“Almost like a real web site”
 

IN7OMM.COM
Search | Contact
News | e-News |
Rumour Mill | Stories
Foreign Language
in70mm.com auf Deutsch

WHAT'S ON IN 7OMM?

7OMM FESTIVAL
Todd-AO Festival
KRRR! 7OMM Seminar
GIFF 70, Gentofte
Oslo 7OMM Festival
Widescreen Weekend

TODD-AO
Premiere | Films
People | Equipment
Library | Cinemas
Todd-AO Projector
Distortion Correcting
 

VISION, SCOPE & RAMA
1926 Natural Vision
1929 Grandeur
1930 Magnifilm
1930 Realife
1930 Vitascope
1952 Cinerama
1953 CinemaScope
1955 Todd-AO
1955 Circle Vision 360
1956 CinemaScope 55
1957 Ultra Panavision 70
1958 Cinemiracle
1958 Kinopanorama
1959 Super Panavision 70
1959 Super Technirama 70
1960 Smell-O-Vision
1961 Sovscope 70
1962
Cinerama 360
1962 MCS-70
1963 70mm Blow Up
1963 Circarama
1963 Circlorama
1966 Dimension 150
1966
Stereo-70
1967 DEFA 70
1967 Pik-A-Movie
1970 IMAX / Omnimax
1974 Cinema 180
1974 SENSURROUND
1976 Dolby Stereo
1984 Showscan
1984 Swissorama
1986 iWERKS
1989 ARRI 765
1990 CDS
1994 DTS / Datasat
2001 Super Dimension 70
2018 Magellan 65

Various Large format | 70mm to 3-strip | 3-strip to 70mm | Specialty Large Format | Special Effects in 65mm | ARC-120 | Early Large Format
7OMM Premiere in Chronological Order

7OMM FILM & CINEMA

Australia | Brazil
Canada | Denmark
England | France
Germany | Iran
Mexico | Norway
Sweden | Turkey
USA

LIBRARY
7OMM Projectors
People | Eulogy
65mm/70mm Workshop
The 7OMM Newsletter
Back issue | PDF
Academy of the WSW

7OMM NEWS
• 2026 | 2025 | 2024
2023 | 2022 | 2021
2020 | 2019 | 2018
2017 | 2016 | 2015
2014 | 2013 | 2012
2011 | 2010 | 2009
2008 | 2007 | 2006
2005 | 2004 | 2003
2002 | 2001 | 2000
1999 | 1998 | 1997
1996 | 1995 | 1994
 

in70mm.com Mission:
• To record the history of the large format movies and the 70mm cinemas as remembered by the people who worked with the films. Both during making and during running the films in projection rooms and as the audience, looking at the curved screen.
in70mm.com, a unique internet based magazine, with articles about 70mm cinemas, 70mm people, 70mm films, 70mm sound, 70mm film credits, 70mm history and 70mm technology. Readers and fans of 70mm are always welcome to contribute.

Disclaimer | Updates
Support us
Testimonials
Table of Content
 

 
 
Extracts and longer parts of in70mm.com may be reprinted with the written permission from the editor.
Copyright © 1800 - 2070. All rights reserved.

Visit biografmuseet.dk about Danish cinemas

 

“Around the World in Eighty Days”: The North American Roadshow and 70mm Engagements
“You’re in the show with Todd-AO!”

Read more at
in70mm.com
The 70mm Newsletter
Compiled by: Michael CoateDate: 10.03.2023
The following is a reference / historical listing of the roadshow presentations of “Around the World in Eighty Days” in the United States and Canada. These were the first and best cinemas in which to experience this motion picture.

The presentations cited in the main section of this work were “hard ticket” roadshow engagements (i.e. special, long-running, showcase presentations in major cities prior to the film being exhibited as a general release). Much like a stage production, these typically featured an average of only ten scheduled screenings per week, advanced admission pricing, reserved seating, and an overture/intermission/entr’acte/exit music. Souvenir program booklet were sold, as well, and, in some locales, the film’s soundtrack album.

