“Spaceballs”: The North American 70mm Engagements |
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| Compiled by: Michael Coate | Date: 28.05.2018 |
 The
following is a reference / historical listing of the 70-millimeter
engagements of “Spaceballs” in the United States and Canada. These were the
cinemas worth seeking out to experience this motion picture.“Spaceballs” was among seventeen confirmed first-run films released in 1987 with 70mm prints for selected engagements. The MGM/UA release — directed by Mel Brooks (“Blazing Saddles,” “Young Frankenstein”) and starring Mel Brooks, John Candy and Rick Moranis — opened Wednesday, June 24th in the United States and Friday, June 26th in Canada. For the release of “Spaceballs,” MGM/UA employed the services of Lucasfilm’s Theatre Alignment Program (TAP) to evaluate and approve the cinemas selected to book a 70mm print. The 70mm prints of “Spaceballs” featured magnetic Six-Track Dolby Stereo (“A” encoded Baby Boom format [Dolby processor setting “42”]) and 1.85:1 pillarboxed imagery blown up from spherical 35mm and provided a superior projection and sound experience in comparison to the film’s 35mm prints. Note that some cinemas screened a 70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo print utilizing Dolby-compatible equipment from another manufacturer (EPRAD, Smart, Ultra Stereo, etc.), and in some instances an exhibitor made a special request for a 70mm print that lacked Dolby Noise Reduction so that it could be played on a cinema’s older, pre-Dolby-era sound system. MGM/UA circulated 70mm Six-Track Dolby coming-attraction trailers for “Baby Boom” and “The Living Daylights” during the release of “Spaceballs.” Other studios circulated 70mm trailers during this period, as well. Ultimately, any 70mm trailers screened during 70mm presentations of “Spaceballs” varied by venue and screening. The duration of the engagements (measured in weeks) is included in parenthesis following the cinema name. ALBERTA Calgary — Famous Players’ Palace (4) BRITISH COLUMBIA Vancouver — Famous Players’ Vancouver Centre Twin (6) CALIFORNIA Los Angeles — Cineplex Odeon’s Century Plaza* (4) [THX] Los Angeles — Cineplex Odeon’s Showcase (6) Orange — Syufy’s Cinedome 8 (4) San Francisco — Syufy’s Cinema 21 (4) [THX] San Jose — Syufy’s Century 21 (1) COLORADO Denver — Commonwealth’s Cooper Twin (7) NEW YORK New York — Loews’ Paramount (7) New York — Loews’ Tower East (7) ONTARIO Toronto — Famous Players’ Uptown 5 (5) QUEBEC Montreal — United’s Palace 6 (5) *The Century Plaza in Los Angeles was being renovated from two to four screens during the run of “Spaceballs.” Only one screen was operational during the run. Note that some of the presentations included in this listing may have been presented in 35mm during the latter week(s) of 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 (or movement out of a branded auditorium) has been included in the duration figure. SUBSEQUENT 70MM ENGAGEMENTS & SCREENINGS 1987-07-01 … San Jose, CA — Syufy’s Century 23 Twin (4) 1987-07-31 … Downers Grove, IL — Classic Cinemas’ Tivoli (1) [HPS-4000] 1987-09-11 … Madison, WI — Marcus’ Eastgate 6 (1) 1988-02-27 … Toronto, ON — Cinesphere (2 days) [70mm festival] 2024-05-12 … Beverly Hills, CA — Fine Arts [70mm series] 2025-05-11 … Beverly Hills, CA — Fine Arts [70mm series] The information included in this article was principally referenced from film industry trade publications, regional newspaper promotion, print enclosures, TAP records, and Dolby records. Special thanks to Bill Kallay, Bill Kretzel, Mark Lensenmayer and W.R. Miller. Any international 70mm presentations of this title have not been accounted for in this work. If you believe this article contains any errors or omissions, please consider emailing the author or editor. |
More in 70mm reading: 70mm Cinemas in North America in70mm.com's list of films blown up to 70mm 70mm Engagements by Title 35mm to 70mm Engagements by Year Large Format 7OMM Engagements Month by month premiere list of wide gauge and 3-strip films Chronological premiere list of major 70mm films 70mm Blow Up List Dolby Stereo |
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