70mm Cinemas And 70mm Films In San Francisco, USA | All 70mm film lists |
| Compiled by: Michael Coate and William Kallay (Copyright 2003) | Date: August 21, 2003 |
| Part 1: "The Cinemas" The list below includes the names of the commercial motion picture theatres equipped for 70-millimeter (5-perf wide gauge) film presentation in the San Francisco, California, USA region (the "Bay Area"). What follows the theatre list is a year-by-year summary of the films exhibited in 70mm format in those theatres. Note that the list of theatres is not a listing of venues currently in operation that have 70mm presentation capability. Instead, this is a historical list which documents those theatres with 70mm capability at one time or another from the introduction of Todd-AO in 1955 to the present. Many of the theatres listed are closed or have been demolished. Many, however, are currently in operation and may still have 70mm projection capability. The theatres have been identified sans owner/chain/circuit, and are arranged alphabetically based on city, community or recognized place. The owners, however, have been identified in the film list based on the time of the engagement. BERKELEY Berkeley California BURLINGAME Hyatt CAMPBELL Pruneyard CORTE MADERA Cinema / Cinema 1 DALY CITY Plaza FAIRFAX Fairfax FREMONT Cinedome 7 East Fremont Hub HAYWARD Festival Hayward 5 MILPITAS Milpitas 10 MOUNTAIN VIEW Century 10 NEWARK Cinedome 7 West OAKLAND Century 21 Grand Lake Piedmont PALO ALTO Palo Alto Square Twin Stanford PINOLE Century PLEASANT HILL Century REDWOOD CITY Century Park 12 Movies Redwood 6 SAN FRANCISCO Alexandria Alhambra Castro Cinema 21 Coronet Empire Fox Parkside / Parkside Galaxy Golden Gate Cinerama / Golden Gate / Golden Gate 1 Golden Gate Penthouse / Golden Gate 2 Kabuki 8 Metro Movies Northpoint Orpheum Cinerama / Orpheum Presidio Regency / Regency I Regency II Regency III Royal St. Francis United Artists Warfield SAN JOSE Berryessa 10 Century 21 Century 22 Century 23 Century 24 Century 25 Town & Country United Artists SAN RAFAEL Northgate Regency SAN RAMON Crow Canyon SANTA CLARA Cinema 150 SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO Century Plaza 8 | Further 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 |
Part 2: "The Films" | |
| 1956 February 17: Oklahoma! Todd-AO / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: UA Coronet Includes Northern California Premiere on February 16 Also see 1962, 1966 & 1983 re-issue entries December 27: Around The World In Eighty Days Todd-AO / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: UA Coronet Includes Northern California Premiere on December 26 Also see 1983 re-issue entry 1957 There were no new first-run 70mm releases in 1957 (though "Around The World In Eighty Days," which opened in December 1956, played at the Coronet throughout the year). 1958 July 2: South Pacific Todd-AO / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: UA Alexandria Includes Northern California Premiere on July 1 Engagement included "The March Of Todd-AO" 1959 February 11: Sleeping Beauty Super Technirama 70 / Six-Track Stereo San Francisco: UA Coronet Also see 1979, 1981 & 1986 re-issue entries July 23: Porgy And Bess Todd-AO / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: UA Coronet Includes Northern California Premiere on July 22 December 23: Ben-Hur MGM Camera 65 / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: UA Coronet Also see 1969 & 1991 re-issue entries 1960 May 21: Can-Can Todd-AO / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: UA Alexandria Includes Northern California Premiere on May 20 October 27: The Alamo Todd-AO / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: UA Alexandria Includes Northern California Premiere on October 26 December 23: Spartacus Super Technirama 70 / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: United Artists Includes Northern California Premiere on December 22 Also see 1991 re-issue entry 1961 February 9: Exodus Super Panavision 70 / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: UA Alexandria Includes Northern California Premiere on February 8 October 26: King Of Kings Super Technirama 70 / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: UA Coronet Includes Northern California Premiere on October 25 December 15: West Side Story Super Panavision 70 / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: United Artists Includes Northern California