THE SCREENING ROOM
A year-by-year, film-by-film history of 70-millimeter wide gauge exhibition in Southern California
Compiled by Michael Coate and William Kallay
1968
February 22:
Half A Sixpence
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo
Reserved Seat Engagement
Paramount
Hollywood: [NGC] Grauman's Chinese
Includes West Coast Premiere on February 21
March 15:
Around The World In Eighty Days (Re-Issue)
Todd-AO / Six-Track Stereo
United Artists
Hollywood: [UA] Egyptian
Also see 1956 & 1971 entries, plus Special Screenings and Film Festivals
(1992 and 2006) entries
April 5:
2001: A Space
Odyssey
Super Panavision 70 / “Cinerama” / Six-Track Stereo
Reserved Seat Engagement
MGM
Hollywood: [Stanley-Warner] Warner Hollywood Cinerama*
Includes West Coast Premiere on April 4
Expanded release on October 15, 1969:
Orange: [Syufy] Cinedome 21
Includes Orange County Premiere on October 14, 1969
Additional 70mm engagements:
Beverly Hills: [Pacific] Beverly Hills (Oct. 29, 1969)
Hollywood: [UA] Egyptian (Sep. 30, 1970)
Beverly Hills: [NGC] Wilshire (July 28, 1971)
Beverly Hills: [GCC] Beverly (May 30, 1973)
*Theatre ownership changed to Pacific and theatre name changed to
Hollywood Pacific during course of engagement
Also see 1971 "MGM Fabulous Three" entry, and 1974, 1977, 1980 & 2001
re-issue entries, plus Special Screenings and Film Festivals (1990,
1992, 1996, 1997, 2005, 2007, and 2008) entries
October 10:
Funny Girl
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo
Reserved Seat Engagement
Columbia
Hollywood: [UA] Egyptian
Includes West Coast Premiere on October 9
Expanded release on May 28, 1969:
Fullerton: [Loew's] Titan
October 17:
Finian’s Rainbow
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo
Reserved Seat Engagement
Warner Bros.-Seven Arts
Hollywood: [Pacific] Hollywood Pantages
Includes West Coast Premiere on October 16
Also see Special Screenings and Film Festivals (1990) entry
October 24:
Ice Station Zebra
Super Panavision 70 / “Cinerama” / Six-Track Stereo
Reserved Seat Engagement
MGM
Hollywood: [Pacific] Cinerama Dome
Includes World Premiere on October 23
Additional 70mm engagements:
Anaheim: [Vinstrand] Brookhurst (June 18, 1969)
Montclair: [?] Montclair Plaza (June 18, 1969)
October 25:
The Charge Of The Light Brigade
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo
Reserved Seat Engagement
United Artists
Beverly Hills: [NGC] Fox Fine Arts
Includes West Coast Premiere on October 24
[70mm presentation unconfirmed — engagement may have been 35mm]
November 1:
Star!
Todd-AO / Six-Track Stereo
Reserved Seat Engagement
20th Century Fox
Beverly Hills: [NGC] Fox Wilshire
Includes West Coast Premiere on October 31
Also see 2009 entry
November 16:
The Shoes Of The Fisherman
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo
Reserved Seat Engagement
MGM
Carthay Circle: [NGC] Fox Carthay Circle
Includes West Coast Premire on November 15
[Anthony Quinn placed his hand and foot prints at the Chinese Theatre in
connection with "The Shoes Of The Fisherman" on Dec. 21, 1968]
December 18:
The Lion In Winter
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo
Reserved Seat Engagement
Avco Embassy
Miracle Mile: [UA] 4 Star
Includes West Coast Premiere on December 17
[70mm presentation unconfirmed — engagement may have been 35mm]
December 20:
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Super Panavision 70 / Six-Track Stereo
Reserved Seat Engagement
United Artists
Hollywood: [NGC] Grauman's Chinese
Includes West Coast Premiere on December 19
Also see Special Screenings and Film Festivals (1999) entry
December 21:
Oliver!
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo
Reserved Seat Engagement
Columbia
Beverly Hills: [Loew’s] Beverly
Includes Southern California Premiere on December 20
Expanded release on June 18, 1969:
Orange: [Syufy]
Cinedome 20
Includes Orange County Premiere on June 17, 1969
Additional 70mm engagement:
Beverly Hills: [Mann] Fox Wilshire* (Oct. 30, 1974)
*Double Feature with "Camelot"
More 70mm
70mm In New York
70mm In Orange County