This Is
Cinerama |
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| Compiled by: Michael Coate, Los Angeles, USA | Date: 28.01.2025 |
 Cinerama
puts YOU in the picture, in the most remarkable new kind of emotional
experience ever brought to the theatre. You are swept into the picture,
actually surrounded with the magic of CineramaSound. Have you got your
tickets yet?The following is a reference / historical listing of the worldwide roadshow presentations of This is Cinerama. This is Cinerama was the first feature-length travelogue produced in the large, deeply-curved-screen Cinerama format and is the motion picture that initiated the widescreen revolution. The film was directed by Mike Todd, Michael Todd Jr., Walter A. Thompson, and Fred Rickey. Its world premiere was held September 30th, 1952, at the Broadway in New York City. This is Cinerama was presented exclusively in Cinerama-branded cinemas and was a travelogue featuring segments on Rockaways Playland, La Scala opera house, Niagara Falls, the Vienna Boys Choir, Venice, a military ceremony in Edinburgh, a bullfight in Spain, a stereophonic sound demonstration, Cypress Gardens, and the American West. The film begins with an introduction in standard format featuring travel writer Lowell Thomas before expanding out to the immersive Cinerama imagery. The print type was 26fps 6-perf 35mm x 3 plus 35mm magnetic fullcoat for interlocked 7-channel audio. The presentations cited in this work were hard ticket roadshow engagements (i.e. special, long-running, showcase presentations in major cities prior to the film being exhibited as a general release). Much like a stage production, these typically featured advanced admission pricing, reserved seating, an overture/intermission/entracte/exit music, and an average of only ten scheduled screenings per week. Souvenir program booklet were sold, as well, and, in some locales, the films soundtrack album. Out of the hundreds of first-run films released in North America during 1952, This is Cinerama was among only two issued with a reserved-seat policy (Limelight was the other). |
More in 70mm reading: in70mm.com's Cinerama page Cinerama's 50th Anniversary This is Cinerama: The North American 70mm Re-Release Engagements How the West Was Won: The Original Cinerama Presentations Flicker Alley releases "Windjammer" and "This is Cinerama" on Blu-ray and DVD |
 PART
1: THE CINERAMA / ROADSHOW ENGAGEMENTS(reserved seat policy / 3-panel Cinerama presentation) Opening date YYYY-MM-DD city cinema (duration in weeks) [notes] 1952-09-30 New York, NY, USA Broadway (35) 1953-03-23 Detroit, MI, USA Music Hall (99) 1953-04-29 Los Angeles, CA, USA Warner Hollywood (133) 1953-06-05 New York, NY, USA Warner m/o (88 [123]) 1953-07-29 Chicago, IL, USA Palace (98) 1953-10-05 Philadelphia, PA, USA Boyd (71) 1953-11-05 Washington, DC, USA Warner (99) 1953-12-08 Pittsburgh, PA, USA Warner (62) 1953-12-25 San Francisco, CA, USA Orpheum (84) 1953-12-30 Boston, MA, USA Boston (87) 1954-02-10 St. Louis, MO, USA Ambassador (54) 1954-04-19 Minneapolis, MN, USA Century (67) 1954-06-21 Cincinnati, OH, USA Capitol (52) 1954-07-01 Dallas, TX, USA Melba (43) 1954-09-02 Damascus, Syria Trade Fair (5) 1954-09-30 London, England, UK Casino (70) 1954-12-05 Bangkok, Thailand Constitution Fair (4) 1954-12-27 Montreal, QC, Canada Imperial (66) 1955-01-05 Tokyo, Japan Imperial (49) 