Northpoint Theatre
2290 Powell Street,
San Francisco,
CA
94133
2290 Powell Street,
San Francisco,
CA
94133
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Fifty years ago today THE EXORCIST opened here. Northpoint was among only two-dozen cinemas in twenty-one North American markets to play the film at release launch.
A chronology of San Francisco’s 70mm presentations history has recently been published/updated. Northpoint, of course, gets several mentions in the piece.
Zodiac was shot at the National Theater in Westwood, L.A.
The interior shown in Zodiac was NOT the Northpoint. It was a theater in LA. I’ve forgotten the name of it now.
It looks like David Fincher’s “Zodiac” (2007) re-created the interiors of this theater, an entire ten years after it was closed. Looks very authentic and makes me wish you could still see movies there.
Souvenir program for Apocalypse Now added to photos.
June 28, 1967 grand opening ad posted.
The interior lobby was modern and spare for the 1960’s. The auditorium was basically a wall to wall screen in the front, gold curtained walls on each side and a plain wall in the back with the elevated projection room. Grand or cathedral like it wasn’t. But it did boast excellent projection and sound … and that big screen.
I’m curious – is the interior of this once grand cathedral still intact, or no?
I’m re-posting my list of films that played here (this time with improved layout and formatting) since the website redesign a few years ago seems to have caused the original formatting to go haywire, not to mention the original list is now buried among the pages of comments. So here’s a fresh version of the list that’s easy to access (for the time being).
NORTHPOINT, 1967-1997
Compiled by Michael Coate
Northpoint Theatre
2290 Powell Street
San Francisco, CA 94133
Ownership Timeline:
ABC, 1967-1974
Plitt, 1974-1987
Plitt & Cineplex Odeon, 1987-1988
Cineplex Odeon, 1988-1997
The duration of each engagement, measured in weeks, has been included in parenthesis following each title. And with a few exceptions, this filmography excludes un-promoted and one-off events (i.e. trade screenings, test screenings, sneak previews, private screenings).
1967-06-28 … THE DIRTY DOZEN (9 weeks) (70mm from Week #3)
1967-08-30 … POINT BLANK (6)
1967-10-11 … REFLECTIONS IN A GOLDEN EYE (9)
1967-12-15 … THE HAPPIEST MILLIONAIRE (3)
1968-01-03 … THE BIGGEST BUNDLE OF THEM ALL (2)
1968-01-17 … WAIT UNTIL DARK (7)
1968-03-06 … THE POWER / THE VISIT (2)
1968-03-20 … A MATTER OF INNOCENCE (2)
1968-04-03 … SWEET NOVEMBER (3)
1968-04-24 … DID YOU HEAR THE ONE ABOUT THE TRAVELING SALESLADY? (1)
1968-05-01 … UP THE JUNCTION (2)
1968-05-15 … TREASURE OF SAN GENNARO (2)
1968-05-29 … A DANDY IN ASPIC (4)
1968-06-27 … PETULIA (8)
1968-08-21 … WITH SIX YOU GET EGGROLL (3)
1968-09-11 … RACHEL, RACHEL (10)
1968-11-20 … GONE WITH THE WIND (5) (70mm)
