The following is a reference / historical listing of the roadshow presentations of “Search for Paradise” in the United States and Canada.
“Search for Paradise” was the fourth feature-length travelogue produced in the large, deeply-curved-screen Cinerama format. The film was directed by Otto Lang and its world premiere was held September 24th, 1957, at the Warner in New York City.
“Search for Paradise” was presented exclusively in Cinerama-branded cinemas. The print type was 26fps 6-perf 35mm x 3 plus 35mm magnetic fullcoat 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/entr’acte/exit music, and an average of only ten scheduled screenings per week. Souvenir program booklet were sold, as well, and, in some locales, the film’s soundtrack album.
Out of the hundreds of first-run films released in North America during 1957, “Search for Paradise” was among only three given deluxe roadshow treatment.
PART 1: THE CINERAMA / ROADSHOW ENGAGEMENTS (reserved seat policy / 3-panel Cinerama presentation)
Opening date YYYY-MM-DD … locale — cinema (duration in weeks) [notes]
PART 1: THE CINERAMA / ROADSHOW ENGAGEMENTS (reserved seat policy / 3-panel Cinerama presentation)
Opening date YYYY-MM-DD … locale — cinema (duration in weeks) [notes]
1957-09-24 … New York, NY — Warner (32) 1957-10-02 … Dallas, TX — Melba (33) 1957-10-02 … Philadelphia, PA — Boyd (21) 1957-10-03 … Pittsburgh, PA — Warner (38) 1957-10-09 … Buffalo, NY — Teck (19) 1957-10-09 … St. Louis, MO — Ambassador (26) 1957-11-19 … Boston, MA — Boston (40) 1957-11-26 … Cincinnati, OH — Capitol (48) 1957-12-08 … Miami (Miami Beach), FL — Roosevelt (15)
1958-01-15 … Washington, DC — Warner (39) 1958-02-11 … Detroit, MI — Music Hall (34) 1958-03-04 … Minneapolis, MN — Century (38) 1958-03-11 … San Francisco, CA — Orpheum (37) 1958-04-16 … Chicago, IL — Palace (22) 1958-04-22 … Kansas City, MO — Missouri (18) 1958-04-23 … Baltimore, MD — Town (3) 1958-08-19 … Cleveland, OH — Palace (15) 1958-11-10 … Syracuse, NY — Eckel (6) 1958-12-23 … Montreal, QC — Imperial (19) 1958-12-25 … Vancouver, BC — Strand (10)
1959-01-30 … Honolulu, HI — Princess (8) 1959-12-10 … Vancouver, BC — Strand (1) [return run]
1960-02-11 … Los Angeles, CA — Warner Hollywood (38)
1961-02-09 … Long Island (Syosset), NY — Syosset (15) 1961-06-30 … Oklahoma City, OK — Cooper (17) 1961-09-22 … Albany, NY — Hellman (4) 1961-10-10 … Milwaukee, WI — Palace (11) 1961-10-12 … Toledo, OH — Paramount (7) 1961-10-23 … Boston, MA — Boston (12) [return run] 1961-11-13 … Montreal, QC — Imperial (13) [return run] 1961-12-22 … Newark (Montclair), NJ — Clairidge (17)
1962-01-15 … Minneapolis, MN — Century (8) [return run] 1962-02-07 … Columbus, OH — Grand (15) 1962-04-18 … Jacksonville, FL — 5 Points (4) 1962-04-20 … Louisville, KY — Rialto (6) 1962-04-20 … El Paso, TX — Capri (3) 1962-04-20 … Indianapolis, IN — Indiana (7) 1962-05-04 … Kansas City, MO — Empire (5) [market return run] 1962-05-16 … Memphis, TN — Palace (7) 1962-05-16 … Scranton, PA — Strand (3) 1962-06-21 … Rochester, NY — Monroe (4) 1962-07-18 … Portland, OR — Hollywood (10) 1962-08-15 … Norfolk, VA — Rosna (9) 1962-10-12 … Charlotte, NC — Carolina (5) 1962-11-21 … Erie, PA — Strand (4)
1963-02-13 … Salt Lake City, UT — Villa (8) 1963-02-22 … Tampa, FL — Palace (11) 1963-03-21 … Miami, FL — Florida (7) [market return run] 1963-04-10 … Wichita, KS — Uptown (7) 1963-05-03 … Providence, RI — Cinerama (7) 1963-09-26 … Chattanooga, TN — Brainerd (5)
1964-03-12 … Fresno, CA — Warner (5) 1964-11-25 … Albuquerque, NM — Fox Winrock (4)
1965-04-15 … Hartford, CT — Cinerama (11) 1965-06-09 … Sacramento, CA — Esquire (2)
PART 2: CINERAMA MARKETS / VENUES IN WHICH “SEARCH FOR PARADISE” DID NOT PLAY
Akron (Cuyahoga Falls), OH — Falls Atlanta, GA — Roxy Birmingham, AL — Ritz Dayton, OH — Dabel Denver, CO — Cooper Houston, TX — Rivoli Nashville, TN — Crescent New Orleans, LA — Cinerama Omaha, NE — Cooper Phoenix (Scottsdale), AZ — Kachina Rockland County (Nanuet), NY — Route 59 San Diego, CA — Cinerama Seattle, WA — Paramount Toronto, ON — University
This information has been principally referenced from film industry trade publications and regional newspaper promotion, with thanks to Al Alvarez, Claude Ayakawa, Jim Barg, Kirk Besse, Raymond Caple, Nick DiMaggio, Sheldon Hall, William Hooper, Bill Huelbig, Mark Huffstetler, Bill Kallay, Bill Kretzel, Mark Lensenmayer, Matthew Lutthans, Stan Malone, Gabriel Neeb, Jim Perry, John Sittig, David Strohmaier, Bob Throop, Joel Weide and Vince Young.
International presentations of this title have not been accounted for in this article.
If you believe this article contains any errors or omissions, please consider emailing the author or editor. | More in 70mm reading:
in70mm.com's Cinerama page
Cinerama's Search For Paradise CD Soundtrack
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 |