For those with an interest in this sort of stuff, here are links to a new retrospective article for the movie’s 40th anniversary. And another one focused on the movie’s 70mm presentations over the years.
Giles… I don’t see any evidence the K-B Cinema ran CE3K in 70mm. The MacArthur did, though, following the K-B Cinema first run and at the same time as the Tysons run you cited.
I thought there was a change over from the 35mm print to 70mm at the KB Cinema (?) but on the second largest screen in DC at the time, the experience in picture size and sound was phenomenal
While it wasn’t during CE3K’s premier engagement – Tyson’s Cinema presented it in 70mm in 1978:
Thanks, Michael. It must have been an extra thrill to see the movie in Muncie when that title card came up on the screen, for the first scene with Jillian and Barry.
**I'm surprised it didn't play in Muncie, Indiana **
Bill H: I’ve verified that “CE3K” did in fact play in Muncie during the early weeks of the film’s release. It’s listed below along with a handful of other recently verified engagements.
ALBERTA
Calgary: North Hill
Calgary: Uptown 1 & 2
Edmonton: Meadowlark
INDIANA
Anderson: Mounds Mall Cinema I & II
Bloomington: Von Lee Dolby Stereo
Muncie: Northwest Plaza Cinema I & II
Terre Haute: Honey Creek Cinema I-II-III
IOWA
Waterloo: Crossroads 1 & 2
KENTUCKY
Owensboro: Malco
MANITOBA
Winnipeg: Odeon
MICHIGAN
Ann Arbor: Fox Village
Burton: Eastland Mall
MINNESOTA
Rochester: Cinema 1 & 2
ONTARIO
Toronto: Don Mills
Toronto: Humber I & II
OREGON
Corvallis: Cinema World Dolby Stereo
TENNESSEE
Jackson: Paramount
UTAH
Orem: University I & II
VIRGINIA
Springfield: Springfield Cinema I (this is a correction)
Happy belated b-day, Close Encounters. I caught CETK at the South Coast Plaza 3 when I was seven years old and it remains one of my favorite films. Got the new three-disc Ultimate Edition DVD for Xmas and recently screened all three versions. I prefer the Director’s Cut but did enjoy seeing both the Original Theatrical and Special Edition cuts again. I forgot how much of a let-down the Special Edition was at the end. It’s sad there wasn’t a theatrical re-release for the anniversary.
Was too young to see it in theatres, but I originally saw the film on ABC and bought the VHS of the Special Edition. But I do plan on buying the 3-DVD set which also has the Theatrical Version and the 1998 Collector’s Edition. It is also available on a single Blu-Ray disc since Blu-Ray can store more data than a standard DVD.
I saw CE3K opening week at the Phipps Plaza Penthouse in Atlanta. 35MM only since the Penthouse did not have 70MM equipment. This was the first film to use the new Dolby system here, and my first impression was that it was too loud. Too many people confuse volume with effect and do not think that they are getting their stereo effect unless they leave the theatre with their ears ringing. In the late summer of 1978, the Fox Theatre in Atlanta added CE to the end of their summer movie schedule. The Fox did not have Dolby then, but I went to see it because they had a 70MM print that would use the 6 track mag sound system that was there. There was a huge crowd, but two of the reels were in terrible shape and there were half a dozen film breaks in that section.
As for the movie, I enjoyed it and thought that it was a good, well made movie, but a little long is some sections. It has never been on any all time favorite list of mine. My favorite scene is when Richard Dreyfus wrecks his car on the way to Devils Tower. As the camera follows him as he climbs up the embankment to look around, you get your first glimpse of the Tower at the edge of the screen. This subtle effect is completely wasted on the millions of people who have seen the movie P&S on TV as the Tower is cropped off. In 1981, or whenever it came out, I was working in a theatre that ran the SE version. I thought the changes made the first version look like a masterpiece, but it did great business for a couple of weeks.