1955-01-15 Osaka, Japan O.S. Cinerama (49) 1955-03-16 Buffalo, NY, USA Teck (46) 1955-04-09 Milan, Italy Manzoni (54) 1955-05-17 Paris, France Empire (84) 1955-06-28 Rome, Italy Sistina (49) 1956-04-02 Atlanta, GA, USA Roxy (30) 1956-05-21 Oklahoma City, OK, USA Warner (25) 1956-06-14 Kansas City, MO, USA Missouri (39) 1956-08-22 Seattle, WA, USA Paramount (33) 1956-09-13 Caracas, Venezuela Del Este (27) 1956-11-14 Cleveland, OH, USA Palace (32) 1956-12-05 Miami (Miami Beach), FL, USA Roosevelt (12) 1957-01-27 Marseille, France ABC (1+) 1957-08-28 Baltimore, MD, USA Town (16) 1957-10-24 Toronto, ON, Canada University (24) 1958-01-08 Syracuse, NY, USA Eckel (17) 1958-02-23 Havana, Cuba Radiocentro (1+) 1958-03-06 Vancouver, BC, Canada Strand (12) 1958-04-06 St. Louis, MO, USA Ambassador (9) [return run] 1958-04-17 Brussels, Belgium Worlds Fair (28) [Expo 58] 1958-05-04 New York, NY, USA Warner (11) [return run] 1958-05-30 Buenos Aires, Argentina Casino (1+) 1958-06-03 Montreal, QC, Canada Imperial (16) [Version Francaise] 1958-07-22 Honolulu, HI Princess (10) 1958-09-17 Sydney, Australia Plaza (42) 1958-12-04 Madrid, Spain Albeniz (1+) 1958-12-10 Barcelona, Spain Nuevo (48) 1958-12-26 Melbourne, Australia Plaza (43) 1959-04-29 Berlin (West Berlin), West Germany Capitol (22) 1959-06-25 Long Island (Syosset), NY, USA Syosset (16) 1959-07-21 Cleveland, OH, USA Palace (3) [return run] 1959-07-26 Sγo Paulo, Brazil Comodoro (1+) 1959-07-28 Singapore Sky (9) 1959-10-22 Vancouver, BC, Canada Strand (2) [return run] 1959-11-05 Auckland, New Zealand Cinerama (25) 1960-04-26 Boston, MA, USA Boston (29) [return run] 1960-06-28 San Francisco, CA, USA Orpheum (17) [return run] 1960-07-12 Montreal, QC, Canada Imperial (24) [return run] 1960-07-14 Rotterdam, Holland Cinerama (26) 1960-07-22 Kuala Lumpur, Malaya Capitol (6) 1960-07-28 Milwaukee, WI, USA Palace (21) 1960-08-23 Minneapolis, MN, USA Century (17) [return run] 1960-08-25 Houston, TX, USA Rivoli (12) 1960-08-25 Newark (Montclair), NJ, USA Clairidge (16) 1960-09-27 Indianapolis, IN, USA Indiana (26) 1960-11-02 Los Angeles, CA, USA Warner Hollywood (22) [return run] 1960-11-03 Columbus, OH, USA Grand (20) 1960-11-22 Toledo, OH, USA Paramount (17) 1961-02-15 Omaha, NE, USA Cooper (22) 1961-03-09 Denver, CO, USA Cooper (32) 1961-03-23 Santiago, Chile Santa Lucia (1+) 1961-03-24 Albany, NY, USA Hellman (9) 1961-03-29 Louisville, KY, USA Rialto (14) 1961-04-11 Johannesburg, South Africa Cinerama (1+) 1961-05-29 Detroit, MI, USA Music Hall (16) [return run] 1961-06-28 Chicago, IL, USA Palace (14) [return run / seats not reserved] 1961-07-21 Salt Lake City, UT, USA Villa (26) 1961-07-26 Memphis, TN, USA Palace (11) 1961-08-09 Providence, RI, USA Cinerama (15) 1961-08-30 Kansas City, MO, USA Empire (11) [market return run] 1961-09-20 Hartford, CT, USA Cinerama (27) 1961-10-18 Norfolk, VA, USA Rosna (15) 1961-10-25 Rochester, NY, USA Monroe (12) 1961-10-25 Wichita, KS, USA Uptown (13) 1961-10-26 Oklahoma City, OK, USA Cooper (11) [market return run] 1961-11-08 El Paso, TX, USA Capri (10) 1961-11-05 London, England, UK Casino (17) [return run] 1961-11-15 Jacksonville, FL, USA 5 Points (9) 1961-11-15 Scranton, PA, USA Strand (14) 1961-11-21 Portland, OR, USA Hollywood (20) 1961-12-13 Miami, FL, USA Florida (9) [market return run] 1961-12-22 Brussels, Belgium Varietes (1+) [market return run] 1961-12-22 