44 years ago today, “Jaws” swam onto the the silver screen in Scranton.
The film by Steven Spielberg was “the” summer blockbuster in 1975. The film was released on June 1 and starred Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, Robert Shaw and a man-eating great white shark. The film was shown at the Cinema I, II, III at the Viewmont Mall.
Here is a collections of ads from the pages of the Scranton Times dealing with Jaws.
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- Advertisement for the book “Jaws.” The book was written by Peter Benchley and was published in 1974. The ad appeared in the Scranton Times on March 5, 1975.
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- Jaws advertisement in the June 18, 1975 edition of the Scranton Times.
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- Jaws advertisement from the June 20, 1975 edition of the Scranton Times.
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- Jaws advertisement in the June 21, 1975 edition of the Scranton Times.
Fashion was even inspired by the film. Here is an ad from Powers Department Store advertising shark t-shirts.
Advertisement for Powers Department Store in the Keyser Oak Shopping Center – Sept. 18, 1975 – The Scranton Times
“Jaws” wasn’t the only film to playing in the Scranton area on June 20, 1975. Also playing was “The Eiger Sanction” and “The Other Side of the Mountain” at Cinema I, II, III at the Viewmont Mall, “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” at Cinema North in Clarks Summit, “Blazing Saddles” at the Center Theater in Scranton, “Young Frankenstein” at the Strand in Scranton, “Mandingo” at the Comerford in Scranton, “Shinebone Alley” and “Breakout” at Cinema 2 in Peckville, “Gone In 60 Seconds” and “Two Lane Blacktop” at the Comerford Drive-In in Dupont, “The Black Windmill” and “Lepke” at the Circle Drive-In in Dickson City, “The Trial of Billy Jack” at the Birney Cinema in Moosic and “The Groove Tube” and “The Big Zapper” at the Midvalley Drive-in in Eynon.
The Scranton Times – June 21, 1975
If you were in the mood for something a bit more adult. There were several theaters in our area that had you covered – “Linda Lovelace for President” was playing at the West Side in Scranton, “Day in the Life” and “Liquid Love” were playing at the Roosevelt in Green Ridge and “Lickity Split” and “Sweet Georgia Gal” were playing at the Oak Hill Drive-In in Moosic.
If dare to enter the water, swim out to the Circle Drive-In this evening for a special Throwback Thursday showing of “Jaws.” The show starts at 9pm and tickets are $7 per person. The showing helps to raise funds for the Lackawanna Historical Society.
Brian Fulton has been the librarian at The Times-Tribune for the past 15 years. On his blog, Historically Hip, he writes about the great concerts, plays/musicals and celebrity happenings that have taken place throughout NEPA. He is also the co-host of the local history podcast, Historically Hip. He competed and was crowned grand champion on an episode of NPR quiz show “Ask Me Another.” Contact: bfulton@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9140; or @TTPagesPast
