“Spaceballs”: The North American 70mm Engagements |
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| Compiled by: Michael Coate | Date: 28.05.2018 |
 The following is a reference / historical listing of the 70-millimeter
presentations of “Spaceballs” in North America. The film’s 70mm prints consisted
of pillarboxed imagery (approximately 1.85:1) blown up from spherical 35mm
photography. The audio was Six-Track Dolby Stereo (“A” encoded “baby boom”
format).“Spaceballs” was among seventeen confirmed first-run films released in 1987 with 70mm prints for selected engagements. The Brooksfilms presentation and MGM release — directed by Mel Brooks and starring Mel Brooks, John Candy and Rick Moranis — opened Wednesday, June 24th in the United States and Friday, June 26th in Canada. For the release of “Spaceballs”, MGM employed the services of Lucasfilm’s Theatre Alignment Program (TAP) to evaluate and approve the theaters selected to book a 70mm print. Trailers for “Baby Boom” and “The Living Daylights” circulated with the “Spaceballs” prints and which the distributor recommended be screened with the presentation. Where known, the duration of the engagements (measured in weeks) has been included 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 due to print damage and the distributor’s unwillingness to supply a 70mm replacement print or because the booking was moved to a smaller, 35mm-only 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, the 35mm portion of the engagement (or movement out of a THX-certified auditorium) has been included in the duration figure. BRITISH COLUMBIA Vancouver — Famous Players’ Vancouver Centre Twin (5) CALIFORNIA Los Angeles — Cineplex Odeon’s Century Plaza (4) [THX] Los Angeles — Cineplex Odeon’s Showcase (6) Orange — Syufy’s Cinedome 8-plex (4) San Francisco — Syufy’s Cinema 21 (4) [THX] San Jose — Syufy’s Century 21 (1) NEW YORK New York — Loews’ Paramount (7) New York — Loews’ Tower East (7) ONTARIO Toronto — Famous Players’ Uptown 5-plex (5) QUEBEC Montreal — United’s Palace 6-plex (5) SUBSEQUENT 70MM ENGAGEMENTS & SCREENINGS 1987-07-01 … San Jose, CA — Syufy’s Century 23 Twin (4) 1987-07-31 … Downers Grove, IL — Classic Cinemas’ Tivoli (1) 1988-02-27 … Toronto, ON — Cinesphere (2 days) [70mm fest] The information in this article was principally referenced from film industry trade publications and regional newspaper promotion, with thanks to Bill Kretzel and Mark Lensenmayer. International 70mm presentations 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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