70mm Presentations in San Diego | All 70mm film lists |
| Compiled by: Michael Coate, William Kallay & Gabriel Neeb | Date: November 1, 2003 Updated: 17.03.2023 |
 What follows is a chronology of 70mm six-track stereophonic sound feature-film presentations in the San Diego region of California, 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 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 CARLSBAD Plaza Camino Real CHULA VISTA Chula Vista (Nickelodeon) / Chula Vista Center Chula Vista (United Artists) / Movies / Park Plaza DEL MAR Flower Hill EL CAJON Parkway Plaza ESCONDIDO Carousel Movies / Del Norte Plaza LA MESA Cinema Grossmont Grossmont Center Grossmont Mall NATIONAL CITY Sweetwater SAN DIEGO ArcLight La Jolla Capri Center Cinema 21 Cinerama Clairemont College (?) Fox Glasshouse Grove / 9 at the Grove Hazard Center Horton Plaza La Jolla Village Loma Midway Drive-In Mission Valley / AMC Mission Valley 20 Pacific Drive-In Rancho Drive-In Rueben H. Fleet Space Theater and Science Center San Diego Sports Arena [special events] Valley Circle An overview of each cinema will be provided in a forthcoming revision. | 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 |
Part 2: The 70mm Presentations | |
| Opening date YYYY-MM-DD
TITLE
cinema (duration in weeks) [notes] * Reserved-seat engagement (i.e. roadshow) ** Likely a 35mm presentation; 70mm advertised in advance of release and/or during initial day(s) of run presumably because cinema staff thought they would be receiving a 70mm print and corrected the advertising upon confirmation of receiving a 35mm print 1957-08-01 AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS* Capri (45) 1958-07-01 SOUTH PACIFIC* Capri (21) 1959-03-20 SLEEPING BEAUTY Capri (8) 1959-10-22 THE BIG FISHERMAN* Capri (10) 1959-12-25 SOLOMON AND SHEBA Fox (5) 1959-12-31 PORGY AND BESS* Capri (11) 1960-03-23 SOLOMON AND SHEBA / THE BIG FISHERMAN Pacific Drive-In (1) 1960-06-01 CAN-CAN* Loma (17) 1960-06-16 BEN-HUR* Capri (49) 1961-05-24 EXODUS* Capri (11) 1961-08-09 SPARTACUS* Capri (20) 1962-01-31 CAN-CAN Midway Drive-In (1) 1962-02-14 WEST SIDE STORY* Capri (36) 1962-03-21 OKLAHOMA! Fox (3) 1962-04-11 KING OF KINGS Midway Drive-In (2) 1962-04-25 OKLAHOMA! Midway Drive-In (1) 1962-05-04 EL CID Fox (8) 1962-05-23 SPARTACUS Midway Drive-In (3) 1962-05-23 SPARTACUS Rancho Drive-In (3) 1962-08-01 EL CID Midway Drive-In (3) 1963-02-28 MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY* Capri (17) 1963-03-27 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA* Loma (23) 1963-06-26 CLEOPATRA* Capri (42) 1963-07-19 55 DAYS AT PEKING Cinema 21 (4) [70mm?] 1964-04-22 ITS A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD* Cinerama (50) 1964-06-11 THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE* Capri (10) 1964-06-18 BECKET* Loma (8) 1965-02-17 CIRCUS WORLD* Center (8) 1965-02-19 MY FAIR LADY* Capri (44) 1965-03-31 THE SOUND OF MUSIC* Loma (133) 1965-04-13 THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD* Center (15) 1965-07-27 THE HALLELUJAH TRAIL* Center (13) 1965-08-04 THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD* Cinerama m/o (9 [24]) 1965-08-04 THOSE MAGNIFICENT MEN * Cinema Grossmont (12) 1965-10-27 MEDITERRANEAN HOLIDAY* Center (8) 1965-12-22 THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY* Capri (13) 1965-12-22 BATTLE OF THE BULGE* Center (20) 1966-03-31 DOCTOR ZHIVAGO* Cinerama (46) 1966-05-11 RUSSIAN ADVENTURE* Center (6) 1966-06-23 KHARTOUM* Center (8) 1966-10-26 THE BIBLE* Capri (38) 1966-12-21 IS PARIS BURNING?