70mm Presentations in Tidewater, USA |
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| Compiled by: Michael Coate | Date: 10.10.2022 |
 What
follows is a chronology of 70-millimeter six-track stereophonic sound
feature-film presentations in the Tidewater/Hampton Roads region of
Virginia, USA.The focus of this work is 5-perf 70mm feature films and the cinemas in which they were exhibited. Short subjects, 8-perf and 15-perf (IMAX, Iwerks, etc.) and Special Venue presentations have not been included (but consideration will be given to adding them in a revision). The focus here is on the titles that received publicly-promoted, commercial exhibition in 70mm and their playdates. To facilitate an easy-to-reference title- and date-based layout, no details have been provided pertaining to the brand of 70mm (i.e. Todd-AO, Super Panavision, Ultra Panavision, Cinerama, D-150, etc.) or technical particulars of each presentation (i.e. O-neg source, inter-neg source, blow-up, pillarboxed, letterboxed, Dolby A, Dolby SR, five screen channels vs. three, baby boom, split surround, digital sound, etc.). Part 1: The 70mm-Equipped Cinemas CHESAPEAKE Funscape (Showscan 70mm@60fps) HAMPTON Riverside IMAX at the Virginia Air & Space Center (IMAX 15/70) NEWPORT NEWS Newmarket NORFOLK Colley / Naro Main Gate Memrose Naro / Naro Expanded Cinema (see: Colley) Riverview Rosele Rosna PORTSMOUTH Commodore Plaza VIRGINIA BEACH Lynnhaven (AMC) Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center (IMAX 15/70) WILLIAMSBURG Busch Gardens (IMAX 15/70) Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center (8-perf VVLA and, later, 70mm) An overview of each cinema will be provided in a forthcoming revision. Part 2: The 70mm Presentations Opening date YYYY-MM-DD … TITLE … cinema (duration in weeks) [notes] * Reserved-seat engagement (i.e. roadshow) 1959-05-24 … AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS … Memrose (3) 1959-06-12 … SLEEPING BEAUTY … Memrose (7) 1959-07-31 … SOUTH PACIFIC … Memrose (10) 1959-11-11 … THE BIG FISHERMAN … Memrose (5) 1960-04-27 … OKLAHOMA! … Memrose (7) 1960-06-30 … CAN-CAN* … Rosna (11) 1961-06-21 … SPARTACUS … Memrose (10) 1962-05-23 … OKLAHOMA! … Memrose (3) 1962-06-27 … EL CID … Riverview (10) 1962-12-12 … KING OF KINGS … Memrose (1) 1963-05-29 … LAWRENCE OF ARABIA* … Riverview (12) 1963-09-18 … LAFAYETTE … Memrose (1) 1963-12-25 … CLEOPATRA* … Riverview (24) 1964-04-08 … SOUTH PACIFIC … Memrose (3) 1964-07-08 … CIRCUS WORLD* … Rosna (8) 1964-07-15 … IT’S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD … Riverview (10) 1964-09-23 … BECKET … Riverview (8) 1965-04-07 … THE SOUND OF MUSIC* … Riverview (115) 1965-07-14 … THE HALLELUJAH TRAIL* … Rosna (10) 1965-10-13 … MY FAIR LADY* … Rosna (16) 1966-02-02 … THOSE MAGNIFICENT MEN IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES* … Memrose (7) 1966-04-28 … THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY* … Rosna (9) 1966-06-29 … DOCTOR ZHIVAGO* … Rosna (46) 1967-05-17 … GRAND PRIX* … Rosna (15) 1967-06-21 … THE SAND PEBBLES* … Riverview (23) 1967-11-15 … GONE WITH THE WIND* … Rosna (31) 1967-12-20 … FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD* … Riverview (15) 1968-03-06 … FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD … Newmarket (4) 1968-04-04 … GONE WITH THE WIND* … Newmarket (15) 1968-06-19 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY* … Rosna (26) 1968-06-26 … DOCTOR DOLITTLE* … Riverview (14) 1968-12-19 … STAR!