El Cid: 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 El Cid in the United States and Canada.The Samuel Bronston production and Allied Artists release was directed by Anthony Mann (Strategic Air Command, The Fall of the Roman Empire) and starred Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren. The films world premiere was held December 6th, 1961, at the Metropole in London; the North American premiere was held eight days later 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 overture/intermission/entracte/exit music. A souvenir roadshow program booklet and the films soundtrack album were sold, as well, in some locales. The print type utilized during the films roadshow release was 70-millimeter (from Technirama Large Aperture and billed as Super Technirama 70) with discrete magnetic six-channel stereophonic sound. Out of the hundreds of films released in North America during 1961, El Cid 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 70mm presentation w/ six-track magnetic audio) Opening date YYYY-MM-DD locale cinema (duration in weeks) [notes] 1961-12-14 New York, NY Warner (33) 1961-12-18 Los Angeles, CA Carthay Circle (29) 1961-12-20 Philadelphia, PA Goldman (22) 1961-12-20 San Francisco, CA Alexandria (20) 1961-12-21 Boston, MA Astor (22) 1961-12-21 Chicago, IL Cinestage (22) 1961-12-21 Cincinnati, OH Valley (13) 1961-12-21 Detroit, MI Music Hall (22) 1961-12-21 Miami (Miami Beach), FL Roosevelt (35) 1961-12-21 Montreal, QC Seville (19) 1961-12-21 Toronto, ON Tivoli (21) 1962-02-08 Denver, CO Denham (12) 1962-02-08 San Antonio, TX Woodlawn (10) 1962-02-21 Buffalo, NY Granada (15) 1962-02-21 Minneapolis, MN Academy (1+) 1962-02-21 Syracuse, NY Eckel (8) 1962-02-22 Kansas City, MO Capri (14) 1962-02-22 St. Petersburg, FL Center (12) 1962-02-28 Ottawa, ON Nelson (9) 1962-02-28 Pittsburgh, PA Fulton (15) 1962-03-01 Dallas, TX Tower (11) 1962-03-01 Indianapolis, IN Lyric (11) 1962-03-01 Salt Lake City, UT Centre (14) 1962-03-02 Louisville, KY Brown (10) 1962-03-08 Phoenix, AZ Vista (20) 1962-03-09 Baltimore, MD Town (12) 1962-03-09 Columbus, OH Cinestage (14) 1962-03-15 Houston, TX Alabama (10) 1962-04-06 Dayton, OH McCook (11) 1962-05-25 Toledo, OH Pantheon (8) 1962-08-03 Des Moines, IA Capri (13) PART 2: FIRST RUN / NON-ROADSHOW ENGAGEMENTS (70mm presentation with an un-reserved seating policy) 1962-02-21 Oklahoma City, OK State (8) 1962-05-02 Lexington, KY Strand (3) 1962-05-04 San Diego, CA Fox (8) 1962-05-18 Cleveland, OH Palace (7) 1962-05-30 Little Rock, AR Capitol (3) 1962-05-30 Tulsa, OK Brook (5) 1962-06-07 Honolulu, HI Kuhio (8) 1962-06-12 Washington, DC Warner (11) 1962-06-14 Shreveport, LA Saenger (4) 1962-06-27 Norfolk, VA Riverview (10) 1962-06-27 Springfield, MA Arcade (6) 1962-07-11 Waco, TX 25th Street (3) 1962-07-13 Albany, NY Hellman (4) 1962-07-18 Seattle, WA 5th Avenue (11) 1962-08-01 Hartford (West Hartford), CT Elm (10) 1962-08-03 Calgary, AB Capitol (7) 1962-08-22 Providence, RI Elmwood (8) 1962-09-21 Edmonton, AB Paramount (8) 1962-09-21 Winnipeg, MB Metropolitan (6) 1962-10-03 Memphis, TN Crosstown (2) 1962-10-04 Rochester, NY Riviera (5) 1962-10-17 Milwaukee, WI Strand (9) 1962-11-07 Rochester, NY Monroe m/o (2 [7]) 1963-05-03 Chattanooga, TN Rogers (1) PART 3: SUBSEQUENT 70MM ENGAGEMENTS AND SCREENINGS (second run, re-issue, revival, etc. / unreserved seating / general release policy) 1962-06-15 Denver, CO Aladdin (3) 1962-07-18 Anaheim, CA Brookhurst (3) 1962-07-18 Redondo Beach, CA Strand (4) 1962-07-25 Maplewood, MN Maple Leaf Drive-In (2) 1962-08-01 San Diego, CA Midway Drive-In (3) 1962-09-27 Minneapolis, MN Century (1) [70mm festival] 1962-11-14 Atlanta, GA Thunderbird Drive-In (1) 1963-05-08 Livonia, MI Mai Kai (2) 1963-05-29 Cranston, RI Cranston Drive-In (2) 1963-08-14 Fridley, MN 100 Drive-In (2) 1963-12-26 Flint, MI South Dort Drive-In (1) 1964-01-15 Dayton, OH McCook (3) 1964-07-15 Greenbelt, MD Beltway Plaza (4 days) 1964-07-29 Dubuque, IA Super 20 Drive-In (1) 1968-05-29 Kansas City, MO Empire 1 (4) 1971-09-22 Milwaukee, WI Strand (1) 1971-10-06 Fort Worth, TX Opera House (1) 1971-12-01 Houston, TX Memorial (1) 1978-08-31 Toronto, ON Science Centre [70mm festival] The information in this article was principally referenced from film industry trade publications and regional newspaper promotion, with thanks to Sheldon Hall, Bill Kallay, Bill Kretzel, Mark Lensenmayer, Bob Throop, Vince Young, and an extra special thank-you to all of the librarians who helped with this project. International 70mm presentations of this title have not been accounted for in this work (except for a mention of the London world premiere). If you believe this article contains any errors or omissions, please consider emailing the author or editor. | More in 70mm reading: Miramax Films Presents "El Cid" German Release of "El Cid" Super Technirama 70 History of Technirama Remembering Miklσs Rσzsa 70mm movies of Charlton Heston 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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