1968-12-25 … THE STALKING MOON (4)
1969-01-22 … BUONA SERA, MRS. CAMPBELL (2)
1969-02-07 … JOANNA (4)
1969-03-05 … HELL IN THE PACIFIC (5)
1969-04-09 … HANNIBAL BROOKS (2)
1969-04-23 … BLOW-UP / THE LOVED ONE (2)
1969-05-07 … WHERE IT’S AT (2)
1969-05-21 … A FINE PAIR (2)
1969-06-04 … THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1) (70mm)
1969-06-11 … THE MAD ROOM (1)
1969-06-18 … THE GREAT ESCAPE / THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR (1)
1969-06-25 … THE GREAT BANK ROBBERY (3)
1969-07-16 … MIDNIGHT COWBOY (22)
1969-12-17 … JOHN AND MARY (9)
1970-02-18 … GAILY, GAILY (2)
1970-03-04 … THE APRIL FOOLS / ME, NATALIE (1)
1970-03-11 … A NICE GIRL LIKE ME / PRETTY POISON (1)
1970-03-19 … THE BOYS IN THE BAND (9)
1970-05-20 … SUPPOSE THEY GAVE A WAR AND NOBODY CAME (5)
1970-06-24 … THE HAWAIIANS (3)
1970-07-15 … PATTON (6) (70mm)
1970-08-26 … HELLO-GOODBYE (1)
1970-09-02 … MOVE (6)
1970-10-16 … DIARY OF A MAD HOUSEWIFE (10)
1970-12-25 … I LOVE MY…WIFE (2)
1971-01-06 … I LOVE MY…WIFE / ANNE OF THE THOUSAND DAYS (5)
1971-02-10 … LITTLE BIG MAN (15)
1971-05-28 … RED SKY AT MORNING (3)
1971-06-18 … WOODSTOCK (2) (stereo)
1971-06-30 … KLUTE (6)
1971-08-13 … THE PANIC IN NEEDLE PARK (4)
1971-09-10 … BANANAS / YELLOW SUBMARINE (1)
1971-09-17 … PATTON / MAS*H (1)
1971-09-24 … THE GREAT WHITE HOPE / JOHN AND MARY (1)
1971-09-29 … THE TOUCH (1)
1971-10-06 … THE TOUCH / THE STATUE (3)
1971-10-27 … T.R.BASKIN (1)
1971-11-03 … T.R.BASKIN / A NEW LEAF (3)
1971-11-24 … DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1) (70mm)
1971-12-01 … GONE WITH THE WIND (1) (70mm)
1971-12-08 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1) (70mm)
1971-12-15 … RYAN’S DAUGHTER (1) (70mm)
1971-12-22 … STRAW DOGS (8)
1972-01-15 … CABARET (sneak preview screening)
1972-02-16 … CABARET (19)
1972-06-28 … PORTNOY’S COMPLAINT (6)
1972-08-09 … THE NEW CENTURIONS (10)
1972-10-20 … BAD COMPANY (1)
1972-10-27 … BAD COMPANY / FRIENDS (1)
1972-11-03 … YOU’LL LIKE MY MOTHER (2)
1972-11-17 … LIMBO (1)
1972-11-22 … CABARET / THE BOY FRIEND (1)
1972-11-29 … CABARET / THE STERILE CUCKOO (1)
1972-12-06 … THE MEPHISTO WALTZ (1)
1972-12-13 … THE MEPHISTO WALTZ / THE OTHER (1)
1972-12-21 … 1776 (4)
1973-01-17 … LADY SINGS THE BLUES / PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM (1)
1973-01-26 … THEIR GENTLE SEX (2)
1973-01-28 … AMERICAN GRAFFITI (sneak preview screening)
1973-02-07 … DELIVERANCE (4)
1973-03-09 … LOST HORIZON (14)
1973-06-13 … LOST HORIZON / ANNE OF THE THOUSAND DAYS (1)
1973-06-20 … LOST HORIZON / LOVE STORY (3)
1973-07-06 … THE WAY WE WERE (sneak preview screening)
1973-07-11 … EMPEROR OF THE NORTH (3)
1973-08-01 … EMPEROR OF THE NORTH / THE HOT ROCK (3)
1973-08-22 … LADY ICE (1)
1973-08-29 … NIGHT WATCH (1)
1973-09-07 … NIGHT WATCH / Z (1)
1973-09-12 … LITTLE BIG MAN / A MAN CALLED HORSE (1)
