"Tron": A 30-Year
Look Back And The Original 70mm Engagements |
Read more at in70mm.com The 70mm Newsletter |
| Written by: Michael Coate | Date: 09.07.2012 + 23.03.2018 |
 On 9 July 1982, thirty years ago
today, Walt Disney’s “Tron” was released in about 1,100 cinemas in the
United States and Canada. The groundbreaking though unsuccessful film was a
visual and aural delight and was nominated for two Academy Awards: Sound and
Costume Design. More amazing than the film’s amazing visual effects is
trying to figure out why the film was not nominated for a Visual Effects
Oscar! Of note to large-format film enthusiasts is that “Tron” was produced in a mixture of 5/65 and 8/35 formats. Disney struck about forty high-quality 70-millimeter prints for distribution in North America, and a list of the venues in which the 70mm six-track version were booked is provided below. Some may find it surprising the number of cinemas in major markets denied an opportunity to showcase “Tron” in the best presentation manner available at the time because most of the 70mm-equipped cinemas were showcasing other 70mm product that beat “Tron” to market (“E.T.”, “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan”, “Annie”, etc.). Cinemas in some major cities absent from the list of initial 70mm bookings did, however, screen a 70mm print in the autumn of 1982 and/or spring of 1983 when Disney re-issued the film with the hope it might find an audience during a less-crowded moviegoing season. So do I think “Tron” is a good movie? After 30 years I still can’t decide! One thing is certain: the film was ahead of its time due to the innovative use of computer graphics. Its influence can be observed in countless movies, television programs and video games. I think anyone working in the film, computer and video-game industries owes a debt of gratitude to “Tron” and its talented production crew. “Tron” memories… As a teenager, I saw “Tron” in the summer of ’82 at the Barstow Twin in Barstow, California. I had looked forward to seeing it thanks to the arcade game and articles in magazines such as Starlog, but upon seeing it I recall having a difficult time keeping the characters straight or understanding the computer terminology and thinking the movie was not as enjoyable as the arcade game. What I remember most was on the way out of the cinema, enthusiastically spotting the one-sheet for that summer’s re-issue of my then-favorite movie, “Star Wars”, which included a banner in the corner of the poster promising the first glimpse of footage, in the form of a coming attractions trailer, for "Return of the Jedi" (then known as “Revenge of the Jedi”), due for release the following year. I would see “Star Wars” several (more) times during that summer re-issue, and “Tron” was quickly forgotten. Over the years, though, thanks to the fantastic Special Edition LaserDisc (and subsequent DVD and Blu-ray) and the new 70mm print struck in 1999 that made the rounds, I’ve come to appreciate “Tron” and think it deserves some recognition on the 30th anniversary of its release. |
More in 70mm reading: Is "Tron" filmed in 65mm? Yes, "TRON" was filmed in 65mm "The Making of Tron: How Tron Changed Visual Effects and Disney Forever" Super Panavision 70 Films shown in 70mm in Los Angeles, CA, USA |
The North American 70mm Engagements | |
 The
following is a reference / historical listing of the 70-millimeter
engagements of “Tron” in the United States and Canada. These were the
