70mm Presentations in Tidewater, USA | Read more at in70mm.com The 70mm Newsletter |
| Compiled by: Michael Coate | Date: 10.10.2022 |
 What follows is a chronology of 70-millimeter six-track stereophonic sound feature-film presentations in the Tidewater/Hampton Roads region of Virginia, USA.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 (but consideration will be given to adding them in a revision). The focus 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, 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 CHESAPEAKE Funscape (Showscan 70mm@60fps) HAMPTON Riverside IMAX at the Virginia Air & Space Center (IMAX 15/70) NEWPORT NEWS Newmarket NORFOLK Colley / Naro Main Gate Memrose Naro / Naro Expanded Cinema (see: Colley) Riverview Rosele Rosna PORTSMOUTH Commodore Plaza VIRGINIA BEACH Lynnhaven (AMC) Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center (IMAX 15/70) WILLIAMSBURG Busch Gardens (IMAX 15/70) Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center (8-perf VVLA and, later, 70mm) 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) 1959-05-24 AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS Memrose (3) 1959-06-12 SLEEPING BEAUTY Memrose (7) 1959-07-31 SOUTH PACIFIC Memrose (10) 1959-11-11 THE BIG FISHERMAN Memrose (5) 1960-04-27 OKLAHOMA! Memrose (7) 1960-06-30 CAN-CAN* Rosna (11) 1961-06-21 SPARTACUS Memrose (10) 1962-05-23 OKLAHOMA! Memrose (3) 1962-06-27 EL CID Riverview (10) 1962-12-12 KING OF KINGS Memrose (1) 1963-05-29 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA* Riverview (12) 1963-09-18 LAFAYETTE Memrose (1) 1963-12-25 CLEOPATRA* Riverview (24) 1964-04-08 SOUTH PACIFIC Memrose (3) 1964-07-08 CIRCUS WORLD* Rosna (8) 1964-07-15 ITS A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD Riverview (10) 1964-09-23 BECKET Riverview (8) 1965-04-07 THE SOUND OF MUSIC* Riverview (115) 1965-07-14 THE HALLELUJAH TRAIL* Rosna (10) 1965-10-13 MY FAIR LADY* Rosna (16) 1966-02-02 THOSE MAGNIFICENT MEN IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES* Memrose (7) 1966-04-28 THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY* Rosna (9) 1966-06-29 DOCTOR ZHIVAGO* Rosna (46) 1967-05-17 GRAND PRIX* Rosna (15) 1967-06-21 THE SAND PEBBLES* Riverview (23) 1967-11-15 GONE WITH THE WIND* Rosna (31) 1967-12-20 FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD* Riverview (15) 1968-03-06 FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD Newmarket (4) 1968-04-04 GONE WITH THE WIND* Newmarket (15) 1968-06-19 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY* Rosna (26) 1968-06-26 DOCTOR DOLITTLE* Riverview (14) 1968-12-19 STAR!* Riverview (9) 1969-05-28 ICE STATION ZEBRA* Rosna (10) 1969-10-31 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY Newmarket (1) 1969-11-20 SWEET CHARITY Newmarket (2) 1970-01-07 SOUTH PACIFIC Newmarket (2) 1970-04-25 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY Memrose (5) 1970-09-23 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY Riverview (1) 1971-04-15 MY FAIR LADY Riverview (8) 1971-07-28 SONG OF NORWAY Plaza (2) 1971-09-08 ITS A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD Plaza (1) 1971-09-29 MY FAIR LADY Plaza (1) 1971-12-08 EL CID Plaza (1) 1972-01-12 DOCTOR ZHIVAGO Plaza (2) 1972-01-26 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY Plaza (2) 1972-02-09 GONE WITH THE WIND Plaza (2) 1972-02-23 RYANS DAUGHTER Plaza (2) 1972-12-20 THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD Plaza (1) 1973-01-03 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY Plaza (1) 1973-01-10 GONE WITH THE WIND Plaza (1) 1973-01-17 RYANS DAUGHTER Plaza (1) 1973-01-24 DOCTOR ZHIVAGO Plaza (1) 1973-06-27 THE SOUND OF MUSIC Plaza (4) 1975-02-26 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY Plaza (2) 1977-02-18 A STAR IS BORN Plaza (5) 1978-04-28 CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND Plaza (4) 1978-09-15 SGT. PEPPERS LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND Plaza (3) 1980-07-03 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY Naro (3 days) 1980-11-21 DERSU UZALA Naro (2 days) 1980-11-21 THE ROSE Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1981-08-28 WOLFEN Plaza (1) 1981-09-04 THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Naro (1) 1981-11-05 ALTERED STATES / WOLFEN Naro (3 days) 1981-11-25 SUPERMAN II Naro (4 days) 1982-01-10 DOCTOR ZHIVAGO