Premiere on December 14 December 21: El Cid Super Technirama 70 / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: UA Alexandria Includes Northern California Premiere on December 20 1962 June 27: Oklahoma! (Re-Issue) Todd-AO / Six-Track Stereo San Francisco: UA Coronet Engagement included "The Miracle Of Todd-AO" Also see 1956, 1966 & 1983 entries November 21: Mutiny On The Bounty Ultra Panavision 70 / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: UA Coronet Includes Northern California Premiere on November 20 1963 January 24: Lawrence Of Arabia Super Panavision 70 / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: United Artists Also see 1989 & 2002 re-issue entries May 29: 55 Days At Peking Super Technirama 70 / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: UA Coronet June 27: Cleopatra Todd-AO / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: UA Alexandria Includes Northern California Premiere on June 26 December 19: It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World Ultra Panavision 70 / "Cinerama" / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: Orpheum Cinerama Includes Northern California Premiere on December 18 1964 May 28: Becket Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: United Artists Includes Northern California Premiere on May 27 October 30: My Fair Lady Super Panavision 70 / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: UA Coronet Includes Northern California Premiere on October 29 Also see 1994 re-issue entry . December 22: Circus World Super Technirama 70 / "Cinerama" / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: Orpheum Cinerama Includes Northern California Premiere on December 21 1965 March 19: The Sound Of Music Todd-AO / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: United Artists Includes Northern California Premiere on March 18 Also see 1978 re-issue entry March 24: The Greatest Story Ever Told Ultra Panavision 70 / "Cinerama" / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: Orpheum Cinerama Includes Northern California Premiere on March 23 July 2: The Hallelujah Trail Ultra Panavision 70 / "Cinerama" / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: Beacon Golden Gate Cinerama Includes Northern California Premiere on July 1 July 8: Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines Todd-AO / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: Fox Parkside Includes Northern California Premiere on July 7 . September 21: Mediterranean Holiday MCS Superpanorama 70 / "Cinerama" / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: Orpheum Cinerama December 23: Battle Of The Bulge Ultra Panavision 70 / "Cinerama" / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: Beacon Golden Gate Cinerama Includes Northern California Premiere on December 22 December 24: The Agony And The Ecstasy Todd-AO / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: Fox Parkside Includes Northern California Premiere on December 23 1966 February 10: Doctor Zhivago Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: Orpheum* Additional 70mm engagement: San Francisco: ABC Northpoint (Nov 24, 1971) *Includes Northern California Premiere on February 9 Also see 1971 "MGM Fabulous Four" entry April 1: Cinerama's Russian Adventure Kinopanorama / "Cinerama" / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: Golden Gate Cinerama Includes West Coast Premiere on March 31 June 23: Khartoum Ultra Panavision 70 / "Cinerama" / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: Golden Gate Cinerama Includes West Coast Premiere on June 22 July 1: The Blue Max Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: Fox Parkside Includes Northern California Premiere on June 30 September 28: Oklahoma! (Re-Issue) Todd-AO / Six-Track Stereo San Francisco: UA Coronet Also see 1956, 1962 & 1983 entries October 20: Hawaii Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: UA Coronet Includes Northern California Premiere on October 19 December 23: Is Paris Burning? Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: Trans-Beacon Golden Gate Penthouse Includes Northern California Premieres on December 21 & 22 December 24: The Bible: In The Beginning... Dimension-150 / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: United Artists Includes Northern California Premiere on December 23 1967 January 27: Grand Prix Super Panavision 70 / "Cinerama" / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: Trans-Beacon Golden Gate Cinerama Includes Northern California Premiere on January 25 and San Francisco Premiere on January 26 March 2: The Sand Pebbles Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: Trans-Beacon Golden Gate Penthouse Includes Northern California Premiere on March 1 May 18: Thoroughly Modern Millie Spherical Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: Orpheum Includes Northern California Premiere on May 17 June 28: The Dirty Dozen Spherical Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo San Francisco: Northpoint Not advertised in 70mm until July 14 October 26: Gone With The Wind (Re-Issue) Spherical Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo San Francisco: Trans-Beacon Golden Gate Cinerama*/** Additional 70mm engagements: San Francisco: RKO Golden Gate Penthouse* (June 18, 1968) San Francisco: Northpoint (Nov 20, 1968) San Francisco: ABC Northpoint (Dec 1, 1971) San Francisco: Blumenfeld Regency II (Oct 25, 1974) San Francisco: Plitt Northpoint (Sept 3, 1976) Daly City: Plitt Plaza (Sept 10, 1976) *Reserved Seat Engagement **Includes Northern California Re-Premiere on October 25 Also see 1971 "MGM Fabulous Four" entry November 2: Camelot Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo San Francisco: UA Coronet*/** Additional 70mm engagement: San Francisco: Plitt Northpoint (Oct 18, 1978) *Reserved Seat Engagement **Includes Northern California Premiere on November 1 . November 3: Far From The Madding Crowd Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: Trans-Beacon Golden Gate Penthouse Includes Northern California Premiere on November 2 1968 January 25: Doctor Dolittle Todd-AO / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: United Artists Includes Northern California Premiere on January 24 June 20: 2001: A Space Odyssey Super Panavision 70 / "Cinerama" / Six-Track Stereo San Francisco: Trans-Beacon Golden Gate Cinerama*/** Additional 70mm engagements: San Francisco: Trans-Beacon Golden Gate Penthouse* (Nov 11, 1969) San Francisco: UA Coronet (April 29, 1970) San Francisco: ABC Northpoint (Dec 8, 1971) *Reserved Seat Engagement **Includes Northern California Premiere on June 19 Also see 1971 "MGM Fabulous Four" entry, and 1974 & 2001 re-issue entries October 11: Funny Girl Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: UA Coronet Includes Northern California Premiere on October 10 October 26: Finian's Rainbow Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: St. Francis Includes Northern California Premiere on October 25 November 9: Star! Todd-AO / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: United Artists Includes Northern California Premieres on November 7 & 8 November 13: Ice Station Zebra Super Panavision 70 / "Cinerama" / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: Orpheum Cinerama . November 21: The Shoes Of The Fisherman Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: Trans-Beacon Golden Gate Penthouse Includes "Special Advance Performance" screening on October 18 December 20: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Super Panavision 70 / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: Syufy Cinema 21 Includes Northern California Premiere on December 19 December 20: Oliver! Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: UA Alexandria Includes West Coast Premiere on December 19 1969 March 26: Ben-Hur (Re-Issue) MGM Camera 65 / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: Trans-Beacon Golden Gate Penthouse Also see 1959 & 1991 entries March 29: Sweet Charity Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: St. Francis Includes Northern California Premiere on March 28 June 25: MacKenna's Gold Super Panavision 70 / Six-Track Stereo San Francisco: United Artists June 26: Krakatoa, East Of Java Uncredited 65mm / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: Trans-Beacon Golden Gate Penthouse Includes Northern California Premiere on June 25 . October 30: Paint Your Wagon Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: St. Francis Includes Northern California Premiere on October 29 . November 13: Goodbye, Mr. Chips Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: Trans-Beacon Golden Gate Cinerama Includes Northern California Premiere on November 12 December 18: Hello, Dolly! Todd-AO / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: Syufy Cinema 21 Includes West Coast Premiere on December 17 1970 March 5: Patton Dimension-150 / Six-Track Stereo San Francisco: Trans-Beacon Golden Gate Cinerama*/** Additional 70mm engagement: San Francisco: UA Alexandria (June 9, 1972) *Reserved Seat Engagement **Includes Northern California Premiere on March 4 October 8: Tora! Tora! Tora! Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: RKO Golden Gate 2 Includes Northern California Premiere on October 7 December 24: Song Of Norway Super Panavision 70 / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: Blumenfeld Regency II Includes Northern California Premiere on December 21 1971 September 22: "MGM Fabulous Four" September 22 - November 2: Doctor Zhivago November 3 - 9: Gone With The Wind November 10 - 16: 2001: A Space Odyssey November 17 - 23: Ryan's Daughter San Francisco: UA Alexandria Engagement began as the "MGM Fabulous Three" Also see 1966, 1967 & 1968 original release entries "Ryan's Daughter" original release in 35mm - first San Francisco 70mm engagement November 11: Fiddler On The Roof Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: RKO Golden Gate 1 Includes Northern California Premiere on November 10 1972 February 3: Nicholas And Alexandra Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: UA Alexandria Includes Northern California Premiere on February 2 March 24: The Concert For Bangladesh 16mm Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo San Francisco: Warfield December 15: Man Of La Mancha Spherical Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo Reserved Seat Engagement San Francisco: RKO Golden Gate 1 Includes Northern California Premiere on December 14 December 22: The Poseidon Adventure Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo San Francisco: UA Alexandria 1973 There were no new first-run 70mm engagements in 1973 1974 May 15: Panorama Blue 70mm Super Panoramascope / Six-Track Stereo San Francisco: St. Francis June 26: That's Entertainment! Various Formats / Six-Track Stereo San Francisco: Plitt Northpoint August 21: 2001: A Space Odyssey (Re-Issue) Super Panavision 70 / Six-Track Stereo San Francisco: Blumenfeld Regency II Additional 70mm engagement: San Francisco: Castro (Dec 25, 1995) Also see 1971 "MGM Fabulous Four" entry, and 1968 & 2001 entries December 20: The Towering Inferno Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo San Francisco: UA Alexandria San Francisco: Mann Parkside Includes simultaneous Northern California Premieres on December 19 (promoted as the West Coast premiere, though, in fact, Los Angeles held the film's World Premiere three days earlier) 1975 June 25: The Wind And The Lion Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo San Francisco: Mann Parkside San Francisco: Blumenfeld Royal July 2: Rollerball Spherical Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo San Francisco: Blumenfeld Regency I Includes Invitational Premiere on July 1 December 25: Lucky Lady Spherical Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo San Francisco: UA Alexandria 1976 June 23: Logan's Run Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo San Francisco: UA Alexandria San Jose: Syufy Century 21 Additional 70mm engagement: San Francisco: Warfield* (July 12, 1978) *Double feature with "Close Encounters Of The Third Kind" September 10: Jesus Christ Superstar (Re-Issue) Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo San Francisco: Plitt Northpoint Original 1973 release in 35mm - first San Francisco 70mm engagement December 25: A Star Is Born Spherical Blow-Up San Francisco: Plitt Northpoint* San Jose: Mann Town & Country** *Six-Track Dolby Stereo **Six-Track Stereo 1977 May 25: Star Wars Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo San Francisco: UA Coronet Additional 70mm engagements: San Jose: Syufy Century 22* (Nov 23) San Francisco: Syufy Cinema 21** (Dec 21) *Engagement began May 25 in 35mm; switched to 70mm Nov 23 **Engagement included 70mm blow-up of "Duck Dodgers" short Also see 1978 & 1979 re-issue entries, and 1985 "Return Of The Jedi" re-issue entry December 14: Close Encounters Of The Third Kind Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo San Francisco: UA Coronet Santa Clara: UA Cinema 150 Additional 70mm engagement: San Francisco: Warfield* (June 28, 1978) *Double feature with "Logan's Run" beginning July 12, 1978 1978 June 2: Capricorn One Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo San Francisco: Plitt Northpoint Includes 70mm Sneak Preview on