Hawaii Cinerama

1550 S. King Street,
Honolulu, HI 96826

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Showing 76 - 100 of 108 comments

Vito
Vito on February 13, 2007 at 3:32 am

Michael, Getting back to your original question.
What steve writes takes us back to my original thought, which is “Raiders” played the Royal. My friend still living in Hawaii also confirms that “Raiders” played both the Royal and Marina in first and second run engagements. If “Raiders” opened in 1981 then the Royal was still open, and Royal theatres would still have been playing all Paramount Films. The Royal closed in 1982.

stevemcgarrett
stevemcgarrett on February 12, 2007 at 9:58 pm

Paramount was still exclusive to ROYAL before it switched over to Consolidated during the 80’s. In case of Raiders it was still doin its showing thru the Royal Chain.
BTW, Raiders made its US realease in theaters in June of 1981 so it was ROYAL that was screening the film on its first run. I saw this with my mom at The Marina theater #2 during its second run. The crowd wasn’t that big as I recall from the dinky sized auditorium.
The Parmount Movie that became Consolidated’s first film to screen at their theaters was FLASHDANCE at the PEARLRIDGE 4 PLEX.

Vito
Vito on December 22, 2006 at 3:43 am

Yes Michael, you jogged my memory a bit. Since the first run Royal theatre closed sometime in 1982, it would have left Royal theatres with only the Marina twins in Waikiki and the downtown King twins, (The Queen was being leased to a porno circuit)As a result It makes sense then that Consolidated would have played some of the product that once ran exclusivly with the Royal circuit.
This booking pattern probably changed just about the time I left in December 1982. I recall speaking on the phone from New York to some of the people who had worked for Royal theatres telling me they had started working for Consolidated. If Scott B reads this he may have some info, otherwise I will get it all straightened out next time I speak to one of the boys in Hawaii. I am going to be making a few
calls soon and will let you know what I find out.
It now seems possible to me that Raiders did play the Cinerama or Waikiki 1-2-3. I doubt Raiders would have played the Marina Twins since they had only 300 seats on each side. Funny thing is, when Herman Rosen, who was CEO of Royal theatres, built the Marina in 1972, it became his baby and in spite of it’s size he would play all the big pictures there (Chinatown, Grease, Saturday Night Fever,
and King Kong amoung others, and leave the bigger Royal theatre to play the less important pictutes. Somehow I can’t imagine Consolidated continuing that policy.

Coate
Coate on December 21, 2006 at 10:54 pm

That booking pattern must’ve changed in the years after you left, Vito, because as mentioned a few posts back, I saw “Top Gun” (a Paramount release) at the Waikiki Twins. That was run by Consolidated, right? Durin that visit I also saw Paramount’s “Ferris Bueller’s Day off” at, I believe, the Kuhio. Which chain ran that one?

What does any of this have to do with “Raiders” and the theatre in which it played? Probably nothing! :–)

Vito
Vito on December 17, 2006 at 6:15 am

Michael, Since “Raiders” was a Paramount movie it would have played the Royal theatrte circuit. Consolidated theatres owned the Cinerama so it could not have played there. I cannot recall which Royal theatre played the movie, however I can narrow it down for you. It had to have been either the Royal or the Marina Twins, of that I am sure. I recall we closed the Royal theatre right about that time so it may have already closed, which meant the movie played the Marina. I am close friends with the guy who was the projectionist at the Marina during that time, when I next speak with him I will ask him if “Raiders” played there or the Royal.
Meanwhile if you know wheather or not the the film played in 70mm it will mean it had to have played the Royal, since the Marina did not have 70mm. I will confirm soon, meanwhile Perhaps Scott B, was around then and knows the answer.

Coate
Coate on December 16, 2006 at 7:09 pm

Did “Raiders Of The Lost Ark” play its first-run engagement at the CINERAMA? I don’t have easy access to THE HONOLULU ADVERTISER microfilm for the timeframe in question, otherwise I’d check myself. Can anyone who lived or worked in Honolulu during summer 1981 recall in which Honolulu theatre “Raiders” played? (I’m asking about the first Indiana Jones movie from ‘81; I realize it’s easy to confuse movies that part of a series.)

