The following is a reference / historical
listing of the 70-millimeter large-format engagements of Raiders of the
Lost Ark in the United States and Canada. These were the cinemas worth
seeking out to experience this motion picture.
Raiders of the Lost Ark was among eight confirmed first-run films released
in 1981 with 70mm prints for selected engagements. The Lucasfilm Ltd.
production and Paramount release directed by Steven Spielberg and starring
Harrison Ford and Karen Allen opened June 12th (except where noted
otherwise).
Pre-release screenings included a private sneak preview May 9th at the
Northpoint in San Francisco (70mm? 35mm? 35mm w/ interlocked audio?) and
public sneak preview held June 5th (70mm at Chinese and National in Los
Angeles and State in New York), and a series of invitational previews held
in the days preceding the films release.
The 70mm prints of Raiders featured magnetic Six-Track Dolby Stereo (A
encoded Baby Boom format [Dolby processor setting 42]) and 2.20:1
full-frame imagery blown up from anamorphic 35mm and provided a superior
projection and sound experience in comparison to the films 35mm prints.
Note that some cinemas screened a 70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo print
utilizing Dolby-compatible equipment from another manufacturer (EPRAD,
Smart, Ultra Stereo, etc.), and in some instances an exhibitor made a
special request for a 70mm print that lacked Dolby Noise Reduction so that
it could be played on a cinemas older, pre-Dolby-era sound system.
The duration of the engagements (measured in weeks) is included in
parenthesis following the applicable cinema name.
ALBERTA
Calgary Chinook (48)
Edmonton Westmount Twin (48)
ARKANSAS
Little Rock Cinema 150 (23) [70mm from Week 14]
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Burnaby Lougheed Mall Triplex (48)
Vancouver Vancouver Centre Twin (48)
CALIFORNIA
Corte Madera Cinema (25)
Costa Mesa South Coast Plaza Triplex (54)
La Mesa Cinema Grossmont (58)
La Mirada La Mirada Mall 6 (38) [70mm from Week 17]
Los Angeles Chinese Triplex (15)
Los Angeles National (16)
Montclair Montclair Triplex (27) [70mm from Week 23]
Orange Cinedome 6 (56)
Sacramento Century 6 (27) [70mm from Week 5]
San Francisco Regency I (23)
San Jose Century 21 (25)
San Jose Century 23 Twin (10)
COLORADO
Denver Century 21 (25)
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Washington Cinema (25)
ILLINOIS
Calumet City River Oaks 6 (#1: 27)
Calumet City River Oaks 6 (#2: 1) [shared print]
Chicago Esquire (13) [opened June 26th]
Evergreen Park Evergreen Triplex (20)
Lombard Yorktown 4 (16)
Niles Golf Mill Triplex (15)
Northbrook Edens Twin (15)
Schaumburg Woodfield 4 (#1: 27)
Schaumburg Woodfield 4 (#2: 1) [shared print]
KENTUCKY
Louisville Showcase 9 (57)
LOUISIANA
New Orleans Robert E. Lee (25) [70mm from Week 24]
MANITOBA
Winnipeg Northstar Twin (48)
MASSACHUSETTS
Boston Cinema 57 Twin (27)
MICHIGAN
Southfield Northland Twin (27)
NEW JERSEY
Paramus Route Four 4 (28) [70mm from Week 4]
NEW YORK
Levittown Nassau 4 (27) [70mm from Week 4]
New York 34th Street Showplace Triplex (14)
New York Astor Plaza (23)
New York Orpheum Twin (14)
New York State Twin (June 5th sneak preview only)
Pittsford Loews Triplex (27) [70mm from Week 5]
Valley Stream Sunrise 8 (15) [70mm from Week 4]
OHIO
Dayton Dayton Mall 4 (27) [70mm from Week 24]
Springdale Showcase 7 (27)
ONTARIO
Hamilton Tivoli (23) [opened June 26th]
Ottawa Nelson (35) [opened July 3rd]
Scarborough Cedarbrae 4 (25)
Toronto Eglinton (25)
Toronto Runnymede Twin (25)
Toronto Uptown 5 (3)
PENNSYLVANIA
Philadelphia SamEric (20)
QUEBEC
Montreal Imperial (26)
TEXAS
Austin Fox Triplex (27) [70mm from Week 4]
Dallas Cinema Twin (42) [70mm from Week 33]
Houston Windsor Twin (27) [70mm from Week 4]
UTAH
Salt Lake City Villa (53) [70mm from Week 6]
WASHINGTON
Tukwila Southcenter (26)
Note that some of the presentations included in this listing may have been
presented in 35mm during the latter week(s) of engagement because of
contractual terms or the booking was moved to a smaller, non-70mm-equipped
auditorium within a multiplex or due to print damage and the distributors
unwillingness to supply a 70mm replacement print. 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.
