Cinerama Theater

Joe Vogel on September 29, 2017 at 9:21 pm

The line in the theater description that says “[i]t was the first movie theater built in a shopping center in San Diego….” is mistaken. The Linda Theatre was opened in the Linda Vista Shopping Center way back in the 1940s.

horseshoe7 on November 15, 2015 at 11:23 pm

Saw STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN, there in 1982 (was a student at SDSU at the time).

llco64 on May 4, 2013 at 3:19 am

Such a shame. I got to see Hair at the University Ave. Cinerama thanks to Mr Koldoff.

neeb on August 28, 2012 at 6:46 pm

CINERAMA PART II (1970 to 1984): SAN DIEGO EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT ERA

5889 University Ave
San Diego, CA 92115

Films that played during these years often premiered and remained at the Cinerama exclusively during their run. While this was represented by extended runs of films like Deliverance or One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, on many occasions, films that didn’t perform well were paired with a second feature for the last part of their runs. Return Engagements of other popular hits were even returned to the Cinerama when even those pairings proved to be of limited appeal.

RE = Re-Issue/ Return Engagement
MO = Move-over (i.e. continuation of engagement from another theater)

Listings include regular engagements only. Dates for this part represent the first day of release or premiere, and, where known, the presentation format has been provided. Test screenings, sneak-preview screenings, midnight screenings, exclusive premieres and other private events are not included. Unless noted, presentations are all 35mm-mono sound presentation. All listing from San Diego Union, San Diego Tribune and “70mm in San Diego” by Michael Coate and William Kallay.

03/04/70 … JENNY (3 weeks)
03/27/70 … ZABRISKE POINT (3 weeks)
04/15/70 … ANNE OF THE THOUSAND DAYS (10 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)
06/26/70 … DARLING LILI (4 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)
07/22/70 … GONE WITH THE WIND (MO, 70mm-Stereo)
07/29/70 … DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (RE, 70mm-Stereo)
08/05/70 … THE OUT OF TOWNERS (MO, 6 weeks)
09/18/70 … TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME, JUNIE MOON (2 weeks)
10/09/70 … HOTEL
10/14/70 … LOVE AND OTHER STRANGERS (3 weeks)
11/04/70 … LOVE AND OTHER STRANGERS / WAIT UNTIL DARK (7 weeks)
12/23/70 … DIARY OF A MAD HOUSEWIFE (6 weeks)

02/03/71 … JULIUS CAESAR (2 weeks)
02/19/71 … MY FAIR LADY (RE, 3 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)
03/12/71 … THE PRIEST’S WIFE / FRAIZER-ALI FIGHT (2 weeks)
03/24/71 … PAINT YOUR WAGON / ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER
04/02/71 … FLIGHT OF THE DOVES
04/09/71 … GONE WITH THE WIND / HOW THE WEST WAS WON (3 weeks)
04/30/71 … THE NIGHT VISITOR
05/07/71 … PUZZLE OF A DOWNFALL CHILD / ACT OF THE HEART (2 weeks)
05/19/71 … THIS MAN MUST DIE
05/27/71 … THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN (12 weeks)
08/18/71 … THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN / COLOSSUS: THE FORBIN PROJECT (3 weeks)
09/08/71 … SHINBONE ALLEY / A NEW LEAF
09/15/71 … ROMANCE OF A HORSE THIEF / VALDEZ IS COMING
09/22/71 … CARNAL KNOWLEDGE / THE BABY MAKER (6 weeks)
11/03/71 … KOTCH (6 weeks)
12/15/71 … SCROOGE / A NEW LEAF (2 weeks)
12/25/71 … STAR SPANGLED GIRL / BLACK BEAUTY (2 weeks)