William
William on November 21, 2006 at 8:06 am

We might have gotten it during that time. We played it a few times in 70MM, because of the area the theatre was in. I remember a few times I saw labels from when the prints played in Hawaii.

Vito
Vito on November 21, 2006 at 7:46 am

William some of my confusion about studios may have come from the fact that in Hawaii we had our own film exchanges. Studios would send prints to the exchange at Consolidated and Royal theatres on consignmrnt for as long as the prints played on the islands. We would examine, maintain and ship the prints from theatre to theatre on all the islands before returning them. In those days Royal theatres had exclusive run of all the Paramount, Disney, UA and Avco Embassy releases and Consolidated theatres played all the rest. Occassionally there was a move over from Consolidated to Royal as with the remake of “A Star Is Born” which played at Consolidated's
Waikiki #3 and then moved over to Royal’s Marina Twin #1. we installed 35mm four track mag sound at the Marina for the engagement.

Vito
Vito on November 21, 2006 at 7:31 am

Hello William, I thought the frantic call I received from Art Gordon mentioned Columbia, I should have said studio. Did you get our print?
I undederstand it was taken to a theatre in LA.

William
William on November 21, 2006 at 6:54 am

Vito, you posted above “Columbia was very upset with the 70MM projection at the Cinerama” for “The Jazz Singer”.

The film was handled by AFD (Associated Film Distribution). We had the move-over in Feb. 1981 from the Pacific’s Cinerama Dome in 70MM to the Picwood Theatre in West Los Angeles.

Vito
Vito on November 21, 2006 at 6:36 am

Hi Michael, I left Hawaii in 1982 and was not there during the time you referred to. In 1978 I began working in the projection department for Consolidated theatres, and in 1979 I became head of the newly formed Sight and Sound division. My team consisted of two talented technicians, Sol Kam and Wesley Inouye, our goal was to bring a superior movie going experience to the people of Hawaii.
Sol, Wesley and I first teamed up to install the projection equipment for the Hilo triplex theatre in Hilo Hawaii. During the time we were not on the site working, Wesley and I would spend the evenings in our hotel planning ways to improve projection and sound in all the theatres in the circuit. Wesley was/is a brilliant sound technician and was responsible for all of the sound installations in Hawaii during my time there. I recall once complaining to Wesley of the sound quality coming from the anaquated sound system at Wakiki #3, Wesley went to work and made significant improvements, it was then that I knew what he was really capable of. When I left, several projects were on the drawing board including renovation of Waikiki #3 and upgrade of the sound system at the twins #1 and #2. I had already installed new Schneider lenses to the twins as well as new 55' curved screens and sidewall surround speakers. However I still was not satisfied with the stage speakers which were Altec A-4s. Wesley and I had heard about Klipsch speakers and we made arrangements to have one shipped to Hawaii for us to test out. We installed the speaker next to the existing Altec and installed a knife switch so we could switch back and fourth to make comparisons. I can still hear Sol Kam who was behind the screening switching back and fourth yelling “Klipsch” and then “Altec” so Wesley and I could compare the two. At that point Wesley and I knew immediately that we had to begin installing these speakers in our theatres. Shortly after I left Hawaii the renovation of #3 began, John Allen of High Performance Systems was brought in to work with Wesley on the installation of an HPS-4000 sound system, and 70mm was also installed.
Eventually I believe the same system was installed at the Twins as well. Basically the three theatres Waikiki 1-2-3 had arguably the best sound system to be heard anywhere. That should explain why you were so impressed with what you saw and heard. I will leave any other developments to my friend Scot B, who posts here from time to time, to elaborate on. Scott was part of the projection team after I left, and is a one-of-a-kind projectionist and knew his way around maintaining a projection booth, I can only imagine that Scott and Wesley must have made one heck-of-a team.

