For years it was the premier theater in Western Minnesota booking all the good movies weeks/months before the little towns surrounding Montevideo. It had a large screen, and seating which would now be described as stadium, the choice seats being above ‘the lift’ as it was called. It even booked at the time ‘racy’ films such as Dr. Zhivago which was daring by some standards. Also, Woodstock and MASH played there in the late ‘60’s which drew crowds from far and wide.
I saw The Dark Knight at Regal Dubliin California, and it contained scenes that filled the whole screen, top to bottom, side to side, while most of the film just filled side to side but not full height. When I went to Watchmen, it only filled side to side, never did full full height.
I asked for, and got a tour of the projection room after Dark Knight. They actually have two projectors up there, the cool IMAX one, and another normal on for showing regular films. So, for sure not everything shown in IMAX is even 70mm IMAX film, the theaters should disclose what product is being presented, and charge accordingly
Sorry to disagree. The Dark Knight in Imax is Incredible. And again to disagree, this years films are incredible. Not all the Oscar nominees, but overall, a great selection of film.
(go to film festival locally, there’re not hard to find, and you will see what I mean.)
Michael,
Sigh…..
I don’t want to bore you with my claims against your facts…….
The question can easily be solved by someone currently in Minnesota going to the newspaper office and looking at all the records from opening day, (May sometime) through the summer it opened, say until the end of August. Mann theaters always ran a list of all their theaters and what was showing.
BTW, the review that got me to the movie was in a weekly blurb called ‘The Reader’. Who knows what happened to that.
Interestingly, someone mentioned that 2001 was soon to celebrate an anniversary. Well, I saw it on a re-release in the 70’s in Super 70 format at the Cooper Cinerama, not the undivided step cousin called the Cooper Cameo, but the one with the 105 foot louvered screen. You likely won’t believe that either………but I did.
Scott, are/were you a projectionist? Also, do you know if the ‘Dimension 150 Lens’ View link is still there, or was it likely returned to the company. Also, wonder what size the original screen was.
Help anyone, Michael C. and I a having an ongoing debate about whether or not Star Wars (the original) played at the Southtown back in 1977. (Not whether it opened there, it apparently didn’t, but a short time later if it played there.)
Well, I will continue to disagree, and probably have to go back to verify that I, and the local (National) paper haven’t lost our minds. But, I acknowledge that may well be possible!
The book and the labs, ‘farrumph’. What was playing at the Southtown in May/ JUNE of 1977? On its
Huge Screen, with the alternating red/maroon/off-maroon curtains, as we (of questionably accurate minds), sat in our red/white Mann rocker seats, behind the white smoking/non-smoking sections, after walking through the huge lobby with its gold wall-paper, its very long marquee with all the blinking lights. ??
Well, it was Star Wars. You are correct, it likely was not an Original Release ie, first day release, which you document, but it was the release I saw. And many others saw it too. Despite your incomplete evidence for the period, you are wrong. Or I have Dementia.
there is a rumor on the internet that the louvered screen was incorrectly installed, ie, the edges were lined up end to end instead of overlapped and pointed toward the back of the auditorium. Can anyone verify/refute this rumor?
Yes, it did play at Southtown. Perhaps someone else can verify that, but it was an awsome presentation when Southtown was still a single screen. I don’t know if it was 70mm or not, but the screen was huge.
Saw it at the great Mann Southtown in Bloomington Minnesota. It did play there at some point, I think the week or so after it opened elsewhere. Great screen, great presentation, great movie.
“What that means is that the audience will hear, feel, taste, and smell the movie. ”
Do they have to pay extra to actually see it?
This is the Hollywood Theater, not the Video. photos here: http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/26317.html
For years it was the premier theater in Western Minnesota booking all the good movies weeks/months before the little towns surrounding Montevideo. It had a large screen, and seating which would now be described as stadium, the choice seats being above ‘the lift’ as it was called. It even booked at the time ‘racy’ films such as Dr. Zhivago which was daring by some standards. Also, Woodstock and MASH played there in the late ‘60’s which drew crowds from far and wide.
