“Almost like a real web site”
 

IN7OMM.COM
Search | Contact
News | e-News
Rumour Mill | Stories
Foreign Language
Auf Deutsch

WHAT'S ON IN 7OMM?

7OMM FESTIVAL
Karlsruhe | Gentofte
Krnov | Varnsdorf
Banskα Bystrica
Oslo | Bradford

TODD-AO PROCESS
Films | Premiere
People | Equipment
Library | Cinemas
Distortion Correcting
DP70 / AAII Projector
 

VISION, SCOPE & RAMA
1926 Natural Vision
1929 Grandeur
1930 Magnifilm
1930 Realife
1930 Vitascope
1952 Cinerama
1953 CinemaScope
1953 Panavison
1954 VistaVision
1955 Todd-AO
1955 Circle Vision 360
1956 CinemaScope 55
1957 Ultra Panavision 70
1958 Cinemiracle
1958 Kinopanorama
1959 Super Panavision 70
1959 Super Technirama 70
1960 Smell-O-Vision
1961 Sovscope 70
1962
Cinerama 360
1962 MCS-70
1963 70mm Blow Up
1963 Circarama
1963 Circlorama
1966 Dimension 150
1966
Stereo-70
1967 DEFA 70
1967 Pik-A-Movie
1970 IMAX / Omnimax
1974 Cinema 180
1974 SENSURROUND
1976 Dolby Stereo
1984 Showscan
1984 Swissorama
1986 iWERKS
1989 ARRI 765
1990 CDS
1994 DTS / Datasat
2001 Super Dimension 70
2018 Magellan 65

Various Large format | 70mm to 3-strip | 3-strip to 70mm | Specialty Large Format | Special Effects in 65mm | ARC-120 | Early Large Format
7OMM Premiere in Chronological Order

7OMM ON EARTH

Australia | Brazil | Canada | China | Denmark | England | France | Germany | Holland | India | Iran | Israel | Ireland | Mexico | Norway | Poland |  Russia | Spain | Sweden | Turkey | USA |

LIBRARY
7OMM Projectors
People | Eulogy
65mm/70mm Workshop
The 7OMM Newsletter
Back issue | PDF
Academy of the WSW

7OMM NEWS
• 2026 | 2025 | 2024
2023 | 2022 | 2021
2020 | 2019 | 2018
2017 | 2016 | 2015
2014 | 2013 | 2012
2011 | 2010 | 2009
2008 | 2007 | 2006
2005 | 2004 | 2003
2002 | 2001 | 2000
1999 | 1998 | 1997
1996 | 1995 | 1994
 

in70mm.com Mission:
• To record the history of the large format movies and the 70mm cinemas as remembered by the people who worked with the films. Both during making and during running the films in projection rooms and as the audience, looking at the curved screen.
in70mm.com, a unique internet based magazine, with articles about 70mm cinemas, 70mm people, 70mm films, 70mm sound, 70mm film credits, 70mm history and 70mm technology. Readers and fans of 70mm are always welcome to contribute.

Disclaimer | Updates
Support us | Staff
Testimonials
Table of Content
 

 
 
Extracts and longer parts of in70mm.com may be reprinted with the written permission from the editor.
Copyright © 1800 - 2070. All rights reserved.

Visit biografmuseet.dk about Danish cinemas

 

“Sweet Charity”: The North American Roadshow and 70mm Engagements
“The musical with a heart of gold! All this scintillating songs, pulsating dances and sweet love that made ‘Charity’ one of Broadway’s favorite hits!!”

Read more at
in70mm.com
The 70mm Newsletter
Compiled by: Michael Coate Date: 24.09.2022
The following is a reference / historical listing of the 70-millimeter engagements of “Sweet Charity” in the United States and Canada. These were the cinemas worth seeking out to experience the best presentation of this motion picture.

The Universal release was directed by Bob Fosse (“Cabaret,” “All That Jazz”) and starred Shirley MacLaine, John McMartin, Chita Rivera, Paula Kelly, Stubby Kaye, Sammy Davis Jr., and Ricardo Montalban.

