Cinerama Dome to Feature Historic Screenings

by Robert W. Nudelman

On September 10, a special “Re-Premiere” of the original 3-projector Cinerama spectacular How The West Was Won (1963) will be held at Pacific Theater’s Cinerama Dome Theater. During the battle to save the Dome in 2000, Hollywood Heritage and Friends of Cinerama fought to preserve the theater’s interior, which would allow for Cinerama films to be projected in the theater using the original 3-projector system, showing one continuous image on a 90' curved screen.

This Is Cinerama played there last fall for its 50th anniversary; the first time the original Cinerama system had been used at the Dome (it had been built for the new single camera Ultra-Panavision 70 systems that had become Cinerama in 1963). The correct screen and projection booths had been built but never used as intended until last year.

Now, for a limited 2-week engagement, a new, beautifully restored print will be shown of How The West Was Won, on loan from Paul Allen, who also owns the only other Cinerama Theater in the country, in Seattle. The 3-projector system with 6-track sound will provide a unique movie experience unlike any other, not seen in Los Angeles since 1964 when West left. The September Re-Premiere will feature a panel on the film that will include stars and behind-the-scenes talent from the film, including Hollywood Heritage member Debbie Reynolds, and Carroll Baker. More guests will be announced.

Hollywood Heritage members will be notified of a limited number of tickets that can be purchased for the opening fundraising event for The Debbie Reynolds Hollywood Motion Picture Museum and Hollywood Heritage.

On October 23, the Dome will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a limited 4-day run of Stanley Kramer’s It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, that opened the Dome in 1963. This print is a new 70mm print with a running time of over 3 hours (current prints run 2½ hours). This will be the first time since March 1964 that a print this complete will have been shown. The Ultra-Panavision 70 print was cropped off by about 20% when screened in 35mm. Unseen since the 1960s in 70mm; this will be a very rare opportunity to see the full frame of the movie at its original length.

In addition, four other Kramer films will be shown, one night each, at the Arclight Theater behind the Dome. A panel on Mad World will be featured at its opening and guest stars will introduce the other films each night.

Hollywood Heritage fought to have the Dome restored so that unique film events such as these can occur. It is important for members to show their support for what Pacific Theaters has accomplished, and attend these highly enjoyable programs.