Coate
Coate on November 20, 2006 at 11:22 pm

Vito…were you working in Honolulu in 1986? If so, perhaps I have you or one of your colleagues to thank for a killer 70mm presentation of “Top Gun” I saw at one of the Waikiki Twins. (I was so impressed I saw it twice during the week I was there vacationing!) I also saw a 70 of “Cobra” around the corner.

Vito
Vito on November 19, 2006 at 8:21 am

Scott, it sure is good hearing from you, your recollection of the Star Wars run sounds about right. I had left the Cinerama just before Star Wars opened to run the new Pearlridge 4. I did not return to the Cinerama until I joined management in 1978 to become head of the Sight and Sound department with Wes and Sol.
It was then that I convinced CEO Art Gordon to bring more 70mm to Hawaii. Gordon was uninterested in 70mm, he did not think the people cared about it nor did he appreciate the advantages. But all that changed when I asked him to book “Fame” into the Cinerama in 70mm. I then asked Art to attend a dry run, it was then he changed his mind about 70mm, in fact he called me into his office and said, “you win, how many theatres can run 70mm ”?
Sometime in the early 80s Art began booking 70mm regularly at the Cinerama and Wakiki twins. We tried to get the 70mm at the Varsity up and running (Gordon wanted to move “Fame” over from the Cinerama), but the amplifiers were in very poor condition, and we never replaced them. By this time only the Cinerama, Waikiki twins and Royal were 70mm capable. The Kuhio had been twinned and the Norelco 70mm projectors were removed, (you may remember running “That’s Entertainment” there in 35mm four track mag). The Queen had 70mm but was being leased out by Royal Development and had turned into a porno house. I think the worst 70mm story at the Cinerama was “The Jazz Singer”; I was on vacation in New York when I received a call from Art Gordon, he told me Columbia was very upset with the 70mm projection at the Cinerama and was pulling the print to replace it with a 35mm version. The problem was, we suddenly had this influx of 70mm and very few projectionists who knew how to run it. Old lady Whittle, who was scheduling the projectionists, was putting everyone and anyone in to run theses shows to sometimes-disastrous results. By the time I got back to Hawaii the 70mm “Jazz Singer” print had been pulled and replaced with a 35mm print. I also recall getting an emergency call from one of the relief operators at the Cinerama telling me he could not get the sound to work. He went on to tell me he tried everything including changing the exciter lamp. I knew we were in trouble when he replaced the exciter lamp while running 70mm. I rushed over there only to find he had not threaded the magnetic penthouse and obviously did not know what he was doing. Soon after, I began holding 70mm training classes at the Royal theatre and things improved. I gotta tell you, in spite of all the problems, the bad outweighed the good, and I never regretted talking Art Gordon and Herman Rosen into bringing more 70mm to Hawaii.

ScottBosch
ScottBosch on November 19, 2006 at 5:50 am

Michael, I stand corrected. It’s the overall run I’m thinking was well in excess of a year with the majority of it in 70mm.

Coate
Coate on November 18, 2006 at 9:42 pm

“Star Wars” opened in Honolulu on June 8, 1977 in 35mm at the CINERAMA and KAPIOLANI. The CINERAMA’s upgrade to a 70mm presentation, according to its promotion in the local newspapers, was during October ‘77. (That Oct. start date for the 70mm matches by a couple of weeks the date of install of the Dolby CP100 according to Dolby Labs’ master installation records.)

All still-circulating prints of “Star Wars” (save for a print in Portland, OR) were pulled by Fox during the first week of September 1978, suggesting that the duration of the Honolulu 70mm engagement was less than one year.

A list of 70mm engagements of the original “Star Wars” can be found at:
View link

ScottBosch
ScottBosch on November 18, 2006 at 3:11 pm

Been a while since I visited or posted anything on this site…in response to my friend Vito, yes, Star Wars did play in 70mm at the Cinerama. I’m not sure of dates. The 70mm run coincided with the installation of the first (or maybe second) Dolby CP-100 stereo processor. The 70mm print ran for well over a year. By the end of the run, it was a mess.

