70mm Presentations in Ottawa | Read more at in70mm.com The 70mm Newsletter |
| Compiled by: Bill Kretzel and Michael Coate | Date: 25.08.2023 |
 What follows is a chronology of 70mm six-track stereophonic sound feature-film presentations in the Ottawa region of Canada.The focus of this work is 5-perf 70mm feature films and the cinemas in which they were exhibited. Short subjects, IMAX, special venue presentations, etc., have not been included. Part 1: The 70mm-Equipped Cinemas GATINEAU (Quebec) Canadian Museum of Civilization / Canadian Museum of History GLOUCESTER (Ontario) Gloucester 5 OTTAWA (Ontario) ByTowne (see: Nelson) Elgin Nelson / ByTowne Opera (National Arts Centre) Rideau Centre St. Laurent Twin / St. Laurent 5 Somerset An overview of each cinema will be provided in a forthcoming revision. Part 2: The 70mm Presentations Opening date YYYY-MM-DD TITLE cinema (duration in weeks) [notes] * = Reserved-seat engagement (i.e. roadshow) # Presentation not explicitly or consistently promoted as 70mm suggesting presentation may have been 35mm 1959-12-25 SOLOMON AND SHEBA* Nelson (7) 1960-02-12 PORGY AND BESS* Nelson (4) 1960-04-13 BEN-HUR* Nelson (28) 1960-10-26 CAN-CAN* Nelson (2) 1961-02-27 THE ALAMO Nelson (4) 1961-05-03 EXODUS* Nelson (7) 1961-07-06 SPARTACUS Nelson (7) 1961-11-10 BEN-HUR Nelson (2) # 1961-12-22 KING OF KINGS* Nelson (6) 1962-02-28 EL CID* Nelson (9) 1962-05-16 OKLAHOMA! Nelson (3) 1962-07-18 WEST SIDE STORY Nelson (7) # 1963-02-14 MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY* Nelson (12) 1963-05-09 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA* Nelson (21) 1963-10-03 CLEOPATRA* Nelson (15) 1964-10-28 MY FAIR LADY* Nelson (35) 1965-06-30 THE SOUND OF MUSIC* Nelson (55) 1966-07-20 DOCTOR ZHIVAGO* Nelson (27) # 1967-02-22 HAWAII* Nelson (16) # 1967-06-14 GRAND PRIX* Nelson (9) 1967-08-16 THE SAND PEBBLES* Nelson (13) # 1967-11-15 CAMELOT* Nelson (14) 1968-02-21 FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD* Nelson (9) 1968-04-24 GONE WITH THE WIND* Nelson (14) 1968-09-25 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY* Nelson (12) 1968-12-19 THE SHOES OF THE FISHERMAN* Nelson (7) # 1969-02-06 STAR!* Nelson (8) 1969-06-26 SWEET CHARITY* Nelson (5) 1969-07-31 BEN-HUR* Nelson (9) 1969-11-05 PAINT YOUR WAGON* Nelson (10) 1970-02-04 HELLO, DOLLY!* Nelson (14) 1970-12-18 SONG OF NORWAY* Nelson (9) 1971-03-19 MY FAIR LADY Nelson (6) # 1971-04-30 RYANS DAUGHTER Nelson (10) # 1978-03-18 DERSU UZALA NAC Opera # 1979-03-11 DAYS OF HEAVEN NAC Opera 1980-10-10 FAME Nelson (6) 1980-11-21 DIVINE MADNESS Nelson (3) 1981-03-06 APOCALYPSE NOW NAC Opera (2 days) 1981-04-03 FAME Nelson (1) 1981-05-22 OUTLAND Nelson (5) 1981-06-01 THE ROSE NAC Opera 1981-06-11 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY NAC Opera 1981-07-03 RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK Nelson (35) 1981-08-14 STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE NAC Opera (2 days) 1981-08-28 CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND NAC Opera (2 days) 1981-09-22 DAYS OF HEAVEN NAC Opera 1981-11-02 ALTERED STATES NAC Opera 1981-11-20 SUPERMAN NAC Opera (2 days) 1981-12-26 WEST SIDE STORY NAC Opera 1981-12-28 WEST SIDE STORY NAC Opera 1982-01-15 APOCALYPSE NOW NAC Opera (2 days) 1982-01-23 DOCTOR ZHIVAGO NAC Opera 1982-01-25 DIVINE MADNESS NAC Opera 1982-02-01 TOMMY NAC Opera 1982-02-08 OUTLAND NAC Opera 1982-03-05 QUEST FOR FIRE Nelson (11) 1982-03-29 SUPERMAN II NAC Opera 1982-04-08 BEN-HUR NAC Opera 1982-04-24 ALIEN NAC Opera 1982-04-30 DOCTOR ZHIVAGO Somerset (1) 1982-05-07 GONE WITH THE WIND Somerset (1) 1982-05-26 NAPOLEON NAC Opera (4 days) [70mm for triptych sequence?] 