The
following is a reference / historical listing of the roadshow and 70mm
presentations of West Side Story in the United States and Canada. These
were the first and best cinemas in which to experience this motion picture.
The Mirisch Pictures production and United Artists release was directed by
Robert Wise (The Sound of Music, Star!) and Jerome Robbins (famed
choreographer) and starred Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Rita
Moreno and George Chakiris. The films world premiere was held October 18th,
1961, at the Rivoli 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 overture/intermission/entracte/exit music.
(Overtures typically are played with curtains closed, but in the case of
West Side Story the overture was played with curtains open and on-screen
imagery.) A souvenir roadshow program booklet and the films soundtrack
album were sold, as well, in some locales.
The print types utilized during the films roadshow release were, depending
on the booking, (1) 70-millimeter (2.20:1 from Super Panavision 70 [billed
as Panavision 70]) with discrete magnetic six-channel stereophonic sound,
(2) 35-millimeter reduction with discrete magnetic four-channel stereophonic
sound and optical monaural sound, (3) 35-millimeter reduction with optical
monaural sound.
On December 5th, 1961, in connection with the release of West Side Story,
Natalie Wood immortalized her hand and foot prints in the courtyard of the
Chinese Theater in Los Angeles.
Out of the hundreds of films released in North America during 1961, West
Side Story was among only six given deluxe roadshow treatment and among
only three released with 70mm prints.
PART 1: FIRST RUN / THE ROADSHOW ENGAGEMENTS
(reserved seat policy and a presumed 70mm presentation)
Opening date YYYY-MM-DD
locale cinema (duration in weeks) [notes]
1961-08-11
San Francisco, CA United Artists [sneak preview]
1961-10-18
New York, NY Rivoli (77)
1961-11-01
Boston, MA Gary (49)
1961-11-07
Philadelphia, PA Midtown (52)
1961-11-14
Washington, DC Uptown (42)
1961-12-13
Los Angeles, CA Chinese (57)
1961-12-14
Miami (Miami Beach), FL Sheridan (52)
1961-12-14
San Francisco, CA United Artists (46)
1962-01-18
Honolulu, HI Kuhio (8)
1962-02-08
Pittsburgh, PA Nixon (32)
1962-02-14
Baltimore, MD Mayfair (17)
1962-02-14
Cleveland, OH Ohio (19)
1962-02-14
Detroit, MI Madison (36)
1962-02-14
San Diego, CA Capri (36)
1962-02-15
Dallas, TX Esquire (20)
1962-02-16
Minneapolis, MN Mann (28)
1962-02-20
Chicago, IL Michael Todd (38)
1962-02-21
Seattle, WA Music Box (40)
1962-02-22
Montreal, QC Alouette (31)
1962-03-01
St. Louis, MO Mid-City (17)
1962-03-14
Milwaukee, WI Strand (31)
1962-03-14
Portland, OR Music Box (36)
1962-03-15
Buffalo, NY Teck (15)
1962-03-21
Kansas City, MO Plaza (13)
1962-03-21
Salt Lake City, UT South East (39)
1962-03-21
Vancouver, BC Stanley (29)
1962-03-22
Cincinnati, OH Valley (25)
1962-03-28
Phoenix (Scottsdale), AZ Kachina (15)
1962-03-29
Atlanta, GA Rhodes (23)
1962-04-04
Albany, NY Hellman (10)
1962-04-04
Houston, TX Tower (15)
1962-04-04
New Orleans, LA Civic (10) [35mm]
1962-04-04
Tampa, FL Florida (11)
1962-04-05
Rochester, NY Riviera (26)
1962-04-05
Syracuse (DeWitt), NY Shoppingtown (16)
1962-04-10
Hartford, CT Strand (21)
1962-04-11
Des Moines, IA Capri (16)
1962-04-11
New Haven, CT Whalley (26)
1962-04-11
Omaha, NE Admiral (15) [35mm]
1962-04-11
Providence, RI Elmwood (15)
1962-04-11
Toledo, OH Esquire (10)
1962-04-11
Tulsa, OK Brook (6) [un-reserved seating]
1962-04-13
Asbury Park, NJ St. James (24)
1962-04-13
Newark (Upper Montclair), NJ Bellevue (36)
1962-04-13
Long Island (Syosset), NY Syosset (38)
1962-04-13
Youngstown, OH State (10)
1962-04-18
Richmond, VA Willow Lawn (13)
1962-04-19
Oklahoma City, OK State (13)
1962-05-02
Tucson, AZ Catalina (10) [35mm]
1962-05-03
Denver, CO Denham (28)
1962-05-17
Toronto, ON Tivoli (31)
1962-06-21
Columbus, OH Cinestage (25)
1962-06-27
Indianapolis, IN Lyric (11)
1962-06-27
Louisville, KY Brown (14)
1962-06-27
Utica, NY Uptown (4) [un-reserved seating]
1962-06-27
Winnipeg, MB Garrick (6)
1962-06-28
Dayton, OH McCook (23)
1962-06-28
Rockland County (Nanuet), NY Route 59 (19)
1962-07-18
Ottawa, ON Nelson (7) [un-reserved seating]
A roadshow policy was implemented as well on the initial release of West
Side Story in key overseas markets. Researching and citing all of them is
beyond the scope of this work, though some noteworthy examples worth
mentioning include lengthy, successful runs in Paris (George V, 218 weeks),
London (Astoria, 94 weeks), Sydney (Mayfair, 67 weeks), and Tokyo
(Piccadilly, 66 weeks).
