THE 70MM PRESENTATIONS
The following section of this retrospective features a reference and historical listing of the North American locales that showcased a 70-millimeter presentation of Superman II. Arguably, the best cinemas in which to experience Superman II were those screening a 70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo print. (The vast majority of cinemas that played Superman II did so in 35mm, with the audio presentation being Dolby Stereo in some situations and monaural in most.)
Expensive to manufacture and produced in limited quantities, 70mm prints afforded the highest-quality projection and audio experience available in 1981 and generally were booked to play larger cinemas with superior quality control.
Out of the 150+ first-run feature films released in North America during 1981, Superman II was among only seven to have 70mm prints struck for selected engagements. (The other six domestic 70mm releases during 1981 were Ladd’s Outland [x50], Orion’s Sharky’s Machine [x2] and Wolfen [x2], Paramount’s Dragonslayer [x3] and Raiders of the Lost Ark [x48], and Universal’s Zoot Suit [x3], plus UA’s second attempt at releasing Heaven’s Gate [x2], and re-releases of Disney’s Sleeping Beauty [x50], Fox’s Star Wars [x4] and The Empire Strikes Back [x30], and Warner Bros.’ House of Wax [x1]. Also, a wide-release expansion of Warner Bros’ Altered States commenced in early 1981 following a limited-market launch in late 1980. As well, there were long-running and late-in-year 1980 titles still in release, and, of course, any number of revival bookings of classic and popular titles available in 70mm. The Ladd and Orion titles were distributed through Warner Bros.)
The 70mm prints of Superman II pictorially were a “blow-up” from 35mm anamorphic, while the audio was Six-Track Dolby Stereo with a “split surround” playback option.
Superman II was released in North America on June 19th 1981. (The film had been in release in numerous regions of the world dating back to December 1980.) The film’s gala North American premiere event was held May 31st at the Uptown in Washington, DC, and numerous other benefit screenings and regional premieres took place between June 1st and 18th (some in 70mm).
The duration (measured in weeks) of the 70mm engagements of Superman II has been included in parenthesis following the name of the cinema in which they played. The 70mm bookings were among the film’s longest playing and highest grossing.
CALIFORNIA
- Los Angeles — Chinese Triplex (#1: 9) [Megasound]
- Los Angeles — Chinese Triplex (#2: 2) [Megasound]
- Los Angeles — Village (9) [Megasound]
- Newport Beach — Newport Twin (9) [70mm from Week 3]
- Orange — Cinedome 6-plex (13) [70mm from Week 5]
- San Jose — Century 22 Triplex (#1: 16)
- San Jose — Century 22 Triplex (#2: 4)
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
- Washington — Uptown (15)
HAWAII
- Honolulu — Waikiki Twin (9)
MASSACHUSETTS
- Boston — Cinema 57 Twin (10)
NEW JERSEY
- Totowa — Cinema 46 Triplex (6)
NEW YORK
- New York — Cinerama Twin (14)
- New York — Murray Hill (14)
VIRGINIA
- Springfield — Springfield Mall 6-plex (14)
SUBSEQUENT 70MM ENGAGEMENTS & SCREENINGS
- 1981-08-21 … Los Angeles, CA — Vogue (1)
- 1981-09-04 … Los Angeles, CA — Picwood (4)
- 1981-09-11 … Sacramento, CA — Century 6-plex (1)
- 1981-10-16 … Philadelphia, PA — Parkwood Twin (3)
- 1981-10-23 … Salt Lake City, UT — Crossroads Triplex (2)
- 1981-11-06 … Bakersfield, CA — Movies 6-plex (4)
- 1981-11-25 … Cleveland, OH — Colony (1)
- 1982-02-10 … Toronto, ON — Cinesphere (5 days) [70mm festival]
- 1982-03-19 … Cleveland, OH — Strosacker [CWRU Film Society series]
- 1982-03-29 … Ottawa, ON — National Arts Centre Opera
- 1982-10-08 … Los Angeles, CA — Cinerama Dome (2)
- 1982-10-22 … Los Angeles, CA — Century Plaza Twin (2)
- 1982-10-22 … Pasadena, CA — Hastings (1)
- 1982-10-22 … Tucson, AZ — Foothills 4-plex (1)
- 1982-10-29 … Los Angeles, CA — Hollywood (1) [w/ Tron]
- 1982-10-29 … Philadelphia, PA — Regency Twin (1)
- 1982-10-29 … Seattle, WA — Music Box (2) [w/ Firefox]
- 1982-11-12 … Lynnwood, WA — Grand Alderwood 5-plex (4) [w/ Firefox]
- 1983-01-26 … Toronto, ON — Cinesphere (5 days) [70mm festival]
- 1991-01-18 … Cleveland, OH — Strosacker [CWRU sci-fi marathon]