May 19 "(Coronet)" July 21: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo San Francisco: Plitt Northpoint August 25: The Sound Of Music (Re-Issue) Todd-AO / Six-Track Stereo San Francisco: UA Coronet Also see 1965 entry September 1: Star Wars (Re-Issue) Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo San Francisco: Warfield Also see 1977 & 1979 entries, and 1985 "Return Of The Jedi" re-issue entry October 26: Dersu Uzala Sovscope 70 / Six-Track Stereo San Francisco: Plitt Northpoint December 15: Superman Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo San Francisco: Plitt Northpoint* Additional 70mm engagement: San Francisco: Blumenfeld Royal (May 25, 1979) *Not advertised in 70mm until second week of run 1979 February 23: Days Of Heaven Spherical Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo San Francisco: Blumenfeld Regency II May 25: Alien Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo Corte Madera: Marin Cinema 1 San Francisco: Plitt Northpoint San Jose: Syufy Century 22 Also see 1981 re-issue entry August 15: Star Wars (Re-Issue) Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo San Francisco: Warfield Also see 1977 & 1978 entries, and 1985 "Return Of The Jedi" re-issue entry September 21: Apocalypse Now Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo San Francisco: Plitt Northpoint San Jose: Syufy Century 22 Also see 1987 re-issue entry November 9: The Rose Spherical Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo San Francisco: UA Metro November 9: Sleeping Beauty (Re-Issue) Super Technirama 70 / Six-Track Stereo San Francisco: UA Alexandria Also see 1959, 1981 & 1986 entries December 14: 1941 Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo San Francisco: Plitt Northpoint December 21: The Black Hole Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo San Jose: Syufy Century 22 1980 May 21: The Empire Strikes Back Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo Corte Madera: Marin Cinema 1 San Francisco: Plitt Northpoint San Jose: Syufy Century 22 Also see 1985 "Return Of The Jedi" re-issue entry . September 26: Divine Madness Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo Corte Madera: Marin Cinema 1 San Francisco: UA Metro San Jose: Syufy Century 23 Additional 70mm engagement: San Francisco: Plitt Northpoint (March 20, 1981) Also includes 70mm Sneak Preview screening on June 7 (Royal) . September 26: Twinkle, Twinkle, "Killer" Kane Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo San Francisco: Syufy Cinema 21 1981 January 23: Altered States Spherical Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo + Megasound San Francisco: UA Metro* San Jose: Mann Town & Country *Includes 70mm Sneak Preview screening on January 16 March 27: Sleeping Beauty (Re-Issue) Super Technirama 70 / Six-Track Stereo San Francisco: Plitt Northpoint Also see 1959, 1979 & 1986 entries May 22: Outland Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo + Megasound San Francisco: UA Coronet June 5: Alien (Re-Issue) Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo San Francisco: UA Alexandria Also see 1979 entry June 12: Raiders Of The Lost Ark Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo Corte Madera: Marin Cinema 1 San Francisco: Blumenfeld Regency I San Jose: Syufy Century 21 San Jose: Syufy Century 23 Also see 1982 & 1983 re-issue entries Coming Soon: 1982 - 2003 | |
Notes | |
| The information contained in this article and historical film list has been principally sourced from newspaper advertisements appearing in: San Francisco Chronicle (1955 - Present) San Jose Mercury News (1955 - Present) In addition, selected data has been sourced from the following: Coate, Michael and William Kallay. "Presented In 70mm," Widescreen Review Presents The Ultimate Widescreen DVD Movie Guide. Volume 1, Number 1, 2001. "Dolby Stereo Equipped Theatres." Dolby Laboratories, Inc. Selected Issues 1977 -1987. Hauerslev, Thomas, Ed. "DP70s In The US." Hayes, R. Michael. "Roadshow Movies: A Review Of Disc Versions Of Hard Ticket Features." Widescreen Review Presents Laser Magic 1998. 1998. Norwood, Scott, Ed. "US 70mm Capable Theatre Listing." Any inaccuracies or inconsistencies in the source material may have been carried over into this work, and the authors/compilers accept no responsibility for such errors. SPECIAL THANKS Paul Linfesty Anita Monga Morgan Montague | |
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