The following is a reference / historical listing of the reserved-seat roadshow presentations of Hawaii in the United States and Canada. These were the first cinemas to play the film and best in which to experience it.
The UA release, based upon James Micheners novel, was directed by George Roy Hill (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) starred Julie Andrews, Max Von Sydow and Richard Harris. The world premiere was held October 18th, 1967 at the DeMille in New York City.
The presentations cited in this work were hard ticket roadshow engagements and were special, long-running, showcase presentations in major cities prior to the film being exhibited as a general release. Much like a stage production, these presentations featured advanced admission pricing, reserved seating, an overture/intermission/entracte/exit music, and an average of only ten scheduled screenings per week. Souvenir program booklet were sold, as well. Out of the hundreds of films released in North America during 1966, Hawaii was among only nine given this type of deluxe roadshow treatment.
The print type(s) utilized during the roadshow release of Hawaii is unclear and a point of contention since evidence of 70-millimeter blow-up and stereophonic sound prints has been elusive. Seventy-millimeter or stereophonic sound prints of Hawaii were not promoted during its original roadshow and general theatrical releases and have never turned up in re-issues, studio asset inventories, film archives, revival and retrospective festivals, private collections, etc., suggesting such prints may have never been made and that its release was strictly 35mm with monaural audio
Premiere/opening date YYYY-MM-DD
locale cinema (duration in weeks) [notes]
1966-10-10
New York, NY DeMille (41) 1966-10-12
Los Angeles, CA Egyptian (52) 1966-10-18
Chicago, IL Bismarck (47) 1966-10-18
Honolulu, HI Kuhio (34) 1966-10-18
Toronto, ON University (32) 1966-10-19
San Francisco, CA Coronet (35) 1966-10-20
Boston, MA Gary / Music Hall [dual-venue premiere] 1966-10-21
Boston, MA Gary (29) 1966-10-25
Montreal, QC Alouette (24) 1966-10-25
Philadelphia, PA Stanley (28) 1966-10-26
St. Louis, MO Cinerama (34)
1966-12-20
Atlanta, GA Martin Cinerama (22) 1966-12-20
Milwaukee, WI Capitol Court (29) 1966-12-20
New Orleans, LA Cinerama (22) 1966-12-21
Baltimore, MD New (19) 1966-12-21
Dallas, TX Inwood (23) 1966-12-21
Houston, TX Alabama (22) 1966-12-22
Miami (Miami Beach), FL Colony (32) 1966-12-22
Salt Lake City, UT Centre (26) 1966-12-22
Vancouver, BC Park (27)
1967-02-01
Long Island (Syosset), NY Syosset (24) 1967-02-02
Orlando, FL Beacham (14) 1967-02-02
Tampa, FL Florida (15) 1967-02-14
Cincinnati, OH Kenwood (19) 1967-02-14
Cleveland, OH Colony (21) 1967-02-14
Denver, CO Denham (25) 1967-02-14
Detroit, MI United Artists (31) 1967-02-14
Hartford (Wethersfield), CT Cine Webb (21) 1967-02-14
Indianapolis, IN Circle (27) 1967-02-14
Las Vegas, NV Cinerama (13) 1967-02-14
Memphis, TN Paramount (16) 1967-02-14
Omaha, NE Astro (16) 1967-02-14
Phoenix (Scottsdale), AZ Kachina (34) 1967-02-14
Pittsburgh, PA Squirrel Hill (21) 1967-02-14
San Diego, CA Cinerama (34) 1967-02-14
Seattle, WA Blue Mouse (27) 1967-02-14
Syracuse, NY Eckel (17) 1967-02-14
Washington, DC Warner (22) 1967-02-15
