 [70mm and widescreen festival] 2022-07-04 Somerville, MA Somerville 5 [70mm and widescreen festival] 2022-07-24 Santa Monica, CA Aero [70mm festival] 2022-09-14 Tucson, AZ The Loft Triplex 2022-09-17 Tucson, AZ The Loft Triplex 2022-11-09 Beverly Hills, CA Fine Arts [70mm Sundays] 2023-04-29 Los Angeles, CA Academy Museum [Hollywood Blacklist at 75] 2023-07-08 Santa Monica, CA Aero [70mm festival] 2023-11-13 Los Angeles, CA Egyptian [70mm festival] 2024-06-23 Portland, OR Hollywood Triplex [70mm festival] 2024-07-13 Atlanta, GA Tara 4 [70mm series] 2024-07-14 Atlanta, GA Tara 4 [70mm series] 2024-07-17 Atlanta, GA Tara 4 [70mm series] # Presentation not explicitly or consistently promoted as 70mm suggesting may have been 35mm The information in this article was principally referenced from film industry trade publications and regional newspaper promotion, with thanks to Jerry Alexander, Jim Barg, Raymond Caple, Paul Gordon, Sheldon Hall, Robert A. Harris, Bill Huelbig, Mark Huffstetler, Bill Kallay, Bill Kretzel, Mark Lensenmayer, Stan Malone, Rick Mitchell, Robert Morrow, Gabriel Neeb, Bob Throop, Vince Young, and an extra special thank-you to all of the librarians who helped with this project. International 70mm presentations of this title have not been accounted for in this work (with the exception of a mention of the run in London). If you believe this article contains any errors or omissions, please consider emailing the author or editor. |
More in 70mm reading: Super Technirama 70 Restoration of "Spartacus" 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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