“The Empire Strikes Back”: The North American 70mm Engagements | Read more at in70mm.com The 70mm Newsletter |
| Compiled by: Michael Coate | Date: 19.03.2024 |
 Northpoint Theatre, San Francisco May 1980, courtesy Dolby LabsThe following is a reference / historical listing of the North American 70-millimeter presentations of “The Empire Strikes Back” (aka “Star Wars: Episode V—The Empire Strikes Back”). These were the cinemas worth seeking out to experience this motion picture. “The Empire Strikes Back” was among eleven confirmed first-run films released in 1980 with 70mm prints for selected engagements. At least one-hundred thirty-six 70mm prints were struck for distribution in North America and represented 98-100% of the film’s first wave bookings. (The first-wave launch included a 70mm print inventory of a minimum of 124 and a maximum of 127, the variation being the result of drive-in bookings where the presentation details are ambiguous and a cinema which booked two prints.) A dozen of the 70mm prints were held for bookings during additional release waves. The Lucasfilm Ltd. production and 20th Century Fox release — directed by Irvin Kershner (“The Return of a Man Called Horse,” “Eyes of Laura Mars”) and starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher — opened May 21st. The 70mm prints of “Empire” featured magnetic Six-Track Dolby Stereo (“A” encoded Baby Boom format [Dolby processor setting “42”]) and 2.20:1 full-frame imagery blown up from anamorphic 35mm and provided a superior projection and sound experience in comparison to the film’s 35mm prints. Note that some venues screened a 70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo print utilizing Dolby-compatible equipment from another manufacturer (EPRAD, Smart, Ultra Stereo, etc.), and in some instances an exhibitor made a special request for a 70mm print that lacked Dolby Noise Reduction so that it could be played on a cinema’s older, pre-Dolby-era sound system. Over the course of the film’s lengthy release, Fox circulated some 70mm trailers, including “My Bodyguard,” “Nine to Five” and “The Stunt Man.” Other studios circulated 70mm trailers during this period, as well (“The Blues Brothers,” “Flash Gordon,” “Heaven’s Gate,” etc.). Ultimately, any 70mm trailers screened during 70mm presentations of “Empire” varied by venue and screening. The duration of the engagements (measured in weeks) is included in parenthesis following the cinema name. PART 1: FIRST RUN The following presentations opened May 21st except where noted otherwise. Not accounted for in this work, several of these locales included a benefit/charity premiere or invitational preview(s) held between May 17th and 20th. It should be noted the 70mm prints of “Empire” differed from its 35mm prints not only in image and audio quality but also in terms of content. For the 35mm prints, the filmmakers continued working on the film by adding shots, adding dialogue and music, tweaking some visual effects, and revising some scene transitions. Because a greater lead time was required by the lab to prepare what was at the time a record-quantity 70mm print order and because the 35mm general release would follow a month after the initial 70mm-exclusive opening, the filmmakers capitalized on the extra time to prepare and finesse the 35mm version of the movie which would play the majority of cinemas. (EDIT: A 70mm print of “Empire” was recently discovered which, surprisingly, featured the revisions thought to have been made exclusively