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Topic: Baltimore Roadshow/Large Format (article)

Michael Coate
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1904
From: Los Angeles, California
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 02-25-2019 04:21 PM Central (GMT -6:00) (10:21 PM Local)

Showcase Presentations in Baltimore: A Chronology of Large Format and Roadshow Exhibition, 1956-Present

quote: Michael Coate/In70mm.com

Showcase Presentations in Baltimore

A Chronology of Large Format and Roadshow Exhibition, 1956-Present

Compiled by Michael Coate

A work in progress...

What follows is a chronology of (1) 5-perf 70-millimeter, (2) Cinerama, and (3) roadshow presentations in the Baltimore, Maryland, region from 1956.

Part 1: The Cinemas

The 70mm-equipped cinemas in the Baltimore region are/were the following. (The cinemas will be described in greater detail in a forthcoming revision.)

ANNAPOLIS
Annapolis Mall
Harbour 9

BALTIMORE
Film Centre
Hippodrome
Mayfair (also equipped for CineMiracle)
Movies at Harbor Park
New
North Point Plaza
Reisterstown Plaza
Reisterstown Plaza 5-Star
Senator
Town (also equipped for Cinerama)
White Marsh

CATONSVILLE
Westview

GLEN BURNIE
Glen Burnie Town Center

HANOVER
Egyptian

LUTHERVILLE
Yorkridge

TIMONIUM
Timonium

TOWSON
Hillendale

WOODLAWN
Security Mall
Security Square

Part 2: The Presentations

This is primarily a title-based chronology. The project focuses on the exhibition of films originated in large format (in whole or in part) and therefore the specific photography processes and print particulars of the featured titles (O-neg source, inter-neg source, blow-up, pillarboxed, letterboxed, Dolby A, Dolby SR, five screen channels vs. three, baby boom, split surround, digital sound, etc.) have not been cited except in cases of notable firsts. (Much of these tech details can be found elsewhere on this website.)

The majority of the titles featured in this chronology showcased some flavor of high-quality magnetic stereophonic sound (six-track for 70mm, seven-track for Cinerama). The 70mm prints issued from the mid-1970s typically were encoded with Dolby Noise Reduction and often included “baby boom” low-frequency enhancement and, occasionally, split surrounds. Most recently-struck 70mm prints featured digital sound (DTS aka Datasat).

This draft excludes 35mm roadshows, blow-ups, IMAX and other Special Venue presentations. (Such details might be added in a forthcoming revision.)

The roadshows (i.e. reserved-seat engagements) are listed in bold. Roadshows, much like a stage show, featured reserved seating, increased admission price (and sold in advance), were shown an average of only ten times per week, and often included an overture, intermission, entr’acte and/or exit music. Souvenir program booklets were typically sold, as well. (Roadshows presented in 35mm as well as pre-1953 roadshow releases have not been cited in this work.)

Sneak preview, test screenings, premieres, and other pre-release screenings have not been included except in cases where such a screening was publicly promoted and included presentation notations in the advertising.

m/o = a move-over engagement (i.e. a continuation of a booking from another cinema)

YYYY-MM-DD … TITLE … Cinema (duration in weeks) [notes or projection process if other than 70mm]

1956-02-28 … OKLAHOMA! … Film Centre (42)
1956-12-21 … AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS … Film Centre (54)

1957-08-28 … THIS IS CINERAMA … Town (16) [Cinerama]
1957-12-19 … SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD … Town (15) [Cinerama]

1958-04-01 … SOUTH PACIFIC … New (38)
1958-04-02 … CINERAMA HOLIDAY … Town (3) [Cinerama]
1958-04-23 … SEARCH FOR PARADISE … Town (3) [Cinerama]

1959-02-18 … SLEEPING BEAUTY … New (8)
1959-10-07 … THE BIG FISHERMAN … New (6)
1959-10-28 … PORGY AND BESS … Town (7)
1959-12-25 … SOLOMON AND SHEBA … New (5)

1960-02-19 … WINDJAMMER … Mayfair (12) [Cinemiracle]
1960-03-29 … BEN-HUR … Town (42)
1960-05-25 … CAN-CAN … Mayfair (22)
1960-12-19 … EXODUS … Mayfair (20)

1961-01-19 … SPARTACUS … Town (11)
1961-03-01 … THE ALAMO … New (7)
1961-12-21 … KING OF KINGS … Town (11)

1962-02-14 … WEST SIDE STORY … Mayfair (17)
1962-03-09 … EL CID … Town (12)
1962-06-13 … OKLAHOMA! … Mayfair (2)
1962-12-21 … MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY … Town (11)

1963-04-11 … HOW THE WEST WAS WON … Town (21) [Cinerama]
1963-05-27 … LAWRENCE OF ARABIA … Mayfair (20)
1963-06-26 … CLEOPATRA … Hippodrome (35)
1963-09-04 … THE BEST OF CINERAMA … Town (2) [Cinerama]

1964-02-20 … IT’S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD … Town (18) [“Cinerama”]
1964-05-27 … THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE … New (6)
1964-11-06 … CIRCUS WORLD … Town (4) [“Cinerama”]
1964-11-18 … MEDITERRANEAN HOLIDAY … Mayfair (3) [CineVision]
1964-11-25 … MY FAIR LADY … Hippodrome (37)

1965-03-24 … THE SOUND OF MUSIC … New (91)
1965-04-14 … THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD … Town (14) [“Cinerama”]
1965-07-20 … THE HALLELUJAH TRAIL … Town (9) [“Cinerama”]
1965-08-11 … THOSE MAGNIFICENT MEN IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES … Hippodrome (17)