As for my theatre employee experiences with CE3K, I have two. In 1996 I was working the projection booth at the Fox, and one of the Summer Film Series bookings was an all day Spielberg festival of Jaws, Raiders, and at 8 PM, CE3K. Some people were there all day, and by 8 there were enough people to fill about three fourths of the 4500 Fox seats. Those of you who worked in theatres in the early days of Dolby might recall that the early Dolby features were released in two different versions, some with Dolby soundtracks, and the rest with mono soundtracks. As our bad luck would have it, the Jaws and Raiders prints had been struck recently, but not only was the CE print an original from 1977, it was mono as well. It was in good condition, but sounded terrible.
My other memory dates back only to March, 2006. In the early 70’s I worked at the Atlanta Theatre, which at the time was operated by Walter Reade Org. All I ever heard about from the managers and other company people who came to town from New York was what a great theatre the Ziegfeld was. I always wanted to see a movie there to see just how the theatre measured up to its reputation. When the Ziegfeld put on its Cinema Classics series I made a day trip to NY and caught an afternoon showing of CE. The theatre was nice, but I would have been much more impressed in 1971 when I was new to the business. The presentation was just fair. No 70MM, but 35MM Dolby. The movie was the third edition, which I believe is also the directors cut.
As do most people, I thought the SE version was a joke, and liked the original version best, although both the first or third versions are fine.
I saw this in Reno at the Keystone Cinema (listed here as “Cinema”). It was a decent, no frills single screen theater. I was mesmerized from start to finish – to these (then) seven-year-old eyes, I saw the most wonderful fantasy. How I wished I were the Roy Neary character! I was able to see the film one more time after Thanksgiving and then proceeded to buy every fantasy/sci-fi magazine that featured the film on its cover (which educated me on the sci-fi films of the 50’s and 60’s as well!)
Such a terrific film that lost none of its appeal for me all these years!
As I recall, I viewed the movie at the Merrit Theater, on Main St. in Bridgeport
During the initial weeks of the “CE3K” release, the MERRITT was showing “Saturday Night Fever” and “The World’s Greatest Lover.” Are you sure it wasn’t the FINE ARTS in Westport where you saw it?
“Star Wars,” by the way, played a 23-week run at the MERRITT that same year. Could you be confusing “CE3K” with “Star Wars”?
I was watching some it over the weekend on American Movie Classics, but had to turn it off because my wife felt some of the scenes might be too intense for our toddler.
As I recall, I viewed the movie at the Merrit Theater, on Main St. in Bridgeport, a theater rhat no longer exists. I also saw it at the Showcase in Orange. My first reaction was to immediately purchase the LP, which has since disappeared into that mystical world where all fondly-remembered keepsakes go. I have never looked at mashed potatoes the same way since!
Ahhh…brings tears to my eyes. I attended the first show (Noon) opening day at the Dome in Hollywood after driving in from grad school in Austin, TX and picking up a fraternity brother who flew down from grad school in Berkeley. We met other “brothers” at the Dome in those two huge parallel lines. One for tix for the next show and the other for later shows. I was to buy tix for an evening show as well, since other friends couldn’t attend in the daytime. Never made it to the boxoffice in my line and gave up and went into the Dome at 11:55. Saw it again there Saturday night with a bunch of old classmates. Unbelievable lines snaking around the parking lot at 10AM to buy tix.
Also saw it at the Ziegfeld over the Holidays and at the Alabama and Town and Country in Houston. (plus some 35mm engagements like the Medallion in Dallas, which is where the film had the big sneak preview that TIME mag sneaked into and reviewed). I dunno why the terrific Medallion didn’t get a 70mm print!
Thanks for the list, Michael. I'm surprised it didn't play in Muncie, Indiana since so much of it took place there
You’re welcome. I estimate my list in its current form is about 80% complete as far as the bookings that started in December ‘77 are concerned. So it’s possible Muncie is among the 20% of missing bookings. If it can be confirmed, I’ll update the list accordingly.
By the way, are you aware of the recently published book, “Close Encounters Of The Third Kind: The Making Of Steven Spielberg’s Classic Film” (Ray Morton, Applause, 2007)? Anyone who is a fan of the film ought to check it out.
