70mm Presentations in Oakland and the East Bay
A Chronology of 70mm Large Format Exhibition, 1966-Present

What follows is a chronology of 70mm six-track stereophonic sound feature-film presentations in the East Bay sub-market of the greater San Francisco Bay region.

The focus of this work is 5-perf 70mm feature films and the cinemas in which they were exhibited. Short subjects, 8-perf and 15-perf (IMAX, Iwerks, etc.) and Special Venue presentations have not been included.

The emphasis here is on the titles that received publicly-promoted, commercial exhibition in 70mm and their playdates. To facilitate an easy-to-reference title- and date-based layout, no details have been provided pertaining to the brand of 70mm (i.e. Todd-AO, Super Panavision, Ultra Panavision, Cinerama, D-150, etc.) or technical particulars of each presentation (i.e. O-neg source, inter-neg source, Digital Intermediate source, blow-up, pillarboxed, letterboxed, Dolby A, Dolby SR, five screen channels vs. three, baby boom, split surround, digital sound, etc.).

Part 1: The 70mm-Equipped Cinemas

BERKELEY
Berkeley
California / California Triplex

CONCORD
Capri

EMERYVILLE
Emery Bay 10

FREMONT
Cinedome 8 East
Fremont Hub 8

HAYWARD
Festival 6
Hayward 5

NEWARK
Cinedome 7 West

OAKLAND
Century 21 / Century 22 / Century Complex
Grand Lake / Grand Lake Twin / Grand Lake 4
Paramount (special events / temporary)
Piedmont / Piedmont Triplex
Theatre 70 / Cinema 1

ORINDA
Orinda

PINOLE
Century Complex / Century 9

PLEASANT HILL
Century 21 / Century Complex / Century 5
Century 16

SAN RAMON
Crow Canyon 6

UNION CITY
Century 25

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

1967-02-21 … DOCTOR ZHIVAGO* … Century 21 Pleasant Hill (15) #

1968-09-11 … CAMELOT* … Century 21 Pleasant Hill (9) #
1968-10-29 … GONE WITH THE WIND* … Century 21 Oakland (15)

1969-02-11 … ICE STATION ZEBRA* … Century 21 Oakland (7)
1969-03-05 … GONE WITH THE WIND* … Century 21 Pleasant Hill (12)
1969-04-02 … STAR!* … Century 21 Oakland (2) #
1969-05-28 … THE SHOES OF THE FISHERMAN* … Century 21 Pleasant Hill (3) #
1969-09-30 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY* … Century 21 Oakland (11)
1969-12-17 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY* … Century 21 Pleasant Hill (13)
1969-12-17 … HELLO, DOLLY!* … Century 21 Oakland (22) #

1970-03-17 … PAINT YOUR WAGON* … Century 21 Oakland (21) #
1970-08-14 … PAINT YOUR WAGON* … Century 21 Pleasant Hill (19) #
1970-10-28 … IT’S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD* … Century 21 Pleasant Hill (8) #

1974-08-21 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY … Century 21 Oakland (7)
1974-11-06 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY … Century 5 (6)

1976-02-04 … GONE WITH THE WIND … Cinema 1 (1)
1976-04-09 … GONE WITH THE WIND … Capri (1)

1980-09-12 … 2001 / CLOSE ENCOUNTERS … Grand Lake (2)
1980-09-19 … SLEEPING BEAUTY / THE BLACK HOLE … Berkeley (1)
1980-10-31 … THE EXORCIST … Grand Lake (1) [late show]

1981-08-28 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK / ALIEN … Grand Lake (2)
1981-09-11 … CLOSE ENCOUNTERS / 2001 … Grand Lake (1)
1981-12-03 … NAPOLEON … Paramount (4 days) [70mm for triptych sequence?]

1982-03-05 … QUEST FOR FIRE … California (10)
1982-03-05 … QUEST FOR FIRE … Century 5 (9)
1982-06-04 … STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN … Cinedome East (6) [70mm from Week 2]
1982-06-11 … E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL … Grand Lake (36)
1982-06-18 … ANNIE … Century 5 (22)
1982-06-18 … ANNIE … Piedmont (5)
1982-10-06 … STAR TREK II / POLTERGEIST … Grand Lake (2)