for the film’s 35mm release. This suggests two different 70mm versions circulated during its release.) ALBERTA Calgary — Famous Players’ Palliser Square Twin (20) Edmonton — Famous Players’ Paramount (29) ARIZONA Phoenix — Plitt’s Cine Capri (30) Tucson — Plitt’s El Dorado Twin (24) [opened June 18th] ARKANSAS Little Rock — UA’s Cinema 150 (20) BRITISH COLUMBIA Vancouver — Famous Players’ Stanley (18) CALIFORNIA Corte Madera — Blumenfeld’s Cinema (18) Fountain Valley — Pacific’s Fountain Valley Drive-In (17) # Fresno — Festival Enterprises’ Festival 6 (38) La Mirada — Pacific’s La Mirada Mall 6 (24) [opened June 27th] Lakewood — Pacific’s Lakewood Center 4 (24) [opened June 27th] Los Angeles (Hollywood) — UA’s Egyptian Triplex (30) Los Angeles (Westwood) — GCC’s Avco Center Triplex (22) Los Angeles (Woodland Hills) — UA’s Warner Center 6 (29) [opened June 27th] Modesto — Redwood’s Briggsmore (20) [opened June 18th] Montclair — UA’s Towne Center Plaza 6 (32) [opened June 27th] Monterey — Kindair’s Cinema 70 (15) [opened June 18th] Newport Beach — Edwards’ Newport Twin (25) Orange — Syufy’s Cinedome 6 (#1: 30) Orange — Syufy’s Cinedome 6 (#2: 11) Paramount — Pacific’s Rosecrans 3 Drive-In (#1: 9) # Paramount — Pacific’s Rosecrans 3 Drive-In (#2: 4) # Sacramento — Syufy’s Century 6 (39) San Diego — Pacific’s Cinerama (30) San Francisco — Plitt’s Northpoint (28) San Jose — Syufy’s Century 22 Triplex (43) COLORADO Denver — Commonwealth’s Cooper Twin (30) CONNECTICUT East Hartford — Redstone’s Showcase 8 (30) Orange — Redstone’s Showcase 5 (18) Stamford — Trans-Lux’s Ridgeway (16) DELAWARE Claymont — Sameric’s Eric Tri-State Mall Triplex (30) DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Washington — K-B’s Cinema (29) FLORIDA Kendall — Wometco’s Dadeland Twin (21) North Miami Beach — Wometco’s 163rd Street (22) Winter Park — Wometco’s Park Twin (23) GEORGIA Atlanta — Plitt’s Phipps Plaza Triplex (30) HAWAII Honolulu — Consolidated’s Cinerama (30) ILLINOIS Belleville — BAC’s Cinema (14) Calumet City — Plitt’s River Oaks 4 (19) Champaign — Kerasotes’ Virginia (20) Chicago — GCC’s Ford City Triplex (16) Chicago — Plitt’s Esquire (18) Lombard — GCC’s Yorktown 4 (18) Moline — Dubinsky’s Parkway (26) Niles — Fink’s Golf Mill Triplex (19) Norridge — M&R’s Norridge 4 (16) Orland Park — Plitt’s Orland Square 4 (16) Peoria — Plitt’s Madison (16) Schaumburg — Plitt’s Woodfield 4 (18) Springfield — Kerasotes’ Esquire 4 (18) INDIANA Fort Wayne — MSM’s Holiday Twin (20) Indianapolis — Y&W’s Eastwood (23) IOWA Des Moines — Dubinsky’s River Hills (30) Dubuque — Dubuque’s Cinema Center 4 (12) KANSAS Wichita — Dickinson’s Mall (22) KENTUCKY Erlanger — Redstone’s Showcase 7 (36) Lexington — Mid States’ Northpark 6 (14) Lexington — Mid States’ Southpark 6 (30) Louisville — Redstone’s Showcase 9 (37) LOUISIANA Metairie — GCC’s Lakeside 5 (20) MARYLAND Towson — Rappaport’s Hillendale Twin (19) MASSACHUSETTS Boston — Sack’s Charles Triplex (22) Brookline — Redstone’s Circle Triplex (15) [opened June 18th] Seekonk — Redstone’s Showcase 6 (19) West Springfield — Redstone’s Showcase 8 (18) Worcester — Redstone’s Showcase 4 (17) MICHIGAN Bloomfield — Redstone’s Showcase 5 (17) Burton — Plitt’s Eastland Mall (18) Harper Woods — SDT’s Eastland Twin (18) Livonia — SDT’s Terrace Twin (30) Southfield — NGT’s Americana 4 (28) Southgate — NGT’s Southgate Triplex (29) Sterling Heights — Redstone’s Showcase 7 (30) MINNESOTA Bloomington — GCC’s Southtown (24) Brooklyn Center — Plitt’s Brookdale (30) Roseville — GCC’s Har-Mar Triplex (29) MISSOURI Creve Coeur — Wehrenberg’s Creve Coeur (30) Kansas City — AMC’s Midland-Empire 7 (27) NEBRASKA Omaha — Douglas’ Cinema Center 4 (20) NEVADA Las Vegas — Plitt’s Parkway Triplex (26) [opened June 18th] NEW JERSEY Edison — GCC’s Menlo Park Twin (23) Lawrenceville — Sameric’s Eric Twin (20) Moorestown — Sameric’s Eric Plaza (22) Paramus — RKO Stanley-Warner’s Route Four 4 (23) NEW YORK Cheektowaga — Holiday’s Holiday 6 (20) Colonie — Cinema 5’s Colonie Twin (19) DeWitt — Cinema National’s Shoppingtown Twin (22) Lawrence — RKO Stanley-Warner’s Lawrence Triplex (20) Levittown — Loews’ Nassau Mall 4 (23) New York — Cinema 5’s Murray Hill (19) New York — Loews’ Astor Plaza (20) New York — Loews’ New York Twin (7) [opened June 18th] New York — Loews’ Orpheum Twin (18) Pittsford — Loews’ Pittsford Triplex (30) Yonkers — GCC’s Central Plaza Twin (18) NORTH CAROLINA Charlotte — Plitt’s Park Terrace Twin (30) Fayetteville — Consolidated’s Bordeaux Triplex (28) Greensboro — Plitt’s Terrace Triplex (19) Raleigh — Plitt’s Cardinal Twin (28) Winston-Salem — Plitt’s Thruway Twin (19) OHIO Columbus — Mid States’ Continent 7 (30) Dayton — Chakeres’ Dayton Mall 4 (30) Springdale — Redstone’s Showcase 7 (36) Toledo — Redstone’s Showcase 4 (30) Trotwood — Mid States’ Salem Mall 4 (29) Whitehall — Sugarman’s Cinema East (20) ONTARIO Hamilton — Famous Players’ Tivoli (18) London — Famous Players’ Park (18) Toronto — Famous Players’ University (18) Windsor — Famous Players’ Centre (18) OREGON Beaverton — LT’s Westgate Triplex (37) Eugene — LT’s Cinema World 4 (33) PENNSYLVANIA Allentown — Sameric’s Eric Triplex (19) Bensalem — AMC’s Premiere Twin (30) King of Prussia — Sameric’s Eric Plaza Twin (20) McCandless — Redstone’s Showcase North 8 (18) Monroeville — Redstone’s Showcase East 5 (17) Philadelphia — Sameric’s SamEric (30) Pittsburgh — Cinemette’s Warner (16) Robinson — Redstone’s Showcase West 5 (30) QUEBEC Montreal — Odeon’s Place du Canada (17) TENNESSEE Memphis — Park (23) Nashville — Martin’s Belle Meade (12) TEXAS Austin — AMC’s Americana (30) Dallas — AMC’s Prestonwood 5 (38) Dallas — GCC’s Northpark West Twin (23) Fort Worth — Plitt’s Ridglea (30) Houston — AMC’s Westchase 5 (38) Houston — Plitt’s Alabama (28) UTAH Riverdale — Tullis-Hansen’s Cinedome 70 Twin (30) Salt Lake City — Plitt’s Centre (30) VIRGINIA Bailey’s Crossroads — K-B’s Cinema 7 (19) [opened June 18th] Springfield — GCC’s Springfield Mall 6 (30) Vienna — NTI’s Tysons (26) [opened June 18th] WASHINGTON Seattle — UA’s Cinema 150 (61) Tacoma — SRO’s Tacoma Mall Twin (30) WISCONSIN Fox Point — Capitol’s Brown Port (18) Wauwatosa — UA’s Mayfair (30) West Allis — Marcus’ Southtown Triplex (30) PART 2: SUBSEQUENT 70MM ENGAGEMENTS (subsequent 70mm bookings, second run, re-releases, double- and triple-features, special events, etc.) Opening date YYYY-MM-DD … city — cinema (duration in weeks) [notes] 1980-12-17 … Los Angeles (West Los Angeles), CA — Pacific’s Picwood (8) 1980-12-19 … West Covina, CA — Sanborn’s Wescove Triplex (1) 1981-07-31 … Belleville, IL — BAC’s Cinema (3) 1981-07-31 … Bloomingdale, IL — Plitt’s Stratford Square 4 (3) 1981-07-31 … Boston, MA — Sack’s Cheri Triplex (6) 1981-07-31 … Calgary, AB — Odeon’s North Hill (6) 1981-07-31 … Calumet City, IL — Plitt’s River Oaks 6 (3) 1981-07-31 … Catonsville, MD — Westview 6 (4) 1981-07-31 … Cedar Grove, NJ — Cinema 23 (4) 1981-07-31 … Colonie, NY — Cinema 5’s Colonie Twin (4) 1981-07-31 … Dallas, TX — Plitt’s