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”?
“Star Wars” ran at this venue from June 8, 1977 – August 29, 1978. If I did the math correctly, that would have been a run of sixty-four(!) weeks, making it the country’s second-longest run of “Star Wars.”
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.”
Budyboy100, regarding our “debate”… I replied to this already on the Happy 30th, Star Wars! page, but here it is again. Sigh…
The ST. LOUIS PARK theater had an exclusive for the Minneapolis market from May 25 until July 14. The additional area runs identified in my earlier post started on July 15th.
Regarding my “incomplete evidence” for May & June 1977, the SOUTHTOWN during this period of time was showing “Rocky.”
Still not convinced? Here’s industry trade VARIETY’s take on the matter from their issue of July 27, 1977, page 16:
“Now in ninth week, ‘Star Wars’ played its first seven weeks exclusively at suburban St. Louis Park before splitting to other sites.”
Budyboy100, you’re beginning to sound like a crackpot!
The ST. LOUIS PARK theater had an exclusive for the Minneapolis market from May 25 until July 14. The additional area runs identified in my earlier post started on July 15th.
Regarding my “incomplete evidence” for May & June 1977, the SOUTHTOWN during this period of time was showing “Rocky.”
Still not convinced? Here’s industry trade VARIETY’s take on the matter from their issue of July 27, 1977, page 16:
“Now in ninth week, ‘Star Wars’ played its first seven weeks exclusively at suburban St. Louis Park before splitting to other sites.”
Okay, Budyboy100…I’ve researched in closer detail the Minneapolis “Star Wars” situation and have come to the following conclusion…which you probably won’t like. :–)
From what I can determine, “Star Wars” did not play at SOUTHTOWN during its original 1977-78 release. It appears you may be confusing the original “Star Wars” with “The Empire Strikes Back” or “Return Of The Jedi.” (“Empire” played at SOUTHTOWN during 1980; “Jedi” in 1983.) Or, perhaps the confusion relates to another sci-fi movie from ’77 that played at SOUTHTOWN: “Close Encounters Of The Third Kind.”
For the record, the Twin Cities “Star Wars” bookings from the original release were as follows:
25 May 1977 … Roseville: ROSEVILLE 4 (55 weeks) Dolby Stereo
25 May 1977 … Saint Louis Park: PARK (57 weeks) 70mm-Dolby Stereo from December
15 July 1977 … Blaine: NORTHTOWN CINEMA I-II-III (35 weeks)
15 July 1977 … Bloomington: FRANCE AVENUE 3 DRIVE-IN (13 weeks)
15 July 1977 … Edina: SOUTHDALE CINEMA I-II-III-IV (23 weeks)
15 July 1977 … Maplewood: THE MOVIES AT MAPLEWOOD (24+ weeks)
15 July 1977 … Minneapolis: MANN (17 weeks)
15 July 1977 … West Saint Paul: CINA 4 (24+ weeks) Dolby Stereo from November
Also of note: During the summer 1978 re-release period (July 21-Sep 7), where “Star Wars” played citywide, the SOUTHTOWN was showing “Grease.”
My information was sourced from microfilm of the Minneapolis Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer Press newspapers, the book “Show Houses: Twin Cities Style” (Kirk J. Besse, Victoria, 1995), and Dolby Laboratories’ sound-system installation records.
Justin:
The 1988 “Hairspray” did not play its Westwood first-run engagement at this theatre; it played at the nearby CORONET, a theatre which has gone under several names and, unless I’m not looking hard enough, does not have a Cinema Treasures page.
“To anyone paying attention, it is obvious that this theatre is officially named the Majestic Crest, yet Cinema Treasures insists on listing it as the Westwood Crest.”
I posted a similar comment on this page in August of 2005. It is apparent to me that this issue of primary and alternate theatre names is not one of Cinema Treasures' strong points despite the useful and informative contributions of its readers.
A similar thing exists with the NATIONAL in Westwood. I pointed out on two separate occasions the situation with the venue’s name, in one case even answering another reader’s question on how the venue was promoted in local newspaper advertising and on the building itself. Yet, amazingly (and insultingly) one of the CT staff ignored (or dismissed) my posts and chimed in stating the name needed to be the NATIONAL WESTWOOD!
Fine, list it as NATIONAL WESTWOOD…but as one of the small-print alternate names! I’ll argue that the primary name should be NATIONAL. Same here with the CREST. The main name ought to be MAJESTIC CREST since that is its current and official name; all other names (UCLAN, CREST, METRO, WESTWOOD CREST, etc.) should be alternates.