* Cinema 21 (7) 1967-02-09 THE SAND PEBBLES* Cinema 21 (33) 1967-02-21 GRAND PRIX* Center (35) 1967-10-25 GONE WITH THE WIND* Center (31) 1967-12-21 CAMELOT* Cinerama (41) 1968-02-15 DOCTOR DOLITTLE* Cinema 21 (22) 1968-05-03 FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD Capri (7) 1968-05-28 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY* Center (44) 1968-11-06 FINIANS RAINBOW* Cinerama (15) 1968-12-18 STAR!* Loma (12) 1968-12-19 FUNNY GIRL* Capri (39) [70mm?] 1968-12-20 CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG* Valley Circle (14) 1969-02-20 THE SHOES OF THE FISHERMAN* Cinerama (12) 1969-03-26 OLIVER!* Valley Circle (26) [70mm?] 1969-04-02 ICE STATION ZEBRA* Center (12) 1969-05-15 SWEET CHARITY* Cinerama (13) 1969-06-25 KRAKATOA, EAST OF JAVA* Center (16) 1969-12-17 GOODBYE, MR. CHIPS* Cinerama (11) 1969-12-20 HELLO, DOLLY!* College (23) [70mm?] 1969-12-25 PAINT YOUR WAGON* Cinema 21 (39) 1970-03-11 PATTON* Center (16) 1970-04-15 ANNE OF THE THOUSAND DAYS Cinerama (10) 1970-05-08 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY Cinema Grossmont (3) 1970-05-27 GONE WITH THE WIND Cinema Grossmont (4) 1970-06-26 DARLING LILI Cinerama (4) 1970-07-01 AIRPORT Center (25) 1970-07-22 GONE WITH THE WIND Cinerama (1) 1970-07-29 DOCTOR ZHIVAGO Cinerama (1) 1970-10-07 TORA! TORA! TORA!* Loma (25) [70mm?] 1970-12-25 SONG OF NORWAY* Capri (22) 1971-02-10 RYANS DAUGHTER Center (21) 1971-02-19 MY FAIR LADY Cinerama (3) 1971-08-04 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY / GRAND PRIX Valley Circle (1) 1971-12-14 FIDDLER ON THE ROOF* Loma (52) [70mm?] 1972-12-14 MAN OF LA MANCHA* Loma (16) [70mm?] 1972-12-22 DELIVERANCE Cinerama (22) 1973-03-16 THE SOUND OF MUSIC Valley Circle (15) 1973-07-18 TOM SAWYER Valley Circle (3) 1973-08-17 THIS IS CINERAMA Cinerama (4) 1974-07-17 THATS ENTERTAINMENT! Valley Circle (14) 1974-08-21 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY Cinerama (4) 1974-11-20 THATS ENTERTAINMENT! Capri (4) 1975-07-16 ROLLERBALL Cinerama (9) 1975-07-30 THE WIND AND THE LION Cinema Grossmont (8) 1976-05-07 LOGANS RUN Valley Circle [sneak preview] 1976-06-16 THATS ENTERTAINMENT PART II Valley Circle (7) 1976-06-23 LOGANS RUN Cinema Grossmont (6) 1976-09-22 THE RETURN OF A MAN CALLED HORSE Cinema Grossmont (2) 1977-05-25 STAR WARS Valley Circle (57) [70mm from Week 38] 1977-12-14 CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND Cinema 21 (13) 1978-03-17 CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND Parkway Plaza (20) 1978-07-21 STAR WARS Parkway Plaza (7) 1978-08-25 THE SOUND OF MUSIC Loma (5) 1978-09-01 TOMMY Cinerama [Fri/Sat/Sun midnight] 1978-12-08 DERSU UZALA Cinema Grossmont (1) 1978-12-15 SUPERMAN Cinema 21 (7) [70mm from Week 2] 1979-02-23 DAYS OF HEAVEN Valley Circle (3) 1979-03-28 THE DEER HUNTER Cinema Grossmont (12) 1979-11-02 SLEEPING BEAUTY Loma (6) 1979-12-21 THE ROSE Cinema Grossmont (9) 1980-04-12 THE ISLAND Loma [sneak preview] 1980-05-21 THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Cinerama (30) 1980-06-13 THE ISLAND Loma (4) 1980-07-11 THE BLUE LAGOON Loma (11) [70mm from Week 2] 1980-08-01 RAISE THE TITANIC Valley Circle (8) 1980-09-26 DIVINE MADNESS Loma (4) 1980-11-21 FAME La Jolla Village (1) 1980-11-26 SLEEPING BEAUTY / THE BLACK HOLE La Jolla Village (1) 1980-12-05 APOCALYPSE NOW La Jolla Village (1) 1980-12-12 DIVINE MADNESS La Jolla Village (1) 1981-01-30 ALTERED STATES Cinema