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
1977
March 14:
Nights And Days (“Noce I Dnie”)
65mm Origination (Uncredited) / Six-Track Stereo
Westwood Village: [Mann] Village
Los Angeles International Film Exposition (FILMEX) screening; shown once
Additional 70mm FILMEX Screening:
Century City: [Plitt] Century Plaza (Mar. 21)
May 25:
Star Wars
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
Lucasfilm Ltd./20th Century Fox
"A long time ago in galaxy far, far away...."
Hollywood: [Mann] Chinese*
Orange: [Plitt] CityCenter
Westwood Village: [GCC] Avco Center
Expanded Release on July 6:
Century City: [Plitt] Century Plaza**
Newport Beach: [Edwards] Newport
Additional 70mm Engagements:
Hollywood: [Mann] Hollywood (June 24)
Hollywood: [Mann] Chinese* (Aug. 3)
Santa Barbara: [Metropolitan] Granada (Sep. 18)
*Engagement ran initially from May 25 - June 23. The Chinese, honoring a
prior commitment, screened "Sorcerer" beginning June 24, at which time
"Star Wars" was moved to the Hollywood Theatre. "Star Wars" returned to
the Chinese on August 3, the first time in the famous theatre's
then-fifty-year history a film played a second first-run engagement.
**Engagement interrupted April 13 - May 7, 1978 for FILMEX screenings
"Enjoy The Full Effects As Presented In Magnificent 70mm And Dolby
High-Fidelity Stereophonic Sound"
"The Force Is Back In 70mm-Dolby!"
"Star Wars At Edwards Newport Cinema Now On The Largest Screen West Of
New York... 75 Feet Wide By 35 Feet Tall... Presented In Full 70mm And
Six Track Stereo... Dolby System"
Also see 1978, 1979, 1981 & 1982 entries, and 1985 “Return Of The Jedi”
re-issue entry
[R2-D2, C-3PO & Darth Vader placed their hand, foot and droid prints at
the Chinese Theatre in connection with the return engagement of "Star
Wars" on Aug. 3, 1977]
June 14:
Metamorphoses
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo
Sanrio
Century City: [Plitt] Century Plaza
Exhibitor and record industry trade screening; shown one time only —
1978 release in 35mm
July 17:
2001: A Space Odyssey (Re-Issue)
Super Panavision 70 / "Cinerama" / Six-Track Stereo
MGM (United Artists)
"Before 'Star Wars' There Was...And There Always Will Be '2001: A Space
Odyssey' Now In Cinerama, 70mm & 6-Track Stereo Sound"
Hollywood: [Pacific] Cinerama Dome
Also see 1968, 1974, 1980 & 2001 entries, and 1971 "MGM Fabulous Three"
entry, plus Special Screenings and Film Festivals (1990, 1992, 1996,
1997, 2005, 2007, and 2008) entries
September 23:
Tommy (Re-Issue)
Spherical Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo
Columbia
“Now...For The First Time Ever! Supersonic 70mm And Super-Mind-Blowing
Ultrasonic Stereo.”
Hollywood: [Pacific] Cinerama Dome
First time in 70mm in Los Angeles — Original 1975 release in 35mm
Additional 70mm Engagement:
Hollywood: [SRO] Paramount (Sep. 1, 1978)
Additional 70mm Screening:
Santa Monica: [American Cinematheque] Aero* (May 21, 2009)
Shown in 70mm at midnight on Sep. 1, 2 & 3, 1978
*Shown once during the "Bigger Than Life: 70mm Returns" festival
November 18:
Close Encounters Of The Third Kind
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
Columbia
"We are not alone."
Hollywood: [Pacific] Cinerama Dome
Expanded Release on Dec. 14:
Costa Mesa: [Mann] South Coast Plaza
Hollywood: [SRO] Paramount*
Lakewood: [Pacific] Lakewood Center
Orange: [Syufy] Cinedome 20
Pasadena: [SRO] Hastings
*Move-over from Cinerama Dome — "Giant 70mm Panavision Screen - 2700
Watts 6 Track Dolby Sound System"
Expanded Release on Dec. 21:
Palm Springs: [Metropolitan] Camelot
Santa Barbara: [Metropolitan] Granada
Additional 70mm Engagement:
Century City: [Plitt] Century Plaza (May 19, 1978)
Also see 1980 “Special Edition” re-issue entry
More 70mm
70mm In New York
70mm In Orange County