“Poltergeist”:
The 70mm Engagements |
Read more at in70mm.com The 70mm Newsletter |
| Compiled by: Michael Coate | Date: 09.06.2017 |
 The
following is a reference / historical listing of the 70-millimeter
presentations of “Poltergeist” in North America. The film’s 70mm prints
consisted of full-frame imagery blown up from anamorphic 35mm photography.
The audio was Six-Track Dolby Stereo (“A” encoded “baby boom” format). These
were arguably the best cinemas in which to experience this film.“Poltergeist” was among eighteen confirmed first-run films released in 1982 with 70mm prints for selected engagements. Thirty-seven 70mm prints of the film were reportedly struck for distribution in North America. The Steven Spielberg production and MGM/UA release — directed by Tobe Hooper and starring Jobeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson and Beatrice Straight — opened June 4th. Prior to release there was a sneak preview screening on May 21st at the Century Plaza in Los Angeles and invitational previews on May 21st at the Samuel Goldwyn in Beverly Hills, May 26th at the MGM Studios in Culver City and June 3rd at the Cinerama in New York. The film’s official premiere was held June 3rd at the Egyptian in Seattle as a part of the Seattle Film Festival. A trailer for “My Favorite Year” circulated with the “Poltergeist” prints and which the distributor recommended be screened with the presentation. The duration of the engagements (measured in weeks) has for some entries been included in parenthesis following the cinema name. Note that some of the presentations included in this listing were presented in 35mm during the latter week(s) of engagement due to print damage and the distributor’s unwillingness to supply a 70mm replacement print or because the booking was moved to a smaller, 35mm-only 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, the 35mm portion of the engagement has been included in the duration figure. ALBERTA Calgary — Famous Players’ Palliser Square Twin (15) Edmonton — Famous Players’ Westmount Twin (15) BRITISH COLUMBIA Vancouver — Famous Players’ Stanley (17) CALIFORNIA Costa Mesa — Edwards’ South Coast Plaza Triplex (7) Los Angeles — Plitt’s Century Plaza Twin (10) Los Angeles — SRO’s Paramount (7) Sacramento — Syufy’s Capitol Twin (7) San Diego — Mann’s Valley Circle (27) San Francisco — Plitt’s Northpoint (7) San Jose — Syufy’s Century 24 Twin DELAWARE Claymont — SamEric’s Eric Tri-State Mall 4-plex (12) DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Washington — Circle’s Embassy Circle (10) ILLINOIS Chicago — Center’s McClurg Court (5) Chicago — Plitt’s State Lake (5) Northbrook — Center’s Edens Twin (6) KENTUCKY Louisville — Redstone’s Showcase 9-plex (28) MANITOBA Winnipeg — Famous Players’ Northstar Twin (15) MASSACHUSETTS Boston — Sack’s Cinema 57 Twin (11) Seekonk — Redstone’s Showcase 10-plex NEW JERSEY Paramus — RKO Century’s Route 17 Twin (10) Pennsauken — SamEric’s Eric Triplex (15) Totowa — UA’s Cinema 46 Triplex (6) NEW YORK Greece — Jo-Mor’s Stoneridge Plaza Twin (13) New York — RKO Century’s Cinerama Twin (9) Valley Stream — RKO Century’s Green Acres (11) ONTARIO Toronto — Famous Players’ Cumberland 4-plex (18) [“La Reserve”] Toronto — Famous Players’ Eglinton (24) OREGON Portland — Luxury Theatres’ Fox (27) PENNSYLVANIA Feasterville — SamEric’s Eric Twin (11) King