Grossmont [sneak preview] 1981-02-06 ALTERED STATES Cinerama (9) 1981-04-10 ALTERED STATES Cinema Grossmont (1) 1981-05-22 OUTLAND Valley Circle (8) 1981-05-22 SLEEPING BEAUTY / THE BLACK HOLE Cinema Grossmont (1) 1981-05-29 APOCALYPSE NOW Cinema Grossmont (1) 1981-05-29 DAYS OF HEAVEN La Jolla Village (1) 1981-06-05 CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND Cinema Grossmont (1) 1981-06-05 DERSU UZALA La Jolla Village (1) 1981-06-12 RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK Cinema Grossmont (58) 1981-07-17 OUTLAND Glasshouse (1) 1981-07-31 THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Glasshouse (4) 1981-07-31 THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK La Jolla Village (4) 1981-12-04 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY / STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE Loma (2) 1982-03-12 QUEST FOR FIRE Cinerama (9) 1982-05-08 BLADE RUNNER Cinema 21 [sneak preview] (70mm?) 1982-05-14 QUEST FOR FIRE Glasshouse (4) 1982-05-14 QUEST FOR FIRE La Jolla Village (3) 1982-06-04 POLTERGEIST Valley Circle (27) 1982-06-04 STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN Cinerama (8) 1982-06-11 E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL Loma (52) 1982-06-18 ANNIE Cinema 21 (5) 1982-07-09 TRON Glasshouse (19) 1982-07-09 TRON La Jolla Village (6) 1982-07-09 TRON Parkway Plaza (4) 1982-07-30 STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN Glasshouse (12) 1982-07-30 STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN Parkway Plaza (8) 1982-09-10 ANNIE / THE JAZZ SINGER La Jolla Village (1) 1982-09-17 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Cinema Grossmont (7) 1983-01-21 GANDHI Cinema Grossmont (20) 1983-02-11 LETS SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER Glasshouse (2) 1983-03-25 RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK Valley Circle (1) 1983-05-07 BLUE THUNDER Cinema 21 [sneak preview] 1983-05-13 BLUE THUNDER Cinema 21 (9) 1983-05-20 TRON Cinerama (1) 1983-05-25 RETURN OF THE JEDI Glasshouse (22) 1983-05-25 RETURN OF THE JEDI La Jolla Village (21) 1983-05-25 RETURN OF THE JEDI Parkway Plaza (23) 1983-05-25 RETURN OF THE JEDI Sweetwater (#1: 41) 1983-05-25 RETURN OF THE JEDI Sweetwater (#2: 6) [interlock] 1983-06-03 WARGAMES Cinerama (17) 1983-06-10 OCTOPUSSY Cinema Grossmont (14) 1983-07-08 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL / LETS SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER Sweetwater (1) 1983-07-14 QUEEN: WE WILL ROCK YOU Sports Arena (3 days) [Mobile Vision] 1983-07-15 STAYING ALIVE Cinema 21 (13) 1983-07-29 KRULL Valley Circle (6) 1983-09-21 GANDHI Valley Circle (1) 1983-09-30 BRAINSTORM Cinerama (11) 1983-09-30 WARGAMES Glasshouse (5) 1983-09-30 WARGAMES Sweetwater (11) 1983-10-15 THE RIGHT STUFF Cinema Grossmont [sneak preview] 1983-10-21 THE RIGHT STUFF Cinema Grossmont (7) 1983-12-09 THE RIGHT STUFF Chula Vista Park Plaza (15) [70mm from Week 6] 1984-02-03 AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS Cinerama (2) 1984-05-23 INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM Cinema Grossmont (19) 1984-05-23 INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM La Jolla Village (12) 1984-05-23 INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM Loma (18) 1984-06-01 STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK Carousel (17) 1984-06-01 STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK Cinerama (7) 1984-06-01 STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK Flower Hill (10) 1984-06-01 STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK Sweetwater (13) 1984-09-14 THE RIGHT STUFF Cinerama (1) 1984-09-19 AMADEUS Cinerama (11) 1984-12-05 AMADEUS Grossmont Mall (16) 1984-12-07 2010 Carousel (7) 1984-12-07 2010 Valley Circle (9) 1984-12-21 AMADEUS Chula Vista Park Plaza (18) [70mm from Week 6] 1985-01-25 2010 / STARMAN Carousel (3) 1985-03-29 RETURN OF THE JEDI Carousel (3) 1985-03-29 RETURN OF THE JEDI Glasshouse (3) 1985-03-29 RETURN OF THE JEDI La Jolla Village (2) 1985-03-29 RETURN OF THE JEDI Parkway Plaza (3) 1985-03-29 RETURN OF THE JEDI Sweetwater (6) 1985-06-21 COCOON Carousel (16) 1985-06-21 COCOON Glasshouse (12) 1985-06-21 COCOON La Jolla Village (14) 1985-06-21 COCOON Parkway Plaza (10) 1985-06-21 COCOON Sweetwater (19) 1985-06-21 RETURN TO OZ Cinema 21 (3) 1985-06-29 SILVERADO Cinema 21 [sneak preview] 1985-07-03 AMADEUS Cinerama (1) 1985-07-06 SILVERADO Cinema 21 [sneak preview] 1985-07-10 SILVERADO Cinema 21 (12) 1985-07-19 THE BLACK CAULDRON Loma [sneak preview] 1985-07-24 THE BLACK CAULDRON Valley Circle (3) 1985-08-09 AMADEUS Cinerama (1) 1985-09-06 AMADEUS Grossmont Mall (2) 1985-11-22 AMERICAN FLYERS Loma (1) 1985-11-27 ROCKY IV Cinema 21 (9) 1985-12-04 YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES Cinerama (6) 1985-12-04 YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES Loma (4) 1985-12-04 YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES Sweetwater (6) 1985-12-06 WHITE NIGHTS Valley Circle (8) 1985-12-20 A CHORUS LINE Cinema Grossmont (7) 1985-12-20 OUT OF AFRICA Sweetwater (19) 1986-05-13 TOP GUN Cinema 21 [premiere] 1986-05-16 TOP GUN Cinerama (20) 1986-05-16 TOP GUN Loma (28) 1986-07-18 ALIENS Glasshouse (17) 1986-07-18 ALIENS Horton Plaza (11) 1986-07-18 ALIENS Parkway Plaza (10) 1986-07-18 ALIENS Sweetwater (14) 1986-08-01 HOWARD THE DUCK Cinema 21 (2) 1986-10-17 THE COLOR OF MONEY Valley Circle (10) 1986-11-26 STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME Cinema Grossmont (9) 1986-11-26 STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME Del Norte Plaza (32) [70mm from Week 8] 1986-11-26 STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME Horton Plaza (9) 1986-11-26 STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME Loma (13) 1986-11-26 STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME Plaza Camino Real (10) 1986-12-05 TOP GUN Cinema 21 (1) 1986-12-25 THE MISSION Valley Circle (11) 1987-06-03 THE UNTOUCHABLES Cinema Grossmont (10) 1987-06-03 THE UNTOUCHABLES Plaza Camino Real (12) 1987-07-01 INNERSPACE Valley Circle (3) 1987-08-05 STAKEOUT Cinema 21 (9) 1987-12-09 THE LAST EMPEROR Cinema 21 (18) 1987-12-11 EMPIRE OF THE SUN Valley Circle (8) 1988-01-15 GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM Cinema Grossmont (13) 1988-02-12 SHOOT TO KILL Plaza Camino Real (3) 1988-05-20 WILLOW Cinema 21 (5) 1988-06-10 THE PRESIDIO Cinema Grossmont (6) 1988-06-22 WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT Cinema 21 (15) 1988-11-10 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY Rueben H. Fleet (7) [Thurs-Sun] 1989-03-17 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA Cinema 21 (12) 1989-05-24 INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE Grossmont Mall (10) 1989-05-24 INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE Grove (9) 1989-05-24 INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE Plaza Camino Real (11) 1989-05-24 INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE Sweetwater (12) 1989-06-03 DEAD POETS SOCIETY Cinema 21 [sneak preview] 1989-06-09 DEAD POETS SOCIETY Cinema 21 (7) 1989-06-09 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA Valley Circle (1) 1989-06-09 STAR TREK V: THE FINAL FRONTIER Cinema Grossmont (6) 1989-06-22 BATMAN Grove (16) 1989-06-22 BATMAN Horton Plaza (9) 1989-08-09 THE ABYSS Grove (8) [70mm from Week 6] 1989-08-09 THE ABYSS Horton Plaza (8) 1989-08-18 CASUALTIES OF WAR Cinema 21 (7) 1989-11-17 THE LITTLE MERMAID Cinema 21 (12) 1990-01-12 GLORY Cinema Grossmont (7) 1990-03-02 GLORY Grossmont Mall (1) 1990-03-02 THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER Cinema Grossmont (14) 1990-05-25 FIREBIRDS** Cinema 21 (3) 1990-06-15 DICK TRACY Cinema 21 (6) 1990-06-15 DICK TRACY Grove (9) 1990-06-15 DICK TRACY Plaza Camino Real (21) 1990-07-18 ARACHNOPHOBIA Valley Circle (5) 1990-08-31 BACK TO THE FUTURE PART III / DICK TRACY Plaza Camino Real (3) 1990-10-05 FANTASIA Cinema 21 (6) 1990-12-25 THE GODFATHER PART III Cinema 21 (6) 1991-03-01 THE DOORS Cinema Grossmont (8) [70mm from Week 6] 1991-05-24 FANTASIA Valley Circle (1) 1991-06-21 THE ROCKETEER Cinema 21 (5) 1991-11-22 BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Cinema 21 (13) 1992-05-09 FAR AND AWAY Grossmont Mall [sneak preview] 1992-05-16 FAR AND AWAY Grossmont Mall [sneak preview] 1992-05-22 FAR AND AWAY Grossmont Mall (9) 1992-06-05 PATRIOT GAMES Valley Circle (6) 1992-12-25 HOFFA Grossmont Mall (5) 1992-12-25 HOFFA Hazard Center (4) 1993-??-?? BATMAN Chula Vista Center [grand opening fest] 1993-??-?? HOOK Chula Vista Center [grand opening fest] 1993-05-28 CLIFFHANGER Grossmont Mall (6) [70mm from Week 4] 1993-06-17 LAST ACTION HERO Chula Vista Park Plaza (4+) 1993-06-17 LAST ACTION HERO Valley Circle (4) 1994-08-31 TRUE LIES Chula Vista Center (3) 2015-12-25 THE HATEFUL EIGHT ArcLight La Jolla (1+) 2015-12-25 THE HATEFUL EIGHT Grossmont Center (1+) 2015-12-25 THE HATEFUL EIGHT Mission Valley (1+) 2016-03-25 BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE ArcLight La Jolla (1+) 2016-11-18 FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM ArcLight La Jolla (1+) 2017-07-20 DUNKIRK ArcLight La Jolla (1+) 2017-07-20 DUNKIRK Grossmont Center (1+) 2017-07-20 DUNKIRK Mission Valley (1+) 2018-03-28 READY PLAYER ONE ArcLight La Jolla (1+) 2018-03-28 READY PLAYER ONE Grossmont Center (1+) 2018-06-01 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY Grossmont Center (4 days) 2018-??-?? 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY ArcLight La Jolla 2019-10-04 JOKER ArcLight La Jolla (1+) 2019-10-04 JOKER Grossmont Center (1+) 2020-08-31 TENET Grossmont Center (1+) 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 distributors 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 Boxoffice, The Hollywood Reporter, Motion Picture Exhibitor, The San Diego Union, The San Diego Union-Tribune, and Variety; projection and sound system trade advertisements and installation records. Special Thanks: Marshall Crawford and Paul Linfesty. Extra special thanks to the staff of the California State Library, Carlsbad City Library, Georgina Cole Library and San Diego Pubic Library and the library staff of California State University San Marcos and San Diego State University. If you believe this article contains any errors or omissions, please consider emailing the author or editor. | |
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