"Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom," the follow-up to the hugely-successful, Academy Award-winning "Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981), was released on May 23, 1984.  Like its predecessor, the movie would be a monster hit at the box office.  While the George Lucas-produced/Steven Spielberg-directed effort would make nationwide headlines for its violent content, which in turn influenced the Motion Picture Association of America to adopt a new rating (PG-13), what also made headlines in the film industry was the number of 70-millimeter prints committed to the release. 

The film was released in the United States and Canada with 1,685 prints, nearly 250 of which were in the wide gauge 70mm format, with additional 70mm prints made available to international markets.  This resulted in the largest 70mm print order ever made for a motion picture.  Lucasfilm's Theatre Alignment Program (TAP) assisted Paramount Pictures, the film's distributor, in evaluating and selecting the theatres in which the 70mm prints would be booked and performed quality control on the manufacturing of the prints.

The gamble with making a lot of expensive large format prints (which cost roughly eight times that of standard 35mm) paid off as it was reported following the film's first week of release that the 70mm engagements, which were booked into 13 percent of the theatres playing the film, accounted for 30 percent of the total gross.  Lucasfilm Ltd. Senior Vice President Sid Ganis told the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner at the time that "everything George [Lucas] and Steven [Spielberg] have been hoping for — an awareness by exhibitors and audiences of the value of a quality presentation — has come of age."
 

So which theatres were selected to play the 70mm prints and which audiences got to experience the higher quality presentation offered by the large format?  Read on!

 

What follows is a list of the original 70mm engagements of "Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom." The list does not account for move-over, second-run, revival or international engagements.

* = Unconfirmed 70mm presentation; may have been 35mm
2 = Shown in 70mm on two screens in complex
2* = 70mm presentation on second screen unconfirmed; may have been 35mm
3 = Shown in 70mm on three screens in complex
3* = 70mm presentation on second & third screens unconfirmed; may have been 35mm
THX = THX-certified presentation

UNITED STATES

ARIZONA
Phoenix: [Mann] Chris-Town (THX)
Phoenix: [Plitt] Cine Capri
Tucson: [Mann] Buena Vista
Tucson: [AMC] Campbell Plaza 3

ARKANSAS
Little Rock: [UA] Cinema 150

CALIFORNIA
Berkeley: [Cinerama] Berkeley
Clovis: [Festival Enterprises] Regency
Corte Madera: [Marin] Cinema
Costa Mesa: [Edwards] South Coast Plaza
Fremont: [Syufy] Cinedome 7 East (2)
Fresno: [Festival Enterprises] Festival
Hayward: [Festival Enterprises] Festival
La Mesa: [Pacific] Cinema Grossmont
La Mirada: [Pacific] La Mirada
Laguna Hills: [Edwards/Sanborn] Laguna Hills Mall
Lakewood: [Pacific] Lakewood Center
Long Beach: [UA] Movies
Los Angeles (Hollywood): [Mann] Chinese (3) (THX, Screen 1)
Los Angeles (Northridge): [Pacific] Northridge
Los Angeles (Sherman Oaks): [Mann] La Reina
Los Angeles (Westwood Village): [Mann] National (THX)
Los Angeles (Woodland Hills): [Pacific] Topanga
Modesto: [Festival Enterprises] Festival (2*)
Monrovia: [Mann] Huntington Oaks 6 (2)
Montclair: [SRO] Montclair
Newport Beach: [Edwards] Newport
Orange: [Syufy] Cinedome (2)
Palm Desert: [Metropolitan] Town Center Cinema 7
Palm Springs: [Metropolitan] Camelot
Pleasant Hill: [Syufy] Century Complex
Riverside: [Sanborn] Canyon Crest
Sacramento: [Syufy] Century Complex (3)
San Diego: [Mann] Loma
San Diego (La Jolla): [Pacific] La Jolla Village
San Francisco: [Blumenfeld] Regency I
San Francisco: [Blumenfeld] Regency II
San Jose: [Syufy] Century 22 (3)
Santa Barbara: [Metropolitan] Arlington
Stockton: [Festival Enterprises] Festival (2*)
Temple City: [Edwards] Temple
Thousand Oaks: [UA] Movies

COLORADO
Colorado Springs: [Commonwealth] Cinema 70
Colorado Springs: [Commonwealth] Mall of the Bluffs
Denver: [Mann] Century 21
Littleton: [AMC] Southbridge Plaza

CONNECTICUT
East Hartford: [Redstone] Showcase
Orange: [Redstone] Showcase
Stamford: [Trans-Lux] Ridgeway

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Washington: [K-B] Cinema

FLORIDA
North Miami Beach: [Loews] 167th St. Twin
Orlando: [Plitt] Plaza

GEORGIA
Atlanta: [Georgia] Lenox Square
Atlanta: [independent] New Columbia
North Atlanta: [Storey] 12 Oaks Twin
Savannah: [Litchfield] Tara
Tucker: [AMC] Northlake Festival (2*)