PART 2: SUBSEQUENT 70MM ENGAGEMENTS AND SCREENINGS
(second run, re-issue, revival, etc. / unreserved seating / general release
policy)
1962-09-12
Washington, DC Warner (10)
1963-01-17
Little Rock, AR Capitol (3)
1963-12-05
Fort Wayne, IN Clyde (2)
1964-07-01
Toronto, ON Tivoli (3)
1964-08-12
Omaha, NE Cooper 70 (7) [reserved seats]
1964-10-02
Des Moines, IA Capri (1)
1964-12-16
Reading, PA Fox (1)
1964-12-18
Chicago, IL Michael Todd (3)
1970-09-16
Dayton, OH McCook (2)
1971-01-13
Wichita, KS Uptown (2) [70mm festival]
1971-09-15
Beverly Hills, CA Fox Wilshire (4) [w/
80 Days]
1971-09-17
Tulsa, OK Continental (2) [w/
80 Days]
1971-09-22
Denver, CO Continental (2) [w/
80 Days]
1971-09-29
Las Vegas, NV Cinerama (1) [w/
80 Days]
1971-10-06
Washington, DC Uptown (5) [w/
80 Days]
1971-10-20
Louisville, KY Showcase 1 (1) [w/
80 Days]
1971-10-20
Clarksville, IN Trans-Lux (1) [w/
80 Days]
1971-11-24
Wichita, KS Uptown (2) [70mm festival]
1971-12-01
Milwaukee, WI Strand (1)
1974-12-04
Beverly Hills, CA Fox Wilshire (1) [w/
80 Days]
1975-10-10
Des Moines, IA River Hills (1) [70mm festival]
1975-11-05
Wichita, KS Uptown (2) [70mm festival]
1976-05-28
Toronto, ON University (1) #
1979-03-08
Vancouver, BC Stanley (1)
1980-01-18
Niagara Falls, ON Pyramid Place (1)
1981-12-26
Ottawa, ON NAC Opera
1981-12-28
Ottawa, ON NAC Opera
1983-04-29
Denver, CO Cooper (1)
1983-05-29
Seattle, WA Cinerama [SIFF 70mm marathon]
1983-11-25
Atlanta, GA Columbia [70mm festival] (canceled; replaced w/
Oklahoma!)
