“Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”: The North American 70mm Engagements | Read more at in70mm.com The 70mm Newsletter |
| Compiled by: Michael Coate | Date: 01.03.2019 |
 The following is a reference / historical listing of the 70-millimeter engagements of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” in North America. These were the best cinemas in which to experience this motion picture. “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” was among nine confirmed first-run films released in 1978 with 70mm prints for selected engagements. The Robert Stigwood production and Universal release — directed by Michael Schultz and starring Peter Frampton and the Bee Gees — opened July 21st. The 70mm prints of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” featured full-frame imagery blown up from anamorphic 35mm and six-track stereophonic sound (dual inventory of Dolby A and non-Dolby). The world premiere of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” was held July 20th at Radio City Music Hall. Seventy-millimeter trailers for “Paradise Alley” and “The Wiz” circulated during the release of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and which the distributor recommended be screened with the presentation. (Additional 70mm trailers from other studios circulated during this period as well. Which trailers, if any, were seen during the presentations of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” varied by venue and screening.) The duration of the engagements (measured in weeks) has been included for some entries in parenthesis following the cinema name. Note that some of the presentations included in this listing may have been presented in 35mm during the latter week(s) of engagement because the booking was moved to a non-70mm-equipped auditorium within a multiplex or due to print damage and the distributor’s unwillingness to supply a 70mm replacement print. 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 has been included in the duration figure. 1978-07-15 … Los Angeles, CA — Plitt’s Century Plaza Twin (sneak preview) 1978-07-20 … New York, NY — Radio City Music Hall (world premiere) 1978-07-21 … Cedar Grove, NJ — Cinema 23 (8) 1978-07-21 … Los Angeles, CA — Pacific’s Hollywood Pacific Triplex (5) 1978-07-21 … New York, NY — UA’s Rivoli (4) 1978-07-21 … Orange, CA — Syufy’s Cinedome 6-plex (22) 1978-07-21 … San Francisco, CA — Plitt’s Northpoint (11) 1978-07-21 … Santa Clara, CA — UA’s Cinema 150 (10+) [70mm from Week #8] 1978-07-21 … Woodbury, NY — UA’s Cinema 150 (7) 1978-07-28 … Calumet City, IL — Plitt’s River Oaks Triplex (4) 1978-07-28 … Norridge, IL — M&R’s Norridge 4-plex (4) 1978-07-28 … Oak Brook, IL — Plitt’s Oakbrook (6) 1978-07-28 … Skokie, IL — M&R’s Old Orchard Triplex (4) 1978-08-30 … Honolulu, HI — Consolidated’s Cinerama (5) SUBSEQUENT 70MM ENGAGEMENTS & SCREENINGS 1978-08-25 … East Meadow, NY — UA’s Meadowbrook 4-plex (3) 1978-11-24 … Cleveland, OH — Variety (2) 1984-02-10 … Cleveland, OH — Variety The information included in this article was principally referenced from film industry trade publications and regional newspaper promotion. 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. | More in 70mm reading: 70mm Engagements 70mm Blow Up List Internet link: |
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