• Go to Mike Todd's "Around the World in 80 Days" in Todd-AO
• Go to "Around the World in 80 Days" 70mm & Cinestage Seasons (2000 version)
• Go to gallery "Around the World in 80 Days" adverts
• Go to in70mm.com's Todd-AO Page

The print type utilized during the film’s initial months of roadshow release was 70-millimeter (at 30 frames per second) with discrete magnetic six-channel stereophonic sound.

Seven months into release the producer and distributor modified the film’s exhibition policy to include 35mm (reduction print) presentation along with the same reserved-seat policy. There were a variety of different 35mm print and audio types available during this phase of the film’s release: Various combinations of 35mm 2x anamorphic, 35mm 1.567x anamorphic (i.e. Cinestage), interlocked 6-track, 4-track magnetic audio, 4-track magnetic/optical mono combination, optical monaural audio, surround track encoded with Perspecta. And even a 34mm print for Astoria (London) bookings because of special British regulations. Any 35mm presentations have not been cited in this work. (Note: “Around the World in Eighty Days” was filmed twice, once in 65mm at 30fps and again/simultaneously in 65mm at 24fps. The 35mm reduction prints were sourced from the 24fps negative.)

The Mike Todd production and United Artists release was directed by Michael Anderson (“Operation Crossbow,” “Logan’s Run”) and starred David Niven, Cantinflas, Robert Newton and Shirley MacLaine, plus dozens of celebrity cameos.

Out of the hundreds of first-run films released in North America during 1956, “Around the World in Eighty Days” was among only four given deluxe roadshow treatment and the lone new title issued with 70mm prints.

PART 1: THE ORIGINAL 70MM ROADSHOW ENGAGEMENTS

70mm prints @30 fps and reserved seat policy.
 
More in 70mm reading:

Mike Todd's "Around the World in 80 Days" in Todd-AO

"Around the World in 80 Days" 70mm & Cinestage Seasons

Brian O'Brien, Jr. tracks American Optical Co's development of the Todd-AO process

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

 
Premiere/opening date YYYY-MM-DD … locale — cinema (duration in weeks) [notes]

1956-10-17 … New York, NY — Rivoli (103)
1956-12-19 … Houston, TX — Tower (40)
1956-12-20 … Dallas, TX — Tower (46)
1956-12-21 … Baltimore, MD — Film Centre (54)
1956-12-21 … Miami (Miami Beach), FL — Sheridan (66)
1956-12-22 … Los Angeles, CA — Carthay Circle (127)
1956-12-26 … San Francisco, CA — Coronet (95)
1956-12-27 … Detroit, MI — United Artists (67)
1956-12-27 … Philadelphia, PA — Midtown (53)

1957-01-10 … San Antonio, TX — Broadway (34)
1957-01-23 … New Orleans, LA — Panorama (28)
1957-03-01 … Montreal, QC — Alouette (44)
1957-04-04 … Chicago, IL — Cinestage (90)
1957-04-05 … Buffalo, NY — Century (22)
1957-04-08 … Washington, DC — Uptown (51)
1957-04-11 … Pittsburgh, PA — Nixon (38)
1957-04-17 … Oklahoma City, OK — State (17)
1957-04-17 … Portland, OR — Broadway (36)
1957-04-17 … Seattle, WA — Blue Mouse (50)
1957-04-17 … Tulsa, OK — Rialto (17)
1957-04-20 … Boston, MA — Saxon (50)
1957-05-15 … Corpus Christi, TX — Tower (9)
1957-05-15 … Denver, CO — Tabor (36)
1957-05-15 … Little Rock, AR — Capitol (9)
1957-05-28 … Louisville, KY — Brown (18)
1957-05-29 … Atlantic City, NJ — Virginia (1+)
1957-05-29 … Kansas City, MO — Tower (27)
1957-05-29 … Syracuse (DeWitt), NY — Shoppingtown (35)
1957-06-12 … Milwaukee, WI — Strand (49)
1957-06-13 … Cincinnati, OH — Valley (35)
1957-06-14 … Cleveland, OH — Ohio (42)
1957-06-26 … Atlanta, GA — Roxy (30)
1957-07-12 … Minneapolis, MN — Academy (49)
1957-07-24 … Rochester, NY — Monroe (30)
1957-07-30 … Hartford, CT — Strand (15)
1957-08-01 … San Diego, CA — Capri (45)
1957-08-07 … Toronto, ON — Tivoli (48)
1957-08-08 … Fort Wayne, IN — Clyde (1+)
1957-08-08 … Indianapolis, IN — Lyric (26)
1957-08-14 … Jacksonville, FL — 5 Points (12)
1957-08-22 … Beaumont, TX — Liberty (4)
1957-09-12 … Columbus, OH — Cinestage (37)
1957-10-03 … Buffalo, NY — Granada (20)
1957-10-10 … Providence, RI — Elmwood (29)
1957-10-16 … Youngstown, OH — State (12)
1957-10-17 … New York, NY — Madison Square Garden [1-year anniversary event]
1957-10-17 … Shreveport, LA — Saenger (12)
1957-12-29 … Louisville, KY — Brown (4 [22]) [resume following “Raintree County”]

