The following is a reference / historical listing of the roadshow and 70mm presentations of Exodus in the United States and Canada. These were the first and best cinemas in which to experience this motion picture.
The United Artists release was directed by Otto Preminger (Porgy and Bess, In Harms Way) and starred Paul Newman, Eva Marie Saint, Ralph Richardson, Peter Lawford, Lee J. Cobb, Sal Mineo, John Derek, Hugh Griffith, Gregory Ratoff and Jill Haworth. The films world premiere was held December 15th, 1960, at the Warner in New York.
The presentations cited in the Part 1 section of 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 an average of only ten scheduled screenings per week, advanced admission pricing, reserved seating, and an intermission. (Many roadshows included an overture/intermission/entracte/exit music, but in the case of Exodus, there was only an intermission.) A souvenir roadshow program booklet and the films soundtrack album were sold, as well, in some locales. And, unlike the majority of the films general-release presentations, these roadshow engagements were presented in 70-millimeter (from Super Panavision 70) with six-track magnetic stereophonic sound.
Out of the hundreds of films released in North America during 1960, Exodus was among only eight given deluxe roadshow treatment and only five released with 70mm prints.
PART 1: FIRST RUN / THE ROADSHOW ENGAGEMENTS (reserved seat policy and a presumed 70mm presentation except where noted otherwise)
Opening date YYYY-MM-DD
locale cinema (duration in weeks) [notes]
1960-12-15
New York, NY Warner (45) 1960-12-16
Chicago, IL Cinestage (31) 1960-12-19
Baltimore, MD Mayfair (20) 1960-12-21
Boston, MA Saxon (28) 1960-12-21
Dallas, TX Tower (14) 1960-12-21
Kansas City, MO Empire (21) 1960-12-21
Los Angeles (Beverly Hills), CA Fox Wilshire (30) 1960-12-21
Miami (Miami Beach), FL Sheridan (44)
1961-01-18
Portland, OR Music Box (18) 1961-01-25
Minneapolis, MN Academy (20) 1961-02-01
Columbus, OH Cinestage (20) 1961-02-01
Philadelphia, PA Boyd (24) 1961-02-08
Detroit, MI Mercury (18) 1961-02-08
San Francisco, CA Alexandria (21) 1961-02-20
Washington, DC Uptown (18) 1961-03-01
Seattle, WA Blue Mouse (11) 1961-03-08
Pittsburgh, PA Warner (16) 1961-03-08
St. Petersburg, FL Center (9) 1961-03-15
Cleveland, OH Ohio (13) 1961-03-17
Phoenix, AZ Palms (9) 1961-03-22
Buffalo, NY Teck (12) 1961-03-22
Cincinnati, OH Valley (13) 1961-03-22
Oklahoma City, OK State (8) 1961-03-22
Salt Lake City, UT Villa (15) 1961-03-22
Toronto, ON Tivoli (19) 1961-03-22
Tucson, AZ Catalina (7) [35mm] 1961-03-22
Tulsa, OK Brook (8) 1961-03-22
Vancouver, BC Stanley (16) 1961-03-29
Houston, TX Tower (9) 1961-03-29
Milwaukee, WI Strand (16) 1961-03-29
San Antonio, TX Broadway (7) 1961-04-11
Des Moines, IA Capri (8) 1961-04-11
St. Louis (Richmond Heights), MO Esquire (12) 1961-04-12
Atlanta, GA Roxy (7) 1961-04-13
Jacksonville, FL Town & Country (6) 1961-05-03
Ottawa, ON Nelson (7) 1961-05-03
Wichita, KS Sunset (4) 1961-05-09
Honolulu, HI Kuhio (5) [seats not reserved] 1961-05-09
Rochester, NY Riviera (11) 1961-05-10
Nashville, TN Crescent (5) [seats not reserved] 1961-05-10
Youngstown, OH State (7) 1961-05-16
Hartford, CT Strand (10) 1961-05-17
Indianapolis, IN Lyric (11) 1961-05-17
New Haven, CT Whalley (12) 1961-05-24
Little Rock, AR Capitol (2) [seats not reserved] 1961-05-24
San Diego, CA Capri (11) 1961-05-25
Denver, CO Denham (10) 1961-05-25
Montreal, QC Alouette (23) 1961-05-26
Syracuse (DeWitt), NY Shoppingtown (10) 1961-06-14
Providence, RI Elmwood (13) 1961-06-14
Springfield, MA Arcade (8) 1961-06-22
Louisville Brown (7) 1961-06-28
Erie, PA Strand (5) 1961-06-29
Dayton, OH McCook (13) 1961-07-05
Winnipeg, MB Garrick (5) 1961-07-06
Fort Wayne, IN Clyde (6) 1961-07-20
Worcester, MA Warner (5) 1961-07-27
Calgary, AB Uptown (3) 1961-08-01
Albany, NY Ritz (7) 1961-08-02
Edmonton, AB Rialto (4) 1961-08-16
Lexington, KY Strand (3) [seats not reserved]
Quasi-roadshow Wave Two and general release bookings have not been included except in cases where the presentation is believed to have been 70mm.
PART 2: SUBSEQUENT 70MM ENGAGEMENTS AND SCREENINGS (second run, re-issue, revival, etc. / unreserved seating / general release policy)
1961-08-24
Pontiac, MI Miracle Mile Drive-In (3) 1961-08-30
Levittown, PA Fox (1)
1962-03-14
Detroit, MI Mercury (1) 1962-09-06
Minneapolis, MN Century (1) [70mm festival]
1964-10-31
Des Moines, IA Capri (4 days)
1972-02-18
Des Moines, IA River Hills (1) [70mm festival]
1974-09-06
San Antonio, TX Woodlawn (1)
The information in this article was principally referenced from film industry trade publications and regional newspaper promotion. Special thanks to Sheldon Hall, Bill Kallay, and Bill Kretzel.
International 70mm presentations of this title have not been accounted for in this work.
If you believe this article contains any errors or omissions, please consider emailing the author or editor. | More in 70mm reading:
Projection, sound and curtain cue sheets for "Exodus"
in70mm.com's page about films blown up to 70mm
35mm to 70mm Engagements by Year
35mm to 70mm Engagements by Title
Presented on the big screen in 7OMM
The Alleged 70mm Releases
70mm Blow Ups Which Never Were |