Charlotte, NC, USA Carolina (13) 1961-12-22 Dallas, TX, USA Capri (6) [market return run] 1961-12-22 Frankfurt, West Germany Filmpalast (1+) 1962-02-27 Nashville, TN, USA Crescent (13) 1962-03-28 Akron (Cuyahoga Falls), OH, USA Falls (26) 1962-04-06 Stockholm, Sweden Vinterpalatset (6) 1962-04-18 Tampa, FL, USA Palace (13) 1962-05-04 Toronto, ON, Canada Eglinton (3) [market return run] 1962-05-30 Gothenburg, Sweden Draken (5) 1962-06-05 Erie, PA, USA Strand (11) 1962-06-08 Malmoe, Sweden Royal (9) 1962-06-15 Toledo, OH, USA Paramount (5) [return run] 1962-06-28 Birmingham, AL, USA Ritz (14) 1962-07-11 Chattanooga, TN, USA Brainerd (9) 1962-07-25 Lima, Peru Republica (1+) 1962-12-21 Fresno, CA, USA Warner (11) 1963-04-14 Dublin, Ireland Cinerama (9) 1963-05-09 Christchurch, New Zealand Cinerama (14) 1963-05-28 Dayton, OH, USA Dabel (9) 1963-10-11 Sacramento, CA, USA Esquire (10) 1963-11-01 Honolulu, HI, USA Cinerama (2) [market return run] 1963-12-12 Antwerp, Belgium Anvers Palace (1+) 1964-02-12 Rockland County (Nanuet), NY, USA Route 59 (4) 1964-03-08 Helsinki, Finland Savoy (1+) 1964-03-17 Liverpool, England, UK Abbey (8) 1964-03-24 Albuquerque, NM, USA Fox Winrock (7) 1964-09-07 Beirut, Lebanon Dunia (1+) 1964-11-29 Birmingham, England, UK ABC Bristol Road (3) 1965-01-27 Wichita, KS, USA Uptown (4) [return run] 1965-03-26 London, England, UK Casino [one-day return run] 1965-04-14 San Diego, CA, USA Cinerama (6) 1966-04-25 Cape Town, South Africa Cinerama (1+) 1967-03-14 Mexico City, Mexico Hollywood (7) 1968-02-16 Bangalore, India Kapali (1+) 1971-12-16 Rotterdam, Holland Cinerama (7) [return run] 1972-04-01 Bangkok, Thailand Indra (4) [market return run] |
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 PART
2: ITINERAMA MOBILE PRESENTATIONS OF THIS IS CINERAMA1961-09-04 Mantes-la-Jolie, France Cinerama Europe 1 (2 days) 1961-09-07 Compiθgne, France Cinerama Europe 1 (3 days) 1961-09-11 Reims, France Cinerama Europe 1 (4 days) 1961-09-16 Serιmange-Erzange, France Cinerama Europe 1 (2 days) 1961-09-20 Strasbourg, France Cinerama Europe 1 (6 days) 1961-09-27 Colmar, France Cinerama Europe 1 (3 days) 1961-09-30 Mulhouse, France Cinerama Europe 1 (5 days) 1964-04-24 Richmond, England, UK Athletic Ground (? days) 1964-05-13 Hove, England, UK Hove Lawns (? days) 1964-05-28 Southampton, England, UK Western Esplanade (? days) 1964-06-18 Southsea, England, UK The Common (? days) 1964-07-20 Paignton, England, UK Clennon Valley (? days) 1964-09-04 Plymouth, England, UK Gilbert Lane Central Park (37 days) 1964-11-21 Nottingham, England, UK Goose Fair Site (? days) 1965-02-08 Sheffield, England, UK Devonshire Road (? days) 1966-03-14 Leicester, England, UK Cossington Street (? days) 1966-06-08 Southsea, England, UK The Common (? days) 1966-10-10 Leeds, England, UK Cinderfield Woodhouse Moor (13 days) PART 3: DRIVE-IN PRESENTATIONS OF THIS IS CINERAMA 1964-04-17 Inglewood, CA, USA Century Drive-In (3) |
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PART 4: CINERAMA MARKETS AND VENUES
