KThe Å«hiō theater hosts a Hollywood-style premiere for the film adapted from a book which, according to the author and film producer, “has been read by more people than any other work of fiction ever created.” They estimate, without providing any specific documentation, that the audience for the book to date was around 100 million. Ego aside, the buzz around James Michener’s Hawaii began as soon as the rights to the film were purchased for an unprecedented amount of $ 600,000. And that was before the story was published.

The film’s October 10, 1966 release launched a series of promotional ties across the country and here at home, HONOLULU tells us.

“The campaign will most likely produce early sales records. It also produced a rush among “prestige” sponsors for opening nights and even for subsequent theatrical performances. In New York City, Anne McDonnell Ford (formerly Mrs. Henry Ford II) is president of the world premiere, which is expected to raise $ 110,000 at the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital in Saranac Lake. A Hoolaulea Ball will follow at the Americana Hotel.

“The fashion collection will not focus particularly on beach or tropical clothing, but on ‘regular Hawaiian inspired and tailored clothing’. The coordinator said: “We are not here to help sell muumuus. “

SEE ALSO: Are We Really Profiting From TV And Film Production In Hawai’i, Or Is It Just A Hollywood Illusion?

In another related promotion, “Bantam Books will release a new full edition of HAWAll Reset completely “in large print for easy reading”, with an insert of 16 pages of four-color images from the film. Bantam is also reissuing special editions of seven other Michener novels.

“And United Airlines takes off with an explosion of promotions for one and two weeks See James Michener’s Hawaii Tours, from travel agencies across the country. In support of a “Read the Book, See the Movie, Take the Tour” theme, “Affinity Groups” who register will be encouraged to sponsor a theatrical evening before starting. “

In HawaiÊ»i, as per the itinerary of the two-week luxury tour, one of the features will be a “missionary lunch” at the Pioneer Inn in Lahaina. During the tours, “segments of the film’s soundtrack will be replayed at the sites where the actual events (sic) took place.”

Other scheduled event: Lunch as “guests [local entertainer] Ray Kinney’s house… You will be eating with the family and the women will probably want to help clear the table or do the dishes.

SEE ALSO: 100 Years of Hawaiian Music

Despite mixed reviews—The New York Times said “Hawaii is as big and familiar as Diamond Head, and ultimately almost as heavy.” aged particularly well. Nor did Michener’s book, which was always on our list of 50 Essential Hawaii Books, albeit reluctantly in the case of some members of our panel.

Find out more about the evolution of coverage in HONOLULU Magazine and Pacific Paradise: 125 years of covers, available at shop.honolulumagazine.com.

Find more photos from Honolulu’s past every Thursday on Instagram @honolulumag