The following is a reference / historical listing of the roadshow and 70-millimeter presentations of Goodbye, Mr. Chips in the United States and Canada. These were the first cinemas to play the film and best in which to experience it.
The presentations cited in the Part 1 section of 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 presentations featured advanced admission pricing, reserved seating, an overture/intermission/entracte/exit music, and an average of only ten scheduled screenings per week. A souvenir program booklet and soundtrack album were sold, as well. The print types utilized during the films roadshow release, depending on the booking, were (1) 70mm (2.20:1 blow-up from 35mm anamorphic) with discrete magnetic six-channel stereophonic sound, (2) 35mm with discrete magnetic four-channel stereophonic sound and optical monaural sound, (3) 35mm with optical monaural sound.
The MGM release, based upon the 1935 novella and 1939 motion picture, was directed by Herbert Ross (The Goodbye Girl, Footloose) and starred Peter OToole, Petula Clark and Michael Redgrave. The world premiere was held November 5, 1969, at the Palace in New York.
Out of the hundreds of films released in North America during 1969, Goodbye, Mr. Chips was among only seven given deluxe roadshow treatment and among only eleven released with 70mm prints (three from 65mm origination, seven blow-ups, and one 65mm/blow-up hybrid).
PART 1: FIRST RUN / THE ROADSHOW ENGAGEMENTS (reserved-seat policy and 70mm* presentation)
* Note that some bookings were not explicitly or consistently promoted as 70mm, suggesting they may have been screened in 35mm.
Opening date YYYY-MM-DD
locale cinema (duration in weeks) [notes]
1969-11-05
New York, NY Palace (19) 1969-11-06
Boston, MA Gary and Music Hall [dual-venue premiere] 1969-11-07
Boston, MA Gary (12) 1969-11-07
Los Angeles (Beverly Hills), CA Fox Wilshire (20) 1969-11-09
Detroit, MI United Artists (8) 1969-11-12
Chicago, IL Cinestage and Michael Todd [dual-venue premiere] 1969-11-12
Minneapolis, MN Mann (9) 1969-11-12
Philadelphia, PA Boyd (18) 1969-11-12
San Francisco, CA Golden Gate (14) 1969-11-13
Chicago, IL Michael Todd (15) 1969-11-13
Montreal (Westmount), QC Westmount Square (12) 1969-12-16
Miami (Miami Beach), FL Sheridan (12) 1969-12-16
Omaha, NE Cooper 70 (9) 1969-12-17
Atlanta, GA Atlanta (9) 1969-12-17
Baltimore, MD Mayfair (1+) 1969-12-17
Buffalo (Amherst), NY Plaza-North (9) 1969-12-17
Cincinnati, OH Valley (10) 1969-12-17
Cleveland, OH Colony (9) 1969-12-17
Denver, CO Denham (1+) 1969-12-17
Hartford, CT Cinerama (13) 1969-12-17
Honolulu, HI Kuhio (9) 1969-12-17
Houston, TX Tower (10) 1969-12-17
Indianapolis, IN Indiana (11) 1969-12-17
Jacksonville, FL 5 Points (1+) 1969-12-17
Kansas City (Overland Park, KS), MO Glenwood 1 (30) 1969-12-17
Memphis, TN Crosstown (8) 1969-12-17
Milwaukee, WI Southgate (7) 1969-12-17
New Haven (Orange), CT Showcase 3 (9) 1969-12-17
New Orleans, LA Robert E. Lee (11) 1969-12-17
Phoenix (Scottsdale), AZ Kachina (10) 1969-12-17
Rochester (Penfield), NY Panorama (11) 1969-12-17
St. Louis (Creve Coeur), MO Creve Coeur (6) 1969-12-17
St. Petersburg, FL Loews (7) 1969-12-17
Salt Lake City, UT Utah (12) 1969-12-17
San Diego, CA Cinerama (11) 1969-12-17
San Jose, CA Century 21 [premiere] 1969-12-17
Seattle, WA Paramount (7) 1969-12-17
Washington, DC MacArthur (13) 1969-12-18
Portland, OR Broadway (7) 1969-12-18
Syracuse (DeWitt), NY Shoppingtown II (9) 1969-12-25
Columbus, OH Northland (10) 1969-12-25
Dayton, OH McCook (12) 1969-12-25
Toronto, ON Uptown 1 (13) 1969-12-25
Vancouver, BC Strand (13)
1970-01-21
Pittsburgh, PA Fulton (5) 1970-01-28
Albany, NY Hellman (6) 1970-02-04
Louisville, KY Showcase 1 (9) 1970-02-04
Springfield (West Springfield), MA Showcase 3 (6) 1970-02-04
Worcester, MA Showcase 2 (5) 1970-02-10
Las Vegas, NV Cinerama (3) 1970-03-18
Edmonton, AB Meadowlark (4) 1970-03-18
Fort Worth, TX Village Opera House (6) 1970-03-18
Toledo, OH Showcase 2 (8) 1970-03-18
Winnipeg, MB Grant Park (4) 1970-05-20
Rock Island (Milan), IL Showcase 1 (2)
PART 2: FIRST RUN / NON-ROADSHOW ENGAGEMENTS (70mm presentation with an un-reserved seating policy)
1970-01-23
Charlotte, NC Park Terrace (5) 1970-02-11
Long Island (Plainview), NY Plainview (6) 1970-02-12
Newark (Montclair), NJ Clairidge (8 (6) 1970-02-18
Knoxville, TN Capri (3) 1970-02-20
Greensboro, NC Terrace (3) 1970-03-25
Little Rock, AR Capitol (2) 1970-03-27
Columbia, SC Richland Mall (3) 1970-04-15
Binghamton, NY Capri (2) 1970-04-29
Modesto, CA Briggsmore (2) 1970-05-06
Austin, TX Americana (3) 1970-06-03
Des Moines, IA River Hills (6)
PART 3: SUBSEQUENT 70MM ENGAGEMENTS AND SCREENINGS (second run, re-issue, revival, etc.)
1970-03-18
Fairless Hills, PA Eric Penn Jersey (2) 1970-05-13
Columbia Heights, MN Chief (1) 1970-05-13
San Francisco, CA Alexandria (3) 1970-10-06
Minneapolis, MN Academy (1)
1972-01-21
Des Moines, IA River Hills (1)
1978-08-16
Toronto, ON Science Centre [70mm festival]
This information has been principally referenced from film industry trade publications and regional newspaper promotion, with thanks to Jim Barg, Sheldon Hall, Bill Kallay, Bill Kretzel, Mark Lensenmayer, Stan Malone, Jim Perry, Vince Young
The films international 70mm engagements 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:
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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