The Americana was among the theatres included in the original limited-market launch of “Star Wars.” The Americana’s 5/25/77 opening-day gross, as reported in Daily Variety, was a house record $11,532.
“I saw the movie "Tommy” there. That was when Dolby stereo first came out.“ (brian74)
“Tommy” was released in a variety of sound formats, including an early version of Dolby Stereo. Dolby Stereo was installed at the Americana in May 1977 for “Star Wars.” The theater upgraded to a 70mm six-track Dolby Stereo presentation of “Star Wars” in November 1977. In December ‘77, they began their 70mm run “Close Encounters Of The Third Kind” at which time the exclusive Detroit area 70mm showing of “Star Wars” moved to the Northland.
Other AKAs for this entry not included at the top of this page are Americana I-II-III (1972-), Americana I-II-III-IV (mid-70s), Americana Complex (late-70s/early-80s), and Americana 8 (1986-1990).
I have a 1967 Poughkeepsie Journal newspaper ad for “Doctor Zhivago,” which the theatre began showing the day after the New York City roadshow run ended. Address given is, simply, “Route 9, Poughkeepsie.” Theatre was equipped for 70mm presentations.
“I believe the Cine Capri opened in 1961 with El Cid.” (acmeron)
“The Cine Capri was built in 1965 and 66' as a roadshow hard ticket theatre. It opened in the spring of 1966 with THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY.” (eadkins)
“eadkins” is correct. I have a photocopy of the grand opening newspaper ad and can confirm a spring 1966 opening (March 31 for those who care about such details) with the debut attraction being “The Agony And The Ecstasy.” Charlton Heston attended the grand opening event.
The St. Louis Park was among the theatres included in the original limited-market launch of “Star Wars.” The St. Louis Park’s 5/25/77 opening-day gross, according to Daily Variety, was a house record $6,149.
The Cooper was among the theatres included in the original limited-market launch of “Star Wars.” The Cooper’s 5/25/77 opening-day gross, according to Daily Variety, was a house record $7,966.
The Cine Capri was among the theatres included in the original limited-market launch of “Star Wars.” The Cine Capri’s 5/25/77 opening-day gross, according to Daily Variety, was a house record $6,518.
“One of my fondest childhood memories is waiting outside the theater in line for what seemed like hours to see the original "Star Wars”. Even at age 9 I thought it was really cool to be seeing a movie THERE. I’m from Minnesota, and my dad lived in San Diego at the time. I’m not quite clear on how or why we happened to be there right then, but I’m so glad we were. It’s a cool story to tell as an adult, especially now with the release of “Revenge of the Sith”, and people talking about their own “Star Wars” memories…“ (MaraC”
A link to a cool “Star Wars” memory article: View link
The Eastwood was among the theatres included in the original limited-market launch of “Star Wars.” The Eastwood’s 5/25/77 opening-day gross, according to Daily Variety, was a house record $5,638.
The Avco was among the theatres included in the original limited-market launch of “Star Wars.” The Avco’s 5/25/77 opening-day gross, according to Daily Variety, was a house record $12,816.
The Chinese was among the theatres included in the original limited-market launch of “Star Wars.” The Chinese’s 5/25/77 opening-day gross, according to Daily Variety, was a house record $19,358.
The Coronet was among the theatres included in the original limited-market launch of “Star Wars.” The Coronet’s 5/25/77 opening-day gross, according to Daily Variety, was a house record $16,462.
The Menlo Park Twin was among the theatres included in the original limited-market launch of “Star Wars.” Nearly all of the 32 opening-day houses broke house records for opening-day business. Opening-day gross at Menlo Park was $5,398. (That may seem like a piddly amount of money by today’s standards, but for a mid-week 1977 day’s business it’s quite a bit.)
Source: Daily Variety (5/27/77). For more info about the original release of “Star Wars,” see: View link
Never mind! I made my post without reading or clicking on the program links, which now I realize mentioned the movie. I guessed the movie based upon the timeframe of the Nixon resignation reference.
On a visit to NYC… how could you go wrong with a Blake Edwards movie starring Julie Andrews? Boy, did I find out. …the day after I saw this show, Richard Nixon resigned from office.“ (BoxOfficeBill)
“Was there a roadshow re-release of Ben Hur? I remember seing it in my suburban L.A. neighborhood theater before I graduated from high school in 1962.” (Joe Vogel)
For the premiere dates and other details, see:
“Ben-Hur” original L.A. roadshow release: View link
“They did boffo business with ‘E.T.’ & ‘Jedi’ and they looked and sounded amazing.” (BobT)
That’s because they were shown in 70mm!
