WB's current version isn't even in widescreen.

It was shot in full screen format, so it is already in proper OAR. In fact, I would hate to see it in widescreen, as they would have to chop off the top and bottom and it would ruin some of the framing of the scenes.

But a release with bonus features would be cool. Commentary by David Byrne, documentaries, interviews with the cast, the complete music videos from the release, a sound track on the DVD (like some of the better releases from back in the day). There is room for so much improvement in other areas. Just don't mess with the OAR!

So if one went to see this in the theater back in the day, it would have been in 4x3 format? In other words, no widescreen was shot?

This seems strange, as aspect ratios other than 4x3 have been standard since the mid-50's (on movies released theatrically that is).

I did not know that was the OAR. Weird.

It was more than likely matted to fit a theater screen.

I double checked the movie's IMDB page and thought that was where I read it was originally shot in the 4x3 format, but they don't list the OAR there anymore.