1982-06-04 STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN Nelson (12) 1982-06-07 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY NAC Opera 1982-06-18 ANNIE Somerset (14) 1982-09-10 FAME NAC Opera (2 days) 1982-09-17 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Elgin (7) 1982-10-01 STAR WARS / THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Nelson (10) 1982-12-17 THE DARK CRYSTAL Somerset (6) 1983-01-12 FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD NAC Opera 1983-01-17 QUEST FOR FIRE NAC Opera 1983-01-29 GANDHI Somerset (17) 1983-02-11 STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN NAC Opera (2 days) 1983-03-04 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY NAC Opera 1983-03-18 APOCALYPSE NOW NAC Opera (2 days) 1983-04-05 FAME NAC Opera 1983-04-11 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL NAC Opera 1983-04-22 APOCALYPSE NOW Nelson (1) 1983-05-07 BLUE THUNDER Somerset [sneak preview] 1983-05-13 BLUE THUNDER St. Laurent (7) 1983-05-13 OUTLAND / FIREFOX Nelson (1) # 1983-05-18 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL NAC Opera 1983-05-20 POLTERGEIST Nelson (1) 1983-05-21 ANNIE Nelson (3 days) [matinee] 1983-05-25 RETURN OF THE JEDI Somerset (18) 1983-05-30 QUEST FOR FIRE NAC Opera 1983-06-03 AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS Nelson (1) # 1983-06-10 FAME / THE ROSE Nelson (1) 1983-06-10 LETS SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER NAC Opera (2 days) 1983-06-17 SUPERMAN III Nelson (8) 1983-07-15 STAYING ALIVE Rideau Centre (11) 1983-07-29 KRULL St. Laurent (5) 1983-09-27 RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK NAC Opera (2 days) 1983-09-30 BRAINSTORM Rideau Centre (5) 1983-11-04 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY Somerset (1) 1983-11-11 GONE WITH THE WIND Somerset (1) 1983-11-18 DOCTOR ZHIVAGO Somerset (1) 1983-11-25 ANNIE Somerset (1) 1983-12-02 APOCALYPSE NOW Somerset (1) 1984-02-27 GANDHI NAC Opera 1984-05-23 INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM Elgin (22) 1984-06-01 STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK Rideau Centre (11) 1984-06-08 GHOSTBUSTERS St. Laurent (18) 1984-06-08 GREMLINS Nelson (16) 1984-07-13 THE LAST STARFIGHTER Somerset (7) 1984-12-07 2010 Elgin (10) 1984-12-07 INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM Nelson (1) 1984-12-14 DUNE Nelson (7) 1984-12-14 STARMAN Rideau Centre (14) 1985-03-29 RETURN OF THE JEDI Elgin (3) 1985-06-21 COCOON Elgin (16) 1985-07-08 RETURN OF THE JEDI NAC Opera (2 days) 1985-07-10 SILVERADO Somerset (11) 1985-07-12 THE GOONIES Rideau Centre (15) 1985-07-19 THE BLACK CAULDRON Rideau Centre [sneak preview] 1985-07-20 2010 NAC Opera 1985-07-24 THE BLACK CAULDRON Nelson (7) 1985-11-27 ROCKY IV Elgin (9) 1985-12-04 YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES Rideau Centre (8) 1985-12-20 A CHORUS LINE Rideau Centre (7) 1986-01-31 ROCKY IV Nelson (1) 1986-02-07 CARMEN NAC Opera (2 days) [Version Francaise] 1986-02-07 COCOON Nelson (1) 1986-02-14 REVOLUTION Nelson (1) 1986-04-25 AMADEUS Nelson (1) 1986-05-10 TOP GUN Elgin [sneak preview] 1986-05-16 TOP GUN Elgin (22) 1986-05-22 COBRA Nelson (5) 1986-07-02 BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA Rideau Centre (3) 1986-07-18 ALIENS Nelson (11) 1986-11-26 STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME Nelson (18) 1987-01-16 AMADEUS NAC Opera (2 days) 1987-01-16 THE MISSION Rideau Centre (14) 1987-06-03 THE UNTOUCHABLES Nelson (17) 1987-07-01 INNERSPACE Rideau Centre (4) 1987-08-05 STAKEOUT Elgin (15) 1987-08-05 STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE NAC Opera 1987-08-08 STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN NAC Opera 1987-08-18 STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK NAC Opera 1987-08-27 STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME NAC Opera 1987-11-08 CRY FREEDOM St. Laurent [benefit for political prisoners in South Africa] # 1987-11-25 THREE MEN AND A BABY Rideau Centre (15) [70mm from Week 8] 1987-12-11 EMPIRE OF THE SUN Elgin (11) 1988-01-26 CARMEN NAC Opera (2 days) [Version Francaise] 1988-01-28 AMADEUS NAC Opera (2 days) 1988-02-19 CRY FREEDOM St. Laurent (3) 1988-05-20 WILLOW Elgin (10) 1988-11-23 COCOON: THE RETURN Somerset (4) 1989-05-12 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA Somerset (7) 