THE FIRST-RUN THEATRICAL ENGAGEMENTS
What follows is a chronological reference listing of American Graffiti‘s theatrical first-run openings in the United States and Canada. The information is designed to provide a sense of the film’s rollout and illustrate how different film distribution/exhibition was in a prior era. Note the chronology is not a complete listing of the film’s entire first-run release; instead the emphasis has been placed on the film’s early bookings, the principal cities of each U.S. state and Canadian province, and a sampling of low-population towns in remote areas highlighting the amount of time it took for a popular movie to reach certain regions. The chronology also serves to correct the numerous books and Internet resources that have cited erroneous and/or misleading release-date details for the film.
The chronology also does not include any of the film’s expansion release waves where additional bookings were added to a market*), move-over bookings (except for one New York move-over early in the release), second run, re-issue, international, revival, etc.
(*As a point of reference, the first expansion wave in some of the largest markets—including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and San Francisco—commenced December 21st, 1973.)
The first-run theatrical presentations of American Graffiti were in 35mm anamorphic (2.39:1 aspect ratio), a blow-up from 2-perf Techniscope. The audio was monaural.
(For the film’s 1978 re-issue, the audio was re-mixed into Dolby Stereo, two minutes of excised footage was reinserted, and a content-related revision was made to the character bio segment at conclusion of film. For the 1998 remaster, the opening title card shot was revised.)
Note that many of the theaters, in the run-up to their booking, ran sneak preview screening(s). These sneaks have not been included in the chronology.
Opening Date YYYY-MM-DD … city — cinema (duration in weeks)
- 1973-08-01 … Los Angeles, CA — Avco Center Triplex (20)
- 1973-08-12 … New York, NY — Sutton (11)
- 1973-08-15 … Denver, CO — Colorado 4 (54)
- 1973-08-15 … Denver (Englewood), CO — Cinderella City (8)
- 1973-08-15 … Denver (Lakewood), CO — Westland (8)
- 1973-08-15 … Denver (Thornton), CO — North Valley (8)
- 1973-08-15 … Detroit (Bloomfield Hills), MI — Showcase Twin (18)
- 1973-08-15 … Detroit (Dearborn), MI — Westborn (7)
- 1973-08-15 … Detroit (Farmington Hills), MI — Old Orchard Twin (7)
- 1973-08-15 … Detroit (Madison Heights), MI — Abbey Triplex (43)
- 1973-08-15 … Detroit (Mt. Clemens), MI — Parkway Twin (13)
- 1973-08-15 … Detroit (Oak Park), MI — Towne Twin (19)
- 1973-08-15 … Detroit (Taylor), MI — Southland Twin (7)
- 1973-08-15 … Detroit (Warren), MI — Cinema City 4 (46)
- 1973-08-15 … Detroit (Westland), MI — Quo Vadis 4 (44)
- 1973-08-15 … Indianapolis, IN — Eastwood (5)
- 1973-08-15 … Indianapolis, IN — Lafayette Square (10)
- 1973-08-15 … Lansing (East Lansing), MI —M78 Drive-In (2)
- 1973-08-15 … Las Vegas, NV — Fox Boulevard (12)
- 1973-08-15 … Orange County (Costa Mesa), CA — South Coast Plaza Twin (18)
- 1973-08-15 … Orange County (Santa Ana), CA — Harbor Blvd. Drive-In (12)
- 1973-08-15 … San Diego, CA — Loma (18)
- 1973-08-15 … San Francisco, CA — Cinema 21 (18)
- 1973-08-15 … Tucson, AZ — Buena Vista Twin (13)
- 1973-08-15 … Tulsa, OK — Fontana 4 (13)
- 1973-08-16 … Lansing (Okemos), MI — Meridian 4 (40)
- 1973-08-16 … Omaha, NE — Six West 6 (45)
- 1973-08-16 … Omaha (Ralston), NE — Park 4 (29)
- 1973-08-17 … Atlanta, GA — Fine Art (18)
- 1973-08-17 … Dallas, TX — Medallion (19)
- 1973-08-17 … Houston, TX — Alabama (18)
- 1973-08-17 … Lincoln, NE — Plaza 4 (44)