The presentations cited in the main section of this work were “hard ticket” roadshow engagements (i.e. special, long-running, showcase presentations in major cities prior to the film being exhibited as a general release). Much like a stage production, these typically featured an average of only ten scheduled screenings per week, advanced admission pricing, reserved seating, and an overture/intermission/entr’acte/exit music. Souvenir program booklet were sold, as well, and, in some locales, the film’s soundtrack album. The print types utilized during the film’s roadshow release were, depending on the booking, 70-millimeter with discrete magnetic six-channel stereophonic sound or 35-millimeter with discrete magnetic four-channel stereophonic sound or 35mm with optical monaural sound. (Technically, the four-channel magnetic prints were “mag-optical” whereby they contained both a 4-channel magnetic track and an optical mono track and cinemas sent such a print had the option of presenting in either format.) Also, there were two cuts of “Sweet Charity”: one with a “happy” ending and another with a “sad” ending; the different versions, in North America at least, were not promoted.

Out of the hundreds of films released during 1969, “Sweet Charity” was among only ten released with 70mm prints (three from 65mm origination and seven blow-ups) and only seven released with a reserved-seat “roadshow” policy.

The 70mm prints of “Sweet Charity” were promoted as “70mm/Panavision with Full Dimensional Sound” and featured discrete six-channel stereophonic sound and full-frame imagery blown up from anamorphic 35mm.

PART 1: THE ROADSHOW ENGAGEMENTS
(reserved seat policy and [believed to be] 70mm except where noted)

Premiere/Opening date YYYY-MM-DD … locale — cinema (duration in weeks) [notes]

1968-12-06 … Phoenix, AZ — Bethany [sneak preview]
1968-12-07 … Chicago (Oak Brook), IL — Cinema 150 [sneak preview]

1969-02-11 … Boston, MA — Saxon (19) [simultaneous premiere at Music Hall]
1969-02-27 … Miami (Miami Beach), FL — Colony (19)

1969-03-19 … Philadelphia, PA — Stanley (16)
1969-03-21 … Pittsburgh, PA — Nixon (13)
1969-03-27 … Chicago, IL — Bismarck (13)
1969-03-27 … Cincinnati, OH — Carousel (9)
1969-03-27 … Columbus, OH — Cinestage (18)
1969-03-27 … Detroit, MI — United Artists (14)
1969-03-28 … Los Angeles, CA — Pantages (20)
1969-03-28 … San Francisco, CA — St. Francis (9)

1969-04-01 … Cleveland (South Euclid), OH — Fox Cedar-Center (15)
1969-04-01 … Denver, CO — Centre (12)
1969-04-01 … New York, NY — Rivoli (19)
1969-04-01 … Providence, RI — Elmwood (1+)
1969-04-03 … Toronto, ON — University (13)

1969-05-14 … Dayton (Trotwood), OH — Salem Mall (6)
1969-05-15 … Charlotte, NC — Carolina (8)
1969-05-15 … Dallas, TX — Inwood (11)
1969-05-15 … Fort Worth, TX — Opera House (12)
1969-05-15 … Phoenix (Scottsdale), AZ — Kachina (15)
1969-05-15 … San Diego, CA — Cinerama (13)
1969-05-16 … Houston, TX — Alabama (12)
1969-05-16 … New Haven (Hamden), CT — Cinemart (15)
1969-05-16 … Portland, OR — Fox (8)
1969-05-22 … Buffalo (Amherst), NY — Plaza-North (5)
1969-05-22 … Des Moines, IA — Ingersoll (11)
1969-05-22 … Hartford (West Hartford), CT — Elm (7)
1969-05-22 … Honolulu, HI — Kuhio (11)
1969-05-22 … Louisville, KY — Showcase 1 (6)
1969-05-22 … Montreal, QC — Seville (10)
1969-05-22 … Salt Lake City, UT — Villa (11)
1969-05-22 … Springfield (West Springfield), MA — Palace (12)
1969-05-22 … Toledo, OH — Showcase 1 (10)
1969-05-23 … Atlanta, GA — Georgia (8)
1969-05-23 … San Antonio, TX — Broadway (5)
1969-05-27 … Kansas City, MO — Capri (10)
1969-05-28 … Atlantic City, NJ — Virginia (11)
1969-05-28 … Oklahoma City, OK — Quail 1 (8)
1969-05-28 … Richmond, VA — Westhampton (8)
1969-05-28 … St. Louis, MO — Ambassador (6)
1969-05-28 … Syracuse (DeWitt), NY — Shoppingtown II (8)
1969-05-29 … Jacksonville, FL — 5 Points (8)

