| | 70mm Presentations in Kansas City A Chronology of 70mm Large Format Exhibition, 1956-Present | Read more at in70mm.com The 70mm Newsletter
| Compiled by: Michael Coate | Date: 02.10.2021 | ‘Brainstorm’ opening-day advert, The Kansas City Star, 30th September 1983
What follows is a title-based chronology of 70mm six-track stereophonic sound feature-film presentations in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area.
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 emphasis 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
INDEPENDENCE (Missouri) Blue Ridge
KANSAS CITY (Missouri) Antioch Bannister Mall Bannister Square Brookside Capri Empire / Royal Fairyland Drive-In Metro North Plaza Midland Plaza Saxon Tower Ward Parkway
LEAWOOD (Kansas) Town Center
OVERLAND PARK (Kansas) Glenwood Oak Park Plaza Ranch Mart / Glenwood Arts SouthGlen
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) **70mm print stolen at gunpoint; print later recovered by authorities
1956-10-17 … OKLAHOMA!* … Tower (9)
1957-05-29 … AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS* … Tower (27)
1959-03-26 … SLEEPING BEAUTY … Brookside (11) 1959-03-29 … SOUTH PACIFIC* … Capri (36) 1959-10-22 … THE BIG FISHERMAN* … Brookside (11) 1959-12-25 … PORGY AND BESS* … Capri (5)
1960-01-28 … BEN-HUR* … Capri (50) 1960-06-16 … CAN-CAN* … Brookside (15) 1960-12-21 … EXODUS* … Empire (21)
1961-02-21 … SPARTACUS* … Capri (26) 1961-03-07 … THE ALAMO … Plaza (6) 1961-11-09 … KING OF KINGS* … Capri (15)
1962-02-22 … EL CID* … Capri (14) 1962-03-21 … WEST SIDE STORY* … Plaza (13) 1962-05-30 … OKLAHOMA!* … Capri (6) 1962-12-21 … MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY* … Capri (22)
1963-02-21 … LAWRENCE OF ARABIA* … Saxon (16) 1963-11-13 … CLEOPATRA* … Capri (23) 1963-12-19 … IT’S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD* … Empire (51)
1964-04-22 … THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE* … Capri (8) 1964-06-24 … BECKET … Brookside (10) 1964-07-01 … CIRCUS WORLD* … Capri (15) 1964-09-02 … MEDITERRANEAN HOLIDAY … Brookside (3) 1964-12-20 … MY FAIR LADY* … Capri (52)
1965-03-17 … THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD* … Empire (18) 1965-06-23 … THOSE MAGNIFICENT MEN IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES* … Brookside (15) 1965-07-14 … THE SOUND OF MUSIC* … Midland (75) 1965-07-21 … THE HALLELUJAH TRAIL* … Empire (11) 1965-12-23 … THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY* … Capri (14)
1966-02-21 … BATTLE OF THE BULGE* … Empire (18) 1966-03-30 … DOCTOR ZHIVAGO* … Capri (47) 1966-06-27 … KHARTOUM* … Empire (12) 1966-09-21 … RUSSIAN ADVENTURE* … Empire (7) 1966-11-22 … IS PARIS BURNING?* … Glenwood (8) 1966-12-23 … THE BIBLE* … Midland (26)
1967-01-18 … THE SOUND OF MUSIC … Glenwood (13) 1967-02-07 … GRAND PRIX* … Empire 2 (38) 1967-02-23 … HAWAII* … Capri (31) [70mm?] 1967-03-15 … THE SAND PEBBLES* … Empire 1 (31) 1967-04-21 … THE SOUND OF MUSIC … Antioch (4) 1967-11-01 … FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD* … Empire 2 (9) 1967-11-07 … GONE WITH THE WIND* … Glenwood (53) 1967-11-14 … CAMELOT* … Capri (36)
1968-01-25 … CUSTER OF THE WEST* … Empire 2 (7) 1968-02-14 … DOCTOR DOLITTLE* … Midland (18) 1968-05-29 … EL CID … Empire (4) 1968-06-12 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY* … Empire (27) 1968-10-23 … AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS … Royal (1) 1968-10-23 … FUNNY GIRL* … Midland (58) [70mm?] 1968-11-06 … FINIAN’S RAINBOW* … Capri (12) [70mm?] 1968-11-12 … STAR!* … Glenwood 1 (29) 1968-12-19 … CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG* … Royal (15) 1968-12-19 … ICE STATION ZEBRA* … Empire (15)
1969-01-29 … GONE WITH THE WIND … Capri (6) 1969-02-05 … OLIVER! … Glenwood 2 (45) [70mm?] 1969-03-12 … THE SHOES OF THE FISHERMAN* … Capri (11) [70mm?] 1969-04-02 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY … Royal (3) 1969-04-02 … BEN-HUR* … Empire (13) 1969-05-02 … THE SOUND OF MUSIC … Royal (1) 1969-05-27 … SWEET CHARITY* … Capri (10) 1969-08-06 … KRAKATOA, EAST OF JAVA … Capri (7) 1969-08-13 … THE SAND PEBBLES … Royal (2) 1969-09-24 … DOCTOR ZHIVAGO … Capri (7) 1969-09-26 … AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS … Glenwood 1 (4) 1969-11-12 … PAINT YOUR WAGON* … Capri (26) 1969-12-16 … GOODBYE, MR. CHIPS* … Glenwood 1 (30) [70mm?] 1969-12-17 … HELLO, DOLLY!* … Glenwood 2 (43) [70mm?]