1989-09-29
Los Angeles, CA Cinerama Dome (1) [new print]
1989-10-06
Los Angeles, CA Century Plaza 4 (3) [THX]
1989-12-08
Seattle, WA Egyptian (1)
1990-01-12
Ann Arbor, MI Michigan (2 days)
1990-04-02
Boston, MA Wang Center [classics series]
1990-05-13
Hartford, CT Trinity College Cinestudio (3 days)
1990-09-14
San Francisco, CA Alhambra (1) [70mm festival]
1990-09-21
Corte Madera, CA Cinema (1) [70mm festival]
1990-09-28
Los Angeles, CA Crest (1)
1991-02-22
Creve Coeur, MO Creve Coeur Triplex (1) [70mm festival]
1991-03-15
Baltimore, MD Senator (1) [70mm festival]
1991-07-05
Chicago, IL Pipers Alley 4 (1) [70mm festival]
1991-07-19
Birmingham, AL Alabama
1991-07-20
Birmingham, AL Alabama
1991-07-22
Birmingham, AL Alabama
1991-09-13
Boston, MA Charles Triplex (1)
1991-10-11
Washington, DC Uptown (1) [70mm festival]
1991-12-27
Portland, OR Roseway (1)
1992-03-20
Dallas, TX Glen Lakes 8 (1) [70mm festival]
1992-04-03
Seattle, WA Cinema 150 (2) [70mm festival]
1992-05-17
Los Angeles, CA Cinerama Dome (2 days) [70mm festival]
1992-06-26
Los Angeles, CA LACMA Bing [70mm festival]
1992-06-12
San Francisco, CA Regency II (1)
1998-03-24
Sacramento, CA Tower (2 days) [70mm festival]
2003-01-06
Beverly Hills, CA AMPAS Goldwyn [Best Picture series]
PART 3: THE DIGITAL SOUND RE-ISSUE + SUBSEQUENT SCREENINGS
(New 70mm prints with DTS 5.1 audio / A set of DTS-SV discs were made
available during 2010 featuring the films original 5-front/1-surround audio
mix)
2008-05-16
Los Angeles, CA Hammer Museum Billy Wilder [W. Mirisch
celebration]
2008-08-29
San Francisco, CA Castro (1)
2008-10-25
Santa Monica, CA Aero
2008-11-28
Los Angeles, CA Egyptian
2008-11-29
Los Angeles, CA Egyptian
2008-12-25
Chicago, IL Music Box (1)
2009-01-21
Austin, TX Paramount
2009-06-19
Columbia Heights, MN Heights (1)
2009-08-14
San Jose, CA California [70mm festival]
2009-08-15
San Jose, CA California [70mm festival]
2010-03-05
Los Angeles, CA Egyptian [70mm festival]
2010-06-05
Santa Monica, CA Aero
2010-08-26
Austin, TX Paramount [70mm festival]
2010-08-27
Austin, TX Paramount [70mm festival]
2010-08-28
Austin, TX Paramount [70mm festival]
2010-11-18
Los Angeles, CA Egyptian
2011-01-15
Santa Monica, CA Aero
2011-02-11
Silver Spring, MD AFI Silver
2011-02-12
Silver Spring, MD AFI Silver
2011-02-13
Silver Spring, MD AFI Silver
2011-06-04
San Francisco, CA Castro [70mm festival]
2011-06-05
San Francisco, CA Castro [70mm festival]
2011-07-28
Toronto, ON TIFF Bell Lightbox 5 (1)
2011-09-22
Columbia Heights, MN Heights
2011-10-07
Seattle, WA Cinerama [Cinerama and 70mm festival]
2011-10-13
Seattle, WA Cinerama [Cinerama and 70mm festival]
2011-10-14
Seattle, WA Cinerama [Cinerama and 70mm festival]
2012-05-25
Santa Monica, CA Aero
2012-07-18
Silver Spring, MD AFI Silver [70mm festival]
2012-07-20
Silver Spring, MD AFI Silver [70mm festival]
2012-07-21
Silver Spring, MD AFI Silver [70mm festival]
2012-07-22
Silver Spring, MD AFI Silver [70mm festival]
2012-08-24
Austin, TX Alamo Drafthouse Ritz (1) [70mm festival]
2012-12-07
Los Angeles, CA Egyptian
2012-12-25
New York, NY Lincoln Center [70mm festival]
2012-12-26
New York, NY Lincoln Center [70mm festival]
2013-02-23
Chicago, IL Music Box [70mm festival]
2013-02-24
Chicago, IL Music Box [70mm festival]
2013-02-27
Chicago, IL Music Box [70mm festival]
2013-08-09
Santa Monica, CA Aero [70mm festival]
2013-08-23
Austin, TX Paramount [70mm festival]
2014-??-??