1958-01-03 … Montreal, QC — Alouette (11) [Version Francaise]
1958-04-05 … Dayton, OH — McCook (17)
1958-07-16 … Long Island (Syosset), NY — Syosset (15)
1958-07-17 … Calgary, AB — Capitol (3)
 
 

PART 2: SUBSEQUENT 70MM ENGAGEMENTS & SCREENINGS

 
General-release/continuous performances/unreserved seating/popular prices (except reserved-seat engagements marked with an asterisk). 70mm @ 30fps or 70mm @ 24fps depending on booking.

1959-02-26 … St. Louis, MO — Pageant (7)
1959-05-22 … Columbus, OH — Cinestage* (7)
1959-05-24 … Norfolk, VA — Memrose (3)
1959-05-29 … Dayton, OH — McCook* (6)
1959-06-04 … Seattle, WA — Blue Mouse (?)
1959-06-12 … Honolulu, HI — Kuhio (3)
1959-07-18 … Lexington, KY — Strand (1)
1959-08-19 … Cincinnati, OH — Twin Drive-In [canceled?]
1959-10-09 … Montreal, QC — Alouette* (4)

1960-01-27 … New York, NY — Warner* (3)
1960-02-19 … Toronto, ON — Tivoli* (5)
1960-03-04 … Rochester, NY — Riviera (2)
1960-03-25 … Oklahoma City, OK — Cooper (5)
1960-04-21 … Cincinnati, OH — Valley (2)
1960-04-22 … Rochester, NY — Monroe (2)
1960-04-27 … Richmond, VA — Willow Lawn (2)
1960-05-01 … Detroit, MI — Mercury (2)
1960-05-05 … Nashville, TN — Crescent (2)
1960-05-12 … Syracuse, NY — Eckel (2)
1960-07-21 … Pontiac, MI — Miracle Mile Drive-In (1)

1968-03-01 … New Orleans, LA — Cinerama* (3)
1968-03-13 … Portland, OR — Hollywood (6)
1968-03-15 … Los Angeles, CA — Egyptian* (7)
1968-04-10 … Scottsdale, AZ — Kachina* (7)
1968-05-01 … Louisville, KY — Showcase 1 (6)
1968-05-22 … Trotwood, OH — Salem Mall* Twin (3)
1968-05-29 … Wichita, KS — Uptown (3)
1968-06-07 … Huntsville, AL — Madison (1)
1968-06-19 … South Salt Lake, UT — Century 21* (1)
1968-07-17 … Houston, TX — Gaylynn* (6)
1968-07-24 … Chicago, IL — Michael Todd* (15)
1968-07-25 … Columbus, OH — Cinestage* (12)
1968-08-02 … Des Moines, IA — Capri (2)
1968-09-18 … Phoenix, AZ — Bethany (1)
1968-10-11 … Dayton, OH — McCook* (8)
1968-10-23 … Kansas City, MO — Royal (1)

