Showcase Presentations in Baltimore
A Chronology of Large Format and Roadshow Exhibition, 1956-Present
Compiled by Michael Coate
A work in progress...
What follows is a chronology of (1) 5-perf 70-millimeter, (2) Cinerama, and (3) roadshow presentations in the Baltimore, Maryland, region from 1956.
Part 1: The Cinemas
The 70mm-equipped cinemas in the Baltimore region are/were the following. (The cinemas will be described in greater detail in a forthcoming revision.)
ANNAPOLIS
Annapolis Mall
Harbour 9
BALTIMORE
Film Centre
Hippodrome
Mayfair (also equipped for CineMiracle)
Movies at Harbor Park
New
North Point Plaza
Reisterstown Plaza
Reisterstown Plaza 5-Star
Senator
Town (also equipped for Cinerama)
White Marsh
CATONSVILLE
Westview
GLEN BURNIE
Glen Burnie Town Center
HANOVER
Egyptian
LUTHERVILLE
Yorkridge
TIMONIUM
Timonium
TOWSON
Hillendale
WOODLAWN
Security Mall
Security Square
Part 2: The Presentations
This is primarily a title-based chronology. The project focuses on the exhibition of films originated in large format (in whole or in part) and therefore the specific photography processes and print particulars of the featured titles (O-neg source, inter-neg source, blow-up, pillarboxed, letterboxed, Dolby A, Dolby SR, five screen channels vs. three, baby boom, split surround, digital sound, etc.) have not been cited except in cases of notable firsts. (Much of these tech details can be found elsewhere on this website.)
The majority of the titles featured in this chronology showcased some flavor of high-quality magnetic stereophonic sound (six-track for 70mm, seven-track for Cinerama). The 70mm prints issued from the mid-1970s typically were encoded with Dolby Noise Reduction and often included baby boom low-frequency enhancement and, occasionally, split surrounds. Most recently-struck 70mm prints featured digital sound (DTS aka Datasat).
This draft excludes 35mm roadshows, blow-ups, IMAX and other Special Venue presentations. (Such details might be added in a forthcoming revision.)
The roadshows (i.e. reserved-seat engagements) are listed in bold. Roadshows, much like a stage show, featured reserved seating, increased admission price (and sold in advance), were shown an average of only ten times per week, and often included an overture, intermission, entracte and/or exit music. Souvenir program booklets were typically sold, as well. (Roadshows presented in 35mm as well as pre-1953 roadshow releases have not been cited in this work.)
Sneak preview, test screenings, premieres, and other pre-release screenings have not been included except in cases where such a screening was publicly promoted and included presentation notations in the advertising.
m/o = a move-over engagement (i.e. a continuation of a booking from another cinema)
YYYY-MM-DD TITLE Cinema (duration in weeks) [notes or projection process if other than 70mm]
1956-02-28 OKLAHOMA! Film Centre (42)
1956-12-21 AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS Film Centre (54)
1957-08-28 THIS IS CINERAMA Town (16) [Cinerama]
1957-12-19 SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD Town (15) [Cinerama]
1958-04-01 SOUTH PACIFIC New (38)
1958-04-02 CINERAMA HOLIDAY Town (3) [Cinerama]
1958-04-23 SEARCH FOR PARADISE Town (3) [Cinerama]
1959-02-18 SLEEPING BEAUTY New (8)
1959-10-07 THE BIG FISHERMAN New (6)
1959-10-28 PORGY AND BESS Town (7)
1959-12-25 SOLOMON AND SHEBA New (5)
1960-02-19 WINDJAMMER Mayfair (12) [Cinemiracle]
1960-03-29 BEN-HUR Town (42)
1960-05-25 CAN-CAN Mayfair (22)
1960-12-19 EXODUS Mayfair (20)
1961-01-19 SPARTACUS Town (11)
1961-03-01 THE ALAMO New (7)
1961-12-21 KING OF KINGS Town (11)
1962-02-14 WEST SIDE STORY Mayfair (17)
1962-03-09 EL CID Town (12)
1962-06-13 OKLAHOMA! Mayfair (2)
1962-12-21 MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY Town (11)
1963-04-11 HOW THE WEST WAS WON Town (21) [Cinerama]
1963-05-27 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA Mayfair (20)
1963-06-26 CLEOPATRA Hippodrome (35)
1963-09-04 THE BEST OF CINERAMA Town (2) [Cinerama]
1964-02-20 ITS A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD Town (18) [Cinerama]
1964-05-27 THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE New (6)
1964-11-06 CIRCUS WORLD Town (4) [Cinerama]
1964-11-18 MEDITERRANEAN HOLIDAY Mayfair (3) [CineVision]