- 1973-08-17 … Louisville, KY — Penthouse (10)
- 1973-08-22 … Buffalo (Amherst), NY — Boulevard Mall Twin (18)
- 1973-08-22 … Buffalo (Cheektowaga), NY — Holiday 6 (18)
- 1973-08-22 … Cincinnati, OH — Skywalk Twin (42)
- 1973-08-22 … Flint (Burton), MI — Miracle Twin Drive-In (2)
- 1973-08-22 … Honolulu, HI — Waikiki Twin (11)
- 1973-08-22 … Milwaukee, WI — Northridge Triplex (12)
- 1973-08-22 … Milwaukee (Greendale), WI — Southridge Triplex (6)
- 1973-08-22 … Milwaukee (West Allis), WI — Westlane (12)
- 1973-08-22 … Oklahoma City, OK — North Park 4 (42)
- 1973-08-22 … Sacramento, CA — Century 21 (17)
- 1973-08-22 … Salt Lake City (South Salt Lake), UT — Century 23 (18)
- 1973-08-22 … San Jose, CA — Century 22 Triplex (43)
- 1973-08-24 … Chicago, IL — Ford City Triplex (12)
- 1973-08-24 … Chicago, IL — Marina Triplex (screen #1: 9)
- 1973-08-24 … Chicago, IL — Marina Triplex (screen #3: 9)
- 1973-08-24 … Chicago (Evanston), IL — Evanston Twin (12)
- 1973-08-24 … Chicago (Lombard), IL — Yorktown Twin (12)
- 1973-08-24 … Chicago (Merrillville, IN), IL — Crossroads Twin (12)
- 1973-08-24 … Chicago (Niles), IL — Golf Mill Twin (12)
- 1973-08-24 … Flint (Grand Blanc), MI — Bella Vista Mall Twin (4)
- 1973-08-24 … Little Rock, AR — Cinema 150 (7)
- 1973-08-24 … Oakland, CA — Theatre 70 (17)
- 1973-08-24 … Oakland (Hayward), CA — Southland Twin (17)
- 1973-08-24 … Palo Alto, CA — Varsity (17)
- 1973-08-24 … Portland, OR — Broadway Triplex (52)
- 1973-08-24 … San Mateo, CA — Hillsdale Center Twin (13)
- 1973-08-24 … Seattle (Renton), WA — Renton Village Twin (32)
- 1973-08-29 … Austin, TX — Fox Twin (11)
- 1973-08-29 … Contra Costa County (Concord), CA — Sun Valley (12)
- 1973-08-29 … Des Moines, IA — Fleur 4 (16)
- 1973-08-29 … Des Moines (West Des Moines), IA — Sierra Triplex (17)
- 1973-08-29 … Kansas City (Overland Park, KS), MO — Glenwood Twin (11)
- 1973-08-29 … Kansas City (Raytown), MO — Brywood 6 (30)
- 1973-08-29 … Rochester (Greece), NY — Stoneridge Twin (17)
- 1973-08-29 … Rock Island (Milan), IL — Showcase Triplex (5)
- 1973-08-31 … Baltimore, MD — Senator (8)
- 1973-08-31 … Baltimore (Randallstown), MD — Liberty Twin (6)
- 1973-08-31 … Baltimore (Woodlawn), MD — Security Square Twin (11)
- 1973-08-31 … Dayton (Trotwood), OH — Salem Mall Twin (16)
- 1973-08-31 … Monterey, CA — Regency (1+)
- 1973-08-31 … San Antonio, TX — Fox Central Park Twin (10)
- 1973-08-31 … Washington, DC — Embassy (16)
- 1973-09-19 … Eugene, OR — Valley River Twin (13)
- 1973-09-21 … Akron (Fairlawn), OH — Fairlawn (13)
- 1973-09-21 … Albuquerque, NM — Fox Winrock (8)
- 1973-09-21 … Boston, MA — Cheri Triplex (13)
- 1973-09-21 … Cleveland (Mayfield Heights), OH — Mayland Twin (8)
- 1973-09-21 … Cleveland (Parma), OH — Parmatown Triplex (14)
- 1973-09-21 … Kalamazoo, MI — West Main (1+)
- 1973-09-21 … Minneapolis, MN — Skyway Twin (35)
- 1973-09-21 … New Orleans, LA — Joy (14)
- 1973-09-21 … Phoenix (Scottsdale), AZ — Kachina (14)
- 1973-09-21 … St. Paul, MN — Norstar (1+)
- 1973-09-28 … Albany, NY — Hellman (12)
- 1973-09-28 … Athens, GA — Beechwood Twin (6)
- 1973-09-28 … Boise, ID — FairVu (6)
- 1973-09-28 … Cedar Rapids, IA — Stage 4 (39)
- 1973-09-28 … Columbus, OH — Morse Road (6)
- 1973-09-28 … El Paso, TX — Northgate (8)
- 1973-09-28 … Erie, PA — Plaza (13)
- 1973-09-28 … Grand Rapids, MI — Alpine Twin (40)
- 1973-09-28 … Lake Charles, LA — Charles (4)
- 1973-09-28 … Lubbock, TX — Fox Twin (8)
- 1973-09-28 … Marin County (Mill Valley), CA — Sequoia (13)
- 1973-09-28 … Memphis, TN — Plaza Twin (12)
- 1973-09-28 … Norfolk, VA — JANAF (8)
- 1973-09-28 … Norman, OK — Heisman 4 (1+)
- 1973-09-28 … Philadelphia, PA — SamEric (12)
