Seeing the Northpoint Theatre, San Francisco, prominently featured in ZODIAC recently brought back lots of happy memories for me. [i’m convinced that the exteriors of the theatre shown are the real thing and that the theatre interiors were filmed at the National in Westwood (LA), California.]
I saw the first real sneak preview of CABARET (1/15/72) at the Northpoint and was amused that several in the capacity audience attended in costume. The response was wildly enthusiastic and the final version of CABARET, except for the dubbing of one word, was almost identical to that shown at the sneak. Later, I saw the second sneaked version of THE WAY WE WERE (7/6/73) there. It was not the longer version that also sneaked at the Northpoint several days earlier but it was slightly different from the distributed version. (As far as I know, unfortunately, the material cut from the first sneak has never resurfaced but I’d still love to see it!) The sneak I was fortunate enough to see was extremely well received and convinced Columbia, the distributor, that they had a hit worth special handling.
Further, I attended the first (or certainly one of the first) public presentations of STAR WARS there one Sunday morning (probably May 1, 1977) and, along with everybody else in the packed house, was blown away. People who worked in the film industry were not supposed to be there so a friend sneaked me in through the projection booth!
On the other hand, I also attended the trade screening of EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC (6/16/77) there. Audience participation/commotion was the wildest I’ve seen at a screening before or since. People were yelling at the actors and some threw popcorn boxes at the screen.
While I understand that changing release patterns and economics prevent the Northpoint and most other similar single screen theatres from continuing to operate, it still makes me sad that they are gone. I’m glad I was around to enjoy them at their peak.
I wish Laemmle would takeover this theatre again…
Seeing the Northpoint Theatre, San Francisco, prominently featured in ZODIAC recently brought back lots of happy memories for me. [i’m convinced that the exteriors of the theatre shown are the real thing and that the theatre interiors were filmed at the National in Westwood (LA), California.]
I saw the first real sneak preview of CABARET (1/15/72) at the Northpoint and was amused that several in the capacity audience attended in costume. The response was wildly enthusiastic and the final version of CABARET, except for the dubbing of one word, was almost identical to that shown at the sneak. Later, I saw the second sneaked version of THE WAY WE WERE (7/6/73) there. It was not the longer version that also sneaked at the Northpoint several days earlier but it was slightly different from the distributed version. (As far as I know, unfortunately, the material cut from the first sneak has never resurfaced but I’d still love to see it!) The sneak I was fortunate enough to see was extremely well received and convinced Columbia, the distributor, that they had a hit worth special handling.
Further, I attended the first (or certainly one of the first) public presentations of STAR WARS there one Sunday morning (probably May 1, 1977) and, along with everybody else in the packed house, was blown away. People who worked in the film industry were not supposed to be there so a friend sneaked me in through the projection booth!
On the other hand, I also attended the trade screening of EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC (6/16/77) there. Audience participation/commotion was the wildest I’ve seen at a screening before or since. People were yelling at the actors and some threw popcorn boxes at the screen.
While I understand that changing release patterns and economics prevent the Northpoint and most other similar single screen theatres from continuing to operate, it still makes me sad that they are gone. I’m glad I was around to enjoy them at their peak.