Michael, you have quite an exhaustive list there but I could've sworn that we got a 70mm print at our Uptown during its initial run. If I have the time, I'll check the Post archives.
JodarMovieFan…I have no way of knowing where the heck you are from! A lot of cities have an “Uptown” theater or a “Post” newspaper!!!
But I’ll guess you’re referring to Washington, DC… If so, then I can relay to you that “Close Encounters” did not play at the UPTOWN in 70mm. In fact, it did not run at the UPTOWN in any format since at the time of the “CE3K” release the single-screen UPTOWN was showing a different movie (“Star Wars”). My list correctly cites the K-B CINEMA as the DC venue showing “CE3K.”
The big deal is that I did not need to see the inside of the ship in the first place. In my opinion, the addition interrupted the “emotional” continuity of the film at its conclusion.
The recent DVD release has all 3 versions of the film, and I understand is a very comprehensive and well done package.
Unfortunately, I was too young and my parents yielded quite a heavy right hand, on my bottom, if I even broached the subject of “going to the movies,” much less one about “aliens” from another planet. Though, my oldest brother, had the good fortune and better persuasive skills (heck, he was the older brother) to allow us to go see Rocky, only a few weeks later. BLEH.
I don’t think I ever saw CE3K in the theater in any of its versions. In 1980, when there was the special edition and the look inside the mothership (and when I was allowed to go to movies), I wanted to see it but it didn’t last very long in area theaters from what I recall. Michael, you have quite an exhaustive list there but I could’ve sworn that we got a 70mm print at our Uptown during its initial run. If I have the time, I’ll check the Post archives.
Probably my first time seeing the movie was on ABC. If memory serves me correctly, the network version was a combination of the special edition and original. Being very young and with a youth’s shorter attention span, my initial reaction to the movie was slow. It took awhile to get to the BIG finale where everything, everybody comes together..literally. As far as the look inside the mother ship that seemed to get the ire of some critics and fans, what is the big deal? I’m sure everyone wanted to know what it was like inside and when Spielberg went back to do the Special Edition, he pretty much satisfied that curiosity.
If AFI would get its act together and put on a decent sci-fi retrospective, it would be nice to include this film. I’d probably go for the DVD version, which I’ve read, has a combination of both versions and is the preferred Spielberg cut.
I saw “Close Encounters” at the Mai Kai in my hometown of Livonia. It was one of the houses that opened this film in 70mm, an important thing with me at the time as I had just run a retor showing of “2001” at the Summit Cinerama downtown and my cohorts and I from the Redford theatre had gotten the Norelco AAII projectors from the Summit donated to the Redford and we were in the midst of remodeling the booth for the 70mm projectors. Back to “Encounters”—the film went off screen at the Mai Kai about ¾ of the way through the film, they couldn’t get it back on and had to issue “admit ones” to the entire opening night audience. I did come back and see it in its entirety, liked the first cut much better than the later director’s cut. I really miss the Mai Kai, the poor girl was too good for the bedroom community of Livonia, the city was offered the building by the Nicholas George family as a civic auditorium but the turned it down. They paid a consultant firm to “tell us we’ll lose tons of money running this auditorium” and that’s exactly what the report read. It was something special to go see a BIG film there. The Mai kai was about the same age that the NY Roxy and Paramount, SF Fox, Toledo Paramount and other great palaces were demolished.
To add to Howard’s list of big 70mm premieres at the Ziegfeld: “Ryan’s Daughter” in November 1970 (actually shot in 70mm, and not a blow-up from 35mm) and “Gandhi” in December 1982. Each played there for about 7 months – I think they were the two longest-running engagements in the theater’s history.
Sorry about this aside – now back to “Close Encounters” …
“Close Encounters of the Third Kind” had a ‘Gala Premier’ at the Odeon Leicester Square, London, England, UK on Monday 13th March 1978. It was presented in 70mm and Dolby Stereo.