Question for those familiar with this theater…. I’m confused about the statement in the intro about this being a sixplex. The newspaper ads during the ‘80s called this the “Meadowbrook Quad,” implying four screens, not six. Unless the “Quad” notation is referring to just the newer portion of the complex…but wouldn’t the big event films still have been shown, in their initial weeks anyway, on either half of the original screen?
“I transferred over to the Cooper/Cameo that same summer as the manager (Star Wars had been playing about a month). I honestly do not remember upgrading to 70mm; to the best of my recollection it was 70mm throughout the time that I was there.” (GaryJB)
Well, if you tranferred to the Cooper during the month of August, then by then the theater would have been running the 70mm print of “Star Wars.”
I wonder if perhaps you thought I implied the theater upgraded to 70mm that summer, whereas I was referring to the print of “Star Wars.” (The theater, of course, had had 70mm projection capability dating back to the mid ‘60s.)
The New England exclusive engagement of “Star Wars” was at the Charles, as mentioned previously in this discussion, and began May 25, 1977. The engagement upgraded to a 70mm presentation in September 1977 (which was also a New England exclusive).
I believe “Close Encounters Of The Third Kind” was the first movie to play at River Oaks in 70mm & six-track Dolby. I think the Dolby CP100 was installed in the fall of ‘77 just before that engagement.
I find it surprising that the Chicago area did not run a 70mm version of “Star Wars” until around Christmas ‘77 when the film moved to the Oakbrook.
“I worked at the Cooper during the 1977 Star Wars frenzy. I have some great memories of the theatre and staff. If there are other photos of the interior, I would also enjoy seeing them.” (GaryJB)
Did you work in the projection booth? Do you recall the Cooper upgrading to a 70mm presentation in August 1977, then giving up the print to the Continental in December to make way for “Close Encounters”?
I don’t have any photos of the theater’s interior, though I do have a copy of the Denver Post from the day after “Empire” opened which included a great picture of a massive line of fans with the theater and its marquee visible in the shot.
The Americana was among the theatres included in the original limited-market launch of “Star Wars.” The Americana’s 5/25/77 opening-day gross, as reported in Daily Variety, was a house record $11,532.
“I saw the movie "Tommy” there. That was when Dolby stereo first came out.“ (brian74)
“Tommy” was released in a variety of sound formats, including an early version of Dolby Stereo. Dolby Stereo was installed at the Americana in May 1977 for “Star Wars.” The theater upgraded to a 70mm six-track Dolby Stereo presentation of “Star Wars” in November 1977. In December ‘77, they began their 70mm run “Close Encounters Of The Third Kind” at which time the exclusive Detroit area 70mm showing of “Star Wars” moved to the Northland.
Other AKAs for this entry not included at the top of this page are Americana I-II-III (1972-), Americana I-II-III-IV (mid-70s), Americana Complex (late-70s/early-80s), and Americana 8 (1986-1990).
I have a 1967 Poughkeepsie Journal newspaper ad for “Doctor Zhivago,” which the theatre began showing the day after the New York City roadshow run ended. Address given is, simply, “Route 9, Poughkeepsie.” Theatre was equipped for 70mm presentations.
“I believe the Cine Capri opened in 1961 with El Cid.” (acmeron)
“The Cine Capri was built in 1965 and 66' as a roadshow hard ticket theatre. It opened in the spring of 1966 with THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY.” (eadkins)
“eadkins” is correct. I have a photocopy of the grand opening newspaper ad and can confirm a spring 1966 opening (March 31 for those who care about such details) with the debut attraction being “The Agony And The Ecstasy.” Charlton Heston attended the grand opening event.
The St. Louis Park was among the theatres included in the original limited-market launch of “Star Wars.” The St. Louis Park’s 5/25/77 opening-day gross, according to Daily Variety, was a house record $6,149.
The Cooper was among the theatres included in the original limited-market launch of “Star Wars.” The Cooper’s 5/25/77 opening-day gross, according to Daily Variety, was a house record $7,966.
The Cine Capri was among the theatres included in the original limited-market launch of “Star Wars.” The Cine Capri’s 5/25/77 opening-day gross, according to Daily Variety, was a house record $6,518.
“One of my fondest childhood memories is waiting outside the theater in line for what seemed like hours to see the original "Star Wars”. Even at age 9 I thought it was really cool to be seeing a movie THERE. I’m from Minnesota, and my dad lived in San Diego at the time. I’m not quite clear on how or why we happened to be there right then, but I’m so glad we were. It’s a cool story to tell as an adult, especially now with the release of “Revenge of the Sith”, and people talking about their own “Star Wars” memories…“ (MaraC”
A link to a cool “Star Wars” memory article:
View link
The Eastwood was among the theatres included in the original limited-market launch of “Star Wars.” The Eastwood’s 5/25/77 opening-day gross, according to Daily Variety, was a house record $5,638.