* … Riverview (9) 1969-05-28 … ICE STATION ZEBRA* … Rosna (10) 1969-10-31 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY … Newmarket (1) 1969-11-20 … SWEET CHARITY … Newmarket (2) 1970-01-07 … SOUTH PACIFIC … Newmarket (2) 1970-04-25 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY … Memrose (5) 1970-09-23 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY … Riverview (1) 1971-04-15 … MY FAIR LADY … Riverview (8) 1971-07-28 … SONG OF NORWAY … Plaza (2) 1971-09-08 … IT’S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD … Plaza (1) 1971-09-29 … MY FAIR LADY … Plaza (1) 1971-12-08 … EL CID … Plaza (1) 1972-01-12 … DOCTOR ZHIVAGO … Plaza (2) 1972-01-26 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY … Plaza (2) 1972-02-09 … GONE WITH THE WIND … Plaza (2) 1972-02-23 … RYAN’S DAUGHTER … Plaza (2) 1972-12-20 … THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD … Plaza (1) 1973-01-03 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY … Plaza (1) 1973-01-10 … GONE WITH THE WIND … Plaza (1) 1973-01-17 … RYAN’S DAUGHTER … Plaza (1) 1973-01-24 … DOCTOR ZHIVAGO … Plaza (1) 1973-06-27 … THE SOUND OF MUSIC … Plaza (4) 1975-02-26 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY … Plaza (2) 1977-02-18 … A STAR IS BORN … Plaza (5) 1978-04-28 … CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND … Plaza (4) 1978-09-15 … SGT. PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND … Plaza (3) 1980-07-03 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY … Naro (3 days) 1980-11-21 … DERSU UZALA … Naro (2 days) 1980-11-21 … THE ROSE … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1981-08-28 … WOLFEN … Plaza (1) 1981-09-04 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK … Naro (1) 1981-11-05 … ALTERED STATES / WOLFEN … Naro (3 days) 1981-11-25 … SUPERMAN II … Naro (4 days) 1982-01-10 … DOCTOR ZHIVAGO … Naro 1982-01-11 … APOCALYPSE NOW … Naro 1982-01-25 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY … Naro 1982-07-06 … DAYS OF HEAVEN / APOCALYPSE NOW … Naro (2 days) 1982-09-03 … RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK … Naro (1) 1982-09-16 … THE SAND PEBBLES … Naro 1982-09-17 … STAR WARS … Naro (1) 1982-10-08 … THE THING … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1982-10-15 … TRON … Naro (3 days) 1982-10-29 … STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN … Naro (3 days) 1982-11-05 … POLTERGEIST … Naro (2 days) 1982-11-24 … ROCKY III / FAME … Naro (2 days) 1982-11-26 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro (2 days) 1982-11-28 … ANNIE … Naro (2 days) 1982-12-22 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK … Naro (1) 1983-02-04 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1983-02-27 … NAPOLEON … Naro (3 days) 1983-03-06 … DAYS OF HEAVEN … Naro (2 days) 1983-03-10 … PATTON … Naro 1983-03-11 … STAR TREK II / TRON … Naro (3 days) 1983-04-05 … DERSU UZALA … Naro (2 days) 1983-04-08 … THE EXORCIST / ALTERED STATES … Naro (2 days) 1983-04-10 … FIDDLER ON THE ROOF … Naro (2 days) 1983-05-06 … LET’S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1983-06-03 … RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK / POLTERGEIST … Naro (3 days) 1983-06-24 … GANDHI … Naro (4 days) 1983-07-03 … OKLAHOMA! … Naro (2 days) 1983-07-18 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY … Naro (2 days) 1983-07-31 … NAPOLEON … Naro 1983-08-05 … APOCALYPSE NOW … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1983-08-07 … FAME / HAIR … Naro (2 days) 1983-09-02 … RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK / STAR TREK II … Naro (2 days) 1983-09-11 … GANDHI … Naro (2 days) 1983-10-07 … WARGAMES / THE EXORCIST … Naro (2 days) 1983-10-09 … OCTOPUSSY … Naro 1983-11-04 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1983-12-16 … BRAINSTORM … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1983-12-22 … RETURN OF THE JEDI … Naro (1) 1984-01-13 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1984-03-09 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1984-03-16 