From Script To DVD is pleased to announce our 25th anniversary tribute to "The Empire Strikes Back." Throughout 2005, we will be updating this article which will include a retrospective on this classic chapter from the popular "Star Wars" saga as well as a list of the original "first wave" theatrical engagements. Please check back periodically for updates.

The world premiere of "The Empire Strikes Back" was held on May 17, 1980 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. A royal premiere was held in London three days later. A series of benefit premieres were held in numerous locations on May 19 and 20, and the movie was officially released on May 21 in 126 exclusive, limited market 70mm six-track stereophonic sound engagements.

UNITED STATES

ARIZONA
Phoenix: [Plitt] Cine Capri

ARKANSAS
Little Rock: [UA] Cinema 150

CALIFORNIA
Corte Madera (Marin Co.): [Marin] Cinema
Fountain Valley (Orange Co.): [Pacific] Fountain Valley Drive-In
Fresno: [Festival Enterprises] Festival
Hollywood (Los Angeles): [UA] Egyptian
Newport Beach (Orange Co.): [Edwards] Newport
Orange: [Syufy] Cinedome 20
Orange: [Syufy] Cinedome 23
Paramount (Los Angeles): [Pacific] Rosecrans Drive-In
Sacramento: [Syufy] Century 6 Screen Complex
San Diego: [Pacific] Cinerama
San Francisco: [Plitt] Northpoint
San Jose: [Syufy] Century 22
Westwood Village (Los Angeles): [GCC] Avco Center

COLORADO
Denver: [Commonwealth] Cooper

CONNECTICUT
East Hartford: [Redstone] Showcase
Orange (New Haven): [Redstone] Showcase
Stamford (New York, NY): [Trans-Lux] Ridgeway

DELAWARE
Claymont (Philadelphia, PA): [Sameric] Eric 3 Tri-State Mall

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Washington: [K-B] Cinema

FLORIDA
North Miami Beach: [Wometco] 163rd St.
South Miami: [Wometco] Dadeland Twin
Winter Park (Orlando): [Wometco] Twin Park West

GEORGIA
Atlanta: [Plitt Southern] Phipps Plaza

HAWAII
Honolulu: [Consolidated] Cinerama

ILLINOIS
Calumet City (Chicago): [Plitt] River Oaks
Champaign: [Kerasotes] Virginia
Chicago: [Plitt] Esquire
Chicago: [GCC] Ford City
Lombard (Chicago): [GCC] Yorktown
Moline (Quad-Cities, IA/IL): [Dubinsky] Parkway
Niles (Chicago): [Fink] Golf Mill
Norridge (Chicago): [M&R] Norridge
Orland Park (Chicago): [Plitt] Orland Square
Peoria: [Plitt] Madison
Schaumburg (Chicago): [Plitt] Woodfield
Springfield: [Kerasotes] Esquire

INDIANA
Fort Wayne: [Mallers-Spirou] Holiday
Indianapolis: [Y&W] Eastwood

IOWA
Des Moines: [Dubinsky] River Hills
Dubuque: [Dubuque] Cinema Center

KANSAS
Wichita: [Dickinson] Mall

KENTUCKY
Erlanger (Cincinnati, OH): [Northeast] Showcase
Lexington: [Midstates] Northpark
Lexington: [Midstates] Southpark
Louisville: [Redstone] Showcase

LOUISIANA
Metarie (New Orleans): [GCC] Lakeside

MARYLAND
Towson (Baltimore): [Rappaport] Hillendale

MASSACHUSETTS
Boston: [Sack] Charles
Seekonk (Providence, RI): [Redstone] Showcase
West Springfield: [Redstone] Showcase
Worcester: [Redstone] Showcase

MICHIGAN
Bloomfield Hills (Detroit): [Redstone] Showcase
Burton (Flint): [Plitt] Eastland Mall
Harper Woods (Detroit): [Suburban Detroit] Eastland
Livonia (Detroit): [Suburban Detroit] Terrace
Southfield (Detroit): [Nicholas George] Americana
Southgate (Detroit): [Nicholas George] Southgate
Sterling Heights (Detroit): [Redstone] Showcase

MINNESOTA
Bloomington (Minneapolis): [GCC] Southtown
Brooklyn Center (Minneapolis): [Plitt] Brookdale
Roseville (St. Paul): [GCC] Har Mar

