The following is a reference / historical listing of the roadshow and 70-millimeter presentations of Paint Your Wagon in the United States and Canada. These were the first cinemas to play the film and best in which to experience it.
The presentations cited in the Part 1 section of 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. The print types utilized during the films roadshow release, depending on the booking, were (1) 70mm (2.20:1 blow-up from 35mm anamorphic) with discrete magnetic six-channel stereophonic sound, (2) 35mm with discrete magnetic four-channel stereophonic sound and optical monaural sound, (3) 35mm with optical monaural sound.
The Paramount release, based upon the Lerner and Loewe Broadway musical, was directed by Joshua Logan (South Pacific) and starred Lee Marvin, Clint Eastwood, Jean Seberg, Ray Walston and Harve Presnell. The world premiere was held October 15, 1969, at Loews State in New York.
Out of the hundreds of films released in North America during 1969, Paint Your Wagon was among only seven given deluxe roadshow treatment and among only eleven released with 70mm prints (three from 65mm origination, seven blow-ups, and one 65mm/blow-up hybrid).
PART 1: THE ROADSHOW ENGAGEMENTS (reserved seat policy / 70mm* presentation)
* Note that some bookings were not explicitly or consistently promoted as 70mm, suggesting they may have been screened in 35mm. Confirmed 35mm roadshow presentations are noted.
Opening date YYYY-MM-DD
locale cinema (duration in weeks) [notes]
1969-10-15
New York, NY State 2 (16) 1969-10-22
Los Angeles, CA Cinerama Dome (35) 1969-10-29
Atlanta, GA Tara (20) 1969-10-29
Boston, MA Circle (14) 1969-10-29
Chicago (Oak Brook), IL Cinema 150 (20) 1969-10-29
Dallas, TX Wilshire (35) 1969-10-29
Denver, CO Cooper (48) 1969-10-29
Fort Worth, TX Village Opera House (20) 1969-10-29
Houston, TX Gaylynn (19) 1969-10-29
New Orleans, LA Cinerama (18) 1969-10-29
Philadelphia, PA Randolph (13) 1969-10-29
Portland, OR Paramount (30) 1969-10-29
San Francisco, CA St. Francis (20) 1969-10-29
Washington, DC Apex (16) 1969-10-30
Montreal, QC Alouette (11) 1969-10-30
Toronto, ON University (19) 1969-10-30
Vancouver, BC Stanley (34)
1969-11-05
Cincinnati, OH Carousel (12) 1969-11-05
Detroit, MI Madison (13) 1969-11-05
Hartford (Newington), CT Newington II (12) [35mm] 1969-11-05
Milwaukee, WI Wisconsin 1 (13) 1969-11-05
Minneapolis (St. Louis Park), MN Cooper (19) 1969-11-05
New Haven (Orange), CT Showcase 1 (19) 1969-11-05
Oklahoma City, OK Quail Twin 1 (32) 1969-11-05
Ottawa, ON Nelson (10) 1969-11-05
Pittsburgh, PA Squirrel Hill (14) 1969-11-05
Rochester (Henrietta), NY Towne 1 (12) 1969-11-05
Seattle, WA Music Box (20) 1969-11-05
Toledo, OH Showcase 1 (28) 1969-11-11
Buffalo (Kenmore), NY Colvin (9) [35mm] 1969-11-11
Salt Lake City (South Salt Lake), UT Century 22 (33) 1969-11-12
Cleveland (South Euclid), OH Fox Cedar-Center (11) 1969-11-12
Columbus, OH Eastland Mall (22) 1969-11-12
Dayton (Trotwood), OH Salem Mall (15) 1969-11-12
Des Moines, IA River Hills (24) 1969-11-12
Indianapolis, IN Eastwood (18) 1969-11-12
Kansas City, MO Capri (26) 1969-11-12
Louisville, KY Showcase 1 (12) 1969-11-12
Omaha, NE Indian Hills (28) 1969-11-12
