Outside the theater, attendees were greeted by people costumed as apes from the pic. Along with the pic's stars Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowell and Kim Hunter, the apes were the night's biggest stars; they all arrived in black limos and were given the best seats in the house.

Screening gave Fox an opportunity to promote the docu "Behind the Planet of the Apes," a behind the scenes expose' on the making of the sci-fi classic, which will air on American Movie Classics throughout September.

Highlight of screening was when Heston's character requested a gun from his benevolent ape friends, even though they tell him he doesn't need it. When Heston loads the gun with pride and passion, the audience cheered and laughed at the appropriate gesture from the current prexy of the National Rifle Assn.