Vito
Vito on April 27, 2005 at 9:46 am

Thanks Michael, I am sure you are right about the dates, I am after all geting old and the Jedi’s may be taking over my mind. However I don’t remember ever playing “Star Wars” in 70mm. Perhaps my friend Scott B, who worked the booth as well, can jump in with his memories of this. I seem to remember it opened at both the Cinerama and Kapiolani in 35mm mono sound, yikes!! We did eventually install Dolby part way thru the run and started playing it in 35mm Dolby stereo. At least that’s how I remember it.Then of course the next two “star Wars” films were presented in 70mm. I was there working the booth and lovin it.

Coate
Coate on April 27, 2005 at 9:26 am

Vito wrote:
“Star Wars” opened May 25th 1977 playing both the Cinerama and Kapiolani theatres. Both theatres played the film in 35mm.
“Empire Strikes Back” opened at Cinerama on May 21 1980 in 70mm
“Return of the Jedi” opened May 25 1983 also in 70mm.

Vito,
I think your memory is playing tricks on you (or someone is playing a Jedi mind trick…).

“Star Wars” opened May 25, 1977 in selected markets, though my research has shown that Honolulu was not among them. While the movie did open simultaneously in the two theatres you mention, the Hawaii release wasn’t until June 8.

In addition, I have reason to believe the Cinerama Theatre’s engagement initially 35mm switched over to a 70mm print, which began being advertised in the newspaper ads during October 1977.

You’re correct about “Empire” opening in 70mm on May 21, 1980.

I think you’re misremembering the specifics about “Jedi.” Yes, it was at the Cinerama. Yes it was a 70mm presentation. But my research indicates the Honolulu opening wasn’t until “Wave 2” on June 24, 1983.

Damn, why does it seem like I’m always correcting people! (Is this a good habit or a bad habit? I guess it depends on how you look at things.)

For more on the release of the original “Star Wars” movies, including the dates, locations and presentation types of the initial engagements, I encourage you to read the following articles I prepared just for occasions such as this one:

View link

View link

View link

Vito
Vito on April 13, 2005 at 6:11 am

Sorry to tell you, the theatre is now an auto parts store.
I remember those long lines for many films we showed at the theatre such as “Towering Inferno”, “Young Frankenstien” and “Poseidon Adventure”, all of which had long lines around the corner to the back of the parking lot for most of the day. In those days the films were exclusive at the Cinerama and people would come from all over the island to see them. Cinerama was the premier roadshow house, showing most of the big reserved ticket blockbusters of the day. The last roadshow (reserved seat) engagement we played was the 70mm reissue of “This is Cinerama” in 1973

Andyny29
Andyny29 on April 12, 2005 at 9:48 pm

Thanks for the info. Someday, I’m going back to Hawaii and one of the first things on my list of things to do is see this theatre. To bad it’s closed. I also saw “Empire” there on May 21 1980 and I remember the line wrapped around the block for the first show.

Vito
Vito on April 12, 2005 at 6:16 am

“Star Wars” opened May 25th 1977 playing both the Cinerama and Kapiolani theatres. Both theatres played the film in 35mm.
“Empire Strikes Back” opened at Cinerama on May 21 1980 in 70mm
“Return of the Jedi” opened May 25 1983 also in 70mm.

Andyny29
Andyny29 on April 11, 2005 at 10:16 pm

I saw Star Wars at the Hawaii Cinerama in June, 1977. What an experience it was to see this movie at that theatre. The curved screen made it seem like you were on a spaceship watching the action.
Does anyone know exactly when Star Wars opened here? I’m trying to remember the exact date for a posting on another site. Andyny29.

Vito
Vito on March 5, 2005 at 6:26 am

Thanks for that memory Robert, Just below the sign was a door leading to Able booth were I would step out on the roof for a little air between shows.

RobertR
RobertR on March 4, 2005 at 9:40 am

View link

There is a picture of the theatre at this link.

Vito
Vito on December 3, 2004 at 5:40 am

Yes, only Able projector was intact when I worked there, Baker and Charlie had been stripped and fitted with standard 35/70mm parts.
Only the name CINERAMA remained on the glass doors. The 7 track magnetic sound reproducer was also intact, as well the interlock control panel for the three projectors and sound reproducer.