Remembering Cinerama (Part 26: Des Moines)

posted by Coate on April 9, 2009 at 8:00 am

REMEMBERING CINERAMA
Part 26: Des Moines

The following is Part Twenty-six 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, historical record 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.

Part 1: New York
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

And now… Part 26: Cinerama Presentations in Des Moines, Iowa!

MEDITERRANEAN HOLIDAY
Theater: River Hills
Premiere: April 19, 1968
Duration: 10 weeks
Format: Cinerama (70mm)
Hype: “Be The First To Enjoy Iowa’s Only CINERAMA Theatre! You Will Feel Like You’re Right In The Picture! You Will Find Yourself Enveloped In The Wonder Of The Giant Wrap-Around Screen And Marvelous Stereophonic Sound”

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
Theater: River Hills
Premiere: June 26, 1968
Duration: 20 weeks
Format: Cinerama (70mm)
Hype: “An astounding entertainment experience. It takes you on a dazzling trip of discovery into the great age of exploration that is opening up for mankind among the planets and beyond.”

ICE STATION ZEBRA
Theater: River Hills
Premiere: November 13, 1968
Duration: 18 weeks
Format: Cinerama (70mm)
Hype: “Ice Station Zebra…remember the name, your life may depend on it!”

KRAKATOA, EAST OF JAVA
Theater: River Hills
Premiere: August 14, 1969
Duration: 8 weeks
Format: Cinerama (70mm)
Hype: “Super CINERAMA Hurls You Into The Incredible Day That Shook The Earth To Its Core!”

THIS IS CINERAMA (Re-Issue)
Theater: River Hills
Premiere: July 11, 1973
Duration: 7 weeks
Format: Cinerama (70mm)
Hype: “20 years ago, THIS IS CINERAMA opened, and it revolutionized the world of motion picture entertainment, setting long run records everywhere. Now, with a new single projection system designed for this presentation, all the fantastic sights, sound, and sensations are back! THIS IS CINERAMA Is Back To Entertain A Whole New Generation. The Very First Iowa Showing Ever!”

NOT SHOWN IN CINERAMA IN THE DES MOINES MARKET:
THIS IS CINERAMA original 3-strip version
CINERAMA HOLIDAY
SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD
SEARCH FOR PARADISE
WINDJAMMER
SOUTH SEAS ADVENTURE
HOLIDAY IN SPAIN
THE BEST OF CINERAMA
THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF THE BROTHERS GRIMM (general-release engagement at Ingersoll)
HOW THE WEST WAS WON (general-release engagement at Ingersoll)
IT’S A MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD (general-release engagement at Capri)
CIRCUS WORLD (general-release engagement at Eastown)
THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD (reserved-performance engagement at Galaxy)
THE HALLELUJAH TRAIL (general-release engagement at Galaxy)
BATTLE OF THE BULGE (general-release engagement at Ingersoll)
KHARTOUM (general-release engagement at Galaxy)
RUSSIAN ADVENTURE
GRAND PRIX (70mm reserved-seat engagement at Capri)
CUSTER OF THE WEST (general-release engagement at Capitol Drive-In)

Compiled by Michael Coate

References: Boxoffice, The Des Moines Register

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