Roadshow Versions

Eisenhower

For Cleopatra there is the "Roadshow" release and the regular release of the poster? Why did they print "Todd-AO" on the poster? How many/which movies have been characterized as "Roadshow" releases? I think I saw that Spartacus was also given the "roadshow" title? And then why would they bother to use a snipe over the "Todd-AO" once the movie was in regular release?

[Deleted User]

Bruce says in relation to the Cleopatra "Note that this one-sheet is from the "roadshow" release of this epic
movie (before it was given its regular release). It has "TODD-AO" under
the title, which is only on the "roadshow" posters, because when the
movie went into regular release, it was no longer in TODD-AO"

[Deleted User]

Todd-AO is a widescreen format so the snipe was used when it went into general release for those theatres that were not equipped to handle that format.

Todd-AO and roadshows

Todd-AO films were closely associated with what was called roadshow
exhibition. At the time, before multiplex theatres became common, most
films opened at a large single screen theatre in the downtown area of
each large city before eventually moving on to neighborhood theatres.
With the roadshow concept, a film would play, often in 70 mm at a movie palace
downtown theatre exclusively, sometimes for a year or more. Often a
"hard ticket" policy was in effect, with tickets sold for specific
numbered seats, and limited showings per day. Most Todd-AO films through
the late 1960s, including Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines and The Sound of Music, were initially shown on a roadshow basis.

In some US cities, individual theaters were converted for use in the
1950s as dedicated Todd-AO "Cinestage" showplaces. These theaters showed
exclusive roadshow engagements of Todd-AO and other 70 mm films on
large, deeply curved screens. They included the Rivoli Theatre in New
York City,^[7] the Cinestage Theatre in Chicago,^[8] and Hunt's Cinestage Theatre in Columbus, Ohio.^[9]

The roadshow era ended in the early 1970s, although a very few films (among them Gandhi) were shown in roadshow format after that.

Eisenhower

Interesting! Thanks Chris. Haven't looked at enough posters to know but would think the roadshow versions would be more valuable. ---in another note re large format theaters, I was lucky enough to see the 1977 Star Wars at Phoenix's Cine Capri theater. It was a single large format theater...great memories with family & friends...it's gone now, making way for more profitable real estate...

Paul

Roadshow versions posters do bring that bit more money.

Another title was The Alamo, which had different a opening and closing in roadshow version, and was completely uncut, with a break in the middle of the film for refreshments. This version lost lost until a fair few years back when a print was found and transferred to laser-disc. The film print was destroyed in do this, so the laserdisc is the only "true" version of the film left, it's butchered on dvd.   

Eisenhower

Good stuff Paul-I haven't seen an Alamo Roadshow poster but will have to search for one. Interesting how "versions" of films can get "lost." But guess they didn't use good materials or think the film would be significant in the future. Think I read where theres a few parts of Lost Horizons? Which only has audio & no moving scenes?

David

More info: 

http://www.in70mm.com/todd_ao/index.htm

eg

http://www.in70mm.com/library/process/todd_ao/index.htm