cinemas worth seeking out to experience this motion picture.“Tron” was among eighteen confirmed first-run films released in 1982 with 70mm prints for selected engagements. Forty-three 70mm prints were reportedly struck for distribution in North America and represented about four percent of the film’s total initial print run. The Walt Disney/Buena Vista release — directed by Steven Lisberger (“Slipstream”) and starring Jeff Bridges, David Warner, Bruce Boxleitner, Cindy Morgan and Barnard Hughes — opened July 9th. Pre-release screenings included the world premiere on July 6th at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California and an invitational preview July 8th at the State in New York. The 70mm prints of “Tron” featured full-frame imagery sourced from Super Panavision 70. Conflicting information exists as to whether the audio format on all of its 70mm prints was a 5-screen/1-surround layout (i.e. Dolby format 41) or if there was a dual inventory of Format 41 and Format 42 (3-screen/1-surround + Baby Boom). Newer 70mm print(s) that have circulated since 1999 are Dolby SR-encoded. Buena Vista circulated 70mm Six-Track Dolby coming-attraction trailers for “Fantasia” (re-issue), “Something Wicked This Way Comes” and “Tex” and an EPCOT promo during the release of “Tron.” Other studios circulated 70mm trailers during this period, as well. Ultimately, any 70mm trailers screened during 70mm presentations of “Tron” varied by venue and screening. |
|
 The
duration of the engagements (measured in weeks) is included in parenthesis
following the applicable cinema name.ALABAMA Huntsville — United Amusement’s Madison Twin (7) ALBERTA Calgary — Famous Players’ Chinook (10) Edmonton — Famous Players’ Londonderry Twin (10) ARIZONA Tucson — TM’s El Con 6 (12) BRITISH COLUMBIA Vancouver — Famous Players’ Denman Place (10) CALIFORNIA El Cajon — UA’s Parkway Plaza Triplex (4) Los Angeles — Mann’s Chinese Triplex (3) Los Angeles — Mann’s Village (4) [opened July 16th] Montclair — SRO’s Montclair Triplex (12) Orange — Syufy’s Cinedome 6 (11) Sacramento — Syufy’s Century 6 (19) San Diego — Pacific’s La Jolla Village 4 (6) San Diego — UA’s Glasshouse 6 (19) San Jose — Syufy’s Century 24 Twin (11) HAWAII Honolulu — Royal’s Royal (4) [opened August 13th] ILLINOIS Bloomingdale — Plitt’s Stratford Square 4 (5) Chicago — Center’s McClurg Court (5) Chicago Ridge — Chicago Ridge Mall Triplex (6) Hillside — M&R’s Hillside Square 4 (2) Northbrook — Center’s Edens Twin (5) LOUISIANA Gretna — Cobb’s Westside Twin (7) MANITOBA Winnipeg — Famous Players’ Metropolitan (9) [opened July 30th] MARYLAND Catonsville — Westview 6 (6) MICHIGAN Grosse Pointe Woods — NGT’s Woods Twin (4) Livonia — SDT’s Terrace Twin (4) Southfield — SDT’s Northland Twin (3) NEVADA Las Vegas — Syufy’s Cinedome 6 (23) [w/ “Star Trek II” during Weeks 5-7] Reno — Syufy’s Century 6 (5) NEW JERSEY Cedar Grove — Cinema 23 (5) Paramus — RKO Century’s Route Four 7 (5) NEW YORK New York — Loews’ State Twin (5) White Plains — UA’s Cinema (5) Woodbury — UA’s Cinema 150 (6) OHIO Springdale — Mid States’ Tri-County 7 (7) ONTARIO Toronto — Famous Players’ Hollywood Twin (11) OREGON Portland — Moyer’s Bagdad Triplex (9) Portland — Moyer’s Rose Moyer 6 (23) [w/ “Star Trek II” from Week 6] PENNSYLVANIA Philadelphia — Budco’s Regency Twin (5) [opened July 23rd] Pittsburgh — Cinemette’s Warner (3) QUEBEC Montreal — United’s Claremont (11) [opened July 23rd] Sainte-Foy — Cinemas Unis’ Canadien (8) [opened July 22nd] TEXAS Dallas — Inwood Twin (6) San Antonio — Santikos’ Northwest 10 (11) WISCONSIN Greenfield — Capitol’s Spring Mall Triplex (4) Note that some of the presentations included in this listing may have been presented in 35mm during the latter week(s) of 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 (or movement out of a branded auditorium) has been included in the duration figure. |
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SUBSEQUENT 70MM ENGAGEMENTS & SCREENINGS | |
 1982-07-30
