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THE SCREENING ROOM

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, plus Special Screenings and Film Festivals (1996) 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"]

Also see Special Screenings and Film Festivals (1992) entry




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, plus Special Screenings and Film Festivals (1997 and 2012)




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, plus Special Screenings and Film Festivals (1990) entry




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, plus Special Screenings and Film Festivals (1990 and 1992) entries




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

Also see Special Screenings and Film Festivals (1990) entry




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)

More 70mm

70mm In New York

70mm In Orange County

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