1973-09-21 … JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (2) (stereo)
1973-10-05 … JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR / PETE ’N’ TILLIE (2)
1973-10-19 … HAROLD AND MAUDE / FRIENDS (1)
1973-10-24 … THE WAY WE WERE (9)
1973-12-26 … THE EXORCIST (26)
1974-06-26 … THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT! (14) (70mm)
1974-10-02 … LADIES & GENTLEMEN, THE ROLLING STONES (4) (Quadraphonic)
1974-11-01 … THE SAVAGE IS LOOSE (2)
1974-11-15 … EARTHQUAKE (23) (Sensurround)
1975-04-25 … TOMMY (10) (Quintaphonic)
1975-07-02 … NASHVILLE (14) (stereo)
1975-10-08 … 3 DAYS OF THE CONDOR (11)
1975-12-25 … BARRY LYNDON (15)
1976-04-09 … ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN (10)
1976-06-18 … MIDWAY (11) (Sensurround)
1976-09-03 … GONE WITH THE WIND (1) (70mm)
1976-09-10 … JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (3) (70mm)
1976-10-01 … CAMELOT (2) (70mm)
1976-10-13 … MARATHON MAN (10)
1976-12-25 … A STAR IS BORN (13) (70mm-Dolby)
1977-03-25 … SLAP SHOT (9)
1977-05-01 … STAR WARS (sneak preview screening)
1977-05-27 … FANTASTIC ANIMATION FESTIVAL (3)
1977-06-17 … EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC (5)
1977-07-20 … THE GRATEFUL DEAD (2) (stereo)
1977-08-05 … MACARTHUR (11)
1977-10-21 … DAMNATION ALLEY (9) (Sound 360)
1977-12-21 … THE GOODBYE GIRL (16)
1978-04-12 … AN UNMARRIED WOMAN (7)
1978-06-02 … CAPRICORN ONE (7) (70mm)
1978-07-21 … SGT. PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND (11) (70mm-Dolby)
1978-10-06 … BLOODBROTHERS (2)
1978-10-18 … CAMELOT (1) (70mm)
1978-10-26 … DERSU UZALA (1) (70mm)
1978-11-03 … THE WIZ (6) (Dolby)
1978-12-15 … SUPERMAN (23) (70mm-Dolby from Week #2)
1979-05-25 … ALIEN (17) (70mm-Dolby)
1979-09-21 … APOCALYPSE NOW (12) (70mm-Dolby)
1979-12-14 … 1941 (9) (70mm)
1980-02-13 … THE BLACK STALLION (14) (Dolby)
1980-04-19 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (sneak preview screening)
1980-05-21 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (28) (70mm-Dolby)
1980-12-05 … FLASH GORDON (10) (Dolby)
1981-02-13 … THE COMPETITION (5) (Dolby)
1981-03-20 … DIVINE MADNESS (1) (70mm-Dolby)
1981-03-27 … SLEEPING BEAUTY (3) (70mm)
1981-04-17 … LION OF THE DESERT (5) (Dolby)
1981-05-09 … RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (sneak preview screening)
1981-05-22 … THE FOUR SEASONS (5)
1981-06-26 … THE GREAT MUPPET CAPER (4) (Dolby)
1981-07-24 … EYE OF THE NEEDLE (5)
1981-08-28 … COMIN’ AT YA! (5) (Dolby, 3-D)
1981-10-02 … THE FRENCH LIEUTENANT’S WOMAN (11)
1981-12-18 … PENNIES FROM HEAVEN (5)
1982-01-22 … WINDWALKER (2)
1982-02-05 … APOCALYPSE NOW (2) (70mm-Dolby)
1982-02-19 … SHOOT THE MOON (7)
1982-04-09 … FANTASIA (8) (stereo)
1982-06-04 … POLTERGEIST (7) (70mm-Dolby)
1982-07-23 … THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS (9) (stereo)
1982-09-24 … YES, GEORGIO (3) (Dolby)
1982-10-15 … TRON (1) (70mm-Dolby)