HAWAII
Honolulu: [Consolidated] Cinerama

ILLINOIS
Belleville: [BAC] Cinema
Calumet City: [Plitt] River Oaks
Chicago: [Plitt] Esquire
Chicago: [Plitt] Nortown
Chicago: [Plitt] State-Lake
Evergreen Park: [M&R] Evergreen
Hillside: [M&R] Hillside Square
Lombard: [GCC] Yorktown
Milan: [Redstone] Showcase*
Mount Prospect: [GCC] Randhurst
Norridge: [M&R] Norridge
Orland Park: [Plitt] Orland Square
Peoria: [Kerasotes] Beverly
Schaumburg: [Plitt] Woodfield
Skokie: [M&R] Old Orchard
Springfield: [Kerasotes] Town & Country

INDIANA
Fort Wayne: [Mallers-Spirou] Holiday

IOWA
Cedar Rapids: [Dubinsky] Plaza
Des Moines: [Dubinsky] River Hills
Dubuque: [Dubuque] Cinema Center

KANSAS
Overland Park: [Dickinson] Glenwood
Wichita: [Dickinson] Mall
Wichita: [Commonwealth] Twin Lakes

KENTUCKY
Erlanger: [Redstone] Showcase Erlanger
Lexington: [Midstates] Southpark
Louisville: [Redstone] Showcase

LOUISIANA
Baton Rouge: [GCC] Cortana Mall
Marrero: [Gulf States] Belle Promenade 6
New Orleans: [Mann] Robert E. Lee

MARYLAND
Baltimore: [GCC] Security Mall
Baltimore: [Durkee] Senator

MASSACHUSETTS
Boston: [Sack] Cinema 57
Brookline: [Redstone] Circle (2*)
Dedham: [Redstone] Showcase (2*)
Revere: [Redstone] Showcase (2*)
Seekonk: [Redstone] Showcase (2*)
Worcester: [Redstone] Showcase

MICHIGAN
Bloomfield Hills: [Redstone] Showcase Pontiac (2*)
Dearborn: [UA] Movies at Fairlane (2*)
East Lansing: [UA] Spartan Triplex
Flint: [Butterfield] Flint
Harper Woods: [Suburban Detroit] Eastland (2*)
Southfield: [Suburban Detroit] Northland (2*)
Sterling Heights: [Redstone] Showcase (2*)

MINNESOTA
Bloomington: [GCC] Southtown
Minneapolis: [Plitt] Skyway 5
Minnetonka: [Plitt] Ridge Square
Roseville: [GCC] Har Mar
West St. Paul: [Engler] Signal Hills 4

MISSOURI
Chesterfield: [Wehrenberg] Clarkson 6
Creve Coeur: [Wehrenberg] Creve Coeur
Kansas City: [Commonwealth] Bannister Square
Kansas City: [Mid-America] Blue Ridge East
Springfield: [Dickinson] Century 21

NEBRASKA
Omaha: [Douglas] Cinema Center
Omaha: [Douglas] Q Cinema 6
Omaha: [AMC] Westroads

NEVADA
Las Vegas: [Syufy] Cinedome 6*
Reno: [Syufy] Century Complex*

NEW JERSEY
Edison: [GCC] Menlo Park
Paramus: [RKO Century] RKO Route 4 Tenplex
Pennsauken: [Sameric] Eric 5 Pennsauken (3*)
Sayreville: [Redstone] Amboy Multiplex
Secaucus: [Loews] Meadow Six
Wayne: [Loews] Wayne Six
West Orange: [GCC] Essex Green

NEW MEXICO
Albuquerque: [Commonwealth] Cinema East
Albuquerque: [GCC] Louisiana Blvd.

NEW YORK
Cheektowaga: [AMC] Holiday Six
Commack: [Redstone] Commack Multiplex
Garden City: [RKO Century] RKO Roosevelt Field Triplex
Greece: [AMC] Stoneridge Plaza
Levittown: [Loews] Nassau Six
New York (Bronx): [Redstone] Whitestone Multiplex
New York (Manhattan): [Loews] 34th St. Showplace
New York (Manhattan): [Loews] Astor Plaza
New York (Manhattan): [Loews] Orpheum
Pittsford: [Loews] Pittsford
Schenectady: [CinemaNational] Mohawk Mall
Valley Stream: [Redstone] Sunrise Multiplex
West Webster: [Loews] Webster

NORTH CAROLINA
Charlotte: [Plitt] Park Terrace
Greensboro: [Plitt] Terrace*
Fayetteville: [Consolidated] Bordeaux*
Raleigh: [Plitt] Cardinal
Winston-Salem: [Plitt] Thruway

OHIO
Beavercreek: [Midstates] Beaver Valley
Columbus: [Midstates] Continent
Dayton: [Chakeres] Dayton Mall
Springdale: [Redstone] Showcase Springdale
Summerside: [Redstone] Showcase Eastgate
Toledo: [Redstone] Showcase*
Trotwood: [Midstates] Salem Mall
Whitehall: [Chakeres] Cinema East