The WESTGATE is famous for hosting the country’s longest-running engagement of “Star Wars,” which ran from May 25, 1977-Nov. 7, 1978, a total of 76 continuous weeks.
I’m glad someone finally added a page here for the WESTGATE as I mentioned the theatre a few weeks ago in this Star Wars 30th anniversary post but was unable to provide a courtesy link to it as I did with many of the other venues mentioned.
“Wow! All this activity today and not once person mentioning that Raiders of the Lost Ark opened at the National 26 years ago today!” — AlanSanborn
Alan:
If it makes you feel any better, I’ll mention that yesterday to celebrate I pulled out my “Raiders” DVD and my old “Making Of Raiders” VHS.
And, if you’re in the mood to reminisce about seeing “Raiders” at the NATIONAL, may I suggest backtracking to my post of May 14 and observe the film’s three entries on the list of films that have played the NATIONAL over the years.
As you may recall, “Raiders” initially played a very successful 16-week run from June 12-Oct. 1, 1981 (plus there was a sneak preview showing on June 5). Then, after a brief run of two other films, “Raiders” returned for a month-long booking. And, in 1983, it played another engagement prior to “Brainstorm.”
Yes, “Star Wars” began as a limited-market release. And as hard as it may be to believe, “Star Wars” at the TWIN SOUTH for the first ten weeks of its run was a Long Island exclusive. “Star Wars” didn’t go “wide” in the greater New York City area until the first week of August of ‘77 (it opened initially in May).
Yes, “Alien” (1979) played at RIVER OAKS. Here’s a link to an article I wrote a few years ago about the the original release and which theatres it played.
budyboy100:
I did contact the author of the article in question last week after reading his piece. He has not replied. Anyway, I’m beginning to think that you are confusing the original “Star Wars†with “The Empire Strikes Back.â€
Consider the following: I am in possession of entertainment section newspaper advertisements from the Minneapolis Tribune from the following 1977 dates: May 25, Aug. 12, Oct. 13, Dec. 9, Dec. 25. “Star Wars†was not playing at SOUTHTOWN on any of those dates.
May 25: “Star Wars†was playing exclusively at ST. LOUIS PARK (“Rocky†was at SOUTHTOWN)
Aug. 12: ST. LOUIS PARK, SOUTHDALE, NORTHTOWN, MANN (“The Spy Who Loved Me†playing at SOUTHTOWN)
Oct. 13: ST. LOUIS PARK, SOUTHDALE, NORTHTOWN, MANN (“The Other Side Of Midnight†playing at SOUTHTOWN)
Dec. 25: ST. LOUIS PARK, NORTHTOWN (“Close Encounters Of The Third Kind†playing at SOUTHTOWN)
It seems doubtful to me that the SOUTHTOWN would have played a brief run of “Star Wars†in between the dates I listed. (It’s possible, although unlikely; however, I will consult the microfilm in closer detail when I get a chance and will gladly correct myself if necessary.) More likely, is that it could have been a moveover from ST. LOUIS PARK some time during 1978 or that it played during the massive, nation-wide saturation 1978 summer re-release. Or, even more likely, you’re thinking of the SOUTHTOWN’s 1980 engagement of The Empire Strikes Back. The SOUTHTOWN was still a single screener when “Empire†was released, and they showed it in the “great presentation†70mm format.
Also consider that the book “Showhouses: Twin Cities Style,†which gives a history of movie theatres in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, contains no references to “Star Wars†in its SOUTHTOWN section.
In your post of May 15 you wrote that the “Martin Cinerama opened just as the run of How The West Was Won was ending its run at the Roxy.”
During my research of the original roadshow bookings of How The West Was Won the information I found is that the MARTIN CINERAMA was in fact the venue in which “HTWWW” played. It was a 30-week run beginning March 15, 1963.
I guess this makes me your second unofficial fact checker. :–)
noodleman:
“How The West Was Won” was the second movie to play the COOPER. The grand opening of the venue was Aug. 8, 1962 with the debut attraction being “The Wonderful World Of The Brothers Grimm.”
How The West Was Won premiered at the COOPER on Mar. 14, 1963 and ran for an insanely successful 88 weeks (second-longest run of the film in the U.S.).
Vito:
Question re your post of 4/15. While I do not doubt that you and your colleagues created through re-wiring the ability to play back Dolby-optical prints, it appears your timeline of the event is not correct since “The Wiz” was released a a full year after a Dolby processor was installed at the CINERAMA for “Star Wars.”