1982-10-22 … JINXED (4)
1982-11-17 … APOCALYPSE NOW (3) (70mm-Dolby)
1982-12-10 … VICTOR/VICTORIA (1) (Dolby)
1982-12-17 … STILL OF THE NIGHT (2)
1982-12-29 … GANDHI (19) (70mm-Dolby)
1983-04-09 … RETURN OF THE JEDI (sneak preview screening)
1983-05-13 … BLUE THUNDER (6) (70mm-Dolby)
1983-06-24 … YELLOWBEARD (2)
1983-07-08 … GANDHI (1) (70mm-Dolby)
1983-07-15 … TENDER MERCIES (1)
1983-07-22 … CLASS (3)
1983-08-12 … FLASHDANCE (2) (Dolby)
1983-08-26 … A STAR IS BORN (4) (Dolby)
1983-09-23 … FLASHDANCE (4) (Dolby)
1983-10-21 … THE RIGHT STUFF (7) (70mm-Dolby)
1983-12-09 … CHRISTINE (3) (Dolby)
1983-12-28 … THE RIGHT STUFF (9) (70mm-Dolby)
1984-03-02 … AGAINST ALL ODDS (5) (Dolby)
1984-04-06 … MOSCOW ON THE HUDSON (9) (Dolby)
1984-06-08 … GHOSTBUSTERS (19) (70mm-Dolby)
1984-10-19 … THE RAZOR’S EDGE (4) (Dolby)
1984-11-16 … STOP MAKING SENSE (4) (Dolby)
1984-12-14 … STARMAN (8) (70mm-Dolby)
1985-02-08 … FANTASIA (3) (Dolby)
1985-03-01 … THE SURE THING (4)
1985-03-29 … THE SLUGGER’S WIFE (2) (Dolby)
1985-04-12 … THE KILLING FIELDS (2) (Dolby)
1985-04-26 … JUST ONE OF THE GUYS (3)
1985-05-17 … THE COTTON CLUB (1) (70mm-Dolby)
1985-05-24 … RETURN OF THE JEDI (2) (70mm-Dolby)
1985-06-07 … PERFECT (5) (Dolby)
1985-07-10 … SILVERADO (5) (70mm-Dolby)
1985-08-16 … YEAR OF THE DRAGON (6) (70mm-Dolby)
1985-09-27 … EAST OF EDEN / REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1)
1985-10-04 … JAGGED EDGE (9) (Dolby)
1985-12-06 … WHITE NIGHTS (8) (70mm-Dolby)
1986-01-31 … YOUNGBLOOD (2)
1986-02-14 … QUICKSILVER (4) (Dolby)
1986-03-14 … CROSSROADS (4) (Dolby)
1986-04-11 … CROSSROADS / CARE BEARS MOVIE II (1) (Dolby)
1986-04-18 … BACK TO THE FUTURE (2) (70mm-Dolby)
1986-05-02 … JO JO DANCER, YOUR LIFE IS CALLING (3) (Dolby)
1986-05-23 … POLTERGEIST II: THE OTHER SIDE (4) (Dolby)
1986-06-20 … THE KARATE KID PART II (8) (Dolby)
1986-08-15 … ARMED AND DANGEROUS (3) (Dolby)
1986-09-05 … FLIGHT OF THE NAVIGATOR / LEGAL EAGLES (1) (Dolby)
1986-09-12 … HANNAH AND HER SISTERS (1)
1986-09-19 … WHERE THE RIVER RUNS BLACK (3)
1986-10-10 … THAT’S LIFE! (3)
1986-10-31 … RUNNING SCARED (1) (Dolby)
1986-11-07 … TOUGH GUYS (2) (Dolby)
1986-11-21 … 52 PICK-UP (1)
1986-11-26 … NUTCRACKER (3) (Dolby)
1986-12-05 … TOP GUN (2) (70mm-Dolby)
1986-12-19 … MARLENE (2)
1986-12-30 … PLATOON (19) (Dolby)
1987-05-15 … ISHTAR (7)
1987-07-01 … STRAIGHT TO HELL (3)
1987-07-24 … LA BAMBA (5) (Dolby)
1987-08-28 … THE BIG EASY (6)
1987-10-09 … SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME (6) (Dolby)
1987-11-20 … SIGN ‘O’ THE TIMES (3) (Dolby)
1987-12-09 … THE LAST EMPEROR (16) (70mm-Dolby)
1988-04-01 … BILOXI BLUES (3) (Dolby)
1988-04-22 … A TIME OF DESTINY (2) (Dolby)
1988-05-06 … SHAKEDOWN (3) (Dolby)
1988-05-27 … CALL ME (1) (Dolby)
1988-06-03 … THE LAST EMPEROR (2) (70mm-Dolby)
1988-06-17 … THE GREAT OUTDOORS (3) (Dolby)
1988-07-08 … PHANTASM II (2) (Dolby)
