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Remembering Cinerama (Part X: Oklahoma City)
posted by
Coate
on
November 11, 2008 at 4:07 pm
REMEMBERING CINERAMA
Part X: Oklahoma City
The following is Part Ten in a series of retrospectives on Cinerama, the legendary motion picture process that kicked off the widescreen revolution. The series focuses on providing a market-by-market, film-by-film breakdown of when and where Cinerama and its multi-panel clones were exhibited. The easy-to-reference articles also serve to provide nostalgia to those who experienced the Cinerama presentations when they were new and to highlight the movie palaces in which the memorable events took place. (The series will not describe the particulars of what Cinerama was or how it worked, as extensive coverage of such is accessible in numerous books and websites.)
Part I: New York
Part II: Chicago
Part III: San Francisco
Part IV: Houston
Part V: Washington, D.C.
Part VI: Los Angeles
Part VII: Atlanta
Part VIII: San Diego
Part IX: Dallas
And now…Part X: Cinerama Presentations in Oklahoma City!
THIS IS CINERAMA
Theater: Warner
Premiere: 21 May 1956
Engagement Duration: 25 weeks
Format: 3-Strip Cinerama
Promotional Hype: “Without Exception Those Who Have Seen THIS IS CINERAMA Proclaim It Their Greatest Theatrical Experience”
CINERAMA HOLIDAY
Theater: Warner
Premiere: 08 November 1956
Duration: 10 weeks
Format: 3-Strip Cinerama
Hype: “The New, The 2nd Cinerama Presentation”
SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD
Theater: Warner
Premiere: 12 June 1957
Duration: 12 weeks
Format: 3-Strip Cinerama
Hype: “SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD as seen through the greatest wonder of Cinerama”
WINDJAMMER
Theater: Cooper
Premiere: 19 June 1959
Duration: 17 weeks
Format: 3-Strip Cinemiracle
Hype: “Never Anything Like It…Before!”
SOUTH SEAS ADVENTURE
Theater: Cooper
Premiere: 02 February 1961
Duration: 21 weeks
Format: 3-Strip Cinerama
Hype: “The Cooper Theatre, Oklahoma City, at a cost of $150,000 has installed special equipment…and becomes the only theatre in our entire state of Oklahoma that can or will show Cinerama productions.”
SEARCH FOR PARADISE
Theater: Cooper
Premiere: 30 June 1961
Duration: 17 weeks
Format: 3-Strip Cinerama
Hype: “Unsurpassed for Adventure Beauty and Daring!”
THIS IS CINERAMA (Return Engagement)
Theater: Cooper
Premiere: 26 October 1961
Duration: 11 weeks
Format: 3-Strip Cinerama
Hype: “Your last chance to see the picture that revolutionized the motion picture industry as it should be seen…on the new and improved Cinerama equipment!”
CINERAMA HOLIDAY (Return Engagement)
Theater: Cooper
Premiere: 12 January 1962
Duration: 5 weeks
Format: 3-Strip Cinerama
Hype: “It’s Every Holiday You Ever Dreamed Of…Winter In Switzerland. Summer In Maine. Daybreak On The Desert. Dancing ’Til Dawn. Spring In Paris. Jazz In New Orleans!”
SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD (Return Engagement)
Theater: Cooper
Premiere: 16 February 1962
Duration: 5 weeks
Format: 3-Strip Cinerama
Hype: “SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD as seen through the greatest wonder of Cinerama”
WINDJAMMER (Return Engagement)
Theater: Cooper
Premiere: 23 March 1962
Duration: 5 weeks
Format: 3-Strip Cinerama
Hype: “Come On Boys. Come On Girls. Get Aboard A Windjammer And Share A Life Of Thrills Dreamed Of, But Never Experienced!”
THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF THE BROTHERS GRIMM
Theater: Cooper
Premiere: 22 August 1962
Duration: 12 weeks
Format: 3-Strip Cinerama
Hype: “For The First Time Cinerama Tells A Story!”
THE BEST OF CINERAMA
Theater: Cooper
Premiere: 15 November 1962 (Southwestern Premiere)
Duration: 13 weeks
Format: 3-Strip Cinerama
Hype: “For The First Time Cinerama’s Greatest Thrills Together In One Breathtaking Entertainment!”
HOW THE WEST WAS WON
Theater: Cooper
Premiere: 11 April 1963
Duration: 34 weeks
Format: 3-Strip Cinerama
Hype: “The Great Dramatic Motion Picture That Puts You In Every Scene!”
THE HALLELUJAH TRAIL
Theater: Cooper
Premiere: 07 October 1965
Duration: 12 weeks
Format: 70mm
Hype: “Cinerama Sends You Roaring With Laughter And Adventure Down That Wide, Wonderful Fun-Trail!”
THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD
Theater: Continental
Premiere: 21 October 1965
Duration: 16 weeks
Format: 70mm
Hype: “A Rich, Rewarding Entertainment Experience For The Entire Family”
BATTLE OF THE BULGE
Theater: Cooper
Premiere: 28 December 1965
Duration: 18 weeks
Format: 70mm
Hype: “Super Cinerama turns the screen into the mightiest battleground ever!”
