THE SCREENING ROOM
A year-by-year, film-by-film history of 70-millimeter wide gauge exhibition in New York City & Vicinity
Compiled by Michael Coate and William Kallay
February 21:
HALF A SIXPENCE
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo
Reserved-Seat Engagement
Paramount
“It’s Everything A Motion Picture Can Be”
Manhattan: [B.S. Moss] Criterion
Includes U.S. Premiere on Feb. 20
April 4:
Super Panavision 70 / Cinerama / Six-Track Stereo
Reserved-Seat Engagement
MGM
“An epic drama of adventure and exploration!”
“The Ultimate Trip”
Manhattan: [Loew’s] Capitol
Includes New York Premiere on Apr. 3
Expanded Release on June 26
Hicksville: [NGC Fox Eastern] Twin South Cinerama
Expanded Release on July 17
Montclair: [Beacon] Clairidge Cinerama
Additional 70mm Engagements
Manhattan: [Pacific East] Cinerama (Sep. 16; move-over from Capitol)
Nanuet: [UA] Route 59 (Dec. 18)
Manhattan: [Walter Reade] Ziegfeld (Mar. 18, 1970)
Asbury Park: [Walter Reade] St. James (Apr. 22, 1970)
Paramus: [RKO Stanley-Warner] Route 4 (Apr. 22, 1970)
Syosset: [UA] Syosset (May 11, 1970)
Peekskill: [Lesser] Beach Cinema I (May 20, 1970)
Manhattan: [AIT] Kips Bay (June 5, 1970)
[Also see 1974, 1976, 1978 & 2001 re-issue entries and 1970 & 1975 special series entries]
April 28:
WAR AND PEACE (“Vojna I Mir”)
Sovscope 70 / Six-Track Stereo
Reserved-Seat Engagement
Mosfilm/Walter Reade/Satra/Continental
“Tolstoy is not dead!”
Manhattan: [Walter Reade] DeMille
U.S. Premiere Engagement — Shown in two parts
September 19:
FUNNY GIRL
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo
Reserved-Seat Engagement
RASTAR/Columbia
Manhattan: [B.S. Moss] Criterion
Includes World Premiere on Sep. 18 (“Biggest Bash In Times Square History!”)
Expanded Release on June 18, 1969
Asbury Park: [Walter Reade] St. James
Morristown: [Walter Reade] Community
Expanded Release on June 25, 1969
Syosset: [UA] Syosset
Expanded Release on Oct. 1, 1969
Nanuet: [UA] Route 59
Additional 70mm Engagement
Manhattan: [Walter Reade] DeMille (Feb. 4, 1970; move-over from Criterion)
[Also see 1978 “Broadway Comes To Broadway” entry]
October 7:
THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE
Anamorphic Blow-Up* / Six-Track Stereo*
Reserved-Seat Engagement
United Artists
“Theirs not to reason why…”
Manhattan: [Walter Reade] Fine Arts
Includes U.S. Premiere on Oct. 6
*70mm presentation unconfirmed — Some sources suggest 70mm print availability in roadshow markets — Some sources suggest the Fine Arts Theatre was equipped only for 35mm presentation at time of engagement — Stereophonic soundtrack unconfirmed — Some sources suggest film was mixed in mono
October 10:
FINIAN’S RAINBOW
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo
Reserved-Seat Engagement
Warner Bros./Seven Arts
“Let yourself glow.”
Manhattan: [Pacific East] Penthouse
Includes World Premiere on Oct. 9
Expanded Release on Feb. 5, 1969
Lynbrook: [UA] Lynbrook
Wayne: [RKO] Twin
[Also see 1978 “Broadway Comes To Broadway” entry]
October 23:
STAR!
Todd-AO / Six-Track Stereo
Reserved-Seat Engagement
20th Century-Fox
“A totally wonderful musical entertainment!”
Manhattan: [UA] Rivoli
Includes U.S. Premiere on Oct. 22
Expanded Release on Dec. 18
Syosset: [UA] Syosset
Expanded Release on Dec. 19
Upper Montclair: [Fabian] Bellevue
October 31:
THE LION IN WINTER
Anamorphic Blow-Up* / Six-Track Stereo*
Reserved-Seat Engagement
Joseph E. Levine/Avco Embassy
Manhattan: [Embassy] 57th St. Lincoln Art
Includes World Premiere on Oct. 30
*70mm presentation unconfirmed — Some sources suggest 70mm print availability in roadshow markets — Some sources suggest the 57th St. Lincoln Art Theatre was equipped only for 35mm presentation at time of engagement
November 14:
THE SHOES OF THE FISHERMAN
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo
Reserved-Seat Engagement
MGM
“The Pope… the Premier of Russia… a last desperate effort to prevent World War III.”
Manhattan: [Walter Reade] DeMille
Includes Gala Invitational Preview on Nov. 13
Expanded Release on Feb. 5, 1969
Plainview: [Century] Plainview
Expanded Release on Feb. 11, 1969
Upper Montclair: [Fabian] Bellevue
December 12:
OLIVER!
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo
Reserved-Seat Engagement
Columbia
“Much, Much More Than A Musical!”
Manhattan: [Loew’s] State 1
Includes U.S. Premiere on Dec. 11
Expanded Release on June 18, 1969
Lynbrook: [UA] Lynbrook
Expanded Release on June 25, 1969
Totowa: [UA] Cinema 46
December 19:
CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG
Super Panavision 70 / Six-Track Stereo
Reserved-Seat Engagement
United Artists
“The most fantasmagorical musical entertainment in the history of everything!”
Manhattan: [Loew’s] State 2
Includes “The Most Fantasmagorical [U.S.] Premiere” on Dec. 18
December 21:
ICE STATION ZEBRA
Super Panavision 70 / Cinerama / Six-Track Stereo
Reserved-Seat Engagement
MGM
“Ice Station Zebra…remember the name—your life may depend on it!”
Manhattan: [Pacific East] Cinerama
Includes New York Premiere on Dec. 20
Expanded Release on Mar. 26, 1969
Montclair: [Beacon] Clairidge Cinerama
December 25:
DR. COPPELIUS!! (“El Fantastico Mundo Del Doctor Coppelius”)
MCS Superpanorama 70 / Six-Track Stereo
International Co-Productions
“In Breathtaking 70mm and Stereophonic Sound”
Manhattan: [AIT] Kips Bay
U.S. Premiere Engagement
About | Site Index | Contact | Terms & Conditions | Links
