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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

 


1981

April 10:
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 Two Weeks Only”

Westwood Village: [GCC] Avco Center

[First appearance of the “Episode IV: A New Hope” subtitle]

Also see 1977, 1978, 1979 & 1982 entries, and 1985 “Return Of The Jedi” re-issue entry




April 24:
Heaven’s Gate
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
United Artists

Century City: [Plitt] Century Plaza

Includes FILMEX closing night World Premiere presentation (of this shorter, general release version) at the Chinese Theatre on April 23

Also see 1980 entry




May 22:
Outland
Anamorphic Blow-Up
Ladd (Warner Bros.)
"On Jupiter's moon, he's the only law."

*Six-Track Dolby Stereo plus Megasound
**Six-Track Dolby Stereo

Hollywood: [Mann] Chinese*
Newport Beach: [Edwards] Newport**
Orange: [Plitt] City Center*
Westwood Village: [Mann] Bruin*

Expanded Release on June 5:
Pasadena: [SRO] Hastings**

[70mm Trailer: "Wolfen"]




May 22:
Sleeping Beauty (Re-Issue)
Super Technirama 70 / Six-Track Stereo
Walt Disney (Buena Vista)
"A Wondrous Animation Spectacle Ablaze With Adventure"

La Mirada: [Pacific] La Mirada
Montclair: [SRO] Montclair
Sherman Oaks: [Pacific] Galleria
Torrance: [UA] Del Amo
Woodland Hills: [UA] Warner Center

Additional 70mm Engagement:
Century City: [Plitt] Century Plaza (May 29)

Also see 1959, 1979 & 1997 entries, and 1980 Double Feature re-issue entry




June 12:
Raiders Of The Lost
Ark
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
Lucasfilm Ltd./Paramount
"Indiana Jones — The New Hero From The Creators Of 'Jaws' And 'Star Wars'." 

Costa Mesa: [Mann] South Coast Plaza
Hollywood: [Mann] Chinese (June 12 - Sep. 23)
Orange: [Syufy] Cinedome
Westwood Village: [Mann] National* (June 12 - Oct. 1)

*Includes 70mm Sneak Preview screening on June 5

Additional 70mm Engagements:
Lakewood: [Pacific] Lakewood Center (July 31 - Oct. 1)
Hollywood: [Mann] Hollywood (Sep. 25)
La Mirada: [Pacific] La Mirada (Oct. 2)
Westwood Village: [Mann] National (Nov. 6)
Hollywood: [Mann] Chinese (Nov. 13 - Dec. 17)
Montclair: [SRO] Montclair (Nov. 13)
Lakewood: [Pacific] Lakewood Center (Nov. 20)
Century City: [Plitt] Century Plaza (Jan. 22, 1982)
Hollywood: [Pacific] Cinerama Dome (Apr. 2 - June 10, 1982)
West Los Angeles: [Pacific] Picwood (June 11, 1982)
Westwood Village: [GCC] Avco Center (July 16, 1982)
Hollywood: [Pacific] Cinerama Dome (Aug. 20, 1982)
Hollywood: [Mann] Chinese (Sep. 24, 1982)

Also see 1982 & 1983 re-issue entries




June 19:
Superman II
Anamorphic Blow-Up
Warner Bros.
"The Adventure Continues"

Hollywood: [Mann] Chinese* (shown on two screens)
Orange: [Syufy] Cinedome**
Westwood Village: [Mann] Village*

*Six-Track Dolby Stereo plus Megasound
**Six-Track Dolby Stereo

Additional 70mm Engagements:
Newport Beach: [Edwards] Newport** (July 3)
West Los Angeles: [Pacific] Picwood** (Sep. 4)
Bakersfield: [UA] Movies 6** (Nov. 6)

Also see 1982 re-issue entry




June 26:
Dragonslayer
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
Paramount/Walt Disney
"In the Dark Ages, Magic was a weapon. Love was a mystery. Adventure was everywhere... And Dragons were real."

Hollywood: [Mann] Hollywood

Also see 1982 re-issue entry




July 24:
Wolfen
Anamorphic Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
Orion (Warner Bros.)
"Only Southern California 70mm 6 Track Dolby Stereo Engagement"

West Los Angeles: [Pacific] Picwood




July 31:
The Empire Strikes Back (Re-Issue)
Anamorphic Blow-Up
Lucasfilm Ltd./20th Century Fox
"One of the best things that ever happened is about to happen again."

Century City: [Plitt] Century Plaza*
Montclair: [UA] Movies**
Orange: [Plitt] City Center*
Santa Barbara: [Metropolitan] Granada*
Torrance: [UA] Del Amo**
Woodland Hills: [UA] Warner Center**

*Six-Track Dolby Stereo
**Six-Track Stereo

Also see 1980 & 1982 entries, and 1985 "Return Of The Jedi" re-issue entry




October 2:
Zoot Suit
Spherical Blow-Up / Six-Track Stereo with Sensurround Plus
Universal
"An American Original"

Hollywood: [Pacific] Cinerama Dome

Includes World Premiere on Oct. 1

Expanded Release on Oct. 9:
Orange: [Syufy] Cinedome

Additional 70mm Engagement:
West Los Angeles: [Pacific] Picwood* (Dec. 16)

*Double Feature with "The Jazz Singer" beginning Dec. 30




December 18:
Sharky’s Machine
Spherical Blow-Up / Six-Track Dolby Stereo
Orion (Warner Bros.)
"Burt is Sharky. This is Sharky's Machine"

Westwood Village: [Mann] Bruin

Additional 70mm Engagement:
West Los Angeles: [Pacific] Picwood (Feb. 5, 1982)
 


 

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