by Bo Durban
May 19, 2023
On Thursday, May 19, 1977, Smokey and the Bandit opened at Radio City Music Hall in New York. It ran through June 26, 1977.
The screenings featured five showings per day of Smokey and the Bandit, which were interspersed with captivating Rockette performances of "Girls Girls Girls."
| Date | Movie Times | Stage Show |
|---|---|---|
| May 19, 1977 | (Doors open at 10:30 am) | |
| May 20, 1977 | 10:35, 1:25, 4:15, 7:00, 9:40 | 12:15, 3:00, 6:00, 8:40 |
| May 21, 1977 | 10:45, 1:35, 4:25, 7:10, 10:00 | 12:25, 3:10, 6:00, 8:50 |
| May 22, 1977 | ? | ? |
| May 23, 1977 | 10:35, 1:25, 4:15, 6:55, 9:40 | 12:15, 3:00, 5:50, 8:35 |
| May 24, 1977 | 10:35, 1:25, 4:15, 6:55, 9:40 | 12:15, 3:00, 5:50, 8:30 |
| May 25, 1977 | 10:35, 1:25, 4:15, 6:55, 9:40 | 12:15, 3:00, 5:50, 8:30 |
| May 26, 1977 | 10:35, 1:25, 4:15, 6:55, 9:40 | 12:15, 3:00, 5:50, 8:35 |
| May 27, 1977 | 10:35, 1:25, 4:15, 6:55, 9:40 | 12:15, 3:00, 5:50, 8:35 |
| May 28, 1977 | 10:40, 1:30, 4:20, 7:05, 9:55 | 12:20, 3:10, 6:00, 8:50 |
| May 30, 1977 | 10:30, 1:25, 4:15, 6:55, 9:40 | 12:15, 3:00, 5:50, 8:35 |
| May 31, 1977 | 10:35, 1:25, 4:15, 6:55, 9:40 | 12:15, 3:00, 5:50, 8:35 |
(These are known date/times. Working on others)
Reviews were mixed. Hal Needham was not in agreement with premiering the movie in New York. He told them to "get it open in the south".
With nearly 6,000 seats available, Radio City Music Hall was unfortunately facing a decline in attendance during that period.
Smokey and the Bandit opened across the country on May 27, 1977.