1989-05-24 INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE Elgin (21) 1989-05-24 INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE Gloucester (12) 1989-07-07 LETHAL WEAPON 2 Rideau Centre (11) 1989-08-09 THE ABYSS Somerset (8) 1989-12-08 THE MISSION / BATMAN ByTowne 1989-12-09 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA / BLADE RUNNER ByTowne 1989-12-10 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA / THE ABYSS / BATMAN ByTowne 1989-12-15 THE LITTLE MERMAID Rideau Centre (19) 1990-02-07 GORILLAS IN THE MIST / 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY ByTowne 1990-02-08 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA ByTowne 1990-03-02 THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER Elgin (15) 1990-04-03 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA ByTowne 1990-04-04 THE BEAR / TOMMY ByTowne 1990-04-05 BEN-HUR ByTowne 1990-06-05 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA ByTowne 1990-06-06 GLORY / VALMONT ByTowne 1990-06-07 DOCTOR ZHIVAGO ByTowne 1990-06-15 DICK TRACY Elgin (6) 1990-06-15 GREMLINS 2: THE NEW BATCH Gloucester (4) 1990-06-27 DAYS OF THUNDER Rideau Centre (5) 1990-10-05 FANTASIA Rideau Centre (6) 1990-10-05 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA ByTowne 1991-06-21 THE ROCKETEER Rideau Centre (5) 1991-08-20 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA ByTowne 1991-08-21 DAYS OF HEAVEN / THE SHELTERING SKY ByTowne 1991-12-06 STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY Elgin (9) 1992-05-09 FAR AND AWAY Somerset [sneak preview] 1992-05-16 FAR AND AWAY Somerset [sneak preview] 1992-05-22 FAR AND AWAY Somerset (6) 1992-06-05 PATRIOT GAMES Elgin (15) 1992-07-11 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY Museum of Civilization 1992-07-18 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Museum of Civilization 1992-07-25 TERMINATOR 2 Museum of Civilization 1992-08-01 DAYS OF HEAVEN Museum of Civilization 1992-08-15 THE BEAR Museum of Civilization 1993-11-05 THE REMAINS OF THE DAY Somerset (10) [70mm from Week 8] 2010-09-24 VERTIGO Museum of Civilization 2010-09-24 STAR TREK VI Museum of Civilization 2010-09-24 BARAKA Museum of Civilization 2010-09-25 CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG Museum of Civilization 2010-09-25 SPARTACUS Museum of Civilization 2010-09-25 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA Museum of Civilization 2010-09-26 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA Museum of Civilization 2010-09-26 BARAKA Museum of Civilization 2010-09-26 THE UNTOUCHABLES Museum of Civilization Note that some of the titles included in this chronology may have been presented in 35mm during the latter week(s) of their engagement due to contractual terms or print damage (and the distributors 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 where a booking began with a 35mm print because the lab was unable to complete a 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 portion of the engagement has been included in the duration figure. During the roadshow era, 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 applicable duration figure. References: Various issues of Boxoffice, Motion Picture Exhibitor, The Ottawa Citizen, and Variety; projection and sound system trade advertisements and installation records. This work is an adaptation and revision of Bill Kretzels Cinerama and Large-Frame Motion Picture Exhibition. Special Thanks: Library and Archives Canada. If you believe this article contains any errors or omissions, please consider emailing the author or editor. | More in 70mm reading: 70mm, Cinerama, IMAX and Cinemas in Canada 70mm Cinemas in North America in70mm.com's list of films blown up to 70mm 70mm Engagements by Title 35mm to 70mm Engagements by Year Large Format 7OMM Engagements Month by month premiere list of wide gauge and 3-strip films Chronological premiere list of major 70mm films 70mm Blow Up List Dolby Stereo |
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