Welcome back Michael! Of course, the original version is my favorite. The date escapes me, but it was probably 1978 when I first saw it at the UA Cinema 150 in Carolina, Puerto Rico. In many ways, a more satisfying experience than that other movie by George Lucas. The film portrayed a more human and personal side. And although I enjoyed it entirely from start to finish, the opening desert sequence still gets me! It’s hard to explain, but it felt like I was “there”, or watching something that was “actually happening”. Anyway, a few years ago, the Director’s Cut (or “definitive” cut, whatever) was screened at Cal State Long Beach, and introduced by Director of Photography Vilmos Zsigmond. What a treat!
Bill: if you check the IMBD, it looks like Alabama doubled for many of the Indiana locations.
Philadelphia newspapers have a photo of it on the marquee of the Sameric (Boyd).
Was supposed to have an anniv showing at NYC’s Paris, but that didn’t happen.
When reviewing 70 mm World Premieres, I drafted this, but the Ziegfeld has had so many 35 mm premieres, I didn’t submit it for an addition to the Intro. Close Encounters stands out as the most important of the 70 mm premieres there, right?
World Premieres of 70mm films at the Ziegfeld included Rollerball (June 25, 1975), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (November 15, 1977), The Rose (November 6, 1979), Fame (May 12, 1980), Grease 2 (June 9, 1982), Who’s That Girl (August 6, 1987), and Hoffa (December 15, 1992)
For those with an interest in this sort of stuff, here are links to a new retrospective article for the movie’s 40th anniversary. And another one focused on the movie’s 70mm presentations over the years.
Giles… I don’t see any evidence the K-B Cinema ran CE3K in 70mm. The MacArthur did, though, following the K-B Cinema first run and at the same time as the Tysons run you cited.
I thought there was a change over from the 35mm print to 70mm at the KB Cinema (?) but on the second largest screen in DC at the time, the experience in picture size and sound was phenomenal
While it wasn’t during CE3K’s premier engagement – Tyson’s Cinema presented it in 70mm in 1978:
http://www.in70mm.com/news/2010/ce3k/index.htm
Coate:
There’s more from North Carolina…….
ONLY Raleigh, Asheville and Charlotte were the only theatres in the state that presented CLOSE ENCOUNTERS in DOBLY STEREO……
The theatres that were absent from this list……..
Chapel Hill: Carolina Twin
Durham: Center Twin aka Center 1 & 2
Burlington: Terrace 1 & 2
Sanford: Kendale Twin
Rockingham: Cinema
Hickory: Terrace Twin
Greenville: Plaza 1 & 2
Aberdeen/Southern Pines: Town and Country 1 & 2
Wait, there’s more…
ALBERTA
Edmonton: Odeon 1 & 2
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Victoria: Odeon 1 & 2
FLORIDA
Daytona Beach: Bellair Plaza
LOUISIANA
Monroe: Plaza
MICHIGAN
Battle Creek: West Columbia
NOVA SCOTIA
Halifax: Hyland
ONTARIO
Kitchener: Lyric
Thunder Bay: Victoria
PENNSYLVANIA
Scranton: Viewmont Mall Cinema I-II-III
TENNESSEE
Johnson City: Mall
TEXAS
College Station: Interstate
A few more…
CALIFORNIA
Fairfield: Fairfield Dolby Stereo
INDIANA
West Lafayette: Cinema West
MINNESOTA
Rochester: Oakview (this is a correction)
NORTH DAKOTA
Bismarck: Kirkwood Plaza
VIRGINIA
Bristol: Bristol Mall 4
Thanks, Michael. It must have been an extra thrill to see the movie in Muncie when that title card came up on the screen, for the first scene with Jillian and Barry.
Bill H: I’ve verified that “CE3K” did in fact play in Muncie during the early weeks of the film’s release. It’s listed below along with a handful of other recently verified engagements.