1988-07-20 … MIDNIGHT RUN (3) (Dolby)
1988-08-12 … THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST (10) (Dolby)
1988-10-21 … GORILLAS IN THE MIST (2) (Dolby)
1988-11-04 … THEY LIVE (2) (Dolby)
1988-11-18 … THE LAND BEFORE TIME (3) (Dolby)
1988-12-09 … TWINS (7) (Dolby)
1989-01-27 … PHYSICAL EVIDENCE (2) (Dolby)
1989-02-10 … DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS (1) (Dolby)
1989-02-17 … TRUE BELIEVER (4) (Dolby)
1989-03-17 … LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (17) (70mm-Dolby SR)
1989-07-12 … WHEN HARRY MET SALLY… (9) (Dolby)
1989-09-15 … SEA OF LOVE (10) (Dolby)
1989-11-22 … BACK TO THE FUTURE PART II (6) (Dolby)
1990-01-05 … BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY (9) (Dolby)
1990-03-09 … BAD INFLUENCE (3) (Dolby)
1990-03-30 … OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS (2) (Dolby)
1990-04-11 … TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (2) (Dolby)
1990-04-27 … THE GUARDIAN (3) (Dolby)
1990-05-18 … BIRD ON A WIRE (6) (Dolby)
1990-06-29 … GHOST DAD (2) (Dolby)
1990-07-13 … GHOST DAD / JETSONS: THE MOVIE (1) (Dolby)
1990-07-20 … PRETTY WOMAN (1) (Dolby)
1990-07-27 … PROBLEM CHILD (4) (Dolby)
1990-08-24 … DARKMAN (3) (Dolby)
1990-09-14 … POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE (6) (Dolby)
1990-10-26 … SIBLING RIVALRY (4) (Dolby)
1990-11-23 … WHITE PALACE (1) (Dolby)
1990-11-30 … MARKED FOR DEATH (1) (Dolby)
1990-12-07 … MEMPHIS BELLE (2) (Dolby)
1990-12-20 … AWAKENINGS (7) (Dolby)
1991-02-08 … SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY (11) (Dolby)
1991-04-26 … A KISS BEFORE DYING (3) (Dolby)
1991-05-17 … MANNEQUIN TWO: ON THE MOVE (2) (Dolby)
1991-05-31 … THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1) (70mm)
1991-06-07 … CITY SLICKERS (8) (Dolby)
1991-08-02 … RETURN TO THE BLUE LAGOON (2) (Dolby)
1991-08-16 … CITY SLICKERS (5) (Dolby)
1991-09-20 … ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES (3) (Dolby)
1991-10-11 … THE TAKING OF BEVERLY HILLS (2) (Dolby)
1991-10-25 … BARTON FINK (1) (Dolby)
1991-11-01 … YEAR OF THE GUN (2) (Dolby)
1991-11-15 … SHATTERED (1) (Dolby)
1991-11-22 … FRANKIE & JOHNNY (5) (Dolby)
1991-12-25 … THE PRINCE OF TIDES (17) (Dolby)
1992-04-24 … YEAR OF THE COMET (2) (Dolby)
1992-05-08 … CASABLANCA (2)
1992-05-22 … FRIED GREEN TOMATOES (3) (Dolby)
1992-06-12 … HOUSESITTER (3) (Dolby)
1992-07-01 … A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN (8) (Dolby)
1992-08-28 … HONEYMOON IN VEGAS (4) (Dolby)
1992-09-23 … MR. SATURDAY NIGHT (4) (Dolby)
1992-10-23 … SNEAKERS (3) (Dolby)
1992-11-13 … BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA (9) (Dolby)
1993-01-15 … BODY OF EVIDENCE (3) (Dolby)
1993-02-05 … LORENZO’S OIL (1) (Dolby)
1993-02-12 … GROUNDHOG DAY (9) (Dolby)
1993-04-16 … THE CRYING GAME (3) (Dolby)
1993-05-07 … DRAGON: THE BRUCE LEE STORY (6) (Dolby)