Medallion (3) 1981-07-31 … Edmonton, AB — Odeon’s Meadowlark (4) 1981-07-31 … Fox Point, WI — Capitol’s Brown Port (3) 1981-07-31 … Hamilton, ON — Odeon’s Centre Twin (3) 1981-07-31 … Los Angeles (Century City), CA — Plitt’s Century Plaza Twin (4) 1981-07-31 … Los Angeles (Woodland Hills), CA — UA’s Warner Center 6 (3) 1981-07-31 … Montclair, CA — UA’s Towne Center Plaza 6 (6) 1981-07-31 … New York, NY — Moss’ Criterion Center 6 (6) 1981-07-31 … New York, NY — UA’s Gemini Twin (3) 1981-07-31 … Orange, CA — Plitt’s City Center Twin (4) 1981-07-31 … Overland Park, KS — Dickinson’s Glenwood Twin (4) 1981-07-31 … Philadelphia, PA — Sameric’s Mark I (4) 1981-07-31 … Roseville, MN — Engler’s Apache 4 (6) 1981-07-31 … San Diego, CA — Pacific’s La Jolla Village 4 (4) 1981-07-31 … San Diego, CA — UA’s Glasshouse 6 (4) 1981-07-31 … Santa Barbara, CA — Metropolitan’s Granada Triplex (3) 1981-07-31 … Scottsdale, AZ — Nace’s Kachina (4) 1981-07-31 … Tacoma, WA — Galaxy’s Rialto (4) 1981-07-31 … Torrance, CA — UA’s Del Amo 6 (6) 1981-07-31 … Totowa, NJ — UA’s Cinema 46 Triplex (4) 1981-07-31 … White Plains, NY — GCC’s Galleria Twin (4) 1981-08-28 … Oakland, CA — Renaissance Rialto’s Grand Lake Twin (2) [w/ “Alien”] 1981-09-04 … Cleveland, OH — Colony (1) 1981-09-04 … Denver, CO — Paramount** [WorldCon / Denvention Two] # 1981-09-04 … Norfolk, VA — ARF’s Naro (1) 1981-09-05 … Atlanta, GA — Fox (3 days) 1982-09-30 … Toronto, ON — Famous Players’ University** (16) 1982-10-01 … Calgary, AB — Famous Players’ Palace** (10) 1982-10-01 … Edmonton, AB — Famous Players’ Paramount** (10) 1982-10-01 … Montreal, QC — United’s Imperial** (6) 1982-10-01 … Ottawa, ON — Famous Players’ Nelson** (10) 1982-10-01 … Vancouver, BC — Famous Players’ Stanley** (16) 1982-10-01 … Winnipeg, MB — Famous Players’ Metropolitan** (10) 1982-11-12 … Halifax, NS — Famous Players’ Scotia Square** (4) 1982-11-12 … Montreal, QC — United’s Imperial** (5) [Version Francaise] 1982-11-19 … Bloomingdale, IL — Plitt’s Stratford Square 4 (4) 1982-11-19 … Brooklyn Center, MN — Plitt’s Brookdale (4) 1982-11-19 … Chicago, IL — GCC’s Ford City Triplex (4) 1982-11-19 … Costa Mesa, CA — Edwards’ South Coast Plaza Triplex (5) 1982-11-19 … Dayton, OH — Chakeres’ Dayton Mall 8 (5) 1982-11-19 … Honolulu, HI — Consolidated’s Cinerama (4) 1982-11-19 … Lakewood, CA — Pacific’s Lakewood Center 4 (4) 1982-11-19 … Los Angeles (Hollywood), CA — SRO’s Paramount (3) 1982-11-19 … Northbrook, IL — Center’s Edens Twin (3) 1982-11-19 … Oak Brook, IL — Plitt’s Oakbrook (3) 1982-11-19 … Orange, CA — Syufy’s Cinedome 6 (4) 1982-11-19 … Philadelphia, PA — Sameric’s SamEric Triplex (5) 1982-11-19 … Washington, DC — Circle’s Uptown (3) 1982-12-10 … Edmonton, AB — Famous Players’ Londonderry Twin** (7) 1982-12-10 … Los Angeles, CA — SRO’s Paramount (2) [w/ “Star Trek II”] 1982-12-10 … Winnipeg, MB — Landmark’s Towne 8** (6) 1982-12-16 … Sainte-Foy, QC — United’s Canadien** (5) [Version Francaise] 1982-12-17 … Montreal, QC — United’s Palace 6** (5) 1982-12-22 … Norfolk, VA — ARF’s Naro (1) 1983-01-07 … Hamilton, ON — Famous Players’ Tivoli** (3) 1983-01-14 … London, ON — Famous Players’ Park** (2) 1983-01-21 … Scarborough, ON — Famous Players’ Cedarbrae 6** (1) 1983-01-21 … Toronto, ON — Famous Players’ Palace Triplex** (1) 1983-01-21 … Toronto, ON — Famous Players’ Runnymede Twin** (1) 1983-01-21 … Vancouver, BC — Famous Players’ Denman Place** (1) 1983-04-13 … Toronto, ON — Cinesphere (5 days) [70mm festival] 1983-07-29 … New York, NY — RKO Century’s