Naro 1982-01-11 APOCALYPSE NOW Naro 1982-01-25 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY Naro 1982-07-06 DAYS OF HEAVEN / APOCALYPSE NOW Naro (2 days) 1982-09-03 RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK Naro (1) 1982-09-16 THE SAND PEBBLES Naro 1982-09-17 STAR WARS Naro (1) 1982-10-08 THE THING Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1982-10-15 TRON Naro (3 days) 1982-10-29 STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN Naro (3 days) 1982-11-05 POLTERGEIST Naro (2 days) 1982-11-24 ROCKY III / FAME Naro (2 days) 1982-11-26 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro (2 days) 1982-11-28 ANNIE Naro (2 days) 1982-12-22 THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Naro (1) 1983-02-04 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1983-02-27 NAPOLEON Naro (3 days) 1983-03-06 DAYS OF HEAVEN Naro (2 days) 1983-03-10 PATTON Naro 1983-03-11 STAR TREK II / TRON Naro (3 days) 1983-04-05 DERSU UZALA Naro (2 days) 1983-04-08 THE EXORCIST / ALTERED STATES Naro (2 days) 1983-04-10 FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Naro (2 days) 1983-05-06 LETS SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1983-06-03 RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK / POLTERGEIST Naro (3 days) 1983-06-24 GANDHI Naro (4 days) 1983-07-03 OKLAHOMA! Naro (2 days) 1983-07-18 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY Naro (2 days) 1983-07-31 NAPOLEON Naro 1983-08-05 APOCALYPSE NOW Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1983-08-07 FAME / HAIR Naro (2 days) 1983-09-02 RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK / STAR TREK II Naro (2 days) 1983-09-11 GANDHI Naro (2 days) 1983-10-07 WARGAMES / THE EXORCIST Naro (2 days) 1983-10-09 OCTOPUSSY Naro 1983-11-04 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1983-12-16 BRAINSTORM Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1983-12-22 RETURN OF THE JEDI Naro (1) 1984-01-13 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1984-03-09 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1984-03-16 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1984-04-06 BLADE RUNNER Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1984-05-11 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1984-05-18 THE RIGHT STUFF Naro (2 days) 1984-05-18 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1984-05-25 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1984-07-06 GREYSTOKE: THE LEGEND OF TARZAN Naro (2 days) 1984-08-31 STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK Naro (4 days) 1984-09-07 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1984-09-14 STREETS OF FIRE Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1984-11-02 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1984-11-09 INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM Naro (2 days) 1984-11-11 GREMLINS Naro (2 days) 1984-12-21 GHOSTBUSTERS Naro (1) 1985-02-01 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1985-03-06 2010 Naro (2 days) 1985-03-22 THE EXORCIST Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1985-03-27 THE COTTON CLUB Naro (2 days) [70mm?] 1985-04-03 STARMAN / THE LAST STARFIGHTER Naro (2 days) 1985-04-12 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1985-05-12 STAR TREK:TMP / STAR TREK II / STAR TREK III Naro [70mm?] 1985-05-24 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1985-05-26 RETURN OF THE JEDI Naro (2 days) 1985-07-16 DAYS OF HEAVEN Naro 1985-07-17 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY Naro 1985-07-24 2010 / DUNE Naro 1985-07-30 FAME / HAIR Naro 1985-08-12 BLADE RUNNER / THE ROAD WARRIOR Naro [70mm?] 1985-08-16 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1985-09-11 THE EMERALD FOREST Naro (2 days) [70mm?] 1985-09-27 AMADEUS Naro (4 days) [70mm?] 1985-10-12 THE BLACK CAULDRON Naro [Sat-Sun matinee] 1985-10-17 SILVERADO Naro (3 days) 1985-10-18 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1985-11-01 COCOON Naro (3 days) 1985-11-01 THE EXORCIST Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1985-11-14 RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD PART II / GHOSTBUSTERS Naro [70mm?] 1985-11-29 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1985-12-20 E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL Naro (1) 1986-01-06 SILVERADO Naro 1986-01-10 BRING ON THE NIGHT