1983-01-14 … GANDHI … Century 5 (20)
1983-01-14 … GANDHI … Piedmont (19)
1983-02-11 … LET’S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER … California (2) #
1983-05-25 … RETURN OF THE JEDI … Century 5 (28)
1983-05-25 … RETURN OF THE JEDI … Hayward 5 (40)
1983-05-25 … RETURN OF THE JEDI … Piedmont (18)
1983-09-07 … RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK … Grand Lake (1)
1983-09-30 … BRAINSTORM … California (3)
1983-09-30 … BRAINSTORM … Century 5 (7)
1983-09-30 … BRAINSTORM … Cinedome East (5)
1983-09-30 … BRAINSTORM … Festival (3)
1983-10-21 … THE RIGHT STUFF … California (10)
1983-10-21 … THE RIGHT STUFF … Grand Lake (12)

1984-02-17 … THE RIGHT STUFF … Grand Lake (3)
1984-05-23 … INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM … Berkeley (11)
1984-05-23 … INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM … Century 5 (19)
1984-05-23 … INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM … Cinedome East (21)
1984-05-23 … INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM … Festival (#1: 14)
1984-05-23 … INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM … Festival (#2: 5)
1984-06-01 … STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK … Cinedome West (#1: 8)
1984-06-01 … STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK … Cinedome West (#2: 4)
1984-06-01 … STREETS OF FIRE … Piedmont (2)
1984-06-08 … GHOSTBUSTERS … Century 5 (27)
1984-06-08 … GHOSTBUSTERS … Grand Lake (19)
1984-06-08 … GREMLINS … Grand Lake (15) [70mm from Week 7]
1984-09-19 … AMADEUS … Piedmont (12)
1984-09-21 … STAR TREK III / GREMLINS … Grand Lake (2)
1984-12-07 … 2010 … Century 5 (9)
1984-12-07 … 2010 … Cinedome East (7)
1984-12-07 … 2010 … Hayward 5 (9)
1984-12-14 … THE COTTON CLUB … California (9)
1984-12-14 … DUNE … Grand Lake (7)
1984-12-14 … STARMAN … Piedmont (5)

1985-01-11 … AMADEUS … Crow Canyon (21)
1985-02-01 … AMADEUS … Grand Lake (4)
1985-03-29 … RETURN OF THE JEDI … Grand Lake (5) [70mm from Week 4]
1985-06-21 … COCOON … Cinedome East (17)
1985-06-21 … COCOON … Crow Canyon (8)
1985-06-21 … COCOON … Grand Lake (13)
1985-06-21 … COCOON … Hayward 5 (15)
1985-06-21 … RETURN TO OZ … Piedmont (3)
1985-07-10 … SILVERADO … Grand Lake (11)
1985-07-19 … THE BLACK CAULDRON … Piedmont [sneak preview]
1985-07-24 … THE BLACK CAULDRON … Cinedome West (9)
1985-07-24 … THE BLACK CAULDRON … Piedmont (3)
1985-08-16 … THE EMERALD FOREST … Piedmont (6)
1985-11-22 … AMERIAN FLYERS … Piedmont (2)
1985-11-27 … ROCKY IV … Century 5 (9) [70mm from Week 5]
1985-12-04 … YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES … Berkeley (5)
1985-12-04 … YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES … Cinedome East (6)
1985-12-04 … YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES … Festival 6 (8)
1985-12-06 … AMERIAN FLYERS / THE EMERALD FOREST … Piedmont (2)
1985-12-20 … OUT OF AFRICA … Piedmont (13)

1986-05-10 … TOP GUN … Berkeley [sneak preview]
1986-05-16 … TOP GUN … Berkeley (10)
1986-05-16 … TOP GUN … Century 9 (27) [70mm from Week 13]
1986-05-16 … TOP GUN … Cinedome East (35)
1986-06-06 … SPACECAMP … Grand Lake (3)
1986-07-18 … ALIENS … Century 9 (14)
1986-07-18 … ALIENS … Cinedome West (18)
1986-07-18 … ALIENS … Crow Canyon (11)
1986-07-18 … ALIENS … Grand Lake (12)
1986-07-18 … ALIENS … Hayward 5 (11)
1986-11-26 … STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME … Cinedome East (18) [70mm from Week 4]

1987-06-03 … THE UNTOUCHABLES … Cinedome East (9)
1987-07-01 … INNERSPACE … Grand Lake (8)
1987-11-06 … CRY FREEDOM … Grand Lake (6)
1987-12-11 … EMPIRE OF THE SUN … Century 5 (9)
1987-12-11 … EMPIRE OF THE SUN … Piedmont (8)

1988-09-23 … GORILLAS IN THE MIST … Grand Lake (10)
1988-11-23 … COCOON: THE RETURN … Century 5 (7)

