“Cleopatra”: The North American Roadshow
Engagements |
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| Compiled by: Michael Coate | Date: 07.02.2022 |
 The following is a reference / historical listing of the roadshow presentations
of “Cleopatra” in the United States and Canada.The presentations cited in this work were “hard ticket” roadshow engagements and were special, long-running, showcase presentations in major cities prior to the film being exhibited as a general release. Much like a stage production, these featured advanced admission pricing, reserved seating, a curtained screen, an overture/intermission/entr’acte/exit music, and an average of only ten scheduled screenings per week. Souvenir program booklet were sold, as well. Out of the hundreds of films released in North America during 1963, “Cleopatra” was among only four given deluxe roadshow treatment and among only five released with 70mm prints. The 20th Century-Fox release was directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and starred Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and Rex Harrison. The world premiere of “Cleopatra” was held June 12th at the Rivoli in New York and a staggered rollout followed. Prints utilized during the film’s roadshow release were 70mm with discrete six-channel magnetic stereophonic sound. 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 duration figure. Note that during the release the distributor elected to reduce the film’s running time. The later in the release cycle one saw the film the greater the chance a shorter version was exhibited. (The film was reduced in running time even further for its 35mm general release.) Opening date … Locale — Cinema (duration in weeks) [notes] 1963-06-12 … New York, NY — Rivoli (64) 1963-06-19 … Los Angeles, CA — Pantages (72) 1963-06-26 … Atlanta, GA — Roxy (30) 1963-06-26 … Baltimore, MD — Hippodrome (35) 1963-06-26 … Boston, MA — Music Hall (20) 1963-06-26 … Buffalo, NY — Center (26) 1963-06-26 … Calgary, AB — Capitol (14) 1963-06-26 … Charlotte, NC — Dilworth (28) 1963-06-26 … Chicago, IL — State Lake (32) 1963-06-26 … Cincinnati, OH — Grand (42) 1963-06-26 … Cleveland, OH — Ohio (26) 1963-06-26 … Dallas, TX — Tower (26) 1963-06-26 … Denver, CO — Denham (39) 1963-06-26 … Des Moines, IA — Ingersoll (28) 1963-06-26 … Detroit, MI — United Artists (52) 1963-06-26 … Edmonton, AB — Paramount (14) 1963-06-26 … Fort Worth, TX — Palace (17) 1963-06-26 … Houston, TX — Tower (25) 1963-06-26 … Indianapolis, IN — Lyric (31) 1963-06-26 … Louisville, KY — Penthouse (23) 1963-06-26 … Memphis, TN — Crosstown (29) 1963-06-26 … Miami (Miami Beach), FL — Lincoln (74) 1963-06-26 … Minneapolis, MN — Century (48) 1963-06-26 … Montreal, QC — Alouette (35) 1963-06-26 … Omaha, NE — Astro (26) 1963-06-26 … Philadelphia, PA — Stanley (41) 1963-06-26 … Phoenix, AZ — Paramount (33) 1963-06-26 … Pittsburgh, PA — Penn (26) 1963-06-26 … Portland, OR — Paramount (37) 1963-06-26 … Richmond, VA — Willow Lawn (29) 1963-06-26 … St. Louis, MO — Ambassador (24) 1963-06-26 … Salt Lake City, UT — Centre (26) 1963-06-26 … San Antonio, TX — Broadway (19) 1963-06-26 … San Diego, CA — Capri (42) 1963-06-26 … San Francisco, CA — Alexandria (56) 1963-06-26 … Toronto, ON — University (39) 1963-06-26 … Vancouver, BC — Stanley (42) 1963-06-26 … Washington, DC — Warner (40) 1963-06-26 … Winnipeg, MB — Metropolitan (18) 1963-07-02 … Milwaukee, WI — Strand (48) 1963-07-03 … Beaumont, TX — Liberty (10) 1963-08-02 … Providence, RI — Elmwood (27) 1963-08-07 … Honolulu, HI — Kuhio (19) [seats unreserved] 1963-08-07 … Rochester, NY — Riviera (27) 1963-08-07 … Syracuse (DeWitt), NY — Shoppingtown (20) 1963-10-03 … Ottawa, ON — Nelson (15) 1963-10-10 … Albuquerque, NM — Sunshine (15) 1963-10-24 … Nashville, TN — Crescent (20) 1963-11-13 … Kansas City, MO — Capri (23) 1963-11-13 … Oklahoma City, OK — Tower (26) 1963-11-15 … Boston, MA — Gary m/o (12 [32]) 1963-12-25 … Jacksonville, FL — Cedar Hills (13) 1963-12-25 … New Haven, CT — Whalley (19) 1963-12-25 … Norfolk, VA — Riverview (12+) 1963-12-25 … Toledo, OH — Princess 70 (17) 1964-01-22 … Akron (Cuyahoga Falls), OH — Falls (9) 1964-01-24 … Youngstown, OH — State (16) 1964-05-27 … Long Island (Hicksville), NY — Mid-Island Plaza Twin North (16) 1964-06-19 … Newark (Upper Montclair), NJ — Bellevue (10) The reserved performance (i.e. modified roadshow) and general release, mostly in 35mm, commenced in staggered rollout form throughout 1964-65. SUBSEQUENT 70MM SCREENINGS (non-reserved seating / general release policy) 1964-05-08 … Albany, NY — Hellman (9) [70mm?] 1965-06-02 … Philadelphia, PA — Cheltenham (1) 1965-11-24 … Anaheim, CA — Brookhurst (1) 1969-07-09 … Hamilton, ON — Centre Twin West (1) [70mm series] 1969-07-23 … Philadelphia, PA — Randolph (1) 1969-09-03 … Fort Worth, TX — Opera House (2) 1969-09-10 … Columbia Heights, MN — Chief (1) 1969-09-17 … Houston, TX — Gaylynn (2) 1970-11-13 … Fort Worth, TX — Opera House (2) 1971-05-28 … Los Angeles, CA — Egyptian (6) 1971-06-11 … Des Moines, IA — Capri (1) 1971-07-14 … Honolulu, HI — Kuhio (1) 1971-07-30 … New York, NY — Ziegfeld (2) 1971-08-13 … Toronto, ON — Glendale (1) [Showcase series] 1971-10-01 … Charlotte, NC — Carolina (1) [70mm series] 1971-11-10 … Wichita, KS — Uptown (1) [70mm series] 1972-01-21 … Toronto, ON — Cinesphere (1) [70mm series] 1974-10-10 … Toronto, ON — Ontario Science Centre 1976-01-21 … Wichita, KS — Uptown (1) [70mm series] 1977-09-28 … Kansas City, MO — Midland (1) [70mm series] 1979-01-16 … Toronto, ON — Cinesphere (6 days) [70mm series] SCREENINGS OF RESTORED 70MM PRINT (DTS audio) 2006-05-15 … Beverly Hills, CA — Samuel Goldwyn 2006-06-24 … Santa Monica, CA — Aero [70mm festival] 2006-08-12 … San Francisco, CA — Castro [70mm festival] (postponed) 2006-08-21 … San Francisco, CA — Castro [70mm festival] 2006-12-02 … Los Angeles, CA — Egyptian [70mm festival] 2007-09-01 … Austin, TX — Paramount [summer classics series] 2007-09-02 … Austin, TX — Paramount [summer classics series] 2008-03-29 … Los Angeles, CA — Hammer Museum/Billy Wilder [L.B. Abbott series] 2009-08-01 … San Jose, CA — California 2010-04-25 … Los Angeles, CA — Egyptian [TCM festival] 2011-05-07 … Los Angeles, CA — Egyptian [Elizabeth Taylor festival] 2011-10-05 … Seattle, WA — Cinerama [70mm festival] 2011-10-08 … Seattle, WA — Cinerama [70mm festival] 2011-10-14 … Seattle, WA — Cinerama [70mm festival] 2016-03-05 … Chicago, IL — Music Box [70mm festival] 2016-03-09 … Chicago, IL — Music Box [70mm festival] 2017-09-28 … Somerville, MA — Somerville [70mm festival] 2018-02-25 … Portland, OR — Hollywood 2018-08-18 … New York, NY — Museum of the Moving Image [70mm festival] 2018-08-19 … New York, NY — Museum of the Moving Image [70mm festival] The information included in this article has been principally referenced from film industry trade publications and regional newspaper promotion, with thanks to Jerry Alexander, Jim Barg, Ray Caple, Bill Gabel, Martin Hart, Bill Huelbig, Bill Kallay, Bill Kretzel, Stan Malone, Vince Young, and an extra special thank-you to all of the librarians who helped with this project. International roadshow presentations 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. |
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