1993-06-18 … LAST ACTION HERO (3) (70mm-Dolby)
1993-07-09 … IN THE LINE OF FIRE (11) (70mm-Dolby)
1993-09-24 … THE AGE OF INNOCENCE (9) (Dolby)
1993-11-24 … JOSH AND S.A.M. (1) (Dolby)
1993-12-03 … JOSH AND S.A.M. / MALICE (1) (Dolby)
1993-12-10 … GERONIMO: AN AMERICAN LEGEND (5) (70mm-Dolby)
1994-01-14 … IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER (10) (DTS)
1994-03-25 … SCHINDLER’S LIST (5) (DTS)
1994-04-29 … FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL (7) (Dolby)
1994-06-17 … WOLF (9) (Dolby)
1994-08-19 … BLANKMAN (2) (Dolby)
1994-09-02 … FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL (1) (Dolby)
1994-09-09 … A GOOD MAN IN AFRICA (2) (Dolby)
1994-09-23 … THE CLIENT (1) (Dolby)
1994-09-30 … CORRINA, CORRINA (1) (Dolby)
1994-10-07 … THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (4) (Dolby)
1994-11-04 … THE WAR (6) (DTS)
1994-12-16 … STARGATE (1) (DTS)
1994-12-25 … READY TO WEAR (6) (Dolby)
1995-02-03 … BEFORE SUNRISE (3) (Dolby)
1995-02-24 … THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (3) (Dolby)
1995-03-17 … MURIEL’S WEDDING (10) (Dolby)
1995-05-26 … DON JUAN DE MARCO (1) (Dolby)
1995-06-02 … THE GLASS SHIELD (2) (Dolby)
1995-06-16 … MY FAMILY, MI FAMILIA (2) (Dolby)
1995-06-30 … APOLLO 13 (8) (DTS)
1995-08-25 … WATERWORLD (2) (DTS)
1995-09-08 … TO WONG FOO, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING! JULIE NEWMAR (4) (DTS)
1995-10-06 … HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT (6) (DTS)
1995-11-17 … THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT (12) (Dolby)
1996-02-09 … BEAUTIFUL GIRLS (7) (Dolby)
1996-03-29 … FARGO (11) (Dolby)
1996-06-14 … THE CABLE GUY (5) (Dolby)
1996-07-19 … THE FRIGHTENERS (4) (DTS)
1996-08-16 … ERASER (1) (Dolby)
1996-08-23 … SOLO (2) (Dolby)
1996-09-06 … THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU (1) (Dolby)
1996-09-13 … THE TRIGGER EFFECT (2) (Dolby)
1996-09-27 … LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1) (70mm-Dolby SR)
1996-10.04 … TOMMY / THE DOORS (1) (70mm / 70mm-Dolby)
1996-10-11 … APOCALYPSE NOW (1) (70mm-Dolby)
1996-10-18 … THE WILD BUNCH (1) (70mm)
1996-10-25 … MY FAIR LADY (1) (70mm-Dolby)
1996-11-01 … THE LAST EMPEROR (1) (70mm-Dolby)
1996-11-08 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1) (70mm-Dolby SR)
1996-11-15 … BOUND (1) (Dolby)
1996-11-22 … THE ENGLISH PATIENT (7) (Dolby)
1997-01-10 … THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT (5) (Dolby)
1997-02-14 … TOUCH (2) (Dolby)
1997-02-28 … THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT (3) (Dolby)
1997-03-21 … LIAR LIAR (9) (DTS)
1997-05-23 … THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK (9) (DTS)
1997-07-21 … theater closed
The information contained in this article was referenced from various issues of Boxoffice, Variety and the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper.
