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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
1982
February 10:
HOUSE OF WAX (Re-Issue)
Spherical 3-D Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo
Warner Bros.
“You’ve never been scared ’til you’ve been scared in 3-D”
Manhattan: [RKO Century] Cinerama
February 12:
QUEST FOR FIRE (“La Guerre Du Feu”)
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
ICC International/20th Century-Fox
“A Science Fantasy Adventure”
Manhattan: [Walter Reade] Ziegfeld
Expanded Release on Mar. 5*
Brooklyn: [RKO Century] Kingsway Triplex
Edison: [GCC] Menlo Park Twin
Levittown: [Loews] Nassau Quad
Paramus: [RKO Century] Route 4 Paramus Sevenplex
Valley Stream: [Redstone] Sunrise Multiplex
Yonkers: [GCC] Central Plaza Twin
*“The motion picture that ignited New York is now playing at six more theatres in 70mm and six-track Dolby Stereo.”
Expanded Release on Mar. 19
Manhattan: [Loews] 34th Street Showcase
Manhattan: [Loews] New York Twin
Manhattan: [Loews] Paramount
Stamford: [Trans-Lux] Ridgeway
Additional 70mm Engagement
Manhattan: [Trans-Lux] Gotham (June 7, 1985)
March 30:
DANCE CRAZE
Spherical (Super 1.66) Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
Chrysalis/Nu-Image
Manhattan: [UA] Rivoli
One-time-only 70mm Sneak Preview screening on Mar. 30 — Regular 35mm engagement began Apr. 23 at the 8th St. Playhouse
May 21:
ANNIE
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
RASTAR/Columbia
“The Movie of ‘Tomorrow’”
Edison: [GCC] Menlo Park
Levittown: [Loews] Nassau Quad
Manhattan: [Loews] 34th Street Showplace
Manhattan: [Loews] Astor Plaza*
Manhattan: [Loews] Orpheum
Paramus: [RKO Century] Route 4 Sevenplex
Stamford: [Trans-Lux] Ridgeway
Valley Stream: [Redstone] Sunrise Multiplex
*Reserved-Performance Engagement — Includes World Premiere on May 17
Additional 70mm Engagement
Manhattan: [Loews] State 2 (Nov. 19)
May 28:
ROCKY III
Spherical Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
United Artists/MGM-UA
“The Greatest Challenge”
Manhattan: [RKO Century] Cinerama
Paramus: [RKO Century] Route 17 Twin
Syosset: [UA] Syosset
Upper Montclair: [UA] Bellevue
Valley Stream: [Redstone] Sunrise Multiplex
Yonkers: [GCC] Central Plaza Twin
Additional 70mm Engagements
East Meadow: [UA] Meadowbrook Quad (July 23)
Manhattan: [RKO Century] National Twin (Aug. 6)
[Also see 1983 re-issue entry]
June 4:
POLTERGEIST
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
MGM-UA
“They’re here.”
Manhattan: [RKO Century] Cinerama*
Paramus: [RKO Century] Route 17 Twin
Totowa: [UA] Cinema 46
Valley Stream: [RKO Century] Green Acres
*Includes World Premiere on June 3
Additional 70mm Engagement
Manhattan: [RKO Century] National Twin (May 13, 1983)
June 4:
STAR TREK: THE WRATH OF KHAN
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
Paramount
“At the end of the universe lies the beginning of vengeance.”
Levittown: [Loews] Nassau Quad
Manhattan: [Loews] 34th Street Showplace
Manhattan: [Loews] Orpheum
Manhattan: [Loews] State
Paramus: [RKO Century] Route 4 Sevenplex
Valley Stream: [Redstone] Sunrise Multiplex
Includes area Benefit Premiere (in 35mm?) on June 3 in Stamford, CT (Trans-Lux Cinema)
Additional 70mm Engagement
Manhattan: [Guild] Embassy I (July 23)
[Roman numeral “II” was included in the film’s promotional title used on posters, newspaper advertisements, soundtrack album, tie-in merchandise, etc. — On-screen billing did not include a “II” — “II” added to on-screen title for home-video release]
June 11:
E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL
Spherical Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
Universal
“He is afraid. He is alone. He is 3 million light years from home.”
Manhattan: [Walter Reade] Bay (June 11-Dec. 7)
Manhattan: [B.S. Moss] Movieland
Manhattan: [Loews] New York Twin (June 11-Dec. 16)
Expanded Release on Feb. 18, 1983
Cedar Grove: [Colonial] Cinema 23
East Meadow: [UA] Meadowbrook Quad
Hicksville: [RKO Century] Twin South
Manhattan: [Walter Reade] Bay
Manhattan: [Loews] New York Twin
Nanuet: [UA] Route 59
Secaucus: [Loews] Meadow Sixplex
Wayne: [Loews] Wayne Sixplex
White Plains: [UA] Cinema
[Also see 1985 re-issue entry]
June 11:
GREASE 2
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
Paramount
“Grease Is Still The Word!”
Manhattan: [Walter Reade] Ziegfeld
Includes World Premiere on June 9
June 18:
FIREFOX
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
Warner Bros.
“…the most devastating killing machine ever built…his job…steal it!”