SUBSEQUENT / ADDITIONAL 70MM ENGAGEMENTS
1981-07-03
Toronto, ON University (22)
1981-07-31
Lakewood, CA Lakewood Center 4 (9)
1981-08-21
Des Moines, IA River Hills (15)
1981-09-25
Los Angeles, CA Hollywood (7)
1981-10-09
Sainte-Foy, QC Canadien (10)
1981-11-06
Los Angeles, CA National (4)
1981-11-13
Los Angeles, CA Chinese Triplex (5)
1981-11-20
Lakewood, CA Lakewood Center 4 (9)
1981-11-20
San Francisco, CA Royal (4)
1981-12-04
Denver, CO Aladdin (14)
1981-12-04
San Jose, CA Century 25 Twin (56)
1981-12-11
Montreal, QC Imperial (9) [Version Francaise]
1981-12-11
Montreal, QC York (7)
1981-12-11
Lynnwood, WA Grand Alderwood 5 (31)
1981-12-25
Cleveland, OH Colony (4)
1981-12-25
Houston, TX Westchase 5 (25) [70mm from Week 5]
1981-12-26
Atlanta, GA Fox (5 days)
1982-01-01
Nashville, TN Belle Meade (11)
1982-01-22
Los Angeles, CA Century Plaza Twin (3)
1982-01-29
Knoxville, TN Capri Triplex (7)
1982-02-05
Atlanta, GA Phipps Plaza Triplex (5)
1982-02-12
Montreal, QC Palace 6 (14) [Version Francaise]
1982-02-12
Windsor, ON Centre (5)
1982-02-17
Chicago, IL State Lake (1)
1982-02-26
Chicago, IL McClurg Court (1)
1982-02-26
Huntsville, AL Madison Twin (15)
1982-03-05
Toronto, ON Cumberland 4 (1) [La Reserve]
1982-03-12
Halifax, NS Scotia Square (9)
1982-03-26
San Francisco, CA Cinema 21 (6)
1982-04-02
Los Angeles, CA Cinerama Dome (10)
1982-04-02
Philadelphia, PA Mark I (4)
1982-04-16
Corte Madera, CA Cinema (4)
1982-04-16
Portland, OR Music Box (6)
1982-06-11
Los Angeles, CA Picwood (5)
1982-07-16
Atlanta, GA Fox (4 days)
1982-07-16
Kansas City, MO Bannister Mall 5 (2)
1982-07-16
Las Vegas, NV Cinedome 6 (4)
1982-07-16
Los Angeles, CA Avco Center Triplex (3)
1982-07-16
Montreal, QC Le Parisien 5 (5) [Version Francaise]
1982-07-16
New York, NY Ziegfeld (3)
1982-07-16
Renton, WA Roxy (2) [w/ Raise the Titanic]
1982-07-16
San Antonio, TX Galaxy 10 (3)
1982-07-16
Seattle, WA Crest 4 (4)
1982-07-16
Washington, DC MacArthur (3)
1982-07-23
Atlanta, GA Columbia (1)
1982-08-06
New York, NY Embassy I (3)
1982-08-13
Winnipeg, MB Towne 8 (4)
1982-08-20
Los Angeles, CA Cinerama Dome (5)
1982-08-20
San Francisco, CA Alexandria Triplex (3)
1982-09-01
Philadelphia, PA SamEric Triplex (1)
1982-09-03
Birmingham, AL Village East Twin (1)
1982-09-03
Burnaby, BC Lougheed Mall Triplex (1)
1982-09-03
Catonsville, MD Westview 6 (1)
1982-09-03
Norfolk, VA Naro (1)
1982-09-03
Towson, MD Hillendale Twin (1)
1982-09-24
Los Angeles, CA Chinese Triplex (7)
1982-??-??