of Prussia — SamEric’s Eric King Twin (11) Philadelphia — SamEric’s Eric’s Place (15) QUEBEC Montreal — United’s York (10) TEXAS Dallas — Loews’ Park Central 4-plex (9) Houston — Loews’ Southpoint 5-plex WASHINGTON Seattle — SRO’s Town (10) SUBSEQUENT 70MM ENGAGEMENTS & SCREENINGS 1982-07-23 … Sacramento, CA — Syufy’s Century 6-plex (6) 1982-07-23 … San Francisco, CA — Blumenfeld’s Regency III (8) 1982-07-30 … Tukwila, WA — SRO’s Southcenter (7) [70mm from Week #3] 1982-09-17 … Calgary, AB — Famous Players’ Chinook (1) 1982-09-17 … Edmonton, AB — Famous Players’ Londonderry Twin 1982-09-17 … Philadelphia, PA — SamEric’s Sam’s Place Twin (2) 1982-09-17 … Seattle, WA — SRO’s Town (1) 1982-09-24 … Cleveland, OH — Colony (1) 1982-09-24 … Renton, WA — MCR’s Roxy (3) [w/“Alien”] 1982-10-01 … Burnaby, BC — Famous Players’ Lougheed Mall Triplex (11) 1982-10-01 … Philadelphia, PA — SamEric’s Eric’s Place (3) [w/“Star Trek II”] 1982-10-08 … Des Moines, IA — Dubinsky’s River Hills (2) 1982-10-08 … Scarborough, ON — Famous Players’ Cedarbrae 6-plex (6) 1982-10-08 … Toronto, ON — Famous Players’ Palace Triplex (6) 1982-10-08 … Toronto, ON — Famous Players’ Runnymede Twin (6) 1982-10-15 … Renton, WA — MCR’s Roxy (1) [w/“Quest for Fire”] 1982-10-29 … Atlanta, GA — Fox (2 days) 1982-10-29 … Lincoln, NE — Commonwealth’s Cooper/Lincoln (1) 1982-10-29 … Orange, CA — Syufy’s Cinedome 6-plex (1) 1982-10-29 … Pasadena, CA — SRO’s Hastings (1) 1982-10-29 … San Francisco, CA — Syufy’s Cinema 21 (2) 1982-11-05 … Orange, CA — Syufy’s Cinedome 6-plex (1) [w/“Star Trek II”] 1982-11-12 … Los Angeles, CA — Pacific’s Cinerama Dome (1) 1982-11-12 … Los Angeles, CA — SRO’s Crest (1) 1983-05-13 … Chicago, IL — Center’s McClurg Court (1) 1983-05-13 … New York, NY — RKO Century’s National Twin (1) 1983-05-13 … Northbrook, IL — Center’s Edens Twin (1) 1983-05-20 … Calgary, AB — Famous Players’ Chinook (1) 1983-05-20 … Edmonton, AB — Famous Players’ Londonderry Twin (1) 1983-05-20 … Montreal, QC — United’s York (1) 1983-05-20 … North York, ON — Famous Players’ Towne & Countrye Twin (1) 1983-05-20 … Ottawa, ON — Famous Players’ Nelson (1) 1983-05-20 … Vancouver, BC — Famous Players’ Stanley (1) 1983-05-20 … Winnipeg, MB — Famous Players’ Metropolitan (1) 1983-11-18 … Calgary, AB — Odeon’s Northill* (canceled; replaced w/“Apocalypse Now”) 1983-11-18 … Renton, WA — MCR’s Roxy (2 days) [w/“Altered States”] 1983-11-25 … Edmonton, AB — Odeon’s Meadowlark** (1) [70mm fest] 1983-11-25 … Winnipeg, MB — Odeon’s Grant Park*** (1) [70mm fest] 1983-12-02 … Calgary, AB — Odeon’s Northill* (1) [70mm fest] 1984-03-07 … Toronto, ON — Cinesphere**** (5 days) [70mm fest] 2017-04-11 … Austin, TX — Alamo Drafthouse’s Ritz 2017-06-17 … Los Angeles, CA — American Cinematheque’s Egyptian [70mm series] 2017-06-22 … Los Angeles, CA — American Cinematheque’s Egyptian (canceled; replaced w/“The Road Warrior”) The information in this article was principally referenced from film industry trade publications and regional newspaper promotion, with thanks to Don Beelik, Bill Kretzel, Stan Malone, Monty Marin and J. Odenthal. Additional 70mm prints were screened internationally but have not been accounted for in this article. If you believe this article contains any errors or omissions, please consider emailing the author or editor. |
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