1989-05-12 … LAWRENCE OF ARABIA … Emery Bay (25)
1989-05-24 … INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE … Berkeley (9)
1989-05-24 … INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE … Century 5 (17)
1989-05-24 … INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE … Festival (13)
1989-05-24 … INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE … Piedmont (9)
1989-06-22 … BATMAN … California (17)
1989-06-22 … BATMAN … Grand Lake (14)
1989-07-07 … LETHAL WEAPON 2 … Century 5 (12)
1989-08-09 … THE ABYSS … Century 5 (8)
1989-08-09 … THE ABYSS … Grand Lake (8)
1989-10-06 … LAWRENCE OF ARABIA … Fremont Hub (2)
1989-10-20 … FIDDLER ON THE ROOF / THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT! … Fremont Hub (4 days)
1989-10-24 … WILLOW / INNERSPACE … Fremont Hub (3 days)
1989-10-27 … ALIEN / ALIENS … Fremont Hub (1)

1990-04-20 … LAWRENCE OF ARABIA … Orinda (1)
1990-05-02 … LAWRENCE OF ARABIA … Grand Lake (3)
1990-05-04 … ALIEN / ALIENS … Grand Lake (3 days)
1990-05-07 … BLADE RUNNER / BATMAN … Grand Lake (11 days)
1990-05-11 … 2001 / 2010 … Grand Lake (1)
1990-05-18 … BLADE RUNNER / 2001 … Grand Lake (1)
1990-06-15 … DICK TRACY … Fremont Hub (16)
1990-06-15 … DICK TRACY … Grand Lake (6)
1990-07-03 … DIE HARD 2 … Grand Lake (12)
1990-07-18 … ARACHNOPHOBIA … Grand Lake (4)
1990-10-05 … FANTASIA … Grand Lake (10)

1991-06-21 … THE ROCKETEER … Grand Lake (6)

1992-05-09 … FAR AND AWAY … Century 5 [sneak preview]
1992-05-16 … FAR AND AWAY … California [sneak preview]
1992-05-16 … FAR AND AWAY … Century 5 [sneak preview]
1992-05-16 … FAR AND AWAY … Cinedome West [sneak preview]
1992-05-16 … FAR AND AWAY … Crow Canyon [sneak preview]
1992-05-22 … FAR AND AWAY … California (8)
1992-05-22 … FAR AND AWAY … Century 5 (8)
1992-05-22 … FAR AND AWAY … Cinedome West (11)
1992-05-22 … FAR AND AWAY … Crow Canyon (8)
1992-05-22 … FAR AND AWAY … Grand Lake (8)

1993-11-05 … THE REMAINS OF THE DAY … California (17)
1993-11-05 … THE REMAINS OF THE DAY … Grand Lake (9)

1998-06-19 … TITANIC … Grand Lake (1)

2012-09-21 … THE MASTER …Grand Lake (6)

2014-11-04 … INTERSTELLAR … Grand Lake (6)

2015-12-25 … THE HATEFUL EIGHT … Century 16 (6)
2015-12-25 … THE HATEFUL EIGHT … Century 25 (6)
2015-12-25 … THE HATEFUL EIGHT … Grand Lake (7)

2016-03-25 … BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE … Grand Lake (3)
2016-11-18 … FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM … Grand Lake (1+)

2017-03-10 … KONG: SKULL ISLAND … Grand Lake (6)
2017-06-02 … WONDER WOMAN … Grand Lake (6)
2017-07-20 … DUNKIRK …Grand Lake (1+)
2017-07-20 … DUNKIRK …Century 25 (1+)
2017-11-17 … JUSTICE LEAGUE … Grand Lake (1+)

2018-03-29 … READY PLAYER ONE …Grand Lake (1+)
2018-08-17 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY …Grand Lake (1+)

2019-10-04 … JOKER …Grand Lake (1+)

2023-07-21 … OPPENHEIMER …Grand Lake (1+)

Note that some of the titles included in this chronology may have been presented in 35mm (or, recently, DCP) during the latter week(s) of their engagement due to contractual terms or print damage (and the distributor’s 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 whereas a booking began with a 35mm print because the lab was unable to complete the 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 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 the Contra Costa Times, Oakland Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle and San Francisco Examiner, plus projection and sound system trade advertisements and installation records.

Special thanks: Bill Counter, Morgan Montague and “stevenj”

If you believe this article contains any errors or omissions, please consider emailing the author or editor.