OKLAHOMA
Tulsa: [UA] Boman Twin

OREGON
Beaverton: [Luxury] Westgate
Eugene: [Moyer] West 11th
Gresham: [Moyer] Rose Moyer

PENNSYLVANIA
Monroeville: [Redstone] Showcase East
Philadelphia: [Sameric] Sameric 3 (3*)
Robinson Township: [Redstone] Showcase West

RHODE ISLAND
Warwick: [Redstone] Showcase (2*)

SOUTH CAROLINA
Greenville: [Martin] Astro Twin

TENNESSEE
Goodlettsville: [Martin] Rivergate 6
Knoxville: [Simpson] Capri
Nashville: [Martin] Belle Forge 6
Nashville: [Martin] Belle Meade

TEXAS
Addison: [UA] Prestonwood Creek 5 (2) (THX)
Amarillo: [UA] Cinema 6 (THX)
Arlington: [Loews] Lincoln Square
Austin: [Mann] Fox Triplex
Beaumont: [UA] Phelan 6* (THX)
Carrollton: [GCC] Furneaux Creek
Dallas: [GCC] Caruth Plaza
Dallas: [UA] Skillman 6 (THX)
Dallas: [UA] South 8 (THX)
Dallas: [UA] Walnut Hill 6 (THX)
Fort Worth: [UA] Hulen 6 (THX)
Highland Park: [AMC] Village
Houston: [Plitt] Cinema 5
Houston: [Loews] Southpoint 5
Houston: [Plitt] West Oaks 7
Houston: [AMC] Westchase 5
Hurst: [UA] Cinema 6
Mesquite: [UA] Town East 6 (THX)
San Antonio: [Santikos] Galaxy
San Antonio: [Santikos] Northwest
White Settlement: [UA] Las Vegas Trail 8 (THX)

UTAH
Ogden: [Plitt] Wilshire 3
Salt Lake City: [Plitt] Centre
Salt Lake City: [Mann] Villa

VIRGINIA
Baileys Crossroads: [K-B] Cinema 7
Chesterfield County: [Litchfield] Midlothian
Fairfax: [UA] Movies at Fair Oaks
McLean [NTI] Tysons Center 4
Richmond: [Neighborhood] Ridge
Springfield: [GCC] Springfield Mall

WASHINGTON
Bellevue: [SRO] John Danz
Seattle: [SRO] Northgate
Seattle: [SRO] Uptown
Spokane: [SRO] State
Spokane Valley: [Luxury] East Sprague 6
Tacoma: [SRO] Tacoma Mall
Tukwila: [SRO] Southcenter
Union Gap: [independent] Mercy 6

WISCONSIN
Brookfield: [Marcus] Brookfield Square
Fox Point: [Capitol] Brown Port
Madison: [Marcus] Eastgate
Milwaukee: [Marcus] Northtown
Milwaukee: [Capitol] Spring Mall
Milwaukee: [Capitol] Loomis Road 4


CANADA

ALBERTA
Calgary: [Famous Players] Palace
Edmonton: [Famous Players] Paramount
Edmonton: [Famous Players] Westmall 5

BRITISH COLUMBIA
Burnaby: [Famous Players] Lougheed Mall
Vancouver: [Famous Players] Stanley
Victoria: [Famous Players] Coronet

MANITOBA
Winnipeg: [Famous Players] Metropolitan

NOVA SCOTIA
Halifax: [Famous Players] Scotia Square

ONTARIO
Hamilton: [Famous Players] Tivoli
London: [Famous Players] Park
Newmarket: [Famous Players] Glenway
Ottawa: [Famous Players] Elgin
Richmond Hill: [Famous Players] Town & Countrye
Toronto: [Famous Players] Cedarbrae
Toronto: [Famous Players] Cumberland Four
Toronto: [Famous Players] Runnymede
Toronto: [Famous Players] University

QUEBEC
Laval: [United] Laval
Montreal: [United] Imperial
Quebec: [United] Canadien


Canadian engagement details contributed by Bill Kretzel.
 

SPECIAL THANKS
Bill Kretzel
Brad Miller
Tim Schafbuch
Shawn Watson

 

REFERENCES
Daily newspapers archived on microfilm, plus:

"70m 'Jones' Prints To Set New Record." Variety. May 16, 1984.

Block, Alex Ben. "Money-Making Has A Name: 'Indiana Jones'." Los Angeles Herald-Examiner. May 30, 1984.

"Dolby Stereo Equipped Theatres." Dolby Laboratories, Inc. Selected Issues, 1977 - 1987.

"'Indiana Jones' Surpasses Two Box-Office Records." Wall Street Journal. May 30, 1984.

London, Michael. "Do Further Perils Lurk Beyond The Temple Of Doom?" Los Angeles Times. May 23, 1984.

THX Sound System Trade Advertisement. Boxoffice. December 1984.

RECOMMENDED WEBSITES FOR 70MM AND THEATRE INFORMATION
CinemaTour.com
www.cinematreasures.org
www.dolby.com
in70mm.com

www.thx.com

www.widescreenmuseum.com

and, of course, other pages here at www.fromscripttodvd.com
 

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