Manhattan: [UA] Gemini
Manhattan: [RKO Century] National Twin
Includes New York Premiere on June 14 at Cinema I
June 25:
BLADE RUNNER
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
Ladd/Warner Bros.
“Man Has Made His Match…Now It’s His Problem”
Manhattan: [B.S. Moss] Criterion Center
Manhattan: [Cinema 5] Murray Hill
[Also see 1996 “Warner Bros. Classics” entry]
June 25:
THE THING
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
Universal
“No special effects you have ever seen, nothing you can possibly imagine, will prepare you for this chilling and spectacular motion picture experience.”
Manhattan: [UA] Rivoli 1 (HPS-4000)
Manhattan: [UA] Rivoli 2
July 9:
TRON
Super Panavision 70 / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
Walt Disney/Buena Vista
“It all happens inside a computer.”
Cedar Grove: [Colonial] Cinema 23
Manhattan: [Loews] State 2*
Paramus: [RKO Century] Route 4 Sevenplex
White Plains: [UA] Cinema
Woodbury: [UA] Cinema 150
*Includes World Premiere on June 8
July 16:
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (Re-Issue)
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
Lucasfilm Ltd./Paramount
“The Return of the Great Adventure”
Manhattan: [Walter Reade] Ziegfeld
Additional 70mm Engagement
Manhattan: [Guild] Embassy I (Aug. 6)
[Also see 1981 & 1983 entries]
August 6:
PINK FLOYD: THE WALL
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
MGM-UA
“The Memories. The Madness. The Music… The Movie.”
Manhattan: [Walter Reade] Ziegfeld
U.S. Premiere Engagement
Additional 70mm Engagement
Manhattan: [RKO Century] Cinerama (Sep. 24)
August 13:
STAR WARS (Re-Issue)
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
Lucasfilm Ltd./20th Century-Fox
“The Original Is Back.”
Manhattan: [RKO Century] National Twin
Paramus: [RKO Century] Route 17 Twin
[Debut of the trailer for “Revenge Of The Jedi” (movie re-titled “Return Of The Jedi” in early 1983)]
[Also see 1977, 1979, 1981 & 1983 entries and 1985 Triple Feature/“Return Of The Jedi” re-issue entry and 1992 ILM Tribute entry]
August 13:
TEMPEST
Spherical Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
Columbia
“Most men dream their fantasies. Phillip decided to live his.”
Manhattan: [Loews] Tower East
August 20:
THE ROAD WARRIOR (“Mad Max II”)
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
Kennedy-Miller/Warner Bros.
“In the future, cities will become deserts, roads will become battlefields and the hope of mankind will appear as a stranger.”
Manhattan: [RKO Century] Cinerama Twin
[Film previously shown in New York (presumably in 35mm) on Apr. 27 & 28 at the Festival Theatre during the “New Directors/New Films” series — Event served as the film’s U.S. Premiere]
September 17:
HAIR (Re-Issue)
Spherical Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
United Artists/United Artists Classics
“Let the sun shine in…all over again!”
Manhattan: [Cinema 5] Cinema I
First time shown in New York in 70mm — Original 1979 area engagements in 35mm
September 24:
YES, GEORGIO
Spherical Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
MGM-UA
“A Glorious Uproarious Love Story.”
Manhattan: [Walter Reade] Ziegfeld
October 14:
NAPOLEON (Re-Issue)
Spherical & Triptych* / Six-Track Dolby Stereo*
Reserved-Seat Engagement
Robert A. Harris/Images Film Archive/Zoetrope/Universal
“Abel Gance’s 1927 Masterpiece”
Manhattan: [Rockefeller] Radio City Music Hall
*Presentation was 35mm (utilizing multiple synchronized projectors for Triptych sequence) and with six-track double-system sound — Four-day reserved-seat engagement
[Brownlow/Harris/Zoetrope restoration previously shown at Radio City in 1981 (Jan. 23-25 and Oct. 15-18 & 22-25) in 35mm with multiple synchronized projectors for Triptych sequence and with a live performance of the film’s music score — Film shown again at Radio City Music Hall June 20-25, 1989]
November 19:
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (Re-Issue)
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
Lucasfilm Ltd./20th Century-Fox
“Special Limited Engagement”
Area 70mm engagements unconfirmed — Presentation notations were not present in area newspaper advertisements
[Also see 1980, 1981 & 1983 entries and 1985 Triple Feature/“Return Of The Jedi” re-issue entry]
December 8:
GANDHI
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
Goldcrest/Indo-British Films/Columbia
“His triumph changed the world forever.”
Manhattan: [Walter Reade] Ziegfeld
Includes U.S. Premiere on Dec. 6
Expanded Release on Jan. 21, 1983
Edison: [GCC] Menlo Park
Levittown: [Loews] Nassau Quad
Paramus: [RKO Century] Route 4 Sevenplex
Valley Stream: [RKO Century] Green Acres
Wayne: [Loews] Wayne Sixplex
Additional 70mm Engagements
Manhattan: [Loews] Paramount (Sep. 2, 1983)
Manhattan: [Loews] Tower East (Sep. 2, 1983)
December 17:
THE DARK CRYSTAL
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
ITC/Associated Film/Universal
Manhattan: [Loews] Astor Plaza
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