The 1969 re-issue of “Ben-Hur” mentioned in several recent comments actually began in February 1969, though it didn’t open in New York until June 18. “Goodbye, Mr. Chips” premiered on November 5, 1969.
This theater did open in 1977, as claimed, but certainly not as an 8-plex. (I bet the number of 8-plexes in existence in 1977 can be counted on one hand.) I believe it opened, as a twin, on December 23, 1977, with the debut features being “Oh, God!” and “The Choirboys.”
<<< “The Metro Center Cinema III opened in 1980” >>>
The Metro Center Cinema I-II-III opened several years before 1980. The mall in which the theater was located opened in 1973, and the theater opened shortly thereafter (either 1974 or 1975).
<<< Ballou Park 4 (Also known as Ballou Park Twin) >>>
Actually, its original name was, simply, Park. (The “Ballou Park” name may have been what was used in recent years or perhaps what locals called it in conversation since it was located in the Ballou Park section of town.)
<<< “This theater opened…around 1970” >>>
A more precise opening date is May 16, 1969. And, for those who care about such details, the debut feature was “My Side of the Mountain.”
<<< “I took a very close look at the ‘Zodiac’ movie last night. The Northpoint appears at approximately 1-hour and 35 minutes into the film. The exterior is definately the Northpoint. However, the Marquee was reconstructed with errors. For one thing, as you look at the two photos on this site [snip] You will notice that the Marquee in the photos faced both Powell and Bay Streets. In addition, there was no large black band with ‘Northpoint’ at the top and another black band at the bottom with ‘Theater.’ ” >>>
Another error the “Zodiac” filmmakers made in recreating the Northpoint was they spelled it “Theater” on the marquee whereas photographic evidence indicates it was spelled “Theatre.” And an even bigger error was why they even featured the Northpoint when, as I pointed out a few comments up, that “Dirty Harry,” the film featured in “Zodiac,” did not even play at that theater!
<<< *“As far as the interior is concerned, it was gutted when the theater closed. The real Northpoint did not have side wall curtains extending from the screen to the entrance. Another single-screen operating theater, probably in the L.A. area, was substituted for the audience shots.” * >>>
<<< * It once had seven screens; it last operated as a quad* >>>
Really? If that is correct it means this theater went from four screens to seven and then back to four.
As for successful engagements at this theater… While known as the UA Movies at Briarwood, they ran “Star Wars” for 33 weeks during 1977-78. For 13 of those weeks it was shown on two screens. “Star Wars” ran even longer at the similarly-named and designed UA Movies at Woodland in Grand Rapids (no page on Cinema Treasures, as far as I can tell).
“The Sound of Music” played here 82 weeks during its 1965-66 roadshow run. I imagine that is the longest engagement ever to play at the Tower or anywhere in Oklahoma City.
“Star Wars” ran 42 weeks here during its original 1977-78 release, which I imagine is the long-run record for the theater. A Dolby sound system was installed for the engagement, one of four in the Redstone/National Amusements circuit to do so.
(For the Pittsburgh market, “Star Wars” ran a longer period of time – 59 weeks – at the downtown Bank Cinema I & II, though it didn’t open there until July 20, 1977, whereas Showcase Cinemas began theirs several weeks earlier on May 25.)
Countryside 6 played “Star Wars” for 39 weeks during 1977-78, the second-longest run of that film in the Tampa Bay region and third-longest in all of Florida. I would imagine it also is the longest run of any film ever to play in Clearwater.
The stuff you’re writing about, techman, reminds me of the crackpot ideas that R.M. Hayes wrote about in the pages of early issues of Widescreen Review magazine and in the book he co-authored, Wide Screen Movies.
<<< “Hard to believe that ‘The Sound of Music’ played here for almost a year during the 1960’s.” >>>
It’s hard to believe because it’s not true! The Lakewood engagement of “The Sound of Music” played ten weeks during late-1966/early-‘67 following the close of the original 90-week, reserved-seat run at the Martin Cinerama.
<<< “I will always have fond memories of the old King Theaters though, as that was where my parents took me to see this new film that was out, that everyone was talking about…‘Star Wars.’ ” >>>
The La Crosse first-run engagement of “Star Wars” was actually at the Plitt Hollywood, not at the King. Perhaps it was during one of the film’s numerous re-issues that you saw it at the King?
<<< The Parkview wasn’t [a] twin until the late-1970’s or early 1980’s when it was under the Martin Theatres chain. When “Jaws” played here during its general release in 1975, the Parkview was still a single screen theatre. >>>
I disagree. The Parkview was a twin when “Jaws” played here in 1975. I have a copy of the opening-day ad for “Jaws” from the Winston-Salem newspaper and “Parkview 2” is how the theater in which it played is listed. Also, 1975 Winston-Salem telephone directories identify the theater as “Parkview Twin.” That, to me, seems satisfactory evidence the place was a twin at the time.
Okay, troll.
Opening picture: 100 Rifles.
Source: Daytona Beach Morning Journal, April 24, 1969 edition, page 32.
<<< In the 1980’s, two more screens were added to the theater >>>
I think the additional screens were added earlier than the ‘80s.
<<< “Opened in May 1969” >>>
The Big Tree opened on April 24, 1969.
The Astro Twin’s engagement of Star Wars lasted 22 weeks. An impressive run for a city the size of Greenville.
The 1969 re-issue of “Ben-Hur” mentioned in several recent comments actually began in February 1969, though it didn’t open in New York until June 18. “Goodbye, Mr. Chips” premiered on November 5, 1969.
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<<< “Metro Park 8 Theatres opened in 1977” >>>
This theater did open in 1977, as claimed, but certainly not as an 8-plex. (I bet the number of 8-plexes in existence in 1977 can be counted on one hand.) I believe it opened, as a twin, on December 23, 1977, with the debut features being “Oh, God!” and “The Choirboys.”