… Los Angeles, CA — Mann’s Vogue (2)1982-08-13 … Detroit, MI — Madison (1) 1982-08-13 … Los Angeles, CA — Plitt’s Century Plaza Twin (9) 1982-08-20 … Cleveland, OH — Colony (2) 1982-09-01 … Carmel, IN — Heaston’s Woodland Twin (2) 1982-09-03 … Chicago, IL — Center’s McClurg Court (1) 1982-09-03 … Cleveland, OH — Variety (2) 1982-09-03 … Northbrook, IL — Center’s Edens Twin (1) 1982-09-17 … Burnaby, BC — Famous Players’ Lougheed Mall Triplex (2) 1982-09-17 … Edmonton, AB — Famous Players’ Garneau (1) 1982-10-01 … Knoxville, TN — Simpson’s Capri Triplex (1) 1982-10-07 … Winnipeg, MB — Towne 8 (3) [w/ “Tommy” 10-10] 1982-10-08 … Boston, MA — Sack’s Charles Triplex (2) 1982-10-08 … Cheektowaga, NY — AMC’s Holiday 6 (5) 1982-10-08 … Dayton, OH — Chakeres’ Dayton Mall 8 (2) 1982-10-08 … Henrietta, NY — Loews’ Towne Twin (4) 1982-10-08 … Peoria, IL — Kerasotes’ Beverly (2) 1982-10-08 … Towson, MD — Rappaport’s Hillendale Twin (1) 1982-10-15 … Cincinnati, OH — Mid States’ Carousel Twin (3) 1982-10-15 … Fox Point, WI — Capitol’s Brown Port (1) 1982-10-15 … Greenfield, WI — Capitol’s Spring Mall Triplex (2) 1982-10-15 … Norfolk, VA — Naro (3 days) 1982-10-15 … Portland, OR — LT’s Music Box (3) 1982-10-15 … Salt Lake City, UT — Plitt’s Regency (3) 1982-10-15 … San Francisco, CA — Plitt’s Northpoint (1) 1982-10-15 … Spokane, WA — SRO’s Lincoln Heights Triplex (2) 1982-10-15 … Springfield, IL — Kerasotes’ Esquire 4 (1) 1982-10-15 … Washington, DC — Circle’s Uptown (2) 1982-10-22 … Atlanta, GA — Plitt’s Phipps Plaza Triplex (4) 1982-10-22 … Los Angeles, CA — Mann’s Hollywood (1) 1982-10-22 … Los Angeles, CA — Mann’s National (1) 1982-10-22 … Renton, WA — MCR’s Roxy (3) [w/ “Capricorn One”] 1982-10-22 … San Francisco, CA — Syufy’s Cinema 21 (1) 1982-10-22 … Whitehall, OH — Chakeres’ Cinema East (1) 1982-10-29 … Los Angeles, CA — Mann’s Hollywood (1) [w/ “Superman II”] 1982-11-05 … Bensalem, PA — AMC’s Premiere Twin (1) 1982-11-05 … Brooklyn Center, MN — Plitt’s Brookdale (2) 1982-11-05 … Lincoln, NE — Commonwealth’s Cooper/Lincoln (1) 1982-11-05 … Wichita, KS — Commonwealth’s Twin Lakes Twin (1) 1982-11-12 … Montreal, QC — Odeon’s Place du Canada (1) 1982-11-19 … San Antonio, TX — Santikos’ Galaxy 6 (3) [Fantastic Films Festival] 1982-11-19 … Tucson, AZ — Plitt’s El Dorado Twin (2) 1982-11-24 … Colorado Springs, CO — Commonwealth’s Ute 70 (2) 1982-11-24 … Kansas City, MO — Commonwealth’s Bannister Mall 5 (3) 1982-11-24 … Seattle, WA — SRO’s Music Box (2) 1982-11-26 … Lynnwood, WA — SRO’s Grand Alderwood 5 (3) 1982-12-03 … San Francisco, CA — Syufy’s Cinema 21 (2) [w/ “Poltergeist”] 1982-12-10 … Indianapolis, IN — Y&W’s Eastwood (1) [w/ “The Jazz Singer”] 1982-12-17 … Los Angeles, CA — Mann’s Valley West 6 (1) 1982-??-?? … Denver, CO — Commonwealth’s Cooper Twin (?) 1983-01-28 … Orange, CA — Syufy’s City Center Twin (1) [w/ “Star Trek II”] 1983-03-02 … Toronto, ON — Cinesphere (5 days) [70mm festival] 1983-03-11 … Norfolk, VA — Naro (3 days) [w/ “Star Trek II”] 1983-04-08 … Cleveland, OH — CWRU’s Strosacker [CWRU Film Society series] 1983-04-15 … San Francisco, CA — Blumenfeld’s Regency II (1) 1983-05-13 … Dearborn, MI — UA’s The Movies at Fairlane 10 (2) 1983-05-13 … Troy, MI — UA’s The Movies at Oakland 5 (2) 1983-05-20 … Livonia, MI — NGT’s Mai Kai (1) 1983-05-20 … San Diego, CA — Pacific’s Cinerama (1) 1983-05-20 … Southfield, MI — NGT’s Americana 4 (1) 1983-05-20 … Southgate, MI — NGT’s Southgate Triplex (1) 1983-07-15 … Montreal, QC — Odeon’s Champlain Twin (5) [Version Francaise] 1983-09-23 … Montreal, QC — United’s Claremont (1) 1983-10-21 … Edmonton, AB — Odeon’s Meadowlark (1) [70mm festival] 1983-11-04 … Winnipeg, MB — Odeon’s Grant Park (1) [70mm festival] 1983-11-10 … Victoria, BC — Odeon’s Haida (1) [70mm festival] 1983-11-25 … Calgary, AB — Odeon’s North Hill (1) [70mm festival] 1983-12-21 … Toronto, ON — Cinesphere (4 days) [70mm festival] 1984-03-04 … Cleveland, OH — Variety 1984-05-11 … Toronto, ON — Odeon’s Hyland Twin (1) 1984-05-11 … Vancouver, BC — Odeon’s Park (2) 1985-09-06 … Cleveland, OH — Colony [festival; midnight] 1987-01-16 … Cleveland, OH — CWRU’s Strosacker [CWRU Sci-Fi marathon] 1999-04-25 … Champaign, IL — Virginia [Ebertfest; 35mm substitution] 1999-05-14 … Los Angeles, CA — Pacific’s El Capitan (1) [THX] [new print] 1999-10-23 … Long Beach, CA — CSULB’s Carpenter Center [Wide Screen festival] 2004-05-06 … Los Angeles, CA — Pacific’s El Capitan (2) [THX] 2004-06-06 … Los Angeles, CA — Directors Guild 2006-06-07 … Beverly Hills, CA — AMPAS’ Samuel Goldwyn [Movie Magic series] 2006-08-19 … San Francisco, CA — Castro [midnight] 2007-06-17 … Santa Monica, CA — American Cinematheque’s Aero [w/ “Star Trek II”] 2007-08-24 … Austin, TX — Paramount (2 days) [70mm festival] 2008-02-24 … Seattle, WA — Cinerama [70mm festival] 2008-02-26 … Seattle, WA — Cinerama [70mm festival] 2008-03-02 … Seattle, WA — Cinerama [70mm festival] 2008-03-04 … Seattle, WA — Cinerama [70mm festival] 2008-07-04 … San Francisco, CA — Castro [70mm fest w/ “Brainstorm”] 2011-03-05 … Los Angeles, CA — American Cinematheque’s Aero 2011-07-01 … Los Angeles, CA — American Cinematheque’s Egyptian [Blu-ray substitution] 2011-07-01 … Silver Spring, MD — AFI Silver (4 days) [70mm festival] 2011-10-09 … Seattle, WA — Cinerama [70mm festival] 2012-03-17 … Los Angeles, CA — American Cinematheque’s Egyptian 2012-04-28 … Seattle, WA — Cinerama [sci-fi festival] 2012-08-31 … Silver Spring, MD — AFI Silver (4 days) [70mm festival] 2012-12-29 … New York, NY — Film Society Lincoln Center (2 days) 2014-06-08 … Los Angeles, CA — American Cinematheque’s Aero 2014-07-19 … Chicago, IL — Music Box [70mm festival] 2015-03-17 … Toronto, ON — TIFF Bell Lightbox 2015-03-18 … Toronto, ON — TIFF Bell Lightbox [replaced damaged “The Black Hole”] 2015-04-03 … Toronto, ON — TIFF Bell Lightbox (2 days) 2015-08-14 … New York, NY — MOMI’s Sumner M. Redstone (3 days) [70mm festival] 2015-08-28 … Columbus, OH — Wexner Center for the Arts (2 days) 2016-06-11 … Tucson, AZ — The Loft (2 days) 2016-09-09 … Seattle, WA — Cinerama [70mm festival] 2016-09-18 … Somerville, MA — Somerville [70mm festival] 2017-04-07 … Portland, OR — Hollywood [70mm series] 2017-06-16 … Los Angeles, CA — American Cinematheque’s Egyptian [70mm series] 2017-06-24 … Los Angeles, CA — American Cinematheque’s Egyptian [70mm series] 2017-08-19 … Santa Monica, CA — American Cinematheque’s Aero [70mm series] 2017-09-01 … Seattle, WA — Cinerama [70mm festival] 2018-06-14 … Tucson, AZ — The Loft 2018-09-?? … Seattle, WA — Cinerama [70mm festival] 2020-03-13 … Chicago, IL — Music Box [70mm festival] 2020-03-15 … Chicago, IL — Music Box [70mm festival] 2020-03-16 … Chicago, IL — Music Box [70mm festival] 2022-07-01 … Atlanta, GA — Plaza (1) [40th anniversary] 2022-08-26 … New York, NY — Museum of the Moving Image [70mm festival] 2022-08-27 … New York, NY — Museum of the Moving Image [70mm festival] 2022-08-28 … New York, NY — Museum of the Moving Image [70mm festival] 2022-09-04 … New York, NY — Museum of the Moving Image [70mm festival] 2022-12-09 … Portland, OR — Hollywood [40th anniversary] The information in this article was principally referenced from film industry trade publications and regional newspaper promotion, print enclosures, and Dolby records. Special thanks to Don Beelik, William Kallay, Steve Kraus, Bill Kretzel, Mark Lensenmayer, Stan Malone, Monty Marin, John Stewart and Sean Weitzel, 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. |
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