Remembering Cinerama (Part 18: Salt Lake City)

telliott on December 31, 2008 at 8:29 pm

Wow, looked at all the photos of the Villa theatre. That sure was some place, must have been great to see a movie there. At least the building is still standing and even though not a theatre anymore you can still see what it was like. We have a former beautiful theatre here in Toronto that is now a bookstore, with the magazine section on the former stage. I wish that more theatres had survived like that.

op712 on January 2, 2009 at 9:27 am

70mm showings are even better than any digital showing any day of the week.

op712 on January 2, 2009 at 7:05 pm

Almost a year…what I heard…

Coate on April 23, 2009 at 9:36 am

Here’s a revised and updated version of “Part 18: Salt Lake City” from my “Remembering Cinerama” series.

WINDJAMMER
Theater: Villa
Premiere: September 1, 1960
Engagement Duration: 16 weeks
Format: CineMiracle
Promotional Hype: “CINEMIRACLE Puts You Right In The Middle Of Thrill-Packed Adventure!”

THIS IS CINERAMA
Theater: Villa
Premiere: July 21, 1961
Duration: 26 weeks
Format: Cinerama (3-strip)
Hype: “You Are There!”

SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD
Theater: Villa
Premiere: January 18, 1962
Duration: 18 weeks
Format: Cinerama (3-strip)
Hype: “An Entertainment Of Such Irresistible Fascination… That Only The Miracle Of CINERAMA Could Encompass It!”

CINERAMA HOLIDAY
Theater: Villa
Premiere: May 23, 1962 (Mountain States Premiere)
Duration: 9 weeks
Format: Cinerama (3-strip)
Hype: “It’s worth a trip to Salt Lake City… because it’s every holiday you ever dreamed of… come true!” “Our 3rd CINERAMA Presentation. The Only Show In The Mountain West That Cannot And Will Not Be Shown In Any Other Theatre…”

SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD (Return Engagement)
Theater: Villa
Premiere: July 25, 1962
Duration: 4 weeks
Format: Cinerama (3-strip)
Hype: “SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD in the greatest wonder: CINERAMA”

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF THE BROTHERS GRIMM
Theater: Villa
Premiere: August 22, 1962
Duration: 25 weeks
Format: Cinerama (3-strip)
Hype: “For The First Time CINERAMA Tells A Story”

SEARCH FOR PARADISE
Theater: Villa
Premiere: February 13, 1963 (Mountain States Premiere)
Duration: 8 weeks
Format: Cinerama (3-strip)
Hype: “The Most Exciting CINERAMA of Them All!”

HOW THE WEST WAS WON
Theater: Villa
Premiere: April 11, 1963
Duration: 39 weeks
Format: Cinerama (3-strip)
Hype: “24 Great Stars. 3 Noted Directors. A Fabulous New Dramatic Adventure From M-G-M And CINERAMA”

SOUTH SEAS ADVENTURE
Theater: Villa
Premiere: January 9, 1964 (Mountain States Premiere)
Duration: 6 weeks
Format: Cinerama (3-strip)
Hype: “CINERAMA Transports You To Lush Tropic Islands Adventure-Splashed With A Thousand Excitements!”

IT’S A MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD
Theater: Villa
Premiere: February 19, 1964 (Mountain States Premiere)
Duration: 36 weeks
Format: Cinerama (70mm)
Hype: “It’s The Biggest Entertainment Ever To Rock The CINERAMA Screen With Laughter!”

CIRCUS WORLD
Theater: Villa
Premiere: October 28, 1964
Duration: 21 weeks
Format: Cinerama (70mm)
Hype: “CINERAMA Thrills… as the wildest Wild West Show you’ve ever seen rocks you with breathtaking feats of daring!”

MEDITERRANEAN HOLIDAY
Theater: Villa
Premiere: March 24, 1965 (Mountain States Premiere)
Duration: 3 weeks
Format: Cinerama (70mm)
Hype: “Suddenly you’re surrounded by the screen… Suddenly you’re in exotic lands… fascinated by strange customs and stranger people!”

THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD
Theater: Villa
Premiere: April 14, 1965 (Mountain States Premiere)
Duration: 25 weeks
Format: Cinerama (70mm)
Hype: “Only once in a lifetime. An Entertainment So Rich. An Experience So Rewarding.”

THE HALLELUJAH TRAIL
Theater: Villa
Premiere: October 6, 1965
Duration: 21 weeks
Format: Cinerama (70mm)
Hype: “CINERAMA Sends You Roaring With Laughter And Adventure Down That Wide, Wonderful Fun-Trail!”

BATTLE OF THE BULGE
Theater: Villa
Premiere: March 2, 1966
Duration: 17 weeks
Format: Cinerama (70mm)
Hype: “At Last! The super action show in SUPER CINERAMA”

KHARTOUM
Theater: Villa
Premiere: June 29, 1966
Duration: 12 weeks
Format: Cinerama (70mm)
Hype: “Where the Nile divides, their mighty conflict begins!”

RUSSIAN ADVENTURE
Theater: Villa
Premiere: September 21, 1966
Duration: 4 weeks
Format: Cinerama (70mm)
Hype: “This is the ultimate in CINERAMA. This is the last word in truly incredible adventure!”

MEDITERRANEAN HOLIDAY (Return Engagement)
Theater: Villa
Premiere: October 19, 1966
Duration: 4 weeks
Format: Cinerama (70mm)
Hype: “You sail away and live all the excitement your mind ever imagined in CINERAMA’s MEDITERRANEAN HOLIDAY”

GRAND PRIX
Theater: Villa
Premiere: February 1, 1967
Duration: 28 weeks
Format: Cinerama (70mm)
Hype: “CINERAMA sweeps YOU into a drama of speed and spectacle!”

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
Theater: Villa
Premiere: June 12, 1968
Duration: 21 weeks
Format: Cinerama (70mm)
Hype: “An epic drama of adventure and exploration!”

ICE STATION ZEBRA
Theater: Villa
Premiere: November 13, 1968 (Mountain States Premiere)
Duration: 23 weeks
Format: Cinerama (70mm)
Hype: “Ice Station Zebra…remember the name, your life may depend on it!”

KRAKATOA, EAST OF JAVA
Theater: Villa
Premiere: August 7, 1969
Duration: 20 weeks
Format: Cinerama (70mm)
Hype: “The New CINERAMA Hurls You Into The Incredible Day That Shook The Earth To Its Core!”

THIS IS CINERAMA (Re-Issue)
Theater: Villa
Premiere: September 28, 1973
Duration: 3 weeks
Format: Cinerama (70mm)
Hype: “THIS IS CINERAMA Is Back To Entertain A Whole New Generation”

NOT SHOWN IN CINERAMA IN THE SALT LAKE CITY MARKET:
HOLIDAY IN SPAIN
THE BEST OF CINERAMA
CUSTER OF THE WEST

TRIVIA:
The Salt Lake City market had three Cinerama-equipped theaters in total: the Villa (accounted for above), Plaza (3-strip) and Century 21 (70mm). There is no record of any Cinerama presentations at the Plaza or Century 21.

Compiled by Michael Coate

References: Deseret News, The Salt Lake Tribune, VillaTheatre.com

Scalerail on February 20, 2023 at 6:34 pm

I have one 35 mm projection lens from the Villa. It’s the biggest anamorphic lens I have ever seen. Don