“Annie”: The North American 70mm Engagements
“The movie of ‘tomorrow’”

The following is a reference / historical listing of the 70-millimeter engagements of “Annie” in North America. These were the cinemas worth seeking out to experience this film.

“Annie” was among eighteen confirmed first-run films released in 1982 with 70mm prints for selected engagements. Forty-two 70mm prints of the film were reportedly struck for distribution in North America. The RASTAR production and Columbia release — directed by John Huston and starring Albert Finney, Carol Burnett and Aileen Quinn — opened in limited release May 21st and expanded June 18th.

The 70mm prints of “Annie” featured full-frame imagery blown up from anamorphic 35mm and Six-Track Dolby Stereo (“A” encoded). Conflicting information exists as to whether the audio format was Dolby processor setting 41 (Todd-AO 5-screen/1-surround layout) or 42 (Baby Boom layout) or if it was released multi-inventory.

Columbia circulated 70mm Six-Track Dolby coming-attraction trailers for “Gandhi,” “Tempest” and “Tootsie” during the release of “Annie.” As well, other studios circulated 70mm trailers during this period. Ultimately, any 70mm trailers screened during 70mm presentations of “Annie” varied by venue and screening.

Also note that many of the engagements included here had a local/regional premiere or benefit screening within a few days of the stated opening date. Typically these screenings were held in the same venue as the subsequent commercial booking, though in some instances (such as the Fox in Atlanta and Radio City in New York) they were held in a neutral venue.

Opening date YYYY-MM-DD … City — Cinema (duration in weeks) [notes]

1982-05-17 … New York, NY — Radio City Music Hall (world premiere)

1982-05-21 … Dallas, TX — GCC’s Northpark West Twin (17)
1982-05-21 … Edison, NJ — GCC’s Menlo Park Twin (13)
1982-05-21 … Levittown, NY — Loews’ Nassau 4-plex (11)
1982-05-21 … Los Angeles, CA — GCC’s Avco Center Triplex (8)
1982-05-21 … Los Angeles, CA — Mann’s Chinese Triplex (8)
1982-05-21 … New York, NY — Loews’ 34th Street Showplace Triplex (8)
1982-05-21 … New York, NY — Loews’ Astor Plaza (10)
1982-05-21 … New York, NY — Loews’ Orpheum Twin (11)
1982-05-21 … Newport Beach, CA — Edwards’ Newport Twin (10)
1982-05-21 … Orange, CA — Syufy’s Cinedome 6-plex (9)
1982-05-21 … Paramus, NJ — RKO Century’s Route Four 7-plex (11)
1982-05-21 … Stamford, CT — Trans-Lux’s Ridgeway (11)
1982-05-21 … Toronto, ON — Odeon’s York Twin (18)
1982-05-21 … Valley Stream, NY — Redstone’s Sunrise 9-plex (11)

1982-06-18 … Atlanta, GA — Columbia (5)
1982-06-18 … Atlanta, GA — Plitt’s Phipps Plaza Triplex (7)
1982-06-18 … Austin, TX — AMC’s Americana (18)
1982-06-18 … Calgary, AB — Odeon’s North Hill (15)
1982-06-18 … Birmingham, AL — Cobb’s Village East Twin (11)
1982-06-18 … Catonsville, MD — Einbinder & Brehm’s Westview 6-plex (16)
1982-06-18 … Creve Coeur, MO — Wehrenberg’s Creve Coeur (15)
1982-06-18 … Denver, CO — Mann’s Century 21 (?)
1982-06-18 … Edmonton, AB — Odeon’s Meadowlark (14)
1982-06-18 … Henrietta, NY — Loews’ Towne Twin (11)
1982-06-18 … Honolulu, HI — Consolidated’s Cinerama (13)
1982-06-18 … Las Vegas, NV — Mann’s Fox (15)
1982-06-18 … Montreal, QC — Odeon’s Place du Canada (8)
1982-06-18 … Oakland, CA — Cinerama’s Piedmont (5)
1982-06-18 … Ottawa, ON — Odeon’s Somerset (14)
1982-06-18 … Overland Park, KS — Dickinson’s Glenwood Twin (8)
1982-06-18 … Pleasant Hill, CA — Syufy’s Century 5-plex (22)
1982-06-18 … Sacramento, CA — Syufy’s Century 6-plex (22)
1982-06-18 … Salt Lake City, UT — Mann’s Villa (13)
1982-06-18 … San Antonio, TX — Santikos’ Northwest 6-plex (22) [70mm during weeks 12-14]
1982-06-18 … San Diego, CA — Mann’s Cinema 21 (5)
1982-06-18 … San Francisco, CA — Syufy’s Cinema 21 (9)
1982-06-18 … San Jose, CA — Syufy’s Century 21 (18)
1982-06-18 … Seattle, WA — GCC’s King (25)
1982-06-18 … Southfield, MI — NGT’s Americana 4-plex (16)
1982-06-18 … Springfield, IL — Kerasotes’ Esquire 4-plex [replaced with 35mm]
1982-06-18 … Vancouver, BC — Odeon’s Vogue (7)
1982-06-18 … Washington, DC — Circle’s Uptown (8)
1982-06-18 … Winnipeg, MB — Odeon’s Grant Park (13)

Note that some of the presentations included in this listing may have been presented in 35mm during the latter week(s) of engagement due to contractual terms or print damage and the distributor’s unwillingness to supply a 70mm replacement print or because the booking was moved to a non-70mm-equipped auditorium within a multiplex. As well, the reverse may have been true in some cases whereas a booking began with a 35mm print because the lab was unable to complete the 70mm print order in time for an opening-day delivery or the exhibitor negotiated a mid-run switch to 70mm. In these cases, any 35mm portion of the engagement has been included in the duration figure.