1964-11-25 MY FAIR LADY Hippodrome (37)
1965-03-24 THE SOUND OF MUSIC New (91)
1965-04-14 THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD Town (14) [Cinerama]
1965-07-20 THE HALLELUJAH TRAIL Town (9) [Cinerama]
1965-08-11 THOSE MAGNIFICENT MEN IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES Hippodrome (17)
1966-01-26 THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY Mayfair (10)
1966-06-29 KHARTOUM Town (5) [Cinerama]
1966-11-09 THE BIBLE Hippodrome (35)
1967-05-25 GRAND PRIX Town (13) [Cinerama]
1968-05-29 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY Town (22) [Cinerama]
1968-06-19 DOCTOR DOLITTLE New (9)
1968-12-18 STAR! Hippodrome (6)
1968-12-20 CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG Mayfair (11)
1969-02-07 ICE STATION ZEBRA Town (7) [Cinerama]
1969-07-30 BEN-HUR New (3)
1969-08-20 KRAKATOA, EAST OF JAVA New (3)
1969-12-17 HELLO, DOLLY! New (23)
1970-03-04 PATTON Westview (16)
1970-08-19 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY Mayfair (5)
1970-12-25 SONG OF NORWAY Hillendale (11)
1971-02-23 RYANS DAUGHTER Westview (17)
1971-03-19 MY FAIR LADY Mayfair (7)
1971-05-26 PATTON Mayfair (3)
1979-11-16 SLEEPING BEAUTY Hillendale (5)
1982-07-09 TRON Westview (6)
1982-09-17 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY Hillendale (1)
1982-09-17 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY Westview (1)
1982-10-08 TRON Hillendale (1)
1983-09-30 BRAINSTORM Senator (6)
1983-09-30 BRAINSTORM Westview (7)
1984-02-03 OKLAHOMA! Senator (2)
1984-05-11 AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS Hillendale (1)
1989-04-07 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA Senator (5) [first 70mm-Dolby SR in Baltimore]
1990-09-14 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA Senator (3)
1991-03-15 WEST SIDE STORY Senator (1) [70mm festival]
1991-03-22 THE SOUND OF MUSIC Senator (2) [70mm festival]
1991-04-19 BEN-HUR Senator (2) [70mm festival]
1991-05-03 THE TEN COMMANDMENTS Senator (1) [70mm festival]
1991-05-10 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY Senator (2) [70mm festival]
1991-05-24 SPARTACUS Senator (3)
1992-05-09 FAR AND AWAY Senator (sneak preview)
1992-05-16 FAR AND AWAY Senator (sneak preview)
1992-05-22 FAR AND AWAY Senator (7)
1994-03-04 BARAKA Senator (4)
1994-11-23 MY FAIR LADY Senator (2)
1996-11-01 VERTIGO Senator (3) [first 70mm-DTS in Baltimore]
2000-04-29 MY FAIR LADY Senator [Maryland Film Festival]
2000-04-29 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA Senator [Maryland Film Festival]
2000-04-30 SPARTACUS Senator [Maryland Film Festival]
2002-09-20 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA Senator (2)
2002-11-06 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA Senator (1)
2004-04-24 BARAKA Senator [Earth Day/Belvedere Springfest]
2007-11-21 LAWRENCE OF ARABIA Senator (2)
2015-12-25 THE HATEFUL EIGHT Annapolis Mall (2)
2015-12-25 THE HATEFUL EIGHT Egyptian (2)
2015-12-25 THE HATEFUL EIGHT White Marsh (2)
2017-07-21 DUNKIRK White Marsh (?)
Note that some of the titles included in this listing were presented in 35mm (or, recently, DCP) during the latter week(s) of their engagement due to print damage and the distributors unwillingness to supply a 70mm replacement print or because the booking was moved to a non-70mm-equipped auditorium within a multiplex. As well, the reverse may have been true in some cases whereas a booking began with a 35mm print because the lab was unable to complete the 70mm print order in time for an opening-day delivery or the exhibitor negotiated a mid-run switch to 70mm. In these cases, any 35mm (or DCP) portion of the engagement has been included in the duration figure.
Also, regarding roadshow presentations, the reserved-seat policy, in some instances, was relaxed during the summer and/or latter weeks of the run. Any non-roadshow portion of such an engagement has been included in the duration figure.
References: Various issues of Boxoffice, The Hollywood Reporter, The (Baltimore) Sun, and Variety; plus projection and sound system trade advertisements and Dolby sound system installation records.
Special Thanks: Steve Guttag and Vince Young.
If you believe this article contains any errors or omissions, please consider emailing the author or editor.