ALBERTA
Calgary: North Hill
Calgary: Uptown 1 & 2
Edmonton: Meadowlark
BRITISH COLUMBIA
New Westminster: Odeon New West
COLORADO
Colorado Springs: Cinema 150
CONNECTICUT
Groton: Groton Cinemas 1 & 2
Uncasville: Liberty Dolby Stereo
GEORGIA
Athens: Weis Cinemas
ILLINOIS
Springfield: White Oaks Mall
INDIANA
Anderson: Mounds Mall Cinema I & II
Bloomington: Von Lee Dolby Stereo
Muncie: Northwest Plaza Cinema I & II
Terre Haute: Honey Creek Cinema I-II-III
IOWA
Waterloo: Crossroads 1 & 2
KENTUCKY
Owensboro: Malco
MANITOBA
Winnipeg: Odeon
MICHIGAN
Ann Arbor: Fox Village
Burton: Eastland Mall
MINNESOTA
Rochester: Cinema 1 & 2
ONTARIO
Toronto: Don Mills
Toronto: Humber I & II
OREGON
Corvallis: Cinema World Dolby Stereo
TENNESSEE
Jackson: Paramount
UTAH
Orem: University I & II
VIRGINIA
Springfield: Springfield Cinema I (this is a correction)
WISCONSIN
Eau Claire: State
Madison: Orpheum Dolby Stereo (Dolby notation added)
Happy belated b-day, Close Encounters. I caught CETK at the South Coast Plaza 3 when I was seven years old and it remains one of my favorite films. Got the new three-disc Ultimate Edition DVD for Xmas and recently screened all three versions. I prefer the Director’s Cut but did enjoy seeing both the Original Theatrical and Special Edition cuts again. I forgot how much of a let-down the Special Edition was at the end. It’s sad there wasn’t a theatrical re-release for the anniversary.
Was too young to see it in theatres, but I originally saw the film on ABC and bought the VHS of the Special Edition. But I do plan on buying the 3-DVD set which also has the Theatrical Version and the 1998 Collector’s Edition. It is also available on a single Blu-Ray disc since Blu-Ray can store more data than a standard DVD.
I saw CE3K opening week at the Phipps Plaza Penthouse in Atlanta. 35MM only since the Penthouse did not have 70MM equipment. This was the first film to use the new Dolby system here, and my first impression was that it was too loud. Too many people confuse volume with effect and do not think that they are getting their stereo effect unless they leave the theatre with their ears ringing. In the late summer of 1978, the Fox Theatre in Atlanta added CE to the end of their summer movie schedule. The Fox did not have Dolby then, but I went to see it because they had a 70MM print that would use the 6 track mag sound system that was there. There was a huge crowd, but two of the reels were in terrible shape and there were half a dozen film breaks in that section.
As for the movie, I enjoyed it and thought that it was a good, well made movie, but a little long is some sections. It has never been on any all time favorite list of mine. My favorite scene is when Richard Dreyfus wrecks his car on the way to Devils Tower. As the camera follows him as he climbs up the embankment to look around, you get your first glimpse of the Tower at the edge of the screen. This subtle effect is completely wasted on the millions of people who have seen the movie P&S on TV as the Tower is cropped off. In 1981, or whenever it came out, I was working in a theatre that ran the SE version. I thought the changes made the first version look like a masterpiece, but it did great business for a couple of weeks.
As for my theatre employee experiences with CE3K, I have two. In 1996 I was working the projection booth at the Fox, and one of the Summer Film Series bookings was an all day Spielberg festival of Jaws, Raiders, and at 8 PM, CE3K. Some people were there all day, and by 8 there were enough people to fill about three fourths of the 4500 Fox seats. Those of you who worked in theatres in the early days of Dolby might recall that the early Dolby features were released in two different versions, some with Dolby soundtracks, and the rest with mono soundtracks. As our bad luck would have it, the Jaws and Raiders prints had been struck recently, but not only was the CE print an original from 1977, it was mono as well. It was in good condition, but sounded terrible.
My other memory dates back only to March, 2006. In the early 70’s I worked at the Atlanta Theatre, which at the time was operated by Walter Reade Org. All I ever heard about from the managers and other company people who came to town from New York was what a great theatre the Ziegfeld was. I always wanted to see a movie there to see just how the theatre measured up to its reputation. When the Ziegfeld put on its Cinema Classics series I made a day trip to NY and caught an afternoon showing of CE. The theatre was nice, but I would have been much more impressed in 1971 when I was new to the business. The presentation was just fair. No 70MM, but 35MM Dolby. The movie was the third edition, which I believe is also the directors cut.
