THE SCREENING ROOM

A year-by-year, film-by-film history of 70-millimeter wide gauge exhibition in Southern California

Compiled by Michael Coate and William Kallay

70mm Equipped Theatre Pictures

CINERAMA DOME / CINERAMA DOME / ARCLIGHT HOLLYWOOD AT THE DOME

[1]

Cinerama Dome under construction (1963)

[1]

Construction takes place on Sunset Blvd. (right)

[1, 2]

Construction continues

[3]

Engagement for "It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World" (1963)

[3]

Engagement for "It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World" played for 67 weeks

[4]

The spacious auditorium (c. 1964)

[4]

Lobby (c. 1964)

[4]

The snack bar where you could get a large Coke for only 50-cents! (c. 1964)

[3]

Engagement for George Stevens' "The Greatest Story Ever Told" (1965)

[2]

Cinerama Dome logo used on many Los Angeles Times ads

[2]

Cinerama Dome logo

[1]

The Dome dressed up for "Mame" (1974)

[1]

Premiere for "That's Entertainment, Part II" (May 19, 1976)

[4]

Engagement of Steven Spielberg's "Close Encounters Of The Third Kind" (1977)

[5]

"1941" John Belushi blow-up (1979)

[3, 6]

Cinerama Dome (c. 1980s)

[1]

Dome engagement of "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" (1988)

[3, 7]

"Roger Rabbit" display from a distance

[3, 7]

Special screening of "This Is Cinerama" (1952) in 70mm on July 27, 1988

[1]

Cinerama Dome's 25th Anniversary program (1988)

[2]

Cinerama Dome's 25th Anniversary ad (1988) [Enlarge]

[2]

Cinerama Dome's 25th Anniversary ad schedule [Enlarge]

[8]

Special engagement ticket for 25th Anniversary screening for "2001: A Space Odyssey" [Enlarge]

[2]

70mm film festival (May 15-21, 1992)

[9]

Dome engagement of "Blade Runner: The Director's Cut" (1999)

[9]

Though a little blurry, the marquee says "Blade Runner: The Director's Cut (70mm)"

[2]

Dome engagement of "Lawrence Of Arabia" (2002)

[10]

Dome engagement of "This Is Cinerama" in 3-Strip Cinerama (2002)

[10]

The Dome had undergone a complete renovation that began in 2000 — The Dome re-opened in 2002 with a new neighbor, the ArcLight Cinemas — The Dome also included 3-strip Cinerama projection for the first time in its history

[10]

The beautiful Dome auditorium (2002)

[10]

John Sittig of Pacific Theatres shows a patron a Cinerama camera — John has been a passionate supporter of the Dome and Cinerama's history

[10]

(left-to-right) Local television personality, Chuck Henry, filmmaker Dave Strohmaier and John Sittig

[10]

The Dome has traditionally run great displays featuring the Dome's history, movie memorabilia and photographs — This display has a number of Cinerama items, including a Cinerama reel and clapboard

[9]

Dome engagement of "Hulk" (2003)

[9]

As viewed from the Los Angeles Film School

[11]

Cinerama Dome and ArcLight Cinemas seen from high above (2004) [Enlarge]

[4]

A still taken from the Cinerama Dome screen of "How The West Was Won" in 3-strip Cinerama. The screen is so large it is very difficult to get a good wide angle shot.

[2]

A new 70mm film in 2012 at the Cinerama Dome! Two 70mm prints of Paul Thomas Anderson's film, "The Master," opened at both the Cinerama Dome and ArcLight Cinemas. The film was mostly shot in 65mm. [Enlarge]

[9]

"The Master" plays in 70mm inside the world famous Dome

[9]

As seen looking up Sunset Blvd.

[9]

Pacific Theatres did not indicate in their newspaper ads, website, outside or inside the Dome that "The Master" was playing in 70mm

[1] Los Angeles Public Library / Los Angeles Chamber Of Commerce Collection
[2] Los Angeles Public Library / Ralph Morris Collection (Todd-AO pictures)
[3] Courtesy of Robert Weisgerber [4] Courtesy of Robert Weisgerber -- Motion Picture Herald, January 13, 1969
[5] "Alien Quadrilogy" DVD Photo gallery (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment)
[6] William Kallay (taken between 2003-2007)

Special thanks to our photo contributors

Photos used for illustrative purposes and not intended to violate copyrights

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