01/05/72 … THE TWELVE CHAIRS / BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMMAGE
01/14/72 … WALKABOUT (4 weeks)
02/09/72 … POCKET MONEY / THE LAST RUN (5 weeks)
03/15/72 … THE LAST MOVIE / THE HIRED HAND
03/22/72 … SILENT RUNNING
03/29/72 … SILENT RUNNING / THE TWELVE CHAIRS (2 weeks)
04/12/72 … KLUTE / SUMMER OF ‘42 (2 weeks)
04/26/72 … MINNIE AND MOSKOWITZ / TAKING OFF
05/03/72 … STAMPING GROUND
05/10/72 … PATTON / MAS*H (2 weeks)
05/24/72 … SKYJACKED / THE HONKER (4 weeks)
06/21/72 … THE GRADUATE / CAPTAIN APACHE
06/28/72 … THE GRADUATE / GOODBYE COLUMBUS (2 weeks)
07/12/72 … PRIME CUT / SOMETHING BIG (4 weeks)
08/09/72 … SNOOPY, COME HOME / WHO SAYS I CAN’T RIDE A RAINBOW! (2 weeks)
08/23/72 … SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE (7 weeks)
10/11/72 … THE BANK DICK / MY LITTLE CHICKADEE
10/18/72 … DRACULA / FRANKENSTEIN
10/25/72 … NEVER GIVE A SUCKER AN EVEN BREAK / YOU CAN’T CHEAT AN HONEST MAN
11/01/72 … ELVIRA MADIGAN / THE VIRGIN AND THE GYPSY (3 weeks)
11/22/72 … RAGE / JUNIOR BONNER (2 weeks)
12/04/72 … closed (3 weeks)
12/22/72 … DELIVERANCE (22 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)

05/25/73 … THE DAY OF THE JACKAL (6 weeks)
07/04/73 … THE DAY OF THE JACKAL / PETE ‘N TILLIE (6 weeks)
08/17/73 … THIS IS CINERAMA (RE, 4 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)
09/14/73 … STATE OF SIEGE (2 weeks)
09/26/73 … STATE OF SIEGE / CESAR AND ROSALIE
10/03/73 … YOUR THREE MINUTES ARE UP / WHERE DOES IT HURT? (2 weeks)
10/17/73 … A DAY IN THE DEATH OF JOE EGG / IMAGES
10/26/73 … THE NEW LAND (3 weeks)
11/16/73 … THE NEW LAND / BROTHER SUN, SISTER MOON (3 weeks)
12/05/73 … THE NEW LAND / A WARM DECEMBER (2 weeks)
12/21/73 … CAMELOT / FINIAN’S RAINBOW
12/25/73 … ASH WEDNESDAY

01/02/74 … ASH WEDNESDAY / PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM (3 weeks)
01/23/74 … THE LONG GOOD-BYE
01/30/74 … THE LONG GOOD-BYE / WHERE’S POPPA?
02/06/74 … CHARIOTS OF THE GODS / THE HELLSTROM CHRONICLE
02/13/74 … THE EXORCIST (27 weeks)
08/21/74 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (RE, 6 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)
10/02/74 … LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE ROLLING STONES (2 weeks, Stereo)
10/18/74 … LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE ROLLING STONES / MAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN (2 weeks)
10/30/74 … DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (RE, 4 weeks)
11/27/74 … THE CLANSMAN / CHRISTINA (2 weeks)
12/11/74 … THE CLANSMAN / CINDERELLA LIBERTY (2 weeks)
12/25/74 … LENNY (18 weeks)

05/02/75 … THE REINCARNATION OF PETER PROUND (4 weeks)
05/28/75 … THE REINCARNATION OF PETER PROUND / NIGHTWATCH (2 weeks)
06/11/75 … THE RETURN OF THE PINK PANTHER (5 weeks)
07/16/75 … ROLLERBALL (9 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)
09/17/75 … A CLOCKWORK ORANGE / DELIVERANCE (3 weeks)
10/10/75 … A BOY AND HIS DOG (2 weeks)
10/24/75 … LISZTOMANIA (2 weeks)
11/05/75 … FAREWELL, MY LOVELY / CRAZY MAMA
11/12/75 … ROYAL FLASH
11/19/75 … ROYAL FLASH / W.W.AND THE DIXIE DANCE KINGS
11/26/75 … GUITAR PICKS AND ROACH CLIPS / BROTHER, CAN YOU SPARE A DIME? (2 weeks)
12/10/75 … MANSON / CAPONE
12/17/75 … ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST (22 weeks)