As do most people, I thought the SE version was a joke, and liked the original version best, although both the first or third versions are fine.
I saw this in Reno at the Keystone Cinema (listed here as “Cinema”). It was a decent, no frills single screen theater. I was mesmerized from start to finish – to these (then) seven-year-old eyes, I saw the most wonderful fantasy. How I wished I were the Roy Neary character! I was able to see the film one more time after Thanksgiving and then proceeded to buy every fantasy/sci-fi magazine that featured the film on its cover (which educated me on the sci-fi films of the 50’s and 60’s as well!)
Such a terrific film that lost none of its appeal for me all these years!
During the initial weeks of the “CE3K” release, the MERRITT was showing “Saturday Night Fever” and “The World’s Greatest Lover.” Are you sure it wasn’t the FINE ARTS in Westport where you saw it?
“Star Wars,” by the way, played a 23-week run at the MERRITT that same year. Could you be confusing “CE3K” with “Star Wars”?
I was watching some it over the weekend on American Movie Classics, but had to turn it off because my wife felt some of the scenes might be too intense for our toddler.
The things I have to do as a father!
As I recall, I viewed the movie at the Merrit Theater, on Main St. in Bridgeport, a theater rhat no longer exists. I also saw it at the Showcase in Orange. My first reaction was to immediately purchase the LP, which has since disappeared into that mystical world where all fondly-remembered keepsakes go. I have never looked at mashed potatoes the same way since!
Ahhh…brings tears to my eyes. I attended the first show (Noon) opening day at the Dome in Hollywood after driving in from grad school in Austin, TX and picking up a fraternity brother who flew down from grad school in Berkeley. We met other “brothers” at the Dome in those two huge parallel lines. One for tix for the next show and the other for later shows. I was to buy tix for an evening show as well, since other friends couldn’t attend in the daytime. Never made it to the boxoffice in my line and gave up and went into the Dome at 11:55. Saw it again there Saturday night with a bunch of old classmates. Unbelievable lines snaking around the parking lot at 10AM to buy tix.
Also saw it at the Ziegfeld over the Holidays and at the Alabama and Town and Country in Houston. (plus some 35mm engagements like the Medallion in Dallas, which is where the film had the big sneak preview that TIME mag sneaked into and reviewed). I dunno why the terrific Medallion didn’t get a 70mm print!
You’re welcome. I estimate my list in its current form is about 80% complete as far as the bookings that started in December ‘77 are concerned. So it’s possible Muncie is among the 20% of missing bookings. If it can be confirmed, I’ll update the list accordingly.
By the way, are you aware of the recently published book, “Close Encounters Of The Third Kind: The Making Of Steven Spielberg’s Classic Film” (Ray Morton, Applause, 2007)? Anyone who is a fan of the film ought to check it out.
JodarMovieFan…I have no way of knowing where the heck you are from! A lot of cities have an “Uptown” theater or a “Post” newspaper!!!
But I’ll guess you’re referring to Washington, DC… If so, then I can relay to you that “Close Encounters” did not play at the UPTOWN in 70mm. In fact, it did not run at the UPTOWN in any format since at the time of the “CE3K” release the single-screen UPTOWN was showing a different movie (“Star Wars”). My list correctly cites the K-B CINEMA as the DC venue showing “CE3K.”
Jodar,
The big deal is that I did not need to see the inside of the ship in the first place. In my opinion, the addition interrupted the “emotional” continuity of the film at its conclusion.
The recent DVD release has all 3 versions of the film, and I understand is a very comprehensive and well done package.
JSA
Unfortunately, I was too young and my parents yielded quite a heavy right hand, on my bottom, if I even broached the subject of “going to the movies,” much less one about “aliens” from another planet. Though, my oldest brother, had the good fortune and better persuasive skills (heck, he was the older brother) to allow us to go see Rocky, only a few weeks later. BLEH.
