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According to the 70mm database of Widescreen Review, Jesus Christ Superstar played (in addition to the 9-17-74 Dome screening) at the Plitt Century Plaza (starting Nov. 21, 1975) and UA Pasadena (starting 12-25-02). No mention of any Village dates (and by this time was a Mann theatre).

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Thanks for plugging my work! However, that date for the UA Pasadena run should read 12-25 of 1975 rather than 12-25 of this year!

Back to the discussion of 4-track releases. Here are some possible 4-track mag stereo titles from the "Dolby era". Can any of you longtime projectionists or astute moviegoers confirm???

King Kong (1976)
The Man Who Fell To Earth (1976)
People Of The Wind (1976)
The Car (1977)
Mohammad, Messenger Of God (1977)
Sorcerer (1977)
The Turning Point (1977)
The Fury (1978)
Message From Space (1978)
The Wiz (1978)
1941 (1979)
All That Jazz (1979)
The Champ (1979)
Meteor (1979)
9 To 5 (1980)
Xanadu (1980)
The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
An American Werewolf In London (1981)
Halloween II (1981)
History Of The World Part I (1981)
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Trading Places (1983)

I realize a few of those may have had some 70mm six-track prints, but I'm asking specifically about 35mm four-track versions. Thanks.

Movies I've seen advertised in 4-track stereo in various markets:

King Kong ( I THINK stereo popped up in directories in LA Times shortly after it opened. It definitely was advertised in Texas during a "Roadshow" style release (advanced tickets).Maybe San Antonio?

The Car (a Variety blurb mentioned this was the first 4-Track stereo release for Universal since The Hindenburg.)

Mohammad, Messenger of God (advertised in 4-track in some markets)

Sorcerer (Variety blurb mentioned an overture being shipped out to theatres to be attached before the beginning, some in mag stereo, others in optic. I'm assuming the mag stereo overtures would go with mag prints. I MAY remember seeing a stereo mention for the Century in SJ.

The Turning Point (Stereo was listed in some first-run engagements).

All That Jazz (a 1980 booking at the Cinerama Dome said "for the first time in 4-track Dolby Stereo" is indicative of mag, since 4-track Dolby usually meant Dolby A encoded Mag prints.

Meteor (widely advertised in 4-track Stereo in various markets)

Other titles I havent seen mentioned lately that had mag stereo releases include The Amityville Horror, The Gauntlet, and Suspiria.

King Kong, All That Jazz, Amityville Horror, Meteor, Mohammad all had 4 Track non-Dolby prints.

King Kong played the Bruin
All That Jazz played the Avco
Amityville Horror & Meteor played the Plitt Century Plaza
Mohammad, Messenger of God played the SRO's Paramount

There was a preview print of "Empire Strikes Back" that was a
3 Track mag print.

"The Wiz" was Dolby A opt. at the Dome. (No 4 Track print there)
"Xanadu" was Dolby A opt at the Chinese.
"Halloween II" was Dolby A opt at the Picwood.

1941 and Meteor were mag/opt non dolby prints in Denmark (one print each !) Some few from your list were Dolby A (optical), but most of your titles were ran in mono here !

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All That Jazz played the Avco

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Where Movie Going is an Event

1979: Nightwing

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In addition, a special free show has been added:

Sunday, December 8 - 2:30 PM

Special Added Attraction - Free Screening!

"4-Track Magnetic Stereo and Cinemascope Demonstration Film" 1953, 20th Century Fox, approx. 90 min. This incredibly rare, 5-reel film was produced in 1953 by 20th Century Fox to sell theatre owners on the then-brand new technologies of 4-track mag stereo and Cinemascope projection. Hosted by legendary Fox studio head Darryl F. Zanuck, the film features clips from several of the first Cinemascope and stereo productions being made at the studio in the early 1950's. Please note that this, the only surviving print, is extremely faded; because of its rarity, we're including it here as a free event.

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Hopefully I'll be back in SoCal in time to see some of these.

Ja ne,

Paul

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About same period as Jesus Christ Superstar, we had mag three-track prints from Polanski's Macbeth and Bridge on the River Kwai. JCS and Macbeth were both Todd-AO 35 - is that coinsidal or standard ?

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Probably coincidental. I don't know if there was ever an intended or "standard" sound format meant to go along with productions shot in "Todd-AO 35." I think the whole "Todd-AO 35" thing was simply a case of Todd-AO (the company) realizing that the era of 65mm origination had come to a close and that if they wanted to stay in business they would need to compete with Panavision and other companies by making 35mm anamorphic lenses available. In looking over a listing of "Todd-AO 35" productions I see a bunch of inconsistencies regarding the sound formats.

Many of them were likely mono (The Getaway, Junior Bonner, The Devil's Rain, The Great Waldo Pepper, Gator, Mad Max, Ragtime, Conan The Barbarian, etc).

Some had mag stereo prints (Jesus Christ Superstar, etc)

Some were in optical SVA/Dolby Stereo (Hurricane, Flash Gordon, Dune, etc)

And some, including a few of the ones mentioned above, had 70mm six-track versions (Logan's Run, etc).

Bill, Paul L, Frank, Steve K, and Per:
Thanks for your responses regarding my mag stereo questions I asked earlier in this thread . Your input is appreciated.

I am planning to have a list of mag stereo releases (1953-1984) displayed in the lobby of the American Cinematheque during the upcoming mag stereo film festival; I plan to attend some of the screenings. I have prepared various lobby displays tied to a particular fest or event for the theater on other occasions, so I see no reason to overlook an opportunity to be festive for this upcoming festival as well.

I have given some thought to posting the list here on this forum to see if a discussion might ensue which could allow us film buffs and "tech-heads" an opportunity to reminisce about cherished presentation formats of the past as well as an oportunity to refine the list. Surely some of the titles included (or excluded, for that matter) might generate a bit of interest or controversy! Is this list something any of you would be interested in seeing posted here?

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