MISSOURI
Creve Coeur (St Louis): [Wehrenberg] Creve Coeur
Kansas City: [AMC] Midland

NEBRASKA
Omaha: [Commonwealth] Indian Hills

NEW JERSEY
Edison (New York, NY): [GCC] Menlo Park
Lawrenceville (Philadelphia, PA): [Sameric] Eric Twin Lawrenceville
Moorestown (Philadelphia, PA): [Sameric] Eric Plaza Moorestown
Paramus (New York, NY): [RKO Century] RKO Paramus

NEW YORK
Cheektowaga (Buffalo): [AMC] Holiday
Colonie (Albany): [Cinema 5] Colonie
DeWitt (Syracuse): [CinemaNational] Shoppingtown
Lawrence (Long Island): [RKO Century] RKO Lawrence
Levittown (Long Island): [Loews] Nassau Quad
Manhattan (New York): [Loews] Astor Plaza
Manhattan (New York): [Cinema 5] Murray Hill
Manhattan (New York): [Loews] Orpheum
Pittsford (Rochester): [Loews] Triplex in Pittsford
Yonkers (New York/Westchester Co.): [GCC] Central Plaza

NORTH CAROLINA
Charlotte: [Plitt Southern] Park Terrace
Fayetteville: [Consolidated] Bordeaux
Greensboro: [Plitt Southern] Terrace
Raleigh: [Plitt Southern] Cardinal
Winston-Salem: [Plitt Southern] Thruway

OHIO
Columbus: [Midstates] Continent
Dayton: [Chakeres] Dayton Mall
Springdale (Cincinnati): [Redstone] Showcase
Toledo: [Redstone] Showcase
Trotwood (Dayton): [Midstates] Salem Mall
Whitehall (Columbus): [Sugarman] Cinema East

OREGON
Beaverton (Portland): [Luxury] Westgate
Eugene: [Luxury] Cinema World

PENNSYLVANIA
Allentown: [Sameric] Eric Allentown 3
Cornwells Heights (Philadelphia): [AMC] Premiere 2
King of Prussia (Philadelphia): [Sameric] Eric Twin Plaza
McCandless (Pittsburgh): [Redstone] Showcase North
Monroeville (Pittsburgh): [Redstone] Showcase East
Philadelphia: [Sameric] Sameric
Pittsburgh: [Cinemette] Warner
Robinson Township (Pittsburgh): [Redstone] Showcase West

TENNESSEE
Belle Meade (Nashville): [Martin] Belle Meade
Memphis: [Southern Theatre Service] Park

TEXAS
Austin: [AMC] Americana
Dallas: [GCC] Northpark I&II
Dallas: [AMC] Prestonwood 5
Fort Worth: [Plitt Southern] Ridglea
Houston: [Plitt Southern] Alabama
Houston: [AMC] Westchase

UTAH
Riverdale (Ogden): [Tullis-Hansen] Cinedome 70
Salt Lake City: [Plitt] Centre

VIRGINIA
Springfield (Washington, DC): [GCC] Springfield Mall

WASHINGTON
Seattle: [UA] Cinema 150
Tacoma: [SRO] Tacoma Mall

WISCONSIN
Fox Point (Milwaukee): [Capitol] Brownport
Wauwatosa (Milwaukee): [UA] Mayfair
West Allis (Milwaukee): [Marcus] Southtown

CANADA

ALBERTA
Calgary: [Famous Players] Palliser Square
Edmonton: [Famous Players] Paramount

BRITISH COLUMBIA
Vancouver: [Famous Players] Stanley

ONTARIO
Hamilton: [Famous Players] Tivoli
London: [Famous Players] Park
Toronto: [Famous Players] University
Windsor: [Famous Players] Centre

QUEBEC
Montreal: [Cineplex Odeon] Place du Canada


UNITED KINGDOM

ENGLAND
London: Odeon Leicester Square

The second wave "Empire" release was on June 18, 1980 with several hundred prints being put into circulation, the majority of which were 35mm.

To be continued....

Canadian engagement details contributed by Bill Kretzel
 

RECOMMENDED WEBSITES FOR 70MM AND THEATRE INFORMATION
CinemaTour.com
www.cinematreasures.org
www.dolby.com
in70mm.com

www.thx.com

www.widescreenmuseum.com

and, of course, other pages here at www.fromscripttodvd.com

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