- 1973-09-28 … Santa Cruz, CA — Park Plaza Twin (28)
- 1973-09-28 … Sioux City, IA — Morningside (7)
- 1973-09-28 … Stockton, CA — Sherwood Plaza (1+)
- 1973-09-28 … Syracuse (DeWitt), NY — Shoppingtown Twin (13)
- 1973-09-28 … Tacoma (Lakewood), WA — Villa Plaza Twin (23)
- 1973-09-28 … Toledo, OH — Showcase Triplex (12)
- 1973-10-05 … Toronto, ON — Uptown 5 (54)
- 1973-10-05 … Vancouver, BC — Varsity (34)
- 1973-10-12 … Edmonton, AB — Varscona (63)
- 1973-10-12 … Montreal, QC — York (34)
- 1973-10-17 … Pittsburgh, PA — Chatham (10)
- 1973-10-19 … Alexandria, LA — MacArthur Village Twin (9)
- 1973-10-19 … Baton Rouge, LA — University 4 (20)
- 1973-10-19 … Benton Harbor, MI — Fairplain Twin (5)
- 1973-10-19 … Binghamton (Endicott), NY — Cinema (9)
- 1973-10-19 … Columbia, MO — Campus Twin (14)
- 1973-10-19 … Duluth (Hermantown), MN — Cinema Twin (1+)
- 1973-10-19 … Fargo, ND — Lark (1+)
- 1973-10-19 … Greeley, CO — Cooper Twin (7)
- 1973-10-19 … Jackson, MI — Westwood Mall Twin (9)
- 1973-10-19 … Jackson, MS — Jackson Square (5)
- 1973-10-19 … Lafayette, LA — Plaza (8)
- 1973-10-19 … Madison, WI — Strand (17)
- 1973-10-19 … Nashville, TN — Green Hills (24)
- 1973-10-19 … Paducah, KY — Paducah Twin (5)
- 1973-10-19 … Providence (East Providence), RI — Four Seasons 4 (10+)
- 1973-10-19 … Providence (Warwick), RI — Warwick Mall Twin (10)
- 1973-10-19 … St. Louis (Maryland Heights), MO — Westport Twin (44)
- 1973-10-19 … Santa Barbara (Goleta), CA — Cinema (10)
- 1973-10-19 … South Bend, IN — Scottsdale (9)
- 1973-10-19 … Spokane, WA — Dishman (36)
- 1973-10-19 … Springfield, IL — Roxy (9)
- 1973-10-19 … Springfield, MA — Eastfield Mall (5)
- 1973-10-19 … Springfield (West Springfield), MA — Paris (28)
- 1973-10-19 … State College, PA — The Movies (9)
- 1973-10-19 … Topeka, KS — Dickinson (1+)
- 1973-10-19 … Waterloo, IA — Strand (5)
- 1973-10-19 … Worcester, MA — Lincoln Plaza (1+)
- 1973-10-19 … Youngstown, OH — Uptown (24)
- 1973-10-23 … New York, NY — Beekman m/o (8 [19])
- 1973-10-26 … Allentown, PA — Colonial (7)
- 1973-10-26 … Atlantic City, NJ — Charles (8)
- 1973-10-26 … Bay City, MI — Westown (1+)
- 1973-10-26 … Biloxi, MS — Edgewater Plaza Twin (8)
- 1973-10-26 … Burlington (South Burlington), VT — Showcase Twin (24)
- 1973-10-26 … Calgary, AB — Towne (31)
- 1973-10-26 … Charlotte, NC — Park Terrace (8)
- 1973-10-26 … Columbia, SC — Miracle (9)
- 1973-10-26 … Essex County (Lawrence), MA — Showcase Twin (9)
- 1973-10-26 … Fall River, MA — Center Twin (1+)
- 1973-10-26 … Fort Worth, TX — Ridglea (8)
- 1973-10-26 … Harrisburg, PA — Union Deposit Twin (9)
- 1973-10-26 … Lancaster, PA — Wonderland Twin (8)
- 1973-10-26 … Miami, FL — Miracle (8)
- 1973-10-26 … Miami (Fort Lauderdale), FL — Gateway (9)
- 1973-10-26 … Miami (North Miami Beach), FL — 163rd Street (9)
- 1973-10-26 … Miami (West Palm Beach), FL — Palm Beach Mall 4 (8)
- 1973-10-26 … Middlesex County (Chelmsford), MA — Route 3 Four-plex (9)
- 1973-10-26 … Ogden (South Ogden), UT — Wilshire (8)
- 1973-10-26 … Plymouth County (Brockton), MA — Westgate Mall 4 (9)
- 1973-10-26 … Plymouth County (Hanover), MA — Hanover Mall 4 (14)
- 1973-10-26 … Raleigh, NC — State (8)
- 1973-10-26 … St. Petersburg, FL — Crossroads (8)
- 1973-10-26 … Tampa, FL — Floriland Twin (9)
- 1973-10-26 … Tampa, FL — Twin Bays 4 (15)
- 1973-10-26 … Utica (New Hartford), NY — Kallet (8)
- 1973-10-26 … Victoria, BC — Haida (9)
- 1973-10-26 … Winnipeg, MB — Polo Park (35)
- 1973-10-31 … La Crosse, WI — Marc Twin (7)
- 1973-10-31 … Racine, WI — Marc Twin (8)
- 1973-10-31 … Scranton, PA — Viewmont Mall Triplex (7)
- 1973-11-01 … Ames, IA — Varsity (7)