I don’t think I ever saw CE3K in the theater in any of its versions. In 1980, when there was the special edition and the look inside the mothership (and when I was allowed to go to movies), I wanted to see it but it didn’t last very long in area theaters from what I recall. Michael, you have quite an exhaustive list there but I could’ve sworn that we got a 70mm print at our Uptown during its initial run. If I have the time, I’ll check the Post archives.
Probably my first time seeing the movie was on ABC. If memory serves me correctly, the network version was a combination of the special edition and original. Being very young and with a youth’s shorter attention span, my initial reaction to the movie was slow. It took awhile to get to the BIG finale where everything, everybody comes together..literally. As far as the look inside the mother ship that seemed to get the ire of some critics and fans, what is the big deal? I’m sure everyone wanted to know what it was like inside and when Spielberg went back to do the Special Edition, he pretty much satisfied that curiosity.
If AFI would get its act together and put on a decent sci-fi retrospective, it would be nice to include this film. I’d probably go for the DVD version, which I’ve read, has a combination of both versions and is the preferred Spielberg cut.
I saw “Close Encounters” at the Mai Kai in my hometown of Livonia. It was one of the houses that opened this film in 70mm, an important thing with me at the time as I had just run a retor showing of “2001” at the Summit Cinerama downtown and my cohorts and I from the Redford theatre had gotten the Norelco AAII projectors from the Summit donated to the Redford and we were in the midst of remodeling the booth for the 70mm projectors. Back to “Encounters”—the film went off screen at the Mai Kai about ¾ of the way through the film, they couldn’t get it back on and had to issue “admit ones” to the entire opening night audience. I did come back and see it in its entirety, liked the first cut much better than the later director’s cut. I really miss the Mai Kai, the poor girl was too good for the bedroom community of Livonia, the city was offered the building by the Nicholas George family as a civic auditorium but the turned it down. They paid a consultant firm to “tell us we’ll lose tons of money running this auditorium” and that’s exactly what the report read. It was something special to go see a BIG film there. The Mai kai was about the same age that the NY Roxy and Paramount, SF Fox, Toledo Paramount and other great palaces were demolished.
To add to Howard’s list of big 70mm premieres at the Ziegfeld: “Ryan’s Daughter” in November 1970 (actually shot in 70mm, and not a blow-up from 35mm) and “Gandhi” in December 1982. Each played there for about 7 months – I think they were the two longest-running engagements in the theater’s history.
Sorry about this aside – now back to “Close Encounters” …
“Close Encounters of the Third Kind” had a ‘Gala Premier’ at the Odeon Leicester Square, London, England, UK on Monday 13th March 1978. It was presented in 70mm and Dolby Stereo.
Welcome back Michael! Of course, the original version is my favorite. The date escapes me, but it was probably 1978 when I first saw it at the UA Cinema 150 in Carolina, Puerto Rico. In many ways, a more satisfying experience than that other movie by George Lucas. The film portrayed a more human and personal side. And although I enjoyed it entirely from start to finish, the opening desert sequence still gets me! It’s hard to explain, but it felt like I was “there”, or watching something that was “actually happening”. Anyway, a few years ago, the Director’s Cut (or “definitive” cut, whatever) was screened at Cal State Long Beach, and introduced by Director of Photography Vilmos Zsigmond. What a treat!
Bill: if you check the IMBD, it looks like Alabama doubled for many of the Indiana locations.
JSA
Philadelphia newspapers have a photo of it on the marquee of the Sameric (Boyd).
Was supposed to have an anniv showing at NYC’s Paris, but that didn’t happen.
When reviewing 70 mm World Premieres, I drafted this, but the Ziegfeld has had so many 35 mm premieres, I didn’t submit it for an addition to the Intro. Close Encounters stands out as the most important of the 70 mm premieres there, right?
World Premieres of 70mm films at the Ziegfeld included Rollerball (June 25, 1975), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (November 15, 1977), The Rose (November 6, 1979), Fame (May 12, 1980), Grease 2 (June 9, 1982), Who’s That Girl (August 6, 1987), and Hoffa (December 15, 1992)