I was just reading the 2007 book The Making of Star Wars by J. W. Rinzler, and there is a nice photo of the Northpoint featuring the Paul Newman film Slap Shot on page 289.
I just watched a fairly entertaining movie from 1979 named “Time After Time” (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080025/). The trivia at IMDB claims that the movie scene within the movie was filmed at the Northpoint (they allude to the Zodiac Killer’s “Exorcist” letter), but hilariously enough, as the characters walk out of the theater there is a weird vertical marquee that clearly shows them walking out of Ghirardelli Square (the marquee also says that The Exorcist IV is playing, perhaps a nod to the Zodiac killer.) It’s easy enough to find the door they walked out of along Beach street in San Francisco. The weird ‘marquee’ sign is gone but it appears as though the mount/bracket for it is still on the building.
The interior shot shows seats that look like they’re covered in some sort of yellow vinyl, which leads me to believe it wasn’t the Northpoint. Were the seats there every covered in yellow vinyl? The very few interior pictures I’ve come across look to be standard red fabric covered seats.
They don’t show the screen in the theater in the movie but the sounds are made up if machine guns and airplanes, clearly a war movie. The film itself was set in November 1979, when Apocalypse Now was playing, which actually might be historically accurate.
“STAR WARS was only available [initially] to theatres who had 70 and or Dolby Stereo.” (Twistr54, Jun 20)
It is a myth that the initial release of the original “Star Wars” was made available only to Dolby-equipped theaters. The history of this movie’s release has really been screwed up by the faulty memories of people and the false claims made by authors of books and magazine articles on the subject. (Coate, Aug. 31, 2005)
Just wanted to clarify this old comment since I have some very reliable sources that clarified it for me.
The initial 70mm release of Star Wars was only available with Dolby, but that’s not the only format it was initially released in. If you wanted a 70mm print on release day, you had to have a Dolby equipped theater. My sources are sketchy on how long it took for non Dolby prints to be released, but most of them thing it was 2-3 months after the initial release. There was just too much demand to not print 70mm reels without Dolby.
I can still remember the night my dad coming home all wide-eyed and scared after a showing ALIEN. (I was 8 years old at the time, and was pissed because he wouldn’t take me with him to see that.) He very eradically told me the tale of little spider-creatures jumping on the faces of Space Miners, monsters bursting from thier chests, and the horrorific things that transpired after… freaked me out enough that I wouldn’t see that film until 3 years after it came out. LoL!
Unfortunatley, I only attended The Northpoint once when Empire Strikes Back was in it’s 2nd week. No trailers were shown at that preformance. I remember the 70mm auditorium being huge, and the 6-track Dolby was even more intense. I remember walking out of there one angry 9 year old, as I wouldn’t learn the fates of Han Solo and the rest of the gang for another 3 years.
If anyone has links to pictures of The Northpoints auditorioum, I’d appreaciate a look see.
(continued) while I recall the Northpoint’s was black. The Wilmington theatre has been vacant for 32 years, so it’s remarkable the drapes look to be uin good shape.
“The real Northpoint did not have side wall curtains extending from the screen to the entrance.”
Oh, yes it did. At least during the 70’s. Bright gold curtains.
