#Cinescope star wars movie
#Cinescope star wars plus
#Cinescope star wars windows

I thought there was a balcony, but I realize now this might have just been the lower ceiling former by the former loge/mezzanine that had been converted to the separate Loew’s Cine auditorium.Īs for the film, I remember similar reactions to the sequences mentioned by Chris Utley in his post. There may have been a break in the sections with a cross-aisle closer to the screen, but I can’t recall exactly as we sat more to the rear. The seats were plush and we wound up sitting on the right aisle in the center section about ¾ of the way back. I don’t recall the decor, but the hues were dark and I seem to recall a red curtain in front of the screen. Once inside, I recall the theater was quite large with a center orchestra section and two narrower sections on either side. I remember accepting his anger and being thankful that he was more upset that I mosied around oblivious to time then he was nervously wondering whether I had gone missing somewhere in the big bad City (he may well have fretted over that prospect, but if so, he certainly didn’t let on to me about it). When I made my way to the entrance, I found my Dad waiting there and a bit peeved that he had to let a lot of people in ahead of him as he waited for me. When I got back to 3rd Ave and could see the line was moving into the theater, I got a bit nervous. Ultimately, I found a park stood in my way of getting to the water’s edge (Carl Schurz Park where the mayor’s residence at Gracie Mansion is located, I would later learn) and had to make a retreat back towards the theater. So, I headed east on 86th Street with a goal of making it all the way to the East River. I think the marquee was on 3rd Ave and I recall after eating that my dad and I rushed back across the street to get a decent spot on the rapidly growing ticket-holder’s line.Īs there was so much time before they would start letting us in, my Dad agreed to let me take a stroll around the neighborhood while he held our place on line – I was 12 years old and this was the first time I would be taking a stroll in the City all by myself.

#Cinescope star wars windows

To kill time, we went across the street to a diner/restaurant which had big windows that looked directly across to the theater marquee. I remember we were shut out of one screening and purchased tickets for the following show a couple of hours later. I think he chose this theater rather than the Astor Plaza because he worked nearby and was more familiar with the Orpheum. We lived in Queens, so had to trek in to the City. The only time I had ever visited the theater was to see “Star Wars” during its initial run in June, 1977. 86th Street in NYC’s upper east side and had, by this time, been twinned into two separate theaters – the Loew’s Orpheum on the orchestra level and the Loew’s Cine up in the former balcony. I shared this already a couple of years back on the Loew’s Orpheum page, but it’s apropos here. Northbrook: Lubliner & Sterns Edens (Dolby)Ĭreve Coeur: Wehrenberg Creve Coeur CinÃ© (Dolby) Overland Park: Dickinson Glenwood (Dolby) Monroeville: Redstone Showcase Cinemas East (Dolby) Springdale: Redstone Showcase Cinemas (Dolby)įairless Hills: Sameric Eric Twin Fairless Hills Paramus: RKO/Stanley-Warner Route 4 Triplex Paramus (70mm-Dolby) Lawrenceville: Sameric Eric Twin Lawrenceville Southfield: Nicholas George Americana (Dolby) Louisville: Redstone Showcase Cinemas (Dolby) Washington: RKO/Stanley-Warner Uptown (Dolby) Los Angeles: GCC Avco Center (70mm-Dolby)Ĭlaymont: Sameric Eric Twin Tri-State Mall On this historic occasion, I thought it would be interesting to ask Cinema Treasures readers to offer up their memories of the first time they saw the original “Star Wars.” When? Where? Anyone see it on May 25, 1977? Who resided in a small town and had to wait weeks or months to see it? What was your reaction? How was your life or moviegoing habits changed? Etc…Īnd…identified below to honor the occasion are those original 43 theatres that were immortalized for being the very first to play “Star Wars.” (Do we dare ask how many of them survive today as operational theatres?)

#Cinescope star wars movie

So, is the legend true that 20th Century-Fox could find only a mere 43 venues to open their movie, or did Fox believe all along that they had a huge, history-making hit on their hands and instead opted to launch the movie in a calculated, limited-market “platform” in an attempt to create an event?

#Cinescope star wars plus

Thirty years ago today, “Star Wars” was released.Īs many of us know by now, “Star Wars” opened in 32 theatres on that fateful day in May of 1977, plus 11 more on the 26th & 27th of May bringing its first-week total to 43.