Coronado, Calif. June 24, 2013 Coronado Mayor Casey Tanaka today announced that the city will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the classic film, The Wizard of Oz with various charity events planned throughout the community. Kicking off the festivities, The Wizard of Oz will hold special screenings for one weekend only at the beautifully restored Village Theatre, beginning September 21, 2013. Proceeds from the citywide celebration will benefit local not-for-profit organizations and foundations.
THE WIZARD OF OZ
CITYWIDE EVENTS TO COINCIDE WITH THE FILM’S 75THANNIVERSARY
Historic Village Theatre to Host Special Screenings of
The Wizard of Oz for One Weekend Only Beginning September 21
Proceeds from Coronado’s The Wizard of Oz 75th Anniversary Celebration to Support Local Not-for-Profits
In 3D and IMAX® for the First Time Ever, The Wizard of Oz will Debut on the Big Screen for a Special IMAX® 3D One-Week Run Beginning September 20
75th Anniversary Collector’s Edition Available October 1 on Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD and UltraViolet
“We are thrilled to be a part of the 75th anniversary celebration of The Wizard of Oz,” said Mayor Tanaka. “Coronado’s historic connection with its brilliant author, L. Frank Baum, who spent a great deal of time at the magical Hotel Del Coronado and also lived on a quiet street in the Village of Coronado during some of his most prolific writing years, certainly makes this a very special event for the City.”
Numerous activities are currently being planned throughout the city and may include book signings, lectures, exhibits, character look-a-like contests, a variety of charity events, including special screenings and The Wizard of Oz parade down Coronado’s main street.
“The Wizard of Oz is one of the most beloved films of all time and we are thrilled that Warner Bros. has made Coronado part of this exciting milestone event,” said Dina Ochs, a long-time fan of the film and Coronado resident. “I applaud the City for making this a community-wide celebration for kids of all ages, while supporting the pillars of our community and its charitable foundations.”
The Village Theatre, the venue for The Wizard of Oz fund-raising screenings, is one of Coronado’s many beloved landmarks. Located at 820 Orange Avenue, the original Village Theatre opened in 1947 and prospered for many years before falling into disrepair, eventually closing its doors in 2000. Ten years later, following a combined effort between Vintage Cinemas and the City of Coronado Redevelopment Agency, the historic Village Theatre reopened to the public on June 23, 2011. While keeping the facade of the theatre largely as it appeared in 1947, two additional screens were added to the beloved movie house. All three of the Village Theatre’s auditoriums are equipped with state-of-the-art Sony Digital Cinema and Dolby Digital Sound, with two of the three screens boasting Real D 3D capabilities.
“We are overjoyed to give Coronado residents the rare opportunity to see this wonderfully remastered version of The Wizard of Oz on the big screen, all while supporting our local charities and the community,” said Lance Alspaugh, Operator of the Village Theatre.
Commemorating the 75th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz, Warner Bros. has produced an all-new 3D remastered version of the iconic film, which will be presented in the immersive IMAX® 3D format during a special one-week engagement in IMAX® theatres across North America, beginning September 20, 2013.
The Wizard of Oz 3D release has been digitally remastered to create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie. The 3D conversion was a long and complex project which Warner Bros. initiated with a very high resolution (8k) scanning of the original Technicolor camera negative. The restored 2D image was then transformed by creating a depth-map of each frame to construct 3D imagery and determine distances from the viewer’s vantage point. This was followed by the long process (with the use of a rotoscope) to further refine viewer distances and fully layer shapes and objects.
“People have asked for years about The Wizard of Oz 3D conversion. My answer was always, We’re not doing it until it’s perfect.’ And now it is,” said Ned Price, Warner Technical Operations’ Vice President of Mastering. “As a kid, I was so enthralled by this film. Watching it, you just want to enter the frame, enter the Land of Oz. This new version will allow you to do just that.”
Following the North American theatrical engagements, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) will release a limited and numbered The Wizard of Oz 75th Anniversary Collector’s Edition on October 1, 2013, featuring the 3D version of the film and more.
The Wizard of Oz 75th Anniversary Collector’s Edition will debut as a five-disc set that will include Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD and UltraViolet versions of the film; a new documentary, The Making of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz; bonus features and premium collectibles ($105.43 SRP). Three more editions will be available separately: a two-disc 3D/Blu-ray ($35.99 SRP), a one-disc Blu-ray ($19.98 SRP) and a two-disc DVD ($16.95 SRP). All four will contain the new documentary and extra content.
SPECIAL FEATURES will include all previously released special features along with:
· ALL-NEW Documentary! The Making of the Wonderful Wizard of OzThis candid overview of how a troubled production overcame the odds to become an integral part of American culture features contributions from historians John Fricke and Sam Wasson, composers Stephen Schwartz and Marc Shaiman, critics Leonard Maltin and Michael Sragow, Bert Lahr’s son John as well as revealing interview clips with Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Buddy Ebsen, Margaret Hamilton and Mervyn LeRoy, among others.
· NEW! Exclusive Collectible Memorabilia A collectible 75th Anniversary journal; Sparkle RUBY SLIPPERS Globe; Noble Collection three-piece enamel pin set, a Map of Oz and a 48-page hardcover book. Collection is limited and numbered.