IMAX or Lie-Max link. see if it’s real or fake……
View link
I saw The Dark Knight at Regal Dubliin California, and it contained scenes that filled the whole screen, top to bottom, side to side, while most of the film just filled side to side but not full height. When I went to Watchmen, it only filled side to side, never did full full height.
I asked for, and got a tour of the projection room after Dark Knight. They actually have two projectors up there, the cool IMAX one, and another normal on for showing regular films. So, for sure not everything shown in IMAX is even 70mm IMAX film, the theaters should disclose what product is being presented, and charge accordingly
Sorry to disagree. The Dark Knight in Imax is Incredible. And again to disagree, this years films are incredible. Not all the Oscar nominees, but overall, a great selection of film.
(go to film festival locally, there’re not hard to find, and you will see what I mean.)
oh, good. cellango, congrats on buying it.
could you make an ongoing blog/update of what you plan to do, are doing, etc. I for one would love to follow what happens to this theater.
bigred,
if u have pics of Southtown, would u please post them so we can all c them? that would b great.
bb
And I never said it was during the ‘original’ release. Just that is where I saw it, as did many others..
tsts
Michael Coate,
How did you get the Minneapolis Tribune as your source??
Their reported agreed with me, go forward another year, I know what I saw, as did their reporter……
bb
Good for MSP. They seem to be saving their theatrical history.
Wow. Was at the CCC Jewish festival. We have got to save this place.
Michael,
Sigh…..
I don’t want to bore you with my claims against your facts…….
The question can easily be solved by someone currently in Minnesota going to the newspaper office and looking at all the records from opening day, (May sometime) through the summer it opened, say until the end of August. Mann theaters always ran a list of all their theaters and what was showing.
BTW, the review that got me to the movie was in a weekly blurb called ‘The Reader’. Who knows what happened to that.
Interestingly, someone mentioned that 2001 was soon to celebrate an anniversary. Well, I saw it on a re-release in the 70’s in Super 70 format at the Cooper Cinerama, not the undivided step cousin called the Cooper Cameo, but the one with the 105 foot louvered screen. You likely won’t believe that either………but I did.
Scott, are/were you a projectionist? Also, do you know if the ‘Dimension 150 Lens’ View link is still there, or was it likely returned to the company. Also, wonder what size the original screen was.
Help anyone, Michael C. and I a having an ongoing debate about whether or not Star Wars (the original) played at the Southtown back in 1977. (Not whether it opened there, it apparently didn’t, but a short time later if it played there.)
Anyone see Star Wars at the Southtown?
Hi Michael,
Well, I will continue to disagree, and probably have to go back to verify that I, and the local (National) paper haven’t lost our minds. But, I acknowledge that may well be possible!
The book and the labs, ‘farrumph’. What was playing at the Southtown in May/ JUNE of 1977? On its
Huge Screen, with the alternating red/maroon/off-maroon curtains, as we (of questionably accurate minds), sat in our red/white Mann rocker seats, behind the white smoking/non-smoking sections, after walking through the huge lobby with its gold wall-paper, its very long marquee with all the blinking lights. ??
Well, it was Star Wars. You are correct, it likely was not an Original Release ie, first day release, which you document, but it was the release I saw. And many others saw it too. Despite your incomplete evidence for the period, you are wrong. Or I have Dementia.
there is a rumor on the internet that the louvered screen was incorrectly installed, ie, the edges were lined up end to end instead of overlapped and pointed toward the back of the auditorium. Can anyone verify/refute this rumor?
Thanks
I saw this at the SF Alhambra theater, the only time I was inside that theater. I don’t remember much, except how hard it was to find parking.
MC, please let me know, perhaps this is the first indication of my deteriorating mental status.
MC, just thought, why not contact the author of the MSP article I linked to, he could probably search the archives and find the Southtown listing.
Yes, it did play at Southtown. Perhaps someone else can verify that, but it was an awsome presentation when Southtown was still a single screen. I don’t know if it was 70mm or not, but the screen was huge.
http://www.startribune.com/1553/story/1192663.html
Saw it at the great Mann Southtown in Bloomington Minnesota. It did play there at some point, I think the week or so after it opened elsewhere. Great screen, great presentation, great movie.