Remembering Cinerama Part IV
REMEMBERING CINERAMA
Part IV: Houston
The following is Part Four of a series of retrospectives on the revolutionary and historic Cinerama process (and copycat formats Cinemiracle and Thrillarama), which provides nostalgia to those who experienced Cinerama when it was new and highlights the great movie palaces in which these memorable events took place.
Part I: New York City
Part II: Chicago
Part III: San Francisco
And now...Part IV: Cinerama Presentations in Houston!
THRILLARAMA
Theater: Metropolitan
Premiere: August 9, 1956 (World Premiere)
Engagement Duration: 1 week
Format: Thrillarama
Promotional Hype: “In an era of startling motion picture inventions...the most ingenious of all has been perfected...and here it is!”
WINDJAMMER
Theater: Uptown
Premiere: May 15, 1959
Duration: 7 weeks
Format: Cinemiracle
Hype: “Never Anything Like It Before...”
THIS IS CINERAMA
Theater: Rivoli
Premiere: August 25, 1960
Duration: 12 weeks
Format: 3-Strip Cinerama
Hype: “You are there! The Only Theatre In Texas That Can Or Will Show Cinerama!”
CINERAMA HOLIDAY
Theater: Rivoli
Premiere: November 18, 1960
Duration: 6 weeks
Format: 3-Strip Cinerama
Hype: “Now the new, the 2nd Cinerama adventure pulls you into a breath-gasping story filled with thrills you never experienced before!”
SOUTH SEAS ADVENTURE
Theater: Rivoli
Premiere: December 30, 1960
Duration: 7 weeks
Format: 3-Strip Cinerama
Hype: “Escape With The New Cinerama To The Sun Splashed, Moon Drenched, Mystery Washed South Seas!”
SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD
Theater: Rivoli
Premiere: February 17, 1961
Duration: 7 weeks
Format: 3-Strip Cinerama
Hype: “The Seven Wonders of the World as seen through the greatest wonder...Cinerama”
THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF THE BROTHERS GRIMM
Theater: Windsor
Premiere: December 21, 1962
Duration: 12 weeks
Format: 3-Strip Cinerama
Hype: “The First Dramatic Film In Fabulous Cinerama!”
HOW THE WEST WAS WON
Theater: Windsor
Premiere: March 14, 1963
Duration: 33 weeks
Format: 3-Strip Cinerama
Hype: “The Great Dramatic Motion Picture That Puts You In Every Scene!”
IT’S A MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD
Theater: Windsor
Premiere: December 19, 1963
Duration: 19 weeks
Format: 70mm
Hype: “The Biggest Entertainment Ever To Hit The Cinerama Screen With Laughter!”
CIRCUS WORLD
Theater: Windsor
Premiere: July 23, 1964
Duration: 12 weeks
Format: 70mm
Hype: “Cinerama Puts You In The Middle Of The Most Action-Filled Story You’ve Ever Seen!”
THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD
Theater: Windsor
Premiere: March 18, 1965
Duration: 15 weeks
Format: 70mm
Hype: None
THE HALLELUJAH TRAIL
Theater: Windsor
Premiere: July 3, 1965
Duration: 12 weeks
Format: 70mm
Hype: “Cinerama Sends You Roaring With Laughter And Adventure Down That Wide, Wonderful Fun-Trail!”
THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD (Return Engagement)
Theater: Gaylynn
Premiere: August 19, 1965
Duration: 6 weeks
Format: 70mm
Hype: None
BATTLE OF THE BULGE
Theater: Windsor
Premiere: December 17, 1965
Duration: 15 weeks
Format: 70mm
Hype: “The Super Action Show In Super Cinerama”
KHARTOUM
Theater: Gaylynn
Premiere: June 30, 1966
Duration: 8 weeks
Format: 70mm
Hype: “Where The Nile Divides, The Great Cinerama Adventure Begins!”
GRAND PRIX
Theater: Windsor
Premiere: February 1, 1967
Duration: 33 weeks
Format: 70mm
Hype: “Cinerama Sweeps You Into A Drama Of Speed And Spectacle!”
CUSTER OF THE WEST
Theater: Gaylynn
Premiere: January 25, 1968
Duration: 5 weeks
Format: 70mm
Hype: “A man too big for legend. A motion picture too big for any screen except Cinerama!”
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
Theater: Windsor
Premiere: April 10, 1968
Duration: 31 weeks
Format: 70mm
Hype: “An Epic Drama Of Adventure And Exploration!”
ICE STATION ZEBRA
Theater: Windsor
Premiere: November 12, 1968
Duration: 19 weeks
Format: 70mm
Hype: “Ice Station Zebra...remember the name, your life may depend on it!”
KRAKATOA, EAST OF JAVA
Theater: Gaylynn
Premiere: July 2, 1969
Duration: 6 weeks
Format: 70mm
Hype: “The New Cinerama Hurls You Into The Incredible Day That Shook The Earth To Its Core!”
THIS IS CINERAMA (Re-Issue)
Theatre: Windsor
Premiere: June 6, 1973
Duration: 4 weeks
Format: 70mm
Hype: “THIS IS CINERAMA Is Back To Entertain A Whole New Generation”
Compiled by Michael Coate
Sources: The Houston Chronicle, The Houston Post and Variety
