Far from the Madding Crowd: The North American
Roadshow and 70mm Engagements |
Read more at in70mm.com The 70mm Newsletter |
| Compiled by: Michael Coate | Date: 06.05.2023 |
 The
following is a reference / historical listing of the roadshow and 70mm
presentations of Far from the Madding Crowd in the United States and
Canada. These were the first and best cinemas in which to experience this
motion picture.The presentations cited in the Part 1 section of this work were hard ticket roadshow engagements and were special, long-running, showcase presentations in major cities prior to the film being exhibited as a general release. Much like a stage production, these presentations featured advanced admission pricing, reserved seating, an overture/intermission/entracte/exit music, and an average of only ten scheduled screenings per week. Souvenir program booklet were sold, as well. (Far from the Madding Crowd lacked exit music.) The print types utilized during the films roadshow release were, depending on the booking, (1) 70-millimeter (2.20:1 blow-up from 35mm anamorphic) with discrete magnetic six-channel stereophonic sound, (2) 35-millimeter with discrete magnetic four-channel stereophonic sound and optical monaural sound, (3) 35-millimeter with optical monaural sound. The MGM release, based upon Thomas Hardys novel, was directed by John Schlesinger (Midnight Cowboy) starred Julie Christie, Terence Stamp, Peter Finch and Alan Bates. The North American premiere was held October 18th, 1967 at the Capitol in New York City. (The Royal World Premiere was held two days earlier at Odeon Marble Arch in London.) Out of the hundreds of films released in North America during 1967, Far from the Madding Crowd was among only eight given deluxe roadshow treatment and among only five released with 70mm prints (one from 65mm origination and four blow-ups). PART 1: THE ROADSHOW ENGAGEMENTS (reserved seat policy / 70mm* presentation) * Note that some bookings were not explicitly or consistently promoted as 70mm, suggesting they may have been screened in 35mm. Confirmed 35mm roadshow presentations are noted. Premiere/opening date YYYY-MM-DD locale cinema (duration in weeks) [notes] 1967-10-18 New York, NY Capitol (16) 1967-10-19 Los Angeles (Beverly Hills), CA Fox Wilshire (16) 1967-10-19 Washington, DC Uptown (14) 1967-10-25 Boston, MA Boston (21) 1967-10-25 Detroit, MI Summit (13) 1967-11-01 Denver, CO Cooper (12) 1967-11-01 Kansas City, MO Empire II (9) 1967-11-01 Philadelphia, PA Midtown (11) 1967-11-01 St. Louis, MO Cinerama (12) 1967-11-02 Atlanta, GA Rhodes (12) 1967-11-02 San Francisco, CA Golden Gate Penthouse (1+) 1967-11-02 Toronto, ON Glendale (23) 1967-11-07 New Orleans, LA Cinerama (7) 1967-11-08 Baltimore, MD Mayfair (9) 1967-11-08 Cleveland, OH State (9) 1967-11-08 Houston, TX Windsor (14) 1967-11-08 Portland, OR Hollywood (11) 1967-11-09 Montreal, QC Snowdon (15) [35mm] 1967-11-15 Jacksonville, FL 5 Points (1+) 1967-11-15 Pittsburgh, PA Nixon (8) 1967-12-20 Buffalo, NY Century (6) 1967-12-20 Norfolk, VA Riverview (15) 1967-12-21 Columbus, OH Grand (7) 1967-12-21 Edmonton, AB Westmount (12) [35mm] 1967-12-21 Miami (Miami Beach), FL Sheridan (11) 1967-12-21 Rochester (Penfield), NY Panorama (12) 1967-12-21 Syracuse (Mattydale), NY Cinema North (6) [35mm] 1967-12-21 Vancouver (West Vancouver), BC Park Royal (12) 1967-12-21 Winnipeg, MB Park (11) [35mm] 1967-12-22 Cincinnati, OH International 70 (7) 1967-12-22 Indianapolis, IN Lyric (9) 1968-12-27 Harrisburg (Camp Hill), PA Hill (9) [35mm] 1968-01-17 Newark (Totowa), NJ Cinema 46 (6) 1968-01-18 Chicago, IL Loop (5) [35mm] 1968-01-18 Long Island (Rockville Centre), NY Fantasy (6) 1968-01-18 Omaha, NE Dundee (11) 1968-01-24 Dayton, OH Dabel (9) 1968-01-24 Fresno, CA Country Squire (5) [35mm] 1968-01-26 Nashville, TN Green Hills (7) [35mm] 1968-01-31 Lawrence, MA Showcase 1 (3) 1968-02-02 Akron (Fairlawn), OH Fairlawn (5) [35mm] 1968-02-07 Reno, NV Century 21 (5) 1968-02-21 Calgary, AB North Hill (7) 1968-02-21 Ottawa, ON Nelson (9) 1968-02-21 Phoenix (Scottsdale), AZ Kachina (7) 1968-02-21 San Antonio, TX Woodlawn (4) 1968-03-13 Las Vegas, NV Cinerama (4) 1968-03-26 Salt Lake City, UT Century 21 (4) 1968-03-27 Toledo, OH Showcase 1 (6) 1968-04-02 San Jose, CA Century 22 (9) 1968-04-11 London, ON Park (5) 1968-05-01 Springfield (West Springfield), MA Showcase 2 (5) 1968-05-01 Worcester, MA Webster Square 1 (4) 1968-05-02 Dallas, TX Cine 150 (8) 1968-09-10 Sacramento, CA Century 21 (5) PART 2: FIRST-RUN 70MM ENGAGEMENTS (unreserved seating) Note that some bookings were not explicitly or consistently promoted as 70mm, suggesting they may have been screened in 35mm. 1967-12-22 Minneapolis (St. Louis Park), MN Park (10) 1967-12-27 Milwaukee, WI Wisconsin 1 (8) 1968-01-17 Seattle, WA Blue Mouse (6) 1968-03-06 Newport News, VA Newmarket (4) 1968-03-13 Honolulu, HI Cinerama (4) 1968-03-13 Reading, PA Fox (3) 1968-04-25 Colorado Springs, CO Ute 70 (2) 1968-05-03 San Diego, CA Capri (7) 1968-05-09 Youngstown, OH Paramount (2) 1968-06-19 Erie, PA Warner (1) PART 3: SUBSEQUENT 70MM ENGAGEMENTS (second run / revival / unreserved seating) 1968-03-13 Fairless Hills, PA Eric Penn Jersey (4) 1968-09-12 Midfield, AL Midfield (1) 1971-10-14 Toronto, ON Glendale (2) [Showcase series] 1977-08-24 Toronto, ON Science Centre 1978-08-03 Toronto, ON Science Centre [summer 70mm festival] 1980-04-18 Seattle, WA Crest Twin (2 days) 1980-06-13 Seattle, WA Crest Twin (2 days) 1980-08-12 Toronto, ON Science Centre [70mm classics series] 1981-08-14 Seattle, WA Crest Twin (2 days) 1982-09-26 Portland, OR Bagdad Triplex (3 days) [w/ The Wind and the Lion] The reserved-seat policy, in some instances, was relaxed during the latter weeks of the run. Any non-roadshow portion of such an engagement has been included in the duration figure. This information has been principally referenced from film industry trade publications and regional newspaper promotion, with thanks to Jim Barg, Sheldon Hall, Bill Kallay, Bill Kretzel, Mark Lensenmayer, Kenneth Mitchell and Vince Young. The films international roadshow/70mm engagements 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 |
|
Go to Far from the Madding Crowd: The North American Roadshow and 70mm Engagements |
|
| Go: back - top -
back issues -
news index Updated 28-07-24 |