Was the unit removed after the “Star Wars” run, or was it actually a different title, theatre or timeframe you’re referring to?
Under what name is the NATIONAL listed in the Independent Theatre Directory, Ron Newman asks? Well, not the name the place appears under on this Cinema Treasures page! :–)
It’s listed in the directory as NATIONAL THEATRE, the same name listed in display ads indicated in my post of May 14.
Whose idea was it to change the name for this page from MANN NATIONAL THEATRE to NATIONAL WESTWOOD THEATRE? Sure, the place is in Westwood, but that’s not its official name. You wouldn’t change the ZIEGFELD page to read ZIEGFELD MANHATTAN THEATRE, would you? Of course not, because locals familiar with the place would point out the name isn’t correct.
Did “Star Wars” really play at SOUTHTOWN? In checking my notes and newspaper ad photocopies for Minneapolis, I show it playing initially at ST. LOUIS PARK and then, later, also at SOUTHDALE, NORTHTOWN, and MANN.
Is it possible that the SOUTHTOWN is being confused with the similar-sounding SOUTHDALE or NORTHTOWN, or being confused with a re-issue or sequel engagement? (Of course, it’s also possible that since my research does not account for the entire 1977-78 timeframe, that it could have played at SOUTHTOWN at some point.)
BrooklynJim:
The earliest engagements of “Star Wars” in Queens began on Aug. 3, 1977, the film’s 11th week of release. Initially, the two Queens bookings were at the CONTINENTAL and RKO KEITHS TRIPLEX.
movieguru:
Dude, you ignored my post from earlier today where I replied in regard to your questions about the films that played at ROUTE 4. Did you not see my reply? Hmmm, maybe I should’ve posted it three times like you did with your question…
And…why are you asking about the RIALTO in this discussion of the ROUTE 4? Why not do the common sense thing and just go to the RIALTO page?
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”?
“Star Wars” ran at this venue from June 8, 1977 – August 29, 1978. If I did the math correctly, that would have been a run of sixty-four(!) weeks, making it the country’s second-longest run of “Star Wars.”
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.”
Budyboy100, regarding our “debate”… I replied to this already on the Happy 30th, Star Wars! page, but here it is again. Sigh…
The ST. LOUIS PARK theater had an exclusive for the Minneapolis market from May 25 until July 14. The additional area runs identified in my earlier post started on July 15th.
Regarding my “incomplete evidence” for May & June 1977, the SOUTHTOWN during this period of time was showing “Rocky.”
Still not convinced? Here’s industry trade VARIETY’s take on the matter from their issue of July 27, 1977, page 16:
“Now in ninth week, ‘Star Wars’ played its first seven weeks exclusively at suburban St. Louis Park before splitting to other sites.”
Budyboy100, you’re beginning to sound like a crackpot!
The ST. LOUIS PARK theater had an exclusive for the Minneapolis market from May 25 until July 14. The additional area runs identified in my earlier post started on July 15th.
Regarding my “incomplete evidence” for May & June 1977, the SOUTHTOWN during this period of time was showing “Rocky.”
Still not convinced? Here’s industry trade VARIETY’s take on the matter from their issue of July 27, 1977, page 16:
“Now in ninth week, ‘Star Wars’ played its first seven weeks exclusively at suburban St. Louis Park before splitting to other sites.”
Off Topic…
Budyboy100: Please see the Happy 30th, Star Wars! page. I recently posted some info that answers a question of yours.
Okay, Budyboy100…I’ve researched in closer detail the Minneapolis “Star Wars” situation and have come to the following conclusion…which you probably won’t like. :–)
From what I can determine, “Star Wars” did not play at SOUTHTOWN during its original 1977-78 release. It appears you may be confusing the original “Star Wars” with “The Empire Strikes Back” or “Return Of The Jedi.” (“Empire” played at SOUTHTOWN during 1980; “Jedi” in 1983.) Or, perhaps the confusion relates to another sci-fi movie from ’77 that played at SOUTHTOWN: “Close Encounters Of The Third Kind.”
