“Little Shop of Horrors”: The North American 70mm
Engagements |
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| Compiled by: Michael Coate | Date: 30.07.2018 |
 The
following is a reference / historical listing of the 70-millimeter
presentations of “Little Shop of Horrors” in North America. These were the
cinemas worth seeking out to experience this motion picture. “Little Shop of Horrors” was among sixteen confirmed first-run films released in 1986 with 70mm prints for selected engagements. The Geffen presentation and Warner Bros. release — directed by Frank Oz and starring Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene and Vincent Gardinia — opened December 19th. For the release of “Little Shop of Horrors,” Warner Bros. employed the services of Lucasfilm’s TAP (Theatre Alignment Program) to evaluate and approve the cinemas selected to book a 70mm print. The 70mm prints of “Little Shop of Horrors” featured Six-Track Dolby Stereo (“A” encoded “baby boom” format) and pillarboxed imagery (approximately 1.85:1) blown up from spherical 35mm. Warner Bros. circulated 70mm Six-Track Dolby coming-attraction trailers for “Burglar,” “Innerspace,” “Lethal Weapon,” “Over the Top,” “Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol” and “The Witches of Eastwick” during the release of “Little Shop of Horrors.” As well, other studios circulated 70mm trailers during this period. Ultimately, any 70mm trailers screened during 70mm presentations of “Little Shop of Horrors” varied by venue and screening. The duration of the engagements (measured in weeks) has been included in parenthesis following the cinema name. CALIFORNIA Costa Mesa — Edwards’ Town Center 4-plex (7) Los Angeles — Mann’s Bruin (10) [THX] Los Angeles — Mann’s Chinese Triplex (10) [THX] Orange — Syufy’s Cinedome 8-plex (11) San Francisco — UA’s Coronet (11) San Jose — Syufy’s Century 22 Triplex (10) DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Washington — Circle’s Tenley Triplex (10) ILLINOIS Chicago — Cineplex Odeon/Plitt’s McClurg Court (6) MASSACHUSETTS Boston — USA’s Charles Triplex (8) NEW YORK New York — Loews’ 84th Street 6-plex (8) New York — Moss’ Criterion Center 6-plex (8) New York — RKO Cinema 5’s Beekman (11) New York — RKO Cinema 5’s Gramercy (8) ONTARIO Toronto — Famous Players’ Hollywood Twin (13) PENNSYLVANIA Philadelphia — Budco’s Regency Twin (8) QUEBEC Montreal — United’s Palace 6-plex (8) Note that some of the presentations included in this listing may have been presented in 35mm during the latter week(s) of engagement due to contractual terms or print damage and the distributor’s unwillingness to supply a 70mm replacement print or because the booking was moved to a non-70mm-equipped auditorium within a multiplex. As well, the reverse may have been true in some cases whereas a booking began with a 35mm print because the lab was unable to complete the 70mm print order in time for an opening-day delivery or the exhibitor negotiated a mid-run switch to 70mm. In these cases, any 35mm portion of the engagement (or movement out of a branded auditorium) has been included in the duration figure. SUBSEQUENT 70MM ENGAGEMENTS & SCREENINGS 1987-01-30 … Chicago, IL — Cineplex Odeon/Plitt’s Esquire (2) 1987-04-03 … Downers Grove, IL — Classic Cinemas’ Tivoli (1) 1987-07-20 … Atlanta, GA — Fox [10th Annual Summer Film Festival] 1991-07-07 … Los Angeles, CA — Cineplex Odeon’s Odeon [Summer Nights series] 1992-08-05 … Los Angeles, CA — Four Star (1) [70mm festival; w/ “Gremlins”] 1995-01-27 … Bellingham, WA — Mount Baker 1996-04-14 … Los Angeles, CA — Mann’s Plaza [midnight] 2008-07-02 … San Francisco, CA — Castro (2 days) [70mm festival] 2009-03-?? … Seattle, WA — Cinerama [70mm festival] The information included in this article was principally referenced from film industry trade publications, regional newspaper promotion, print enclosures, TAP records, and Dolby records. Special thanks to Bill Kallay and Bill Kretzel. International 70mm engagements of this title have not been accounted for in this article. If you believe this article contains any errors or omissions, please consider emailing the author or editor. |
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