1969-09-26 … Overland Park, KS — Glenwood 1 (4)

1970-12-23 … Wichita, KS — Uptown (3)

1971-09-15 … Beverly Hills, CA — Fox Wilshire (4) [w/ “West Side Story”]
1971-09-17 … Seattle, WA — Cinema 150 (2) [w/ “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World”]
1971-09-29 … Las Vegas, NV — Cinerama (1) [w/ “West Side Story”]
1971-10-06 … Washington, DC — Uptown (5) [w/ “West Side Story”]
1971-10-20 … Louisville, KY — Showcase 4 (1) [w/ “West Side Story”]
1971-10-20 … Wichita, KS — Uptown (1)
1971-10-27 … Clarksville, IN — Trans-Lux (1) [w/ “West Side Story”]
1971-10-27 … Southfield, MI — Americana (3) [w/ “West Side Story”]

1974-12-04 … Beverly Hills, CA — Fox Wilshire (1) [w/ “West Side Story”]

1978-09-25 … Atlanta, GA — Fox [1st annual summer film festival]

1979-01-09 … Toronto, ON — Cinesphere (6 days) [70mm festival]
 
 

PART 3: SUBSEQUENT 70MM ENGAGEMENTS & SCREENINGS

 
70mm @ 24fps. General-release/continuous performances/popular prices. Distribution taken over by Warner Bros.

1983-04-01 … Toronto, ON — University (3)
1983-04-22 … Toronto, ON — Hollywood Twin (3)
1983-04-29 … Seattle, WA — Cinerama (4)
1983-05-01 … Los Angeles, CA — Four Star [FILMEX]
1983-05-13 … Toronto, ON — University (1)
1983-05-27 … Vancouver, BC — Stanley (3)
1983-06-03 … Chicago, IL — McClurg Court (3)
1983-06-03 … Ottawa, ON — Nelson (1)
1983-08-26 … Portland, OR — Music Box (2)
1983-09-23 … Cleveland, OH — Colony (1)
1983-09-23 … San Francisco, CA — Regency I (1)
1983-09-30 … San Francisco, CA — Metro (2)
1983-10-07 … Tucson AZ — El Dorado Twin (1)
1983-10-14 … Fox Point, WI — Brown Port (1)
1983-10-26 … Toronto, ON — Ontario Science Centre
1983-11-25 … Calgary, AB — North Hill [canceled]

1984-02-03 … San Diego, CA — Cinerama (2)
1984-05-11 … Towson, MD — Hillendale Twin (1)
1984-06-11 … Atlanta, GA — Fox [7th annual summer film festival]
1984-10-12 … Whitehall, OH — Cinema East (1)

1986-05-30 … Redford, MI — Redford (2 days)

1991-01-18 … Creve Coeur, MO — Creve Coeur Triplex (1) [70mm festival]
1991-06-07 … Dayton, OH — Dabel (2)
1991-09-06 … Redford, MI — Redford (2 days)
1991-11-15 … Austin, TX — Arbor 7 (1) [THX]

1992-07-31 … Los Angeles, CA — LACMA Leo S. Bing [70mm festival]

1994-09-09 … Dayton, OH — New Neon Movies (4 days)

2006-05-05 … Los Angeles, CA — Egyptian [30fps; 70mm festival]

2014-08-31 … Silver Spring, MD — AFI Silver [30fps; 70mm festival]

The information included in this article was principally referenced from film industry trade publications and regional newspaper promotion, with thanks to Bill Kallay, Bill Kretzel, Stephen Leigh and Mark Lensenmayer, and an extra special thank-you to all of the librarians who helped with this project.

International 70mm engagements of this title have not been accounted for in this article.

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

• Go to
“Around the World in Eighty Days”: The North American Roadshow and 70mm Engagements
 
Go: back - top - back issues - news index
Updated 19-03-24