Warner Twin** (4) 1983-07-29 … Paramus, NJ — RKO Century’s Route 17 Twin** (2) 1983-07-29 … Syosset, NY — UA’s Syosset** (4) 1983-07-29 … Totowa, NJ — UA’s Cinema 46 Triplex** (2) 1983-08-12 … Seattle, WA — GCC’s King** (5) 1984-03-21 … Toronto, ON — Cinesphere (5 days) [70mm festival] 1984-11-17 … Toronto, ON — Cinesphere*** (2 days) 1985-03-28 … Chicago, IL — Plitt’s Carnegie*** 1985-03-28 … Dallas, TX — GCC’s Northpark West Twin*** [THX] 1985-03-28 … Denver, CO — Commonwealth’s Continental*** 1985-03-28 … Los Angeles, CA — GCC’s Avco Center Triplex*** [THX] 1985-03-28 … Los Angeles, CA — UA’s Egyptian Triplex*** 1985-03-28 … New York, NY — RKO Century’s Warner Twin*** 1985-03-28 … San Francisco, CA — UA’s Galaxy 4*** [THX] (canceled) 1985-03-28 … San Francisco, CA — UA’s Coronet*** 1985-03-28 … Seattle, WA — UA’s Cinema 150*** 1985-03-28 … Toronto, ON — Famous Players’ Uptown 5*** 1985-08-02 … San Antonio, TX — Santikos’ Galaxy 10*** (1) 1985-08-02 … San Antonio, TX — Santikos’ Northwest 10*** (1) 1986-02-12 … Toronto, ON — Cinesphere (5 days) [70mm festival] 1986-04-04 … Toronto, ON — Famous Players’ University*** (2) 1986-04-11 … Montreal, QC — United’s Imperial*** (4) [70mm from Week 3] 1986-12-26 … Toronto, ON — Cinesphere** (3 days) [70mm festival] 1987-05-30 … Corte Madera, CA — Cinema*** [“Star Wars” 10th anniversary] # 1987-09-04 … Norfolk, VA — ARF’s Naro*** (3 days) 1987-10-02 … Los Angeles, CA — AMC’s Century 14*** (3 days) [Fox festival] (THX) 1989-04-22 … Salt Lake City, UT — Mann’s Villa*** 1990-05-25 … Denver, CO — UA’s Continental*** 1990-06-26 … Santa Monica, CA — Mann’s Criterion 6*** [THX festival] # 1993-01-09 … Boston, MA — Wang Center*** (2 days) # 1994-01-22 … Dallas, TX — AMC’s Glen Lakes 8*** (2 days) [USA Film Festival KidFilm series] # ** 70mm double feature of “Star Wars” and “The Empire Strikes Back.” *** 70mm triple feature of “Star Wars,” “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.” # Presentation not explicitly promoted as 70mm, suggesting it may have been 35mm. 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 because of print damage and the distributor’s unwillingness to supply a 70mm replacement print or because the booking was moved to a smaller, non-70mm-equipped auditorium within a multiplex. As well, the reverse scenario 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 such cases, any 35mm portion of the engagement has been included in the duration figure. The information included in this article was principally referenced from film industry trade publications, regional newspaper promotion, print enclosures, TAP records, Dolby records, etc. Special thanks to Claude Ayakawa, Don Beelik, Dolby Labs, Bill Kallay, Bill Kretzel, Jeffry Johnson, Stephen Leigh, Mark Lensenmayer, Stan Malone, Mike Matessino, W.R. Miller, John Rotan, Tim Schafbuch at Lucasfilm, Cliff Stephenson, John Stewart, Pete Vilmur at Lucasfilm, Joel Weide, Vince Young, and to the librarians who have assisted with this project. International 70mm engagements of this title have not been accounted for in this work. If you believe this article contains any errors or omissions, please consider emailing the author or editor. | More in 70mm reading: “The Empire Strikes Back” openings in70mm.com's page about films blown up to 70mm 35mm to 70mm Engagements by Year 35mm to 70mm Engagements by Title Presented on the big screen in 7OMM The Alleged 70mm Releases 70mm Blow Ups Which Never Were |
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