1969-06-05 … Indianapolis, IN — Georgetown (10) [35mm]
1969-06-06 … Nashville, TN — Belle Meade (7)
1969-06-06 … Orlando, FL — Beacham (6)
1969-06-10 … Sacramento, CA — Century 22 (6)
1969-06-11 … Worcester, MA — Showcase 1 (4)
1969-06-12 … Calgary, AB — Odeon (7)
1969-06-12 … Fresno, CA — Country Squire (11) [35mm]
1969-06-12 … Las Vegas, NV — Cinerama (11)
1969-06-12 … Moline (Rock Island), IL — Capri (6) [35mm]
1969-06-12 … Vancouver, BC — Park (7) [35mm]
1969-06-12 … Wichita, KS — Sunset (7)
1969-06-12 … Winnipeg, MB — Kings (7) [35mm]
1969-06-19 … Akron, OH — Fairlawn (8) [35mm]
1969-06-19 … Harrisburg, PA — Eric (1+)
1969-06-19 … New Orleans, LA — Saenger-Orleans (9)
1969-06-20 … Albuquerque, NM — Sunshine (6)
1969-06-25 … Albany, NY — Hellman (7)
1969-06-25 … Birmingham, AL — Ritz (5)
1969-06-25 … Edmonton, AB — Avenue (6) [35mm]
1969-06-25 … Milwaukee, WI — Wisconsin 1 (5)
1969-06-25 … Long Island (Hicksville), NY — Twin South (8)
1969-06-25 … Newark (Union), NJ — Union (15)
1969-06-25 … Omaha, NE — Indian Hills (7)
1969-06-25 … Washington, DC — Uptown (13)
1969-06-25 … Youngstown, OH — Uptown (8)
1969-06-26 … Baltimore, MD — New (5)
1969-06-26 … Norfolk, VA — Lee (5) [35mm]
1969-06-26 … Ottawa, ON — Nelson (5)
1969-06-26 … Rochester (Henrietta), NY — Towne 1 (6)
1969-06-27 … St. Petersburg, FL — Crossroads (7)

1969-07-09 … Lawrence, MA — Showcase 1 (7)
1969-07-09 … Seattle, WA — Paramount (6)
1969-07-16 … El Paso, TX — Northgate (4) [35mm]
1969-07-16 … Minneapolis (St. Louis Park), MN — Cooper (16)
1969-07-18 … Hamilton, ON — Centre Twin West (7)

1969-08-06 … San Jose, CA — Century 25 (11)
1969-08-07 … Memphis, TN — Paramount (8)

1969-11-12 … Reno, NV — Century 21 (2)

PART 2: SUBSEQUENT 70MM ENGAGEMENTS AND SCREENINGS
(unreserved seating / general-release policy)

1969-10-15 … King of Prussia, PA — Plaza (2)
1969-10-15 … Moorestown, NJ — Plaza Moorestown (2)
1969-10-17 … Calumet City, IL — River Oaks (2)
1969-10-17 … Oak Brook, IL — Oakbrook (2)
1969-11-05 … Moorestown, NJ — Plaza Moorestown (2)
1969-11-20 … Newport News, VA — Newmarket (2)

1970-02-11 … Knoxville, TN — Capri (1)

1975-09-10 … Bloomington, MN — Southtown (1) [70mm musical festival]

1992-07-24 … Los Angeles, CA — LACMA Leo S. Bing [70mm festival]

“Sweet Charity” screened at the Cannes Film Festival, out of competition, on May 8th, 1969. The first roadshow engagement held outside North America was in London (at Odeon Leicester Square) and commenced February 25th, 1969. The first foreign-language roadshow engagement was in Mexico City (at Cine Manacar) and commenced June 19th, 1969. The first of thousands of domestic (mostly) 35mm general-release engagements were held during the summer of 1969.

The information included in this article was principally referenced from film industry trade publications, regional newspaper promotion, and print enclosures. Special thanks to Bill Kallay and Bill Kretzel.

International 70mm engagements 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.
 
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: back - top - back issues - news index
Updated 28-07-24