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A year-by-year, film-by-film history of 70-millimeter wide gauge exhibition in Southern California

 

 Compiled by Michael Coate and William Kallay

 


1979


April 13:
Hurricane
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
Paramount

Hollywood: [Mann] Chinese*
Westwood Village: [Mann] National

*Includes World Premiere on April 12




May 4:
The Exorcist (Re-Issue)
Spherical Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
Warner Bros.
“The Masterpiece Of Terror Is Even More Suspenseful In 70mm And Surround-Sound”

Hollywood: [Mann] Chinese
Westwood Village: [Mann] National

First time in 70mm — Original 1973 release in 35mm

Additional 70mm Engagement:
Lakewood: [Pacific] Lakewood Center (May 25)




May 18:
Grease (Re-Issue)
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
Paramount

Hollywood: [Mann] Fox

Also see 1978 entry




May 18:
Hanover Street
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
Columbia

Hollywood: [SRO] Paramount




May 25:
Alien
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
20th Century Fox
"In Space No One Can Hear You Scream"

Hollywood: [UA] Egyptian
Newport Beach: [Edwards] Newport
Orange: [Plitt] City Center
Westwood Village: [GCC] Avco Center

Expanded Release on June 8:
Lakewood: [Pacific] Lakewood Center
Pasadena: [UA] United Artists
Woodland Hills: [UA] Warner Center

Expanded Release on June 22:
Montclair: [SRO] Montclair

Additional 70mm Engagement:
West Los Angeles: [Pacific] Picwood* (July 3, 1981)

*Double Feature with "Close Encounters Of The Third Kind"




June 22:
The Muppet Movie
Spherical Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
Associated Film (AFD)

Hollywood: [Pacific] Cinerama Dome

Includes (World?) Premiere on June 21

Additional 70mm Engagement:
Lakewood: [Pacific] Lakewood Center (Aug. 3)




August 15:
Apocalypse Now
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
Guaranteed Seat Performance Engagement
Omni Zoetrope/United Artists

Hollywood: [Pacific] Cinerama Dome

Expanded Release on Sep. 21:
Newport Beach: [Edwards] Newport
Orange: [Syufy] Cinedome

Additional 70mm Engagements:
Hollywood: [Pacific] Hollywood Pacific (Nov. 16)
West Los Angeles: [Pacific] Picwood (Dec. 20)
Lakewood: [Pacific] Lakewood Center (Apr. 11, 1980)
Orange: [Syufy] Cinedome (Apr. 11, 1980)
Hollywood: [SRO] Paramount (May 30, 1980)
Hollywood: [Pacific] Cinerama Dome (July 1, 1981)
West Los Angeles: [Pacific] Picwood (Jan. 8, 1982)
Westwood Village: [SRO] Crest (Oct. 8, 1982)

Also see 1987 re-issue entry




August 17:
Star Wars (Re-Issue)
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
Lucasfilm Ltd./20th Century Fox

"It's Back! The Force Will Be With You For Three Weeks Only"

70mm engagement(s) unconfirmed — Presentation notations not included in newspaper ads

[Debut of the trailer for “The Empire Strikes Back”]

Also see 1977, 1978, 1981 & 1982 entries, and 1985 “Return Of The Jedi” re-issue entry




November 8:
The Rose
Spherical Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
20th Century Fox

Hollywood: [UA] Egyptian
Newport Beach: [Edwards] Newport
Westwood Village: [GCC] Avco Center

Includes West Coast Premiere/FILMEX screening on Nov. 7 in Century City (Century Plaza)

Additional 70mm Engagements:
Orange: [Plitt] City Center (Dec. 7)
Hollywood: [SRO] Paramount (Apr. 25, 1980)




November 9:
Sleeping Beauty (Re-Issue)
Super Technirama 70 / Six-Track Stereo
Walt Disney (Buena Vista)

Costa Mesa: [Mann] South Coast Plaza
Hollywood: [Mann] Chinese
Montclair: [SRO] Montclair

Also see 1959, 1981 & 1997 entries, and 1980 Double Feature re-issue entry




December 14:
1941
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo
Universal/Columbia

Hollywood: [Pacific] Cinerama Dome

Includes World Premiere on Dec. 13




December 21:
The Black Hole
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
Walt Disney (Buena Vista)

"A Journey That Begins Where Everything Ends"

Century City: [Plitt] Century Plaza*
Hollywood: [Mann] Chinese

*Includes U.S. Premiere on Dec. 20

Also see 1980 Double Feature re-issue entry

 


 

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1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984
1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994
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2005                  

 

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