For the record, the Twin Cities “Star Wars” bookings from the original release were as follows:
25 May 1977 … Roseville: ROSEVILLE 4 (55 weeks) Dolby Stereo
25 May 1977 … Saint Louis Park: PARK (57 weeks) 70mm-Dolby Stereo from December
15 July 1977 … Blaine: NORTHTOWN CINEMA I-II-III (35 weeks)
15 July 1977 … Bloomington: FRANCE AVENUE 3 DRIVE-IN (13 weeks)
15 July 1977 … Edina: SOUTHDALE CINEMA I-II-III-IV (23 weeks)
15 July 1977 … Maplewood: THE MOVIES AT MAPLEWOOD (24+ weeks)
15 July 1977 … Minneapolis: MANN (17 weeks)
15 July 1977 … West Saint Paul: CINA 4 (24+ weeks) Dolby Stereo from November
Also of note: During the summer 1978 re-release period (July 21-Sep 7), where “Star Wars” played citywide, the SOUTHTOWN was showing “Grease.”
My information was sourced from microfilm of the Minneapolis Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer Press newspapers, the book “Show Houses: Twin Cities Style” (Kirk J. Besse, Victoria, 1995), and Dolby Laboratories’ sound-system installation records.
Justin:
The 1988 “Hairspray” did not play its Westwood first-run engagement at this theatre; it played at the nearby CORONET, a theatre which has gone under several names and, unless I’m not looking hard enough, does not have a Cinema Treasures page.
“To anyone paying attention, it is obvious that this theatre is officially named the Majestic Crest, yet Cinema Treasures insists on listing it as the Westwood Crest.”
I posted a similar comment on this page in August of 2005. It is apparent to me that this issue of primary and alternate theatre names is not one of Cinema Treasures' strong points despite the useful and informative contributions of its readers.
A similar thing exists with the NATIONAL in Westwood. I pointed out on two separate occasions the situation with the venue’s name, in one case even answering another reader’s question on how the venue was promoted in local newspaper advertising and on the building itself. Yet, amazingly (and insultingly) one of the CT staff ignored (or dismissed) my posts and chimed in stating the name needed to be the NATIONAL WESTWOOD!
Fine, list it as NATIONAL WESTWOOD…but as one of the small-print alternate names! I’ll argue that the primary name should be NATIONAL. Same here with the CREST. The main name ought to be MAJESTIC CREST since that is its current and official name; all other names (UCLAN, CREST, METRO, WESTWOOD CREST, etc.) should be alternates.
The WESTGATE is famous for hosting the country’s longest-running engagement of “Star Wars,” which ran from May 25, 1977-Nov. 7, 1978, a total of 76 continuous weeks.
I’m glad someone finally added a page here for the WESTGATE as I mentioned the theatre a few weeks ago in this Star Wars 30th anniversary post but was unable to provide a courtesy link to it as I did with many of the other venues mentioned.
When I was last in Westwood Village (about two weeks ago), there was a “public notice of planned demolition” posted in one of the NATIONAL’s windows.
“Wow! All this activity today and not once person mentioning that Raiders of the Lost Ark opened at the National 26 years ago today!” — AlanSanborn
Alan:
If it makes you feel any better, I’ll mention that yesterday to celebrate I pulled out my “Raiders” DVD and my old “Making Of Raiders” VHS.
And, if you’re in the mood to reminisce about seeing “Raiders” at the NATIONAL, may I suggest backtracking to my post of May 14 and observe the film’s three entries on the list of films that have played the NATIONAL over the years.
As you may recall, “Raiders” initially played a very successful 16-week run from June 12-Oct. 1, 1981 (plus there was a sneak preview showing on June 5). Then, after a brief run of two other films, “Raiders” returned for a month-long booking. And, in 1983, it played another engagement prior to “Brainstorm.”
Yes, “Star Wars” began as a limited-market release. And as hard as it may be to believe, “Star Wars” at the TWIN SOUTH for the first ten weeks of its run was a Long Island exclusive. “Star Wars” didn’t go “wide” in the greater New York City area until the first week of August of ‘77 (it opened initially in May).
Link to a Cinema Treasures 30th anniversary discussion regarding first impressions of seeing “Star Wars.”
Yes, “Alien” (1979) played at RIVER OAKS. Here’s a link to an article I wrote a few years ago about the the original release and which theatres it played.
budyboy100:
I did contact the author of the article in question last week after reading his piece. He has not replied. Anyway, I’m beginning to think that you are confusing the original “Star Wars†with “The Empire Strikes Back.â€
Consider the following: I am in possession of entertainment section newspaper advertisements from the Minneapolis Tribune from the following 1977 dates: May 25, Aug. 12, Oct. 13, Dec. 9, Dec. 25. “Star Wars†was not playing at SOUTHTOWN on any of those dates.