05/21/76 … THE MISSOURI BREAKS (4 weeks)
06/18/76 … MIDWAY (11 weeks, Sensurround)
08/30/76 … MIDWAY / ROOSTER COGBURN (4 weeks)
09/29/76 … BURNT OFFERINGS
10/02/76 … BURNT OFFERINGS / ALI-NORTON HIGHLIGHTS (2 weeks)
10/20/76 … ALEX AND THE GYPSY / HARRY AND TONTO (4 weeks)
11/17/76 … CARRIE (4 weeks)
12/15/76 … THE PINK PANTHER STRIKES AGAIN (6 weeks)

01/28/77 … ROCKY (8 weeks)
03/25/77 … AIRPORT ‘77 (6 weeks)
05/04/77 … AIRPORT ‘77 / SWASHBUCKLER (2 weeks)
05/20/77 … PUMPING IRON
05/25/77 … PUMPING IRON / MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL (3 weeks)
06/15/77 … A BRIDGE TOO FAR (8 weeks)
08/10/77 … THE SPY WHO LOVED ME (7 weeks)
09/28/77 … FIRE SALE
10/05/77 … FIRE SALE / FANTASTIC ANIMATION FESTIVAL (2 weeks)
10/21/77 … FANTASIA (RE, 6 weeks, Stereo)
12/02/77 … ROCKY (RE, 3 weeks)
12/23/77 … THE CHOIRBOYS (2 weeks)

01/06/78 … THE CHOIRBOYS / TAXI DRIVER (3 weeks)
01/25/78 … THE CHOIRBOYS / HUSTLE (2 weeks)
02/08/78 … COMA (5 weeks)
03/15/78 … COMA / SWEET REVENGE (5 weeks)
03/31/78 … THE BIG SLEEP (2 weeks)
04/12/78 … THE BIG SLEEP / CARRIE
04/19/78 … THE BIG SLEEP / BLUME IN LOVE
04/26/78 … F.I.S.T. (5 weeks)
05/31/78 … F.I.S.T. / THE SAILOR WHO FELL FROM GRACE WITH THE SEA
06/07/78 … F.I.S.T. / COMA (2 weeks)
06/23/78 … COMING HOME
06/28/78 … COMING HOME / THE DOMINO PRINCIPLE
07/05/78 … COMING HOME / ISLANDS IN THE STREAM (2 weeks)
07/19/78 … REVENGE OF THE PINK PANTHER (7 weeks)
09/06/78 … REVENGE OF THE PINK PANTHER / INTERNATIONAL VELVET
09/13/78 … REVENGE OF THE PINK PANTHERAVALANCHE
09/20/78 … REVENGE OF THE PINK PANTHER / TELEFON
09/29/78 … SOMEBODY KILLED HER HUSBAND
10/04/78 … SOMEBODY KILLED HER HUSBAND / THE CHEAP DETECTIVE
10/09/78 … SOMEBODY KILLED HER HUSBAND / THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY
10/18/78 … TOMMY (RE, Stereo)
10/27/78 … MIDNIGHT EXPRESS (8 weeks)
12/20/78 … THE LORD OF THE RINGS (6 weeks, Dolby Stereo)

02/01/79 … THE LORD OF THE RINGS / FANTASTIC ANIMATION FESTIVAL
02/07/79 … THE LORD OF THE RINGS / REVENGE OF THE PINK PANTHER
02/14/79 … THE LORD OF THE RINGS / THE ONE AND ONLY
02/23/79 … HARDCORE (4 weeks)
03/21/79 … HARDCORE / PRETTY BABY
03/28/79 … HAIR (5 weeks, 4-Track Stereo)
05/02/79 … HAIR / THE LAST WALTZ
05/09/79 … HAIR / THANK GOD IT’S FRIDAY
05/18/79 … WINTER KILLS
05/25/79 … WINTER KILLS / MURDER BY DECREE
05/30/79 … UP IN SMOKE (RE)
06/06/79 … COMING HOME (RE)
06/15/79 … BUTCH AND SUNDANCE: THE EARLY YEARS
06/20/79 … BUTCH AND SUNDANCE / THE OUTLAW JOSIE WALES
06/29/79 … MOONRAKER (7 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
08/17/79 … HOT STUFF (2 weeks)
08/31/79 … HOT STUFF / CALIFORNIA SUITE
09/07/79 … THE CHAMP / THE BIG FIX
09/14/79 … THE WIZ / SGT. PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND (Stereo / Stereo)
09/21/79 … THE TURNING POINT / AN UNMARRIED WOMAN
09/28/79 … THE ONION FIELD (3 weeks)
10/17/79 … APOCALYPSE NOW (16 weeks, Dolby Stereo)

