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RandySF

(58,975 posts) Sat Jul 11, 2015, 07:11 PM Jul 2015

Could someone help me confirm my recollection of seeing movies in the 70's?

I was talking to someone about seeing Star Wars: A New Hope as a small kid in 1977 and, as I remember it, we had to wait until December to see it in Detroit (I'll never forget standing in the cold). I told the person who is a bit longer than me that movies did not debut nationwide at once, but rather "travelled" from one market to the next. Was I correct in saying this?

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Could someone help me confirm my recollection of seeing movies in the 70's? (Original Post) RandySF Jul 2015 OP

That's pretty much correct. onehandle Jul 2015 #1

This site says it opened in Detroit on May 25th mockmonkey Jul 2015 #2

Makes sense. RandySF Jul 2015 #3

I remember being totally blown away by it. lindysalsagal Jul 2015 #4

onehandle

(51,122 posts)

1. That's pretty much correct.

Reply to RandySF (Original post)

Sat Jul 11, 2015, 07:20 PM

Jul 2015

It premiered in 32 theaters on opening day and rolled out to other theaters over the next few months.

It was the first 'blockbuster.' It didn't as much 'travel' as it did 'spread' across the U.S.

Because my family had some complex things happening that year (weddings, job changes, moves) I didn't end up seeing it until very early 1978.

mockmonkey

(2,824 posts)

2. This site says it opened in Detroit on May 25th

Reply to RandySF (Original post)

Sun Jul 12, 2015, 02:15 AM

Jul 2015

http://www.in70mm.com/news/2003/star_wars/chapters/theatres/index.htm

I also says it hit it's peak in August/September.

Here is one area that may explain why you believe it was winter, from that website.

"Ah, but some of you are positive you saw a 70mm showing at a big, famous theater in places such as Washington, D.C. (at the Uptown), or Dallas (Northpark), or Phoenix (Cine Capri), Chicago (Oakbrook), Detroit (Americana), Salt Lake City (Centre), Seattle (Cinema 150), Philadelphia (Mark I), Denver (Cooper; later in run at the Continental), or even Honolulu (Cinerama). Well, you did...but not during the month of May!"

"Throughout the summer and fall of 1977 as "Star Wars" continued to perform beyond expectations Fox ordered several new 70mm prints, and many of the initial theaters, as well as others, were provided with a new large-format print. By the winter holidays over two dozen 70mm engagements could be found in the U.S."

So what you might have seen is Detroit's opening of the much superior 70mm print of "Star Wars".

RandySF

(58,975 posts)

3. Makes sense.

Reply to mockmonkey (Reply #2)

Sun Jul 12, 2015, 02:22 AM

Jul 2015

I just googled Americana and it would have been "out site, out of mind" given that it was a small cinema in Southfield. My dad's recollection is that we saw it in Dearborn. He recalls it being so cold outside that the couple in front of us let him take me to get hot chocolate while they save our spot in line.

lindysalsagal

(20,695 posts)

4. I remember being totally blown away by it.

Reply to RandySF (Original post)

Sun Jul 12, 2015, 11:10 PM

Jul 2015

That was the first good cgi. The only thing that came close was star trek, and it was always cheesy.

The technology was incredible: Hover crafts and ti fighters and lasers and aliens. I remember the theater, and that I went with my cousin David, and we never had done that before.

My friends and I had gone to the Lassie movies in the same theater just 4 years before...

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