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1984-04-06 … BLADE RUNNER … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1984-05-11 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1984-05-18 … THE RIGHT STUFF … Naro (2 days) 1984-05-18 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1984-05-25 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1984-07-06 … GREYSTOKE: THE LEGEND OF TARZAN … Naro (2 days) 1984-08-31 … STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK … Naro (4 days) 1984-09-07 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1984-09-14 … STREETS OF FIRE … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1984-11-02 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1984-11-09 … INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM … Naro (2 days) 1984-11-11 … GREMLINS … Naro (2 days) 1984-12-21 … GHOSTBUSTERS … Naro (1) 1985-02-01 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1985-03-06 … 2010 … Naro (2 days) 1985-03-22 … THE EXORCIST … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1985-03-27 … THE COTTON CLUB … Naro (2 days) [70mm?] 1985-04-03 … STARMAN / THE LAST STARFIGHTER … Naro (2 days) 1985-04-12 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1985-05-12 … STAR TREK:TMP / STAR TREK II / STAR TREK III … Naro [70mm?] 1985-05-24 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1985-05-26 … RETURN OF THE JEDI … Naro (2 days) 1985-07-16 … DAYS OF HEAVEN … Naro 1985-07-17 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY … Naro 1985-07-24 … 2010 / DUNE … Naro 1985-07-30 … FAME / HAIR … Naro 1985-08-12 … BLADE RUNNER / THE ROAD WARRIOR … Naro [70mm?] 1985-08-16 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1985-09-11 … THE EMERALD FOREST … Naro (2 days) [70mm?] 1985-09-27 … AMADEUS … Naro (4 days) [70mm?] 1985-10-12 … THE BLACK CAULDRON … Naro [Sat-Sun matinee] 1985-10-17 … SILVERADO … Naro (3 days) 1985-10-18 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1985-11-01 … COCOON … Naro (3 days) 1985-11-01 … THE EXORCIST … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1985-11-14 … RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD PART II / GHOSTBUSTERS … Naro [70mm?] 1985-11-29 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1985-12-20 … E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL … Naro (1) 1986-01-06 … SILVERADO … Naro 1986-01-10 … BRING ON THE NIGHT … Naro (2 days) 1986-01-12 … AMADEUS … Naro (2 days) [70mm?] 1986-03-07 … WHITE NIGHTS … Naro (2 days) 1986-03-10 … THE RIGHT STUFF … Naro 1986-03-21 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1986-03-25 … A CHORUS LINE … Naro [70mm?] 1986-03-26 … YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES … Naro [70mm?] 1986-03-28 … APOCALYPSE NOW … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1986-05-12 … AMADEUS … Naro [70mm?] 1986-05-30 … OUT OF AFRICA … Naro (3 days) 1986-05-30 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1986-07-18 … ALIENS … Lynnhaven (14) 1986-08-13 … OUT OF AFRICA … Naro 1986-08-22 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1986-08-25 … YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES … Naro [70mm?] 1986-09-23 … RAIDERS… / …TEMPLE OF DOOM … Naro [70mm?] 1986-10-24 … TOP GUN … Naro (2 days) 1986-10-24 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1986-11-28 … ALIENS … Naro 1986-12-12 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1987-01-26 … OUT OF AFRICA … Naro 1987-02-01 … TOP GUN … Naro (2 days) 1987-02-06 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1987-03-20 … STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME … Naro (2 days) 1987-03-20 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1987-04-15 … TOP GUN … Naro 1987-05-08 … THE MISSION … Naro (3 days) 1987-05-08 