I’m convinced this is the same exact theatre design ABC used for their Cinemart theatre in Wilmington. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oegNyQ4ZKbE&feature=relmfu) The exterior is somewhat different, and yet the lobby features the same narrow tall windows, snack bar, chandeliers, hallway lwading to booth above snack bar, auditorium entrance doors, two sets of exit doors, front and back, same type of air conditioning vents, gold curtains throughout, etc. (although it seems to have a white suspended ceiling
I was the District Manager for this Theatre from 1989 thru 1992, I also Managed the St Francis and the Northpoint from Dec 1985 to April of 87. Then I left and went Mann theatres to open Fashion Island 6 in San Mateo ,returned to Cineplex as District Manager for the San Francisco Bay Area, Running the Northpoint was a piece of cake It rarely was busy and when it was you always had 2 hours after each show to relax, The only problem was the Parking Garage was a pain in the ass with giving out tokens for the parking. It was a Union house and I had the BEST of I A T S E projectionist at the Northpoint! also had the best at the Coronet when I was there. Good Old Henry Meyers always took care of me from when I was trained BY Al Levin, He was the Best in Theatre Management,Anyone who could work with him learned the business and its peoples very well.
Here are some interior shows of the Northpoint.
The pictures are of “fair” quality, except for the audiitorium interior, which was poor.
These were taken after the theater was closed in 1997 and before the interior was gutted for retail use.
http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/2924.html
Trainmaster
<<< “I took a very close look at the ‘Zodiac’ movie last night. The Northpoint appears at approximately 1-hour and 35 minutes into the film. The exterior is definately the Northpoint. However, the Marquee was reconstructed with errors. For one thing, as you look at the two photos on this site [snip] You will notice that the Marquee in the photos faced both Powell and Bay Streets. In addition, there was no large black band with ‘Northpoint’ at the top and another black band at the bottom with ‘Theater.’ ” >>>
Another error the “Zodiac” filmmakers made in recreating the Northpoint was they spelled it “Theater” on the marquee whereas photographic evidence indicates it was spelled “Theatre.” And an even bigger error was why they even featured the Northpoint when, as I pointed out a few comments up, that “Dirty Harry,” the film featured in “Zodiac,” did not even play at that theater!
<<< *“As far as the interior is concerned, it was gutted when the theater closed. The real Northpoint did not have side wall curtains extending from the screen to the entrance. Another single-screen operating theater, probably in the L.A. area, was substituted for the audience shots.” * >>>
The interiors were shot at the National.
I remember see “Silverado” and “Lawrence of Arabia” here in the 1980’s. The theater had a tremendous sound system.
In reference to the questions raised about the shooting of “ZODIAC” at the Northpoint by T.J. and JBryan:
I took a very close look at the “Zodiac” movie last night. The Northpoint appears at approximately 1-hour and 35 minutes into the film.
The exterior is definately the Northpoint. However, the Marquee was reconstructed with errors. For one thing, as you look at the two photos on this site:
http://www.pacbus.org/images/ken4.jpg
View link
You will notice that the Marquee in the photos faced both Powell and Bay Streets. In addition, there was no large black band with “Northpoint” at the top and another black band at the bottom with “Theater.” The entire name was at the top.
You will notice in the early photo, before the theater had its grand opening, the glass was tinted so no one could see into the lobby from the outside. In the Fincher film, this part is overlooked, and the lights used in his film were not the ones in the real Northpoint.
As far as the interior is concerned, it was gutted when the theater closed. The real Northpoint did not have side wall curtains extending from the screen to the entrance. Another single-screen operating theater, probably in the L.A. area, was substituted for the audience shots.
Trainmaster
I was an Assistant Manager there for a short time in November 1978 till May 1979. It was a great theater but Superman the Movie was there for pretty much my whole run.
The Northpoint was built by ABC Theatres of California and was designed by ABC-Paramount’s consulting architect of the 1960s and 1970s, Henry George Greene.
Here is a 1967 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/lmdxg3
One problem: “Dirty Harry” did not play at NORTHPOINT!
I believe the “Zodiac” filmmakers confused NORTHPOINT with the LOEW’S on Market Street. (“Dirty Harry” world premiered at LOEW’S on 12/21/1971, and then opened citywide the following day there as well as at CINEMA 21 and MISSION DRIVE-IN.)