02/08/80 … BEING THERE (6 weeks)
03/21/80 … LITTLE DARLINGS (9 weeks)
05/21/80 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (30 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
12/19/80 … THE COMPETITION (7 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
02/06/81 … ALTERED STATES (9 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)

04/10/81 … EXCALIBUR (12 weeks)
06/26/81 … DRAGONSLAYER (7 weeks, Vistasonic)
08/21/81 … FIRST MONDAY IN OCTOBER (6 weeks)
10/02/81 … PRINCE OF THE CITY (3 weeks)
10/23/81 … THE FRENCH LIEUTENANT’S WOMAN (6 weeks)
12/04/81 … REDS (14 weeks)

03/12/82 … QUEST FOR FIRE (9 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
05/14/82 … WRONG IS RIGHT (3 weeks)
06/04/82 … STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN (8 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
07/28/82 … AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN (19 weeks)
12/08/82 … 48 HOURS (10 weeks, Dolby Stereo)

02/18/83 … THE LORDS OF DISCIPLINE (5 weeks)
03/25/83 … THE KING OF COMEDY (3 weeks)
04/15/83 … LOCAL HERO (3 weeks)
05/06/83 … EXPOSED (2 weeks)
05/20/83 … TRON (RE, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
05/27/83 … SOPHIE’S CHOICE / THE YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY
06/03/83 … WAR GAMES (17 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
09/30/83 … BRAINSTORM (11 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
12/16/83 … THE KEEP (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo)

01/13/84 … FANNY AND ALEXANDER

neeb on June 3, 2011 at 8:49 pm

CINERAMA PART I (1963 to 1970): RESERVED SEAT ENGAGEMENT ERA

5889 University Ave
San Diego, CA 92115

The Cinerama Theatre opened on November 20, 1962 with The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm and was heralded by local media as the first major movie theater in San Diego in over 25 years. Unlike other theaters, this was the first theater constructed exclusively for widescreen movies in San Diego. The Cinerama served as the premier house for the biggest films of its day and often played many films for several months. Tickets were sold at various locations around San Diego and guaranteed a specific seat.

RE = Re-Issue/ Return Engagement
MO = Move-over (i.e. continuation of engagement from another theater)
RSE = Reserved-Seat Engagement

Listings include regular engagements only. Dates for this part represent the first day of release or premiere, and, where known, the presentation format has been provided. Test screenings, sneak-preview screenings, midnight screenings, exclusive premieres and other private events are not included. Unless noted, presentations are all 35mm-mono sound presentation. All listing from San Diego Union, San Diego Tribune and “70mm in San Diego” by Michael Coate and William Kallay.

11/20/62 … THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF THE BROTHERS GRIMM (RSE, 19 weeks, 3-Strip Cinerama)

04/05/63 … HOW THE WEST WAS WON (RSE, 55 weeks, 3-Strip Cinerama)

04/22/64 … IT’S A MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD (RSE, 50 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)

04/05/65 … closed
04/14/65 … THIS IS CINERAMA (6 weeks, 3-Strip Cinerama)
05/26/65 … SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD (10 weeks, 3-Strip Cinerama)
08/04/65 … THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD (MO, 9 weeks)
10/06/65 … SOUTH SEAS ADVENTURE (10 weeks, 3-Strip Cinerama)
12/17/65 … CINERAMA HOLIDAY (7 weeks, 3-Strip Cinerama)