About the Movie
Adapted from L. Frank Baum’s timeless children’s tale about a Kansas girl’s journey over the rainbow, The Wizard of Oz opened at Grauman’s Chinese Theater on August 15, 1939. The film was directed by Victor Fleming (who that same year directed Gone With the Wind), produced by Mervyn LeRoy, and scored by Herbert Stothart, with music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg. DOROTHY was portrayed by a 4’11” sixteen-year-old girl who quickly earned her reputation as “the world’s greatest entertainer”the incomparable Judy Garland. Ray Bolger appeared as the SCARECROW; Bert Lahr as the COWARDLY LION, Jack Haley as the TIN MAN. Frank Morgan was seen in six different roles, including that of the wonderful “Wizard of Oz” himself.
The Wizard of Oz received five Academy Award® nominations[i], including Best Picture (Outstanding Production), and captured two Oscars®Best Song (“Over the Rainbow”) and Best Original Score — plus a special award for Outstanding Juvenile Performance by Judy Garland. The film was an overwhelmingly popular and critical success upon its initial release and repeated its ability to captivate audiences when M-G-M reissued the film in 1949 and 1955. The film made a new kind of history with its network television premiere in 1956 on CBS. Nearly 45 million people tuned in for this initial telecast, marking the beginning of an annual tradition. Ever since, The Wizard of Oz has been shown virtually annually on network (and then cable) television; its magical story and heartfelt performances have enabled it to grow from a perennial classic to its current status as a treasured icon of popular culture.
Blu-ray Disc and Blu-ray and the logos are the trademarks of Blu-ray Disc Association.
Warner Home Video Blu-ray Discs offer resolution six times higher than standard definition DVDs, as well as extraordinarily vibrant contrast and color and beautifully crisp sound. The format also provides a higher level of interactivity, with instant access to extra features via a seamless menu bar where viewers can enjoy features without leaving or interrupting the film.
Note: All enhanced content listed above is subject to change.
About the City of Coronado
Incorporated in 1890, Coronado’s rich history, natural beauty and charming ocean village atmosphere makes it most deserving of its royal “nickname” – the Crown City.
This uniquely enchanting city is home to some of the world’s most pristine beaches, 22 public parks, an 18-hole golf course, tennis courts and recreational facilities which include a public pool and dedicated bicycle paths.
The City of Coronado is a great destination that’s has world-class resorts, fine dining and great retail shopping. Bordered by the Pacific Ocean, Glorietta Bay and San Diego Bay, this picturesque seaside city is linked to the Southern California coastline and the city of San Diego by the graceful and stately San Diego – Coronado Bridge, and to the south by a narrow strip of land known as the Silver Strand.
The careful approach to planned development lends stability to the quality of both the residential lifestyle and the business community. Quiet tree lined streets and friendly neighborhoods provide a collection of architectural home styles from Victorian cottages to modern mansions in this uniquely quaint island community. The recognized school systems offer a high caliber of educational standards with successful results, which is a positive influence on homebuyers considering the area.
Coronado residents have carried on the tradition of the island with their dedication to maintaining a landmark community, and connected to the City of San Diego by the San Diego-Coronado Bridge.
The thriving cultural and arts scene is also an important part of our community. The Coronado Playhouse is home to our local community theater group, while the Lamb’s Players Theater boasts a well-regarded professional theater group, and the Coronado Historical Association houses the Coronado Museum of History and Art. In addition, the Coronado School of the Arts at Coronado High School offers a wide variety of shows throughout the year including plays, dance recitals, classical music shows, and more.
Coronado’s south facing beach is home to many historic homes and was been rated the Best Beach in America by Doctor Beach in 2012. No trip to Coronado is complete without a walk along the sands of this majestic beach.
About Vintage Cinemas
Since 1993, Vintage Cinemas offers an alternative to the multiplex. The 90 year old Vista Theatre and 80 year old Los Feliz Cinemas in Los Angeles were both restored in 2000, while the recently restored 1946 Village Theatre on Coronado Island celebrates its second year since reopening in 2011. The over 3 million dollar restoration project was a combined effort by the City of Coronado Redevelopment Agency, Vintage Cinemas and private investors. The unique atmospheres selected for the Village were created by the late designer Joseph Musil who oversaw the Hollywood El Capitan restoration among others. All 3 venues offer a state of the art first run movie experience in timeless atmospheric settings.
About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment’s home video, digital distribution and interactive entertainment businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels, and is a significant developer and publisher for console and online video game titles worldwide. WBHE distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees, as well as directly to consumers through WBShop.com and WB Ultra.
About IMAX® Corporation
IMAX, an innovator in entertainment technology, combines proprietary software, architecture and equipment to create experiences that take you beyond the edge of your seat to a world you’ve never imagined. Top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX theatres to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, and, as such, IMAX’s network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe.
IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, with offices in London, Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing. As of March 31, 2013, there were 738 IMAX theatres (606 commercial multiplexes, 19 commercial destinations and 113 institutions) in 53 countries.
IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, Experience It In IMAX®, An IMAX 3D Experience®, The IMAX Experience® and IMAX Is Believing® are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information about the Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).
Please visit the official The Wizard of Oz 75th Anniversary website for more information: thewizardofoz.com.
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Sophia Zaller
Online Editorial Intern
eCoronado.com
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