West Side Story: The North American Roadshow and 70mm Engagements | Read more at in70mm.com The 70mm Newsletter |
| Compiled by: Michael Coate | Date: 08.07.2024 |
 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] 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] 2017-12-02 Coral Gables, FL Coral Gables Art 2017-12-03 Coral Gables, FL Coral Gables Art 2017-12-04 Coral Gables, FL Coral Gables Art 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] 2024-10-17 Los Angeles, CA Academy Museum [w/ Rita Moreno Q&A] 2024-10-20 Beverly Hills, CA Fine Arts [70mm Sundays] 2025-07-20 Santa Monica, CA Aero [70mm festival] 2025-12-14 Beverly Hills, CA Fine Arts [70mm Sundays] 2026-05-31 Palm Springs, CA Camelot [70mm festival] # 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: Technical Information bulletin for "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 |
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