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“Superman II”:
The 70mm Engagements
“The adventure continues.” |
Read more at
in70mm.com The 70mm Newsletter
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Compiled by:
Michael Coate |
Date:
16.05.2017 |
The following is a reference / historical
listing of the 70-millimeter large-format engagements of “Superman II” in
North America. These were the cinemas worth seeking out to experience this
motion picture.
“Superman II” was among eight confirmed first-run films released in 1981
with 70mm prints for selected engagements. A dozen 70mm prints were
reportedly struck for distribution in North America. The Alexander Salkind
production and Warner Bros. release was directed by Richard Donner (uncredited)
and Richard Lester and starred Gene Hackman and Christopher Reeve.
“Superman II” opened in late 1980 and early 1981 in several countries
throughout the world. The North American premiere was held May 31st (1981)
at the Uptown in Washington, DC. The public release in North America
commenced June 19th.
The 70mm prints of “Superman II” featured Six-Track Dolby Stereo (“A”
encoded “baby boom” format with a split surround playback option) and
full-frame imagery blown up from anamorphic 35mm.
Warner Bros. circulated 70mm Six-Track Dolby coming-attraction trailers for
“Arthur,” “Body Heat,” “So Fine,” “Prince of the City,” “Under the Rainbow”
and “Wolfen” during the release of “Superman II.” Other studios circulated
70mm trailers during this period, as well. Ultimately, any 70mm trailers
screened during 70mm presentations of “Superman II” varied by venue and
screening.
The duration of the engagements (measured in weeks) has been included for
some entries in parenthesis following the cinema name.
CALIFORNIA
Bakersfield — UA’s Movies 6 (24) [70mm from Week 21]
Los Angeles — Mann’s Chinese Triplex (#1: 9) [Megasound]
Los Angeles — Mann’s Chinese Triplex (#2: 2) [Megasound]
Los Angeles — Mann’s Village (9) [Megasound]
Newport Beach — Edwards’ Newport Twin (9) [70mm from Week 3]
Orange — Syufy’s Cinedome 6 (13) [70mm from Week 5]
San Jose — Syufy’s Century 22 Triplex (#1: 16)
San Jose — Syufy’s Century 22 Triplex (#2: 4)
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Washington — Circle’s Uptown (15)
HAWAII
Honolulu — Consolidated’s Waikiki Twin (9)
MASSACHUSETTS
Boston — Sack’s Cinema 57 Twin (10)
NEW JERSEY
Totowa — UA’s Cinema 46 Triplex (6)
NEW YORK
New York — Cinema 5’s Murray Hill (14)
New York — RKO Century’s Cinerama Twin (14)
VIRGINIA
Springfield — GCC’s Springfield Mall 6 (14)
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 (or movement out of a branded auditorium) has
been included in the duration figure.
SUBSEQUENT 70MM ENGAGEMENTS & SCREENINGS
1981-08-21 … Los Angeles, CA — Mann’s Vogue (1)
1981-09-04 … Los Angeles, CA — Pacific’s Picwood (4)
1981-09-11 … Sacramento, CA — Syufy’s Century 6 (1)
1981-10-16 … Philadelphia, PA — RAM’s Parkwood Twin (3)
1981-10-23 … Salt Lake City, UT — Plitt’s Crossroads Triplex (2)
1981-11-25 … Cleveland, OH — Colony (1)
1982-02-10 … Toronto, ON — Cinesphere (5 days) [70mm festival]
1982-03-19 … Cleveland, OH — CWRU’s Strosacker [CWRU Film Society series]
1982-03-29 … Ottawa, ON — National Arts Centre Opera
1982-10-08 … Los Angeles, CA — Pacific’s Cinerama Dome (2)
1982-10-22 … Los Angeles, CA — Plitt’s Century Plaza Twin (2)
1982-10-22 … Pasadena, CA — SRO’s Hastings (1)
1982-10-22 … Tucson, AZ — Plitt’s Foothills 4 (1)
1982-10-29 … Los Angeles, CA — Mann’s Hollywood (1) [w/ “Tron”]
1982-10-29 … Philadelphia, PA — Budco’s Regency Twin (1)
1982-10-29 … Seattle, WA — SRO’s Music Box (2) [w/ “Firefox”]
1982-11-12 … Lynnwood, WA — SRO’s Grand Alderwood 5 (4) [w/ “Firefox”]
1982-12-10 … Wichita, KS — Dickinson’s Mall (1)
1983-01-26 … Toronto, ON — Cinesphere (5 days) [70mm festival]
The information included in this article was principally referenced from
film industry trade publications, regional newspaper promotion, print
enclosures, and Dolby records. Special thanks to David Ayers, Bill Kallay,
Bill Kretzel, Paul Linfesty and Joe Odenthal.
International 70mm presentations of this title 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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More in 70mm reading:
“Superman”: The 70mm Engagements
“Superman III”: The 70mm Engagements
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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