Dolby’s install records from the summer 1978 period (when “Grease” opened) make no reference to this theater, suggesting the install took place during a later timeframe, the records are incorrect, or a Dolby-compatible competitor format system was what was installed.
RSM3853… Also, I appreciate all of the research (as I am sure others here do as well), and I wish more people compiled info of this type, but a few undesirable things, in my opinion, stand out. One, the lists are difficult to read presented as a giant paragraph. I think readers would find it much easier to read and reference if you used a left-margin-based list. (I think to create a hard return in the current Cinema Treasures format is two spaces and a return.) Two, I think using the Wednesday dates is going to disappoint or even infuriate anyone with a serious interest in this type of information. It would not have taken much more time to have scanned through the microfilm to ascertain the precise opening date. And, three, I think it would be useful and interesting to identify those films that were a roadshow or employed any type of special distribution/exhibition process to distinguish them from the ordinary releases.
Does anyone from the NYC/Long Island region have access to Newsday (or other Long Island newspaper) on microfilm? I’m seeking confirmation of the closing date of the roadshow run of “Funny Girl” at the Syosset Theater. Did “Funny Girl” play right up to the Jan 28th, 1970 opening of “Paint Your Wagon”?
I can confirm this was a 3-screener in 1981 when they ran Raiders of the Lost Ark . (I cannot say whether it started life with fewer screens or ended with more screens.)
It’s about time this theater got an entry in the database! I pointed out it needed a page over three years ago in my “Empire” retrospective. Anyway, it’s nice to see it get a page, but I’d like to make a request to those who create pages: Please stop generalizing/approximating the grand-opening and screen-expansion timeline. Why not conduct actual research from a primary source and obtain accurate and comprehensive information the first time around?
It seems obvious to me that the reason it took so long for ICE STATION ZEBRA to play in San Jose was because of the extended run of 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY. Up until the ISZ run, all Cinerama films in San Jose played exclusively at the Century 21. The long run of 2001 is clearly what prompted the Town & Country to “become” a Cinerama house to play KRAKATOA, and in turn prompted Syufy to show ISZ in another one of their roadshow domes instead of waiting until the 2001 run to end. The fact that ISZ had already played in San Francisco is irrelevant.
It seems absurd to suggest that San Jose gave up on Cinerama during the time you cited when they were at that time showing what turned out to be the country’s longest run of 2001. The fact that San Jose played 2001 for so long and still found a way to play KRAKATOA and ISZ suggests they had not given up on Cinerama.
I think you may have misinterpreted the list of Cinerama films that did not play in San Jose. The first 12 on the list were released before San Jose came online as a Cinerama market, and the first 10 titles on that list obviously weren’t played because of format incompatibility. The Century 21 did not play exclusively Cinerama product, and an extended run of MY FAIR LADY is what prevented THE HALLELUJAH TRAIL from being booked. A lengthy run of DOCTOR ZHIVAGO prevented first-run bookings of RUSSIAN ADVENTURE and KHARTOUM. And CUSTER OF THE WEST not being shown carries little weight since its Cinerama/roadshow release was jettisoned by its distributor before it had a chance to get many playdates. California had six Cinerama markets and only one of them played CUSTER.
By the time of the THIS IS CINERAMA re-issue, there’s no reason to believe the D-150 licensing agreement would still be in effect in regard to projecting a 70mm image onto the entire screen at a D-150 house since nobody was producing any films in D-150. There’s no way any of us can prove it at this late date, but I can’t imagine THIS IS CINERAMA or any other 70mm film not being shown on anything but the entire screen.
This has been incorrectly explained in comments on this page as well as other entries in this series, but Cinerama presentations of films shot in Super Panavision and Ultra Panavision were shown in the same aspect ratio and with identical screen dimensions. The difference between the two was accounted for with the rectification added into the prints. I know it’s confusing and difficult to explain, but for 70mm presentations on a deeply-curved screen, to calculate aspect ratio one must measure along the cord not the curve.
“I notice that the Century 21 has its own Cinema Treasures page, but the Century 22 and Century 23 do not.”
The Century 22 obviously has a page since your comment was posted on that theater’s page! I think you meant pages are needed for Century 23 and Century 24.
Coate
commented about
Movies 7on
Jun 9, 2012 at 2:19 pm
Ever since the website was redesigned, I’ve noticed numerous instances where someone deleted a comment of theirs in an attempt to hide the fact that they posted erroneous information. Anyone reading the comments sequentially after a deletion might be confused, so, in my opinion, all comments should stay. Of course, I also think whenever an intro is edited there should be a time & date stamp so that readers know a revision was based on someone’s comment, especially since the commenter won’t get credit and the original intro writer who failed to mention something or got a detail wrong ends up with the credit. An unfair and poorly thought out policy, if you ask me.
Anyway, Jensen, how did you come up with an address of 1601 Penfield Road when the ad states the theater was located at 360 Penfield Road?
Jensen… Why did you delete your comment that preceded mine??? My comment (especially the parenthetical information) was motivated by your comment. Now my comment makes no sense.
Dolby’s install records from the summer 1978 period (when “Grease” opened) make no reference to this theater, suggesting the install took place during a later timeframe, the records are incorrect, or a Dolby-compatible competitor format system was what was installed.
RSM3853… Also, I appreciate all of the research (as I am sure others here do as well), and I wish more people compiled info of this type, but a few undesirable things, in my opinion, stand out. One, the lists are difficult to read presented as a giant paragraph. I think readers would find it much easier to read and reference if you used a left-margin-based list. (I think to create a hard return in the current Cinema Treasures format is two spaces and a return.) Two, I think using the Wednesday dates is going to disappoint or even infuriate anyone with a serious interest in this type of information. It would not have taken much more time to have scanned through the microfilm to ascertain the precise opening date. And, three, I think it would be useful and interesting to identify those films that were a roadshow or employed any type of special distribution/exhibition process to distinguish them from the ordinary releases.