May 25: “Star Wars†was playing exclusively at ST. LOUIS PARK (“Rocky†was at SOUTHTOWN)
Aug. 12: ST. LOUIS PARK, SOUTHDALE, NORTHTOWN, MANN (“The Spy Who Loved Me†playing at SOUTHTOWN)
Oct. 13: ST. LOUIS PARK, SOUTHDALE, NORTHTOWN, MANN (“The Other Side Of Midnight†playing at SOUTHTOWN)
Dec. 25: ST. LOUIS PARK, NORTHTOWN (“Close Encounters Of The Third Kind†playing at SOUTHTOWN)
It seems doubtful to me that the SOUTHTOWN would have played a brief run of “Star Wars†in between the dates I listed. (It’s possible, although unlikely; however, I will consult the microfilm in closer detail when I get a chance and will gladly correct myself if necessary.) More likely, is that it could have been a moveover from ST. LOUIS PARK some time during 1978 or that it played during the massive, nation-wide saturation 1978 summer re-release. Or, even more likely, you’re thinking of the SOUTHTOWN’s 1980 engagement of The Empire Strikes Back. The SOUTHTOWN was still a single screener when “Empire†was released, and they showed it in the “great presentation†70mm format.
Also consider that the book “Showhouses: Twin Cities Style,†which gives a history of movie theatres in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, contains no references to “Star Wars†in its SOUTHTOWN section.
Stan:
In your post of May 15 you wrote that the “Martin Cinerama opened just as the run of How The West Was Won was ending its run at the Roxy.”
During my research of the original roadshow bookings of How The West Was Won the information I found is that the MARTIN CINERAMA was in fact the venue in which “HTWWW” played. It was a 30-week run beginning March 15, 1963.
I guess this makes me your second unofficial fact checker. :–)
noodleman:
“How The West Was Won” was the second movie to play the COOPER. The grand opening of the venue was Aug. 8, 1962 with the debut attraction being “The Wonderful World Of The Brothers Grimm.”
How The West Was Won premiered at the COOPER on Mar. 14, 1963 and ran for an insanely successful 88 weeks (second-longest run of the film in the U.S.).
Vito:
Question re your post of 4/15. While I do not doubt that you and your colleagues created through re-wiring the ability to play back Dolby-optical prints, it appears your timeline of the event is not correct since “The Wiz” was released a a full year after a Dolby processor was installed at the CINERAMA for “Star Wars.”
Was the unit removed after the “Star Wars” run, or was it actually a different title, theatre or timeframe you’re referring to?
Under what name is the NATIONAL listed in the Independent Theatre Directory, Ron Newman asks? Well, not the name the place appears under on this Cinema Treasures page! :–)
It’s listed in the directory as NATIONAL THEATRE, the same name listed in display ads indicated in my post of May 14.
Whose idea was it to change the name for this page from MANN NATIONAL THEATRE to NATIONAL WESTWOOD THEATRE? Sure, the place is in Westwood, but that’s not its official name. You wouldn’t change the ZIEGFELD page to read ZIEGFELD MANHATTAN THEATRE, would you? Of course not, because locals familiar with the place would point out the name isn’t correct.
The NATIONAL is now included in the Independent Theatre Directory in the Los Angeles area newspapers.
The NATIONAL is now included in the Independent Theatre Directory in the LOS ANGELES TIMES newspaper.
Did “Star Wars” really play at SOUTHTOWN? In checking my notes and newspaper ad photocopies for Minneapolis, I show it playing initially at ST. LOUIS PARK and then, later, also at SOUTHDALE, NORTHTOWN, and MANN.
Is it possible that the SOUTHTOWN is being confused with the similar-sounding SOUTHDALE or NORTHTOWN, or being confused with a re-issue or sequel engagement? (Of course, it’s also possible that since my research does not account for the entire 1977-78 timeframe, that it could have played at SOUTHTOWN at some point.)
BrooklynJim:
The earliest engagements of “Star Wars” in Queens began on Aug. 3, 1977, the film’s 11th week of release. Initially, the two Queens bookings were at the CONTINENTAL and RKO KEITHS TRIPLEX.
movieguru:
Dude, you ignored my post from earlier today where I replied in regard to your questions about the films that played at ROUTE 4. Did you not see my reply? Hmmm, maybe I should’ve posted it three times like you did with your question…
And…why are you asking about the RIALTO in this discussion of the ROUTE 4? Why not do the common sense thing and just go to the RIALTO page?