IT’S A MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD
Theater: Cooper
Premiere: 06 May 1966
Duration: 4 weeks
Format: 70mm
Hype: “The Biggest Entertainment Ever To Rock The Screen With Laughter!”
KHARTOUM
Theater: Continental
Premiere: 28 June 1966
Duration: 9 weeks
Format: 70mm
Hype: “Where The Nile Divides, The Great Cinerama Adventure Begins!”
MEDITERRANEAN HOLIDAY
Theater: Continental
Premiere: 26 August 1966
Duration: 7 weeks
Format: 70mm
Hype: “The Thrilling Entertainment That Places You Right In The Middle Of The Most Fabulous Adventure You Ever Lived!”
GRAND PRIX
Theater: Cooper
Premiere: 15 February 1967
Duration: 26 weeks
Format: 70mm
Hype: “Cinerama Sweeps You Into A Drama Of Speed And Spectacle!”
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
Theater: Cooper
Premiere: 16 July 1968
Duration: 33 weeks
Format: 70mm
Hype: “An Epic Drama Of Adventure And Exploration!”
ICE STATION ZEBRA
Theater: Continental
Premiere: 19 December 1968
Duration: 14 weeks
Format: 70mm
Hype: “Ice Station Zebra…remember the name, your life may depend on it!”
KRAKATOA, EAST OF JAVA
Theater: Cooper
Premiere: 25 June 1969
Duration: 16 weeks
Format: 70mm
Hype: “The New Cinerama Hurls You Into The Incredible Day That Shook The Earth To Its Core!”
NEVER SHOWN IN CINERAMA
HOLIDAY IN SPAIN
CIRCUS WORLD
RUSSIAN ADVENTURE
CUSTER OF THE WEST (35mm general release at Twilight Gardens Drive-In)
THIS IS CINERAMA (1973 70mm re-issue)
In a situation atypical for a roadshow film, IT’S A MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD played Oklahoma City first as a general release and then more than two years after initial release played a reserved-seat Cinerama engagement.
Compiled by Michael Coate
Source: The Oklahoman and Variety
Comments (17)
Will you get to Boston eventually?
Yes and what about Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Baltimore, Detroit…this could go on and on…love it. Look forward to it every week!
Good question, Ron.
Boston and Philadelphia, among others, are on my radar. My research on those markets, however, is incomplete. Patience… I prefer to post completed lists rather than a partial list or work in progress.
I’ll keep the series going as long as there remains Cinema Treasures reader support and the site owners and moderators allow it.
Okay. Thanks, Michael. I’ll be watching and waiting.
Gone With the Wind was also shown in Cinerama at the Cooper in 1967.
Lynne, Mike’s list includes 3-strip and 70mm films released with the CINERAMA logo included on the film and in advertising. GONE WITH THE WIND was an MGM release, and the CINERAMA logo was never a part of that release. I realize that this is a very fine distinction, but it is an important one. There actually was almost no difference echnically between the later CINERAMA films and other 70mm Roadshow releases.
Thanks for the clarification!
Since you seem to be an expert, I have another question for you. Were there ever Cinerama Domes in Oklahoma? I found a photo at an estate sale that appears to be three Cinerama Domes, and the movie on one of them in Gone With the Wind. The photo was taken in September 1968, and on the back, it says, “Oklahoma.” So, I’m guessing that the photographer either saw the movie “Oklahoma” at the Cinerama in Sacremento or there were some domes here in OK. Any ideas? Here’s a link to the photo: http://flickr.com/photos/25726169@N03/3296008586/
London UK any chance? Please!
I’m not aware of Century building any domes in Oklahoma.
Was the movie, “Oklahoma” one of the Cinerama features?
OKLAHOMA was a Todd-AO film produced by Michael Todd. His goal was to create a Cinerama type image with only one projector at a time. OKLAHOMA was the first TODD-AO feature. CINERAMA at that time used 3 projectors (and a separate sound unit). CINERAMA theatres could not show TODD-AO and TODD-AO theatres could not show CINERAMA films at that time.
Darn it! I was hoping that you could solve the mystery for me — guess not!
The best website on the history of Widescreen films is Martin Hart’s Widescreen Museum (www.widescreenmuseum.com) It has information on every widescreen system. If you go there, say “Hi” to the Usherettes for me!
Will do! Thanks for the information.
Part 1: New York City
Part 2: Chicago
Part 3: San Francisco
Part 4: Houston
Part 5: Washington, DC
Part 6: Los Angeles
Part 7: Atlanta
Part 8: San Diego
Part 9: Dallas
Part 10: Oklahoma City
Part 11: Syracuse
Part 12: Toronto
Part 13: Columbus
Part 14: Montreal
Part 15: Northern New Jersey
Part 16: Charlotte
Part 17: Vancouver
Part 18: Salt Lake City
Part 19: Boston
Part 20: Philadelphia
Part 21: Fresno
Part 22: Detroit
Part 23: Minneapolis
Part 24: Albuquerque
Part 25: El Paso
Part 26: Des Moines
Part 27: Miami
Part 28: Orange County
Part 29: Pittsburgh
Part 30: Baltimore
Part 31: Long Island
The ads for MEDITERRANEAN HOLIDAY at the Continental do not mention Cinerama. It might have been a 35mm print or they just didn’t want to pay royalties to Cinerama.