IN WHICH THIS IS CINERAMA DID NOT PLAY Copenhagen, Denmark Kinopalaeet Glasgow, Scotland, UK ABC Coliseum Lyon, France Palais des Congres Manchester, England, UK Theatre Royal New Orleans, LA, USA Cinerama Newcastle, England, UK Queens Phoenix (Scottsdale), AZ, USA Kachina Stuttgart, West Germany Atrium Vienna, Austria Gartenbau PART 5: THIS IS CINERAMA PLAYDATES UNDETERMINED Antwerp, Belgium Anvers-Palace Athens, Greece Radio City Bogota, Colombia Scala Bremen, West Germany Regina Cardiff, Wales, UK Park Hall Cologne, West Germany Residenz Cσrdoba, Argentina Republica Dόsseldorf, West Germany Tonhallen Essen, West Germany Europa-Palast Essen, West Germany Gruga-Halle Fukuoka, Japan Asahi Kaika Geneva, Switzerland Sportcentre Genoa, Italy Margherita Hamburg, West Germany Grindel Hannover, West Germany Gloria-Palast Karlsruhe, West Germany City Kyoto, Japan Palace Manila, Philippines Roman Mannheim, West Germany Scala Mendoza, Argentina City Montevideo, Uruguay Eliseo Munich, West Germany City-Filmpalast Munich, West Germany Royal-Palast Mόnster, West Germany Mόnsterlandhalle Nice, France Rialto Nuremberg, West Germany Delphi Palace Offenburg, West Germany Kinzighalle Oldenburg, West Germany Weser-Ems-Halle Palermo, Italy Golden Panama City, Panama Lux Ravensburg, West Germany Oberschwabenhalle San Sebastian, Spain Cinerama Mobile San Juan, Puerto Rico Cinerama Siegen, West Germany Siegerlandshalle Strasbourg, France Broglie Tehran, Iran Atlantic Tel Aviv, Israel Cinerama United Kingdom Itinerama [mobile installation at numerous locales] Valencia, Spain Oeste Wiesbaden, West Germany Rhein-Main-Halle PART 6: REVIVAL SCREENINGS OF THIS IS CINERAMA 1993-06-16 Bradford, England, UK Pictureville [annual/semi-regular screenings] 1996-08-31 Dayton, OH, USA Neon Movies [semi regular through April 2000] 2000-06-02 Seattle, WA, USA Cinerama 2002-10-04 Los Angeles, CA, USA Cinerama Dome (2) 2003-03-04 Seattle, WA, USA Cinerama 2003-03-05 Seattle, WA, USA Cinerama 2004-03-04 Seattle, WA, USA Cinerama 2004-03-05 Seattle, WA, USA Cinerama 2004-03-11 Seattle, WA, USA Cinerama 2004-10-21 Los Angeles, CA, USA Cinerama Dome 2004-10-23 Los Angeles, CA, USA Cinerama Dome 2009-09-08 Los Angeles, CA, USA Cinerama Dome 2009-09-09 Los Angeles, CA, USA Cinerama Dome 2009-09-10 Los Angeles, CA, USA Cinerama Dome 2011-09-30 Seattle, WA, USA Cinerama 2011-10-01 Seattle, WA, USA Cinerama 2011-10-02 Seattle, WA, USA Cinerama 2011-10-16 Seattle, WA, USA Cinerama 2012-09-30 Los Angeles, CA, USA Cinerama Dome 2012-10-04 Los Angeles, CA, USA Cinerama Dome 2013-09-28 Seattle, WA, USA Cinerama 2025-09-25 Bradford, England, UK Pictureville [Widescreen Weekend 2025] PART 7: 70MM RE-ISSUE The films 70mm re-issue playdates have been accounted for in a separate article (Thomas: Please add link). PART 8: SMILEBOX/DIGITAL PRESENTATIONS Smilebox/Digital presentations are not included in this work. |
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 This
information has been principally referenced from film industry trade
publications and regional newspaper promotion. Special Thanks: Al Alvarez, Peter Andren, Claude Ayakawa, Jim Barg, Kirk Besse, Herbert Born, Raymond Caple, Miguel Carrara, Nick DiMaggio, Alain Dorange, Brian Guckian, Sheldon Hall, Thomas Hauerslev, Udo Heimansberg, William Hooper, Bill Huelbig, Mark Huffstetler, Bill Kallay, Bill Kretzel, Ramon Lamarca, Roland Lataille, Mark Lensenmayer, Tony Liberson, Matthew Lutthans, Stan Malone, Gabriel Neeb, Jim Perry, John Sittig, David Strohmaier, Robert Throop, Chris Usher, Joel Weide, Gerhard Witte, Vince Young. If you believe this article contains any errors or omissions, please consider emailing the author or editor. |
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