Albuquerque, NM Hiland (13) 1967-02-15
Birmingham, AL Eastwood Mall (11) 1967-02-15
Calgary, AB Odeon (15) 1967-02-15
Dayton (Trotwood), OH Salem Mall (21) 1967-02-15
Harrisburg, PA Eric (1+) 1967-02-15
Louisville, KY Showcase 2 (17) 1967-02-15
Minneapolis, MN Academy (24) 1967-02-15
Rochester (Henrietta), NY Towne (21) 1967-02-15
San Antonio, TX Wonder (11) 1967-02-15
Springfield (West Springfield), MA Showcase 2 (19) 1967-02-15
Toledo, OH Showcase 2 (17)* 1967-02-15
Wichita, KS Sunset (15) 1967-02-16
Fresno, CA Tower (21) 1967-02-16
Jacksonville, FL 5 Points (1+) 1967-02-16
Winnipeg, MB Kings (17) 1967-02-21
Providence, RI Elmwood (20) 1967-02-21
Sacramento, CA Tower (17) 1967-02-22
Ottawa, ON Nelson (16) 1967-02-22
Tulsa, OK Fox (17) 1967-02-23
Kansas City, MO Capri (31)
1967-03-08
San Jose, CA Fox Town & Country (32) 1967-03-21
Newark (Montclair), NJ Wellmont (22) 1967-03-21
Worcester (Shrewsbury), MA White City (1+) 1967-03-22
Charlotte, NC Carolina (13) 1967-03-22
Lawrence, MA Showcase 2 (17) 1967-03-22
London, ON Park (14) 1967-03-23
Akron (Fairlawn), OH Village (16) 1967-03-24
Oklahoma City, OK Criterion (13)
1967-04-19
Buffalo, NY Granada (18) 1967-04-19
Columbus, OH Cinestage (34)
1967-05-10
Portland, OR Paramount (27) 1967-05-23
Atlantic City, NJ Center (12) 1967-05-23
Scranton, PA Center (10) 1967-05-24
Albany, NY Hellman (10) 1967-05-24
Asbury Park, NJ St. James (10) 1967-05-24
Madison, WI Hilldale (12) 1967-05-24
Oakland, CA Roxie (20)
1967-06-07
Edmonton, AB Varscona (18) 1967-06-14
Colorado Springs, CO Cinema 70 (8) 1967-06-14
Des Moines, IA Holiday (20) 1967-06-14
New Haven, CT Whalley (16) 1967-06-14
Norfolk, VA Garden (1+) 1967-06-14
Portland, ME Empire (8) 1967-06-21
Corpus Christi, TX Tower (6) 1967-06-21
Little Rock, AR Heights (6) 1967-06-28
Allentown, PA Rialto (11) 1967-06-28
Macon, GA Capitol (5) 1967-06-28
Reading, PA Fox (11) 1967-06-28
Youngstown, OH State (20) 1967-06-29
El Paso, TX Fox (9) 1967-06-29
Sioux Falls, SD Cinema (14)
1967-07-13
Monterey, CA Cinema 70 (13) 1967-07-13
Roanoke, VA Grandin (8) 1967-07-19
Tucson, AZ Catalina (10)
1967-08-02
Binghamton, NY Capri (10) 1967-08-02
Boise, ID Ada (5) 1967-08-03
Nashville, TN Belle Meade (12) 1967-08-04
Augusta, GA National Hills (6) 1967-08-09
Modesto, CA State (3) 1967-08-10
Beaumont, TX Liberty (2) 1967-08-29
Reno, NV Century 21 (7) 1967-08-30
Billings, MT Fox (3)
* The Toledo booking premiered during a newspaper strike and so its opening date and duration figure is unconfirmed.
Special Thanks: Jerry Alexander, Ann (Toledo Lucas County Public Library), Jim Barg, Diane Buckley (Virginia Beach Public Library), Sheldon Hall, Bill Kallay, Bill Kretzel, Paul Linfesty, Stan Malone, Jim Perry, Vince Young.
The reserved-seat policy, in some instances, was relaxed during the latter weeks of the run. Any non-roadshow portion of such an engagement has been included in the duration figure.
The films international roadshow engagements 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:
in70mm.com's page about films blown up to 70mm
35mm to 70mm Engagements by Year
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Presented on the big screen in 7OMM
The Alleged 70mm Releases
70mm Blow Ups Which Never Were
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