1970-03-04 … PATTON* … Empire 1 (17) [70mm?] 1970-03-20 … AIRPORT … Midland (14) 1970-05-13 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY … Capri (6) 1970-09-02 … DOCTOR ZHIVAGO … Empire 1 (3) 1970-12-21 … SONG OF NORWAY* … Glenwood 1 (16)
1971-02-24 … RYAN’S DAUGHTER … Capri (24) [70mm?] 1971-03-12 … MY FAIR LADY … Midland (8) 1971-12-14 … FIDDLER ON THE ROOF* … Midland (33) [70mm?]
1972-04-26 … THE CONCERT FOR BANGLADESH … Capri (4)
1973-02-14 … MAN OF LA MANCHA* … Midland (9) [70mm?] 1973-03-23 … THE SOUND OF MUSIC … Capri (15) 1973-05-24 … THIS IS CINERAMA … Empire (6)
1974-08-02 … THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT! … Glenwood (12) 1974-09-18 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY … Glenwood (6) 1974-10-25 … GONE WITH THE WIND … Glenwood (1)
1975-08-27 … PANORAMA BLUE … Brookside (3) 1975-09-17 … THE SOUND OF MUSIC … Brookside (1) 1975-09-24 … TORA! TORA! TORA! … Brookside (1) 1975-10-01 … HELLO, DOLLY! … Brookside (1) 1975-10-08 … THE WIND AND THE LION … Brookside (2) 1975-10-22 … WEST SIDE STORY … Brookside (1)
1976-06-18 … THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT, PART 2 … Glenwood (9)
1977-08-12 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY … Midland (3) 1977-08-31 … HELLO, DOLLY! … Midland (1) 1977-09-07 … PATTON … Midland (1) 1977-09-14 … JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR … Midland (1) 1977-09-21 … THE SAND PEBBLES … Midland (1) 1977-09-28 … CLEOPATRA … Midland (1) 1977-10-05 … THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY … Midland (1) 1977-10-12 … THE BIBLE … Midland (1)
1978-05-12 … CAMELOT … Plaza (2)
1979-05-25 … ALIEN … Midland (13) 1979-11-09 … THE ROSE … Midland (14)
1980-05-21 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK … Midland (27)
1981-05-01 … SLEEPING BEAUTY … Bannister Mall (2) 1981-05-01 … SLEEPING BEAUTY … Glenwood (3) 1981-05-01 … SLEEPING BEAUTY … Midland (1) 1981-05-22 … OUTLAND … Glenwood (6) 1981-07-31 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK … Glenwood (4)
1982-03-05 … QUEST FOR FIRE … Glenwood (8) 1982-06-18 … ANNIE … Glenwood (8) 1982-07-16 … RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK … Bannister Mall (2) 1982-11-24 … TRON … Bannister Mall (3)
1983-01-21 … GANDHI … Blue Ridge East (18) 1983-01-21 … GANDHI … Glenwood (22) 1983-01-28 … BLUE THUNDER … Bannister Mall (sneak preview) 1983-02-11 … LET’S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER … Bannister Mall (4) 1983-02-11 … LET’S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER … Empire (3) 1983-05-25 … RETURN OF THE JEDI … Bannister Mall (18) 1983-05-25 … RETURN OF THE JEDI … Blue Ridge East (18) 1983-05-25 … RETURN OF THE JEDI … Glenwood** (21) 1983-09-30 … BRAINSTORM … Bannister Mall (7) 1983-09-30 … BRAINSTORM … Blue Ridge East (7) 1983-09-30 … BRAINSTORM … Glenwood (10) 1983-10-21 … THE RIGHT STUFF … Blue Ridge East (8) 1983-10-21 … THE RIGHT STUFF … Glenwood (8)
1984-05-23 … INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM … Bannister Square (16) 1984-05-23 … INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM … Blue Ridge East (7) 1984-05-23 … INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM … Glenwood (19) 1984-06-01 … STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK … Bannister Mall (4) 1984-06-01 … STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK … Glenwood (11) 1984-06-08 … GHOSTBUSTERS … Blue Ridge East (17) 1984-06-08 … GHOSTBUSTERS … Ranch Mart (26) [70mm from Week 12] 1984-12-07 … 2010 … Bannister Square (7) 1984-12-07 … 2010 … Blue Ridge East (9) 1984-12-14 … DUNE … Glenwood (8) 1984-12-14 … STARMAN … Bannister Mall (4) 1984-12-14 … STARMAN … Blue Ridge East (6)