London, ON Park (1+)
1983-03-25
Atlanta, GA Fox (1)
1983-03-25
Calgary, AB Palace (3)
1983-03-25
Los Angeles, CA Bruin (1)
1983-03-25
Los Angeles, CA Chinese Triplex (1)
1983-03-25
Montreal, QC Imperial (2) [Version Francaise]
1983-03-25
New York, NY Astor Plaza (3)
1983-03-25
Riverside, CA Canyon Crest 5 (6)
1983-03-25
San Diego, CA Valley Circle (1)
1983-03-25
Toronto, ON Hollywood Twin (2)
1983-03-25
Toronto, ON Uptown 5 (3)
1983-03-25
Tucson, AZ Foothills 4 (5)
1983-04-01
Los Angeles, CA Fox (2)
1983-04-08
Sainte-Foy, QC Canadien (7) [Version Francaise]
1983-04-08
Toronto, ON Palace Triplex (1)
1983-04-15
Edmonton, AB Londonderry Twin (2)
1983-04-15
Huntsville, AL Madison Twin (2)
1983-04-22
Sacramento, CA Century 6 (5)
1983-04-22
San Francisco, CA Regency II (1)
1983-04-22
San Jose, CA Town & Country (3)
1983-05-13
Calgary, AB Chinook (1)
1983-05-20
Calgary, AB Palace (1)
1983-05-20
Los Angeles, CA Chinese Triplex (3)
1983-05-30
Seattle, WA Cinerama [SIFF marathon]
1983-06-03
Norfolk, VA Naro (3 days) [w/ Poltergeist]
1983-06-10
Seattle, WA Crest 4 (1)
1983-06-17
Chicago Ridge, IL Chicago Ridge Mall Triplex (1)
1983-07-01
Wichita, KS Mall [Fri/Sat midnight]
1983-07-08
New York, NY Paramount (2)
1983-08-12
Cleveland, OH Colony (1)
1983-08-31
Cleveland, OH Colony (1)
1983-09-02
Calgary, AB North Hill (6)
1983-09-02
Norfolk, VA Naro (2 days) [w/ Star Trek II]
1983-09-02
San Francisco, CA Cinema 21 (3)
1983-09-07
Philadelphia, PA SamEric Triplex (1)
1983-09-09
Edmonton, AB Meadowlark (1)
1983-09-09
Oakland, CA Grand Lake Twin (1)
1983-09-16
Los Angeles, CA Chinese Triplex (2)
1983-09-16
Los Angeles, CA National (2)
1983-09-27
Ottawa, ON NAC Opera (2 days)
1985-01-16
Toronto, ON Cinesphere (12 days) [70mm festival]
1986-05-09
Washington, DC Cinema (2) [w/
Temple of Doom]
1986-09-23
Norfolk, VA Naro [w/
Temple of Doom] #
1988-04-08
Edmonton, AB Meadowlark (1)
1989-02-24
San Antonio, TX Rivercenter IMAX (1)
1990-06-03
Los Angeles, CA Fairfax Triplex [70mm festival]
1990-06-12
Los Angeles, CA Beverly Connection 6 [venue grand opening] #
1990-06-26
Santa Monica, CA Criterion 6 [THX festival] #
1991-09-23
Vancouver, BC CN IMAX (4 days) [Indiana Jones festival]
1992-12-26
Vancouver, BC Caprice [Indiana Jones festival]
1993-08-14
Toronto, ON Uptown 5
1993-10-02
Vancouver, BC Capitol 6 [Saturday Latenite]
1994-01-08
Boston, MA Wang Center [Indy triple feature] #
1994-04-02
Calgary, AB Palliser Square Twin [midnight]
1995-01-06
Toronto, ON Cinesphere [70mm festival]
1995-05-13
Vancouver, BC Capitol 6 [Saturday Latenite] #
1995-12-01
Vancouver, BC Capitol 6 [Fri/Sat Latenite] #
1996-04-26
Toronto, ON Eglinton [w/
Last Crusade]
1996-05-24
Los Angeles, CA Plaza [Fri-Sun midnight]
1996-06-10
Toronto, ON Cinesphere (3 days) [festival]
1996-09-20
Chicago, IL Navy Pier IMAX [Fri-Sun late night]
1996-11-01
Chicago, IL Navy Pier IMAX (1) [late night]
1999-12-25
Addison, TX Granada Prestonwood 5 [Sat-Sun]
2001-02-16
Seattle, WA Cinerama (1)
2001-03-09
Seattle, WA Cinerama [Indy triple feature]
2001-03-30
Washington, DC Uptown (1)
# Presentation not explicitly or consistently promoted as 70mm suggesting
presentation may have been 35mm
The information included in this article was principally referenced from
film industry trade publications and regional newspaper promotion, with
thanks to David Ayers, Bill Kallay, Bill Kretzel, Victor Liorentas, and to
the librarians who helped with this project.
International 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.
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More in 70mm reading:
Remembering Raiders of the Lost Ark
in70mm.com's page about films blown up to 70mm
35mm to 70mm Engagements by Year
35mm to 70mm Engagements by Title
Presented on the big screen in 7OMM
The Alleged 70mm
Releases
70mm Blow Ups
Which Never Were
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