RSM3853… “Jaws” is missing from your list. It started 06/20/75 (or 06/18/75 using your “Wednesday of the opening week” approach).
How many screens did this theater have as of the winter of 1978/79?
Happy 50th anniversary to the Cinerama Dome, which opened for business fifty years ago today.
Does anyone from the NYC/Long Island region have access to Newsday (or other Long Island newspaper) on microfilm? I’m seeking confirmation of the closing date of the roadshow run of “Funny Girl” at the Syosset Theater. Did “Funny Girl” play right up to the Jan 28th, 1970 opening of “Paint Your Wagon”?
I can confirm this was a 3-screener in 1981 when they ran Raiders of the Lost Ark . (I cannot say whether it started life with fewer screens or ended with more screens.)
No, Chuck, by the autumn of 1963 most of the bookings of “Lawrence of Arabia” were of the general-release type.
Here’s a link to one of my retrospective articles that identifies most of the North American roadshow runs of “Lawrence of Arabia.”
Lawrence of Arabia: The Roadshow Engagements
Chuck wrote: “Opened in the mid-1980’s, it was the UA Gateway 4.”
Actually, this theater opened several years earlier than the mid-1980s. (Don’t you guys ever do real research???)
Seventy-one? Hypocrite!
mrhineha: “Star Wars” did not play at this theater in its original release.
This theater didn’t have five screens when it opened.
It’s about time this theater got an entry in the database! I pointed out it needed a page over three years ago in my “Empire” retrospective. Anyway, it’s nice to see it get a page, but I’d like to make a request to those who create pages: Please stop generalizing/approximating the grand-opening and screen-expansion timeline. Why not conduct actual research from a primary source and obtain accurate and comprehensive information the first time around?
What company operated the Parkway during the early 1980s?
What company operated this theater during the early 1980s?
In which year was this theater converted into a triplex?
What company operated this theater during the early 1980s?
When did the change in ownership from GCC to Wehrenberg take place?
Regarding CSWalczak’s analysis and speculation…
It seems obvious to me that the reason it took so long for ICE STATION ZEBRA to play in San Jose was because of the extended run of 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY. Up until the ISZ run, all Cinerama films in San Jose played exclusively at the Century 21. The long run of 2001 is clearly what prompted the Town & Country to “become” a Cinerama house to play KRAKATOA, and in turn prompted Syufy to show ISZ in another one of their roadshow domes instead of waiting until the 2001 run to end. The fact that ISZ had already played in San Francisco is irrelevant.
It seems absurd to suggest that San Jose gave up on Cinerama during the time you cited when they were at that time showing what turned out to be the country’s longest run of 2001. The fact that San Jose played 2001 for so long and still found a way to play KRAKATOA and ISZ suggests they had not given up on Cinerama.
I think you may have misinterpreted the list of Cinerama films that did not play in San Jose. The first 12 on the list were released before San Jose came online as a Cinerama market, and the first 10 titles on that list obviously weren’t played because of format incompatibility. The Century 21 did not play exclusively Cinerama product, and an extended run of MY FAIR LADY is what prevented THE HALLELUJAH TRAIL from being booked. A lengthy run of DOCTOR ZHIVAGO prevented first-run bookings of RUSSIAN ADVENTURE and KHARTOUM. And CUSTER OF THE WEST not being shown carries little weight since its Cinerama/roadshow release was jettisoned by its distributor before it had a chance to get many playdates. California had six Cinerama markets and only one of them played CUSTER.
By the time of the THIS IS CINERAMA re-issue, there’s no reason to believe the D-150 licensing agreement would still be in effect in regard to projecting a 70mm image onto the entire screen at a D-150 house since nobody was producing any films in D-150. There’s no way any of us can prove it at this late date, but I can’t imagine THIS IS CINERAMA or any other 70mm film not being shown on anything but the entire screen.
This has been incorrectly explained in comments on this page as well as other entries in this series, but Cinerama presentations of films shot in Super Panavision and Ultra Panavision were shown in the same aspect ratio and with identical screen dimensions. The difference between the two was accounted for with the rectification added into the prints. I know it’s confusing and difficult to explain, but for 70mm presentations on a deeply-curved screen, to calculate aspect ratio one must measure along the cord not the curve.
It opened in Fresno on June 22, 1977.
The Century 22 obviously has a page since your comment was posted on that theater’s page! I think you meant pages are needed for Century 23 and Century 24.
This theater opened on December 20, 1980.
Jensen… The theater wasn’t in the plaza, which may explain why it had a different address.
Ever since the website was redesigned, I’ve noticed numerous instances where someone deleted a comment of theirs in an attempt to hide the fact that they posted erroneous information. Anyone reading the comments sequentially after a deletion might be confused, so, in my opinion, all comments should stay. Of course, I also think whenever an intro is edited there should be a time & date stamp so that readers know a revision was based on someone’s comment, especially since the commenter won’t get credit and the original intro writer who failed to mention something or got a detail wrong ends up with the credit. An unfair and poorly thought out policy, if you ask me.
Anyway, Jensen, how did you come up with an address of 1601 Penfield Road when the ad states the theater was located at 360 Penfield Road?
Jensen… Why did you delete your comment that preceded mine??? My comment (especially the parenthetical information) was motivated by your comment. Now my comment makes no sense.