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1987-05-19 … THE COLOR OF MONEY … Naro (2 days) [70mm?] 1987-07-01 … LETHAL WEAPON / BLADE RUNNER … Naro (2 days) [70mm?] 1987-07-16 … THE MISSION … Naro 1987-08-07 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1987-08-18 … TOP GUN … Naro [70mm?] 1987-08-25 … AMADEUS … Naro [70mm?] 1987-09-04 … STAR WARS / EMPIRE / JEDI … Naro (3 days) [triple feature] 1987-09-10 … PREDATOR … Naro [70mm?] 1987-09-11 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1988-02-12 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1988-03-14 … EMPIRE OF THE SUN … Naro [70mm?] 1988-03-18 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1988-04-25 … THREE MEN AND A BABY … Naro [70mm?] 1988-06-17 … THE LAST EMPEROR … Naro (3 days) 1988-06-17 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1988-06-22 … GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM … Naro (2 days) [70mm?] 1988-07-29 … THE LAST EMPEROR … Naro (4 days) 1988-08-12 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1988-11-04 … THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST … Naro (2) 1988-12-16 … DIE HARD … Naro (2 days) 1988-12-30 … GORILLAS IN THE MIST / THE BIG BLUE … Naro (4 days) [70mm?] 1988-12-31 … WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT … Naro [Sat-Sun matinee] (70mm?) 1989-01-20 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1989-03-17 … GORILLAS IN THE MIST … Naro (3 days) [70mm?] 1989-04-12 … THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST … Naro (2 days) 1989-07-07 … LAWRENCE OF ARABIA … Naro (2) 1989-07-21 … “Star Trek Film Fest” … Naro [70mm?] 1989-08-15 … BEACHES … Naro (2 days) [70mm?] 1989-09-01 … INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE … Naro (3 days) 1989-09-15 … LAWRENCE OF ARABIA … Naro (2) 1989-09-22 … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1989-11-01 … BATMAN / LETHAL WEAPON 2 … Naro (3 days) 1989-11-13 … IN COUNTRY / CASUALTIES OF WAR … Naro (2 days) [70mm?] 1990-05-25 … MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON … Naro (1) 1990-07-25 … THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER … Naro (2 days) 1990-11-10 … LAWRENCE OF ARABIA … Naro [Sat-Sun-Mon matinee] 1991-??-?? … SPARTACUS … Naro (?) 1992-05-16 … FAR AND AWAY … Main Gate [sneak preview] 1992-05-22 … FAR AND AWAY … Main Gate (1+) 1994-??-?? … MY FAIR LADY … Naro (?) 1999-??-?? … PINK FLOYD: THE WALL … Naro [Fri-Sat late show] Note that some of the titles included in this chronology may have been presented in 35mm during the latter week(s) of their engagement due to contractual terms or print damage (and the distributor’s unwillingness to supply a 70mm replacement print) or because the booking was moved to a non-70mm-equipped auditorium within a multiplex. As well, the reverse may have been true in some cases whereas a booking began with a 35mm print because the lab was unable to complete the 70mm print order in time for an opening-day delivery or the exhibitor negotiated a mid-run switch to 70mm. In these cases, any 35mm portion of the engagement has been included in the duration figure. During the roadshow era, the reserved-seat policy, in some instances, was relaxed during the summer and/or latter weeks of the run. Any non-roadshow portion of such an engagement has been included in the applicable duration figure. References: Various issues of The Virginian-Pilot newspaper, plus projection and sound system trade advertisements and installation records. Special thanks to Jim Cobb, Library of Virginia, Norfolk Public Library, Virginia Beach Public Library, and Thom Vourlas (Naro Expanded Cinema). If you believe this article contains any errors or omissions, please consider emailing the author or editor. |
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