Silver Spring, MD AFI Silver [70mm festival]
2015-08-21
New York, NY Museum of the Moving Image [70mm festival]
2015-08-22
New York, NY Museum of the Moving Image [70mm festival]
2015-12-23
Toronto, ON TIFF Bell Lightbox 5 [70mm festival]
2015-12-27
Toronto, ON TIFF Bell Lightbox 5 [70mm festival]
2016-01-02
Toronto, ON TIFF Bell Lightbox 5 [70mm festival]
2016-03-06
Chicago, IL Music Box [70mm festival]
2016-03-07
Chicago, IL Music Box [70mm festival]
2016-07-15
Portland, OR Hollywood Triplex [70mm festival]
2016-07-16
Portland, OR Hollywood Triplex [70mm festival]
2016-07-17
Portland, OR Hollywood Triplex [70mm festival]
2016-08-27
Tucson, AZ The Loft Triplex
2016-08-28
Tucson, AZ The Loft Triplex
2016-09-22
Somerville, MA Somerville 5 [70mm and widescreen festival]
2016-11-17
Toronto, ON TIFF Bell Lightbox 5 [70mm festival]
2017-07-09
Chicago, IL Music Box [70mm festival]
2017-07-12
Chicago, IL Music Box [70mm festival]
2017-09-02
Seattle, WA Cinerama [70mm festival]
2018-08-10
New York, NY Museum of the Moving Image [70mm festival]
2018-08-11
New York, NY Museum of the Moving Image [70mm festival]
2018-08-12
New York, NY Museum of the Moving Image [70mm festival]
2018-09-14
Chicago, IL Music Box [70mm festival]
2018-09-16
Chicago, IL Music Box [70mm festival]
2018-09-17
Chicago, IL Music Box [70mm festival]
2018-09-18
Chicago, IL Music Box [70mm festival]
2018-12-20
San Francisco, CA Castro
2018-12-21
San Francisco, CA Castro
2019-05-17
Somerville, MA Somerville 5 [70mm and widescreen festival]
2019-05-18
Somerville, MA Somerville 5 [70mm and widescreen festival]
2019-06-15
Portland, OR Hollywood Triplex [70mm festival]
2019-06-16
Portland, OR Hollywood Triplex [70mm festival]
2019-09-29
Seattle, WA Cinerama [70mm festival]
2020-03-07
Chicago, IL Music Box [70mm festival]
2020-03-08
Chicago, IL Music Box [70mm festival]
2020-03-09
Chicago, IL Music Box [70mm festival]
2022-05-08
Palm Springs, CA Camelot Triplex [70mm festival]
2022-06-26
Chicago, IL Music Box [70mm festival]
2022-06-29
Chicago, IL Music Box [70mm festival]
2023-11-12
Los Angeles, CA Egyptian [70mm festival]
2023-12-22
Toronto, ON TIFF Bell Lightbox 5 [70mm festival]
2023-12-24
Toronto, ON TIFF Bell Lightbox 5 [70mm festival]
2023-12-30
Toronto, ON TIFF Bell Lightbox 5 [70mm festival]
2024-07-06
Atlanta, GA Tara 4 [70mm series]
2024-07-07
Atlanta, GA Tara 4 [70mm series]
2024-07-10
Atlanta, GA Tara 4 [70mm series]
2024-10-20
Beverly Hills, CA Fine Arts [70mm Sundays]
# Presentation not explicitly or consistently promoted as 70mm suggesting it
may have been 35mm
The information included in this article was principally referenced from
film industry trade publications and regional newspaper promotion. Special
Thanks: Jerry Alexander, Don Ayers, Jim Barg, Don Beelik, Raymond Caple,
Nick DiMaggio, Leo Enticknap, Sheldon Hall, Thomas Hauerslev, Bill Huelbig,
William Kallay, Matthew Kennedy, Bruce Kimmel, Bill Kretzel, Mark
Lensenmayer, Doug Louden, Stan Malone, Mike Matessino, Brad Miller, Robert
Morrow, Gabriel Neeb, Paul Rayton, Vince Young, Bob Throop, Vince Young, and
a big thank-you to the librarians who assisted with the research on this
project.
International 70mm presentations of this title have not been accounted for
in this work (except for a brief mention of a few exceptionally successful
runs).
If you believe this article contains any errors or omissions, please
consider emailing the
author or editor.
|
More in 70mm reading:
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"West Side Story"
Original 6-track Mix Recovered and
Restored for West Side Story
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 |