The Avco was among the theatres included in the original limited-market launch of “Star Wars.” The Avco’s 5/25/77 opening-day gross, according to Daily Variety, was a house record $12,816.
The Chinese was among the theatres included in the original limited-market launch of “Star Wars.” The Chinese’s 5/25/77 opening-day gross, according to Daily Variety, was a house record $19,358.
The Coronet was among the theatres included in the original limited-market launch of “Star Wars.” The Coronet’s 5/25/77 opening-day gross, according to Daily Variety, was a house record $16,462.
The Astor Plaza was among the theatres included in the original limited-market launch of “Star Wars.” Opening-day gross at Astor Plaza was $20,322.
Source: Daily Variety (5/27/77).
The Menlo Park Twin was among the theatres included in the original limited-market launch of “Star Wars.” Nearly all of the 32 opening-day houses broke house records for opening-day business. Opening-day gross at Menlo Park was $5,398. (That may seem like a piddly amount of money by today’s standards, but for a mid-week 1977 day’s business it’s quite a bit.)
Source: Daily Variety (5/27/77). For more info about the original release of “Star Wars,” see:
View link
Never mind! I made my post without reading or clicking on the program links, which now I realize mentioned the movie. I guessed the movie based upon the timeframe of the Nixon resignation reference.
On a visit to NYC… how could you go wrong with a Blake Edwards movie starring Julie Andrews? Boy, did I find out. …the day after I saw this show, Richard Nixon resigned from office.“ (BoxOfficeBill)
Let me guess: “The Tamarind Seed.”
Anyone know which company operated the Palace during the late 1960s & early 1970s?
“Was there a roadshow re-release of Ben Hur? I remember seing it in my suburban L.A. neighborhood theater before I graduated from high school in 1962.” (Joe Vogel)
For the premiere dates and other details, see:
“Ben-Hur” original L.A. roadshow release:
View link
L.A. roadshow re-issue
View link
New York original roadshow:
View link
New York roadshow re-issue:
View link
“I have a feeling we have worked together or at least know a lot of the same National Amusements people.” (vito)
Vito,
It’s doubtful we know one another. I’m probably half your age and reside on the west coast.
“They did boffo business with ‘E.T.’ & ‘Jedi’ and they looked and sounded amazing.” (BobT)
That’s because they were shown in 70mm!
Question for those familiar with this theater…. I’m confused about the statement in the intro about this being a sixplex. The newspaper ads during the ‘80s called this the “Meadowbrook Quad,” implying four screens, not six. Unless the “Quad” notation is referring to just the newer portion of the complex…but wouldn’t the big event films still have been shown, in their initial weeks anyway, on either half of the original screen?
“I transferred over to the Cooper/Cameo that same summer as the manager (Star Wars had been playing about a month). I honestly do not remember upgrading to 70mm; to the best of my recollection it was 70mm throughout the time that I was there.” (GaryJB)
Well, if you tranferred to the Cooper during the month of August, then by then the theater would have been running the 70mm print of “Star Wars.”
I wonder if perhaps you thought I implied the theater upgraded to 70mm that summer, whereas I was referring to the print of “Star Wars.” (The theater, of course, had had 70mm projection capability dating back to the mid ‘60s.)
The New England exclusive engagement of “Star Wars” was at the Charles, as mentioned previously in this discussion, and began May 25, 1977. The engagement upgraded to a 70mm presentation in September 1977 (which was also a New England exclusive).
I believe “Close Encounters Of The Third Kind” was the first movie to play at River Oaks in 70mm & six-track Dolby. I think the Dolby CP100 was installed in the fall of ‘77 just before that engagement.
I find it surprising that the Chicago area did not run a 70mm version of “Star Wars” until around Christmas ‘77 when the film moved to the Oakbrook.
“I worked at the Cooper during the 1977 Star Wars frenzy. I have some great memories of the theatre and staff. If there are other photos of the interior, I would also enjoy seeing them.” (GaryJB)
Did you work in the projection booth? Do you recall the Cooper upgrading to a 70mm presentation in August 1977, then giving up the print to the Continental in December to make way for “Close Encounters”?
I don’t have any photos of the theater’s interior, though I do have a copy of the Denver Post from the day after “Empire” opened which included a great picture of a massive line of fans with the theater and its marquee visible in the shot.
“I have a feeling we have worked together or at least know a lot of the same National Amusements people.” (vito)
Vito,
When, where, and whom?