Naro (2 days) 1986-01-12 AMADEUS Naro (2 days) [70mm?] 1986-03-07 WHITE NIGHTS Naro (2 days) 1986-03-10 THE RIGHT STUFF Naro 1986-03-21 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1986-03-25 A CHORUS LINE Naro [70mm?] 1986-03-26 YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES Naro [70mm?] 1986-03-28 APOCALYPSE NOW Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1986-05-12 AMADEUS Naro [70mm?] 1986-05-30 OUT OF AFRICA Naro (3 days) 1986-05-30 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1986-07-18 ALIENS Lynnhaven (14) 1986-08-13 OUT OF AFRICA Naro 1986-08-22 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1986-08-25 YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES Naro [70mm?] 1986-09-23 RAIDERS / TEMPLE OF DOOM Naro [70mm?] 1986-10-24 TOP GUN Naro (2 days) 1986-10-24 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1986-11-28 ALIENS Naro 1986-12-12 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1987-01-26 OUT OF AFRICA Naro 1987-02-01 TOP GUN Naro (2 days) 1987-02-06 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1987-03-20 STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME Naro (2 days) 1987-03-20 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1987-04-15 TOP GUN Naro 1987-05-08 THE MISSION Naro (3 days) 1987-05-08 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1987-05-19 THE COLOR OF MONEY Naro (2 days) [70mm?] 1987-07-01 LETHAL WEAPON / BLADE RUNNER Naro (2 days) [70mm?] 1987-07-16 THE MISSION Naro 1987-08-07 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1987-08-18 TOP GUN Naro [70mm?] 1987-08-25 AMADEUS Naro [70mm?] 1987-09-04 STAR WARS / EMPIRE / JEDI Naro (3 days) [triple feature] 1987-09-10 PREDATOR Naro [70mm?] 1987-09-11 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1988-02-12 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1988-03-14 EMPIRE OF THE SUN Naro [70mm?] 1988-03-18 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1988-04-25 THREE MEN AND A BABY Naro [70mm?] 1988-06-17 THE LAST EMPEROR Naro (3 days) 1988-06-17 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1988-06-22 GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM Naro (2 days) [70mm?] 1988-07-29 THE LAST EMPEROR Naro (4 days) 1988-08-12 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1988-11-04 THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST Naro (2) 1988-12-16 DIE HARD Naro (2 days) 1988-12-30 GORILLAS IN THE MIST / THE BIG BLUE Naro (4 days) [70mm?] 1988-12-31 WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT Naro [Sat-Sun matinee] (70mm?) 1989-01-20 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1989-03-17 GORILLAS IN THE MIST Naro (3 days) [70mm?] 1989-04-12 THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST Naro (2 days) 1989-07-07 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA Naro (2) 1989-07-21 Star Trek Film Fest Naro [70mm?] 1989-08-15 BEACHES Naro (2 days) [70mm?] 1989-09-01 INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE Naro (3 days) 1989-09-15 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA Naro (2) 1989-09-22 PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 1989-11-01 BATMAN / LETHAL WEAPON 2 Naro (3 days) 1989-11-13 IN COUNTRY / CASUALTIES OF WAR Naro (2 days) [70mm?] 1990-05-25 MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON Naro (1) 1990-07-25 THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER Naro (2 days) 1990-11-10 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA Naro [Sat-Sun-Mon matinee] 1991-??-?? SPARTACUS Naro (?) 1992-05-16 FAR AND AWAY Main Gate [sneak preview] 1992-05-22 FAR AND AWAY Main Gate (1+) 1994-??-?? MY FAIR LADY Naro (?) 1999-??-?? PINK FLOYD: THE WALL Naro [Fri-Sat late show] 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 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 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 The Virginian-Pilot newspaper, plus projection and sound system trade advertisements and installation records. Special thanks to Jim Cobb, Library of Virginia, Norfolk Public Library, Virginia Beach Public Library, and Thom Vourlas (Naro Expanded Cinema). If you believe this article contains any errors or omissions, please consider emailing the author or editor. | More in 70mm reading: 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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