1985-03-29 … AMADEUS … Glenwood (5) 1985-06-21 … COCOON … Bannister Mall (14) 1985-06-21 … COCOON … Blue Ridge East (8) 1985-06-21 … COCOON … Glenwood (16) 1985-06-21 … RETURN TO OZ … Glenwood (2+) 1985-07-10 … SILVERADO … Bannister Mall (7) 1985-07-19 … THE BLACK CAULDRON … Bannister Square (sneak preview) 1985-07-24 … THE BLACK CAULDRON … Bannister Square (3) 1985-12-04 … YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES … Glenwood (8) 1985-12-20 … A CHORUS LINE … Oak Park Plaza (10) 1985-12-20 … OUT OF AFRICA … Glenwood (23)
1986-05-10 … TOP GUN … Bannister Mall (sneak preview) 1986-05-10 … TOP GUN … Blue Ridge East (sneak preview) 1986-05-10 … TOP GUN … Glenwood (sneak preview) 1986-05-16 … TOP GUN … Bannister Mall (22) 1986-05-16 … TOP GUN … Blue Ridge East (7) 1986-05-16 … TOP GUN … Glenwood (23) 1986-07-18 … ALIENS … Blue Ridge East (11) 1986-07-18 … ALIENS … Glenwood (12) 1986-08-01 … HOWARD THE DUCK … Glenwood (8) 1986-10-17 … AMADEUS … Ranch Mart (1) 1986-10-17 … THE COLOR OF MONEY… Glenwood (10) 1986-12-25 … THE MISSION… Glenwood (11)
1987-06-03 … THE UNTOUCHABLES … Glenwood (9) 1987-08-05 … STAKEOUT … Blue Ridge East (7) 1987-08-05 … STAKEOUT … Glenwood (18) 1987-12-11 … EMPIRE OF THE SUN … Glenwood (11)
1988-01-15 … GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM … Glenwood (19) 1988-05-20 … WILLOW … Oak Park Plaza (9) 1988-11-23 … COCOON: THE RETURN … Glenwood (7)
1989-05-05 … LAWRENCE OF ARABIA … Oak Park Plaza (6) 1989-05-24 … INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE … Blue Ridge East (4+) 1989-05-24 … INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE … Oak Park Plaza (4+) 1989-06-09 … STAR TREK V: THE FINAL FRONTIER … Glenwood (4+) 1989-06-22 … BATMAN … Glenwood (14) 1989-08-09 … THE ABYSS … Glenwood (8)
1990-06-15 … DICK TRACY … Blue Ridge East (9) 1990-06-15 … DICK TRACY … Oak Park Plaza (6) 1990-06-15 … DICK TRACY … Ranch Mart (7) 1990-06-15 … GREMLINS 2: THE NEW BATCH … Glenwood (3) 1990-07-03 … DIE HARD 2 … Glenwood (11) 1990-07-18 … ARACHNOPHOBIA … Glenwood (6) 1990-10-05 … FANTASIA … Glenwood (7) 1990-10-12 … MEMPHIS BELLE … Glenwood (11)
1991-06-21 … THE ROCKETEER … Glenwood (9)
1992-05-09 … FAR AND AWAY … Oak Park Plaza (sneak preview) 1992-05-15 … LETHAL WEAPON 3 … Glenwood (9) 1992-05-16 … FAR AND AWAY … Metro North Plaza (sneak preview) 1992-05-16 … FAR AND AWAY … Oak Park Plaza (sneak preview) 1992-05-16 … FAR AND AWAY … Ward Parkway (sneak preview) 1992-05-22 … FAR AND AWAY … Metro North Plaza (8) 1992-05-22 … FAR AND AWAY … Oak Park Plaza (10) 1992-05-22 … FAR AND AWAY … Ward Parkway (10) 1992-12-25 … HOFFA … Glenwood (4)
1993-06-17 … LAST ACTION HERO … Oak Park Plaza (5)
2015-12-25 … THE HATEFUL EIGHT … Town Center (14)
2017-07-20 … DUNKIRK … Town Center (4+)
Note that some of the titles included in this chronology were presented in 35mm (or, recently, DCP) 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 months 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 Boxoffice, The Hollywood Reporter, The Kansas City Star, The Kansas City Times, Motion Picture Exhibitor, and Variety; projection and sound system trade advertisements and installation records.
Special Thanks: Vince Young and the Kansas City Public Library.
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
Chronological premiere list of major 70mm films
Month by month premiere list of wide gauge and 3-strip films
70mm Engagements
70mm Blow Up List
Dolby Stereo
Internet link:
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