1966-01-26 … THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY … Mayfair (10)
1966-06-29 … KHARTOUM … Town (5) [“Cinerama”]
1966-11-09 … THE BIBLE … Hippodrome (35)

1967-05-25 … GRAND PRIX … Town (13) [“Cinerama”]

1968-05-29 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY … Town (22) [“Cinerama”]
1968-06-19 … DOCTOR DOLITTLE … New (9)
1968-12-18 … STAR! … Hippodrome (6)
1968-12-20 … CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG … Mayfair (11)

1969-02-07 … ICE STATION ZEBRA … Town (7) [“Cinerama”]
1969-07-30 … BEN-HUR … New (3)
1969-08-20 … KRAKATOA, EAST OF JAVA … New (3)
1969-12-17 … HELLO, DOLLY! … New (23)

1970-03-04 … PATTON … Westview (16)
1970-08-19 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY … Mayfair (5)
1970-12-25 … SONG OF NORWAY … Hillendale (11)

1971-02-23 … RYAN’S DAUGHTER … Westview (17)
1971-03-19 … MY FAIR LADY … Mayfair (7)
1971-05-26 … PATTON … Mayfair (3)

1979-11-16 … SLEEPING BEAUTY … Hillendale (5)

1982-07-09 … TRON … Westview (6)
1982-09-17 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY … Hillendale (1)
1982-09-17 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY … Westview (1)
1982-10-08 … TRON … Hillendale (1)

1983-09-30 … BRAINSTORM … Senator (6)
1983-09-30 … BRAINSTORM … Westview (7)

1984-02-03 … OKLAHOMA! … Senator (2)
1984-05-11 … AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS … Hillendale (1)

1989-04-07 … LAWRENCE OF ARABIA … Senator (5) [first 70mm-Dolby SR in Baltimore]

1990-09-14 … LAWRENCE OF ARABIA … Senator (3)

1991-03-15 … WEST SIDE STORY … Senator (1) [70mm festival]
1991-03-22 … THE SOUND OF MUSIC … Senator (2) [70mm festival]
1991-04-19 … BEN-HUR … Senator (2) [70mm festival]
1991-05-03 … THE TEN COMMANDMENTS … Senator (1) [70mm festival]
1991-05-10 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY … Senator (2) [70mm festival]
1991-05-24 … SPARTACUS … Senator (3)

1992-05-09 … FAR AND AWAY … Senator (sneak preview)
1992-05-16 … FAR AND AWAY … Senator (sneak preview)
1992-05-22 … FAR AND AWAY … Senator (7)

1994-03-04 … BARAKA … Senator (4)
1994-11-23 … MY FAIR LADY … Senator (2)

1996-11-01 … VERTIGO … Senator (3) [first 70mm-DTS in Baltimore]

2000-04-29 … MY FAIR LADY … Senator [Maryland Film Festival]
2000-04-29 … LAWRENCE OF ARABIA … Senator [Maryland Film Festival]
2000-04-30 … SPARTACUS … Senator [Maryland Film Festival]

2002-09-20 … LAWRENCE OF ARABIA … Senator (2)
2002-11-06 … LAWRENCE OF ARABIA … Senator (1)

2004-04-24 … BARAKA … Senator [Earth Day/Belvedere Springfest]

2007-11-21 … LAWRENCE OF ARABIA … Senator (2)

2015-12-25 … THE HATEFUL EIGHT … Annapolis Mall (2)
2015-12-25 … THE HATEFUL EIGHT … Egyptian (2)
2015-12-25 … THE HATEFUL EIGHT … White Marsh (2)

2017-07-21 … DUNKIRK … White Marsh (?)

Note that some of the titles included in this listing were presented in 35mm (or, recently, DCP) during the latter week(s) of their engagement due to 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 (or DCP) portion of the engagement has been included in the duration figure.

Also, regarding roadshow presentations, the reserved-seat policy, in some instances, was relaxed during the summer and/or latter weeks of the run. Any non-roadshow portion of such an engagement has been included in the duration figure.

References: Various issues of Boxoffice, The Hollywood Reporter, The (Baltimore) Sun, and Variety; plus projection and sound system trade advertisements and Dolby sound system installation records.

Special Thanks: Steve Guttag and Vince Young.

If you believe this article contains any errors or omissions, please consider emailing the author or editor.

1) Do you think the 70mm blow-ups should be included?

2) What other cities would you like to see?

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Terry Monohan
Master Film Handler

Posts: 379
From: San Francisco CA USA
Registered: May 2014

posted 03-08-2019 11:47 AM Central (GMT -6:00) (5:47 PM Local)

Thanks so much Michael for all your lists of 70mm theatres around the USA.
It's fun to look up some 70mm/Todd-AO cinemas that changed names and are still around plus photos here on the CT sight. So many of these past roadshow 70mm houses that have been torn down or still open don't have any photos of the insides when they had a 70mm set up of the screen and curtains.
I think over the years you have covered most of the big 70mm cities in the USA.
So many cities never got 70mm that is what made the format so special as many movie goers had to travel to see roadshow reserved seat 70mm film with 6 track mag sound on a big curved screen or some flat installations in large cities.
There are probably some smaller cites that had just one 70mm projector set up and even a few Drive Ins around the USA.
Thanks again for all your 70mm detective work over the years.
At least the 70mm format is coming back a little each year.
That would be a good project for you to find photos of the insides of 70mm curved screen installations with the curtains open or closed surrounding the huge stage screens.

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