02/02/66 … OTHELLO (4 weeks)
03/02/66 … THE KING AND I (RE, 4 weeks)
03/31/66 … DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (RSE, 46 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)

02/14/67 … HAWAII (RSE, 34 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)
10/11/67 … REFLECTIONS IN A GOLDEN EYE (10 weeks)
12/21/67 … CAMELOT (RSE, 41 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)

10/02/68 … PETULIA (5 weeks)
11/06/68 … FINIAN’S RAINBOW (RSE, 15 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)

02/20/69 … SHOES OF THE FISHERMAN (RSE, 12 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)
05/15/69 … SWEET CHARITY (RSE, 13 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)
08/13/69 … THAT COLD DAY IN THE PARK (4 weeks)
09/12/69 … THE LEARNING TREE (6 weeks)
10/22/69 … THE MADWOMAN OF CHAILLOT
10/29/69 … THE MADWOMAN OF CHAILLOT / RACHEL, RACHEL (2 weeks)
11/12/69 … DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (RE, 5 weeks)
12/17/69 … GOODBYE, MR. CHIPS (RSE, 11 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)

JoelWeide on March 17, 2011 at 9:16 pm

Following link. Thank you!

Joe Vogel on February 16, 2011 at 8:29 am

The December 7, 1964, Boxoffice article about the Cinerama Theatre can be seen online here. Three additional photos of this Richard George Wheeler design are on the subsequent page (click “next page” link.)

kencmcintyre on December 12, 2009 at 3:08 pm

Here is an article in the San Diego Union dated 2/28/87:

The 940-seat Cinerama theater, showcase for Hollywood blockblusters for 25 years, will be demolished and replaced by a six- miniscreen complex, Pacific Theatres announced yesterday. The new theaters will be part of a $20 million, 230,000-square- foot redevelopment of the 1950s Belleview shopping center at 59th Street and University Avenue, south of San Diego State University, said Douglas Allred, the Belleview owner who is leasing the theater site to Pacific.

Only three weeks ago, Mann Theatres announced that it plans to close the 985-seat Loma theater in the Midway area so the property owner can redevelop the site into shops and restaurants. Pacific officials in Los Angeles could not be reached for comment, but the theater’s local managers said the Cinerama has been consistently successful with blockbusters such as “Amadeus,” the currently running “Platoon,” three of the four “Star Trek” films and “The Empire Strikes Back,” the second “Star Wars” movie that sold out every performance for six months in 1979 and 1980.

“It’s a shame to lose a big theater,” Allred said, “but we’re going to make a whole new property that we hope everybody will be proud of.” He said he still needs city approval of a development permit and signed leases from anchor tenants, including a supermarket and home improvement store. He hopes to begin construction by the end of the year.

The loss of the Cinerama and the Loma will leave only three large single-screen theaters locally: Cinema Grossmont at Grossmont Center in La Mesa, also owned by Pacific; and Cinema 21 and Valley Circle, both in Mission Valley and both owned by Mann.

Developed by the New England-based Lockwood and Gordon theater chain, the $500,000 Cinerama opened in November 1962 as San Diego’s first theater designed to show movies filmed in the “Cinerama” split- screen process. Early examples were “How the West Was Won” and “The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm.” It also was the first cinema built in a San Diego shopping center.

Three years later, Pacific acquired the theater along with the 986-seat, Cinerama-equipped Center theater in Mission Valley, which was converted to a triplex in 1971. “I hate to see the place go,” said Richard Koldoff, the semi- retired projectionist who operated the Cinerama cameras from 1962 to 1970, when they were removed.

Andy Friedenberg, director of the Cinema Society of San Diego, said, “Theater owners should be aware that their strength lies in their present big theaters with big sound that can’t be duplicated on a television screen. When I hear news like this, I think it’s going the wrong way.”

Joe Vogel on December 27, 2008 at 10:16 pm

The architect of this theater was the noted San Diego modernist, Richard George Wheeler. Boxoffice Magazine featured an illustrated article on the San Diego Cinerama Theatre in its issue of December 7, 1964.