Sacramento, CA Century 21 (37) 1969-11-12
St. Louis, MO Cinerama (16) 1969-11-20
Baltimore, MD Town (9)
1969-12-17
Miami (Bay Harbor Islands), FL Bay Harbor (14) 1969-12-17
Richmond, VA Willow Lawn (13) 1969-12-18
Fresno, CA Warnor (13) 1969-12-18
Honolulu, HI Queen (10) 1969-12-18
Orlando, FL Beacham (9) 1969-12-19
Albany (Colonie), NY Fox (1+) 1969-12-19
St. Petersburg, FL Gateway Mall (14) [35mm] 1969-12-19
Syracuse, NY Genesee (13) [35mm] 1969-12-23
Austin, TX Americana (10) 1969-12-25
Akron (Cuyahoga Falls), OH Falls (8) 1969-12-25
Albuquerque, NM Sunshine (12) 1969-12-25
Calgary, AB Calgary Place 2 (19) [35mm] 1969-12-25
Charlotte, NC Carolina (11) 1969-12-25
Edmonton, AB Garneau (16) [35mm] 1969-12-25
Jacksonville, FL Florida (11) [35mm] 1969-12-25
Knoxville, TN Park (10) [35mm] 1969-12-25
London, ON Park (6) 1969-12-25
Lubbock, TX Winchester (13) 1969-12-25
Memphis, TN Memphian (22) [35mm] 1969-12-25
Nashville, TN Belle Meade (13) 1969-12-25
Norfolk, VA Garden (1+) [35mm] 1969-12-25
Phoenix, AZ Cine Capri (29) 1969-12-25
Providence, RI Elmwood (1+) 1969-12-25
San Antonio, TX Fox Twin 2 (13) [35mm] 1969-12-25
San Diego, CA Cinema 21 (39) 1969-12-25
Tulsa, OK Fox (15) [35mm] 1969-12-25
Wichita, KS Sunset (14) 1969-12-25
Windsor, ON Park (6) [35mm] 1969-12-25
Winnipeg, MB Gaiety (8) [35mm]
1970-01-15
Montreal, QC Kent m/o (2 [13]) [35mm] 1970-01-28
Birmingham, AL Eastwood Mall (11) 1970-01-28
Long Island (Syosset), NY Syosset (14) 1970-01-28
Newark (Upper Montclair), NJ Bellevue (8) 1970-01-28
Springfield (West Springfield), MA Showcase 1 (11) 1970-01-28
Worcester, MA Showcase 1 (6)
1970-02-04
Corpus Christi, TX Deux Cine II (6) 1970-02-04
Little Rock, AR Cinema 150 (7) 1970-02-04
Tucson, AZ El Dorado (13) 1970-02-10
Moline (Milan), IL Showcase 1 (14) 1970-02-10
San Jose, CA Century 23 (56) 1970-02-12
Greenville, SC Astro II (6) [seating unreserved] 1970-02-26
Cedar Rapids, IA Times 70 (11) [seating unreserved]
1970-03-11
Toronto, ON Nortown m/o (5 [24]) 1970-03-17
Pleasant Hill, CA Century 21 (21) 1970-03-24
Las Vegas, NV Boulevard (12) [35mm]
1970-04-29
Des Moines, IA Riviera m/o (5 [29]) [35mm]
1970-08-14
Oakland, CA Century 21 (19)
PART 2: SUBSEQUENT 70MM ENGAGEMENTS AND SCREENINGS (second run / revival / unreserved seating)
1971-05-14
Des Moines, IA River Hills (2) 1971-09-15
Milwaukee, WI Strand (1)
1975-09-26
Des Moines, IA River Hills (2)
1978-03-01
New York, NY Cinerama 2 (1) [Broadway Comes to Broadway series]
1979-03-09
Detroit, MI Redford (2 days) 1979-07-02
Atlanta, GA Fox [2nd Annual Summer Film Festival]
1982-11-12
Columbus, OH Eastland Mall Twin (3)
1983-10-21
Atlanta, GA 12 Oaks Twin (1) [70mm festival]
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.
This information has been principally referenced from film industry trade publications and regional newspaper promotion, with thanks to Raymond Caple, Bill Kallay, Bill Kretzel, Mark Lensenmayer, Stan Malone, Kenneth Mitchell, Robert Morrow, Jim Perry, Vince Young
The films international 70mm 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
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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