<<< “The Metro Center Cinema III opened in 1980” >>>
The Metro Center Cinema I-II-III opened several years before 1980. The mall in which the theater was located opened in 1973, and the theater opened shortly thereafter (either 1974 or 1975).
<<< “This theater opened as a twin” >>>
No, it didn’t! It opened as a single.
<<< Ballou Park 4 (Also known as Ballou Park Twin) >>>
Actually, its original name was, simply, Park. (The “Ballou Park” name may have been what was used in recent years or perhaps what locals called it in conversation since it was located in the Ballou Park section of town.)
<<< “This theater opened…around 1970” >>>
A more precise opening date is May 16, 1969. And, for those who care about such details, the debut feature was “My Side of the Mountain.”
Source: The Danville Register, various issues.
<<< “I took a very close look at the ‘Zodiac’ movie last night. The Northpoint appears at approximately 1-hour and 35 minutes into the film. The exterior is definately the Northpoint. However, the Marquee was reconstructed with errors. For one thing, as you look at the two photos on this site [snip] You will notice that the Marquee in the photos faced both Powell and Bay Streets. In addition, there was no large black band with ‘Northpoint’ at the top and another black band at the bottom with ‘Theater.’ ” >>>
Another error the “Zodiac” filmmakers made in recreating the Northpoint was they spelled it “Theater” on the marquee whereas photographic evidence indicates it was spelled “Theatre.” And an even bigger error was why they even featured the Northpoint when, as I pointed out a few comments up, that “Dirty Harry,” the film featured in “Zodiac,” did not even play at that theater!
<<< *“As far as the interior is concerned, it was gutted when the theater closed. The real Northpoint did not have side wall curtains extending from the screen to the entrance. Another single-screen operating theater, probably in the L.A. area, was substituted for the audience shots.” * >>>
The interiors were shot at the National.
Was the 8-screener an expansion of the original twin, or was the twin demolished to make way for an all-new build?
<<< * It once had seven screens; it last operated as a quad* >>>
Really? If that is correct it means this theater went from four screens to seven and then back to four.
As for successful engagements at this theater… While known as the UA Movies at Briarwood, they ran “Star Wars” for 33 weeks during 1977-78. For 13 of those weeks it was shown on two screens. “Star Wars” ran even longer at the similarly-named and designed UA Movies at Woodland in Grand Rapids (no page on Cinema Treasures, as far as I can tell).
“The Sound of Music” played here 82 weeks during its 1965-66 roadshow run. I imagine that is the longest engagement ever to play at the Tower or anywhere in Oklahoma City.
Cinema 4 South played “Star Wars” for 36 weeks during 1977-78, the longest run of the movie in Tennessee.
“Star Wars” ran 42 weeks here during its original 1977-78 release, which I imagine is the long-run record for the theater. A Dolby sound system was installed for the engagement, one of four in the Redstone/National Amusements circuit to do so.
(For the Pittsburgh market, “Star Wars” ran a longer period of time – 59 weeks – at the downtown Bank Cinema I & II, though it didn’t open there until July 20, 1977, whereas Showcase Cinemas began theirs several weeks earlier on May 25.)
MikeRogers… “Jaws” played 14 weeks first-run in Clearwater (at the Capitol).
Countryside 6 played “Star Wars” for 39 weeks during 1977-78, the second-longest run of that film in the Tampa Bay region and third-longest in all of Florida. I would imagine it also is the longest run of any film ever to play in Clearwater.
Grand opening: March 12, 1976.
The stuff you’re writing about, techman, reminds me of the crackpot ideas that R.M. Hayes wrote about in the pages of early issues of Widescreen Review magazine and in the book he co-authored, Wide Screen Movies.
That would be August of ‘79. :–)
I’m surprised no one has challenged Techman’s “Spartacus” 30fps claim from a couple weeks ago.
<<< “Hard to believe that ‘The Sound of Music’ played here for almost a year during the 1960’s.” >>>
It’s hard to believe because it’s not true! The Lakewood engagement of “The Sound of Music” played ten weeks during late-1966/early-‘67 following the close of the original 90-week, reserved-seat run at the Martin Cinerama.
<<< “I will always have fond memories of the old King Theaters though, as that was where my parents took me to see this new film that was out, that everyone was talking about…‘Star Wars.’ ” >>>
The La Crosse first-run engagement of “Star Wars” was actually at the Plitt Hollywood, not at the King. Perhaps it was during one of the film’s numerous re-issues that you saw it at the King?
<<< * it was later acquired by United Artists Theaters and expanded and modified to become a triplex.* >>>
Actually, this was a triplex while still under Ogden-Perry ownership.
<<< ONLY drive-in to play “Star Wars” in 1977 as exclusive for Central Florida. >>>
Not true. “Star Wars” also played first-run at Lake Haines Drive-In in Haines City.
<<< Build as one screen, then twin in 1978 >>>
This was twinned before 1978. (I’m not sure when it was twinned but know it was a twin in ‘77 when they ran “Star Wars.”)
<<< The Parkview wasn’t [a] twin until the late-1970’s or early 1980’s when it was under the Martin Theatres chain. When “Jaws” played here during its general release in 1975, the Parkview was still a single screen theatre. >>>
I disagree. The Parkview was a twin when “Jaws” played here in 1975. I have a copy of the opening-day ad for “Jaws” from the Winston-Salem newspaper and “Parkview 2” is how the theater in which it played is listed. Also, 1975 Winston-Salem telephone directories identify the theater as “Parkview Twin.” That, to me, seems satisfactory evidence the place was a twin at the time.