MacArthur Theater

4859 MacArthur Boulevard NW,
Washington, DC 20007

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Showing 76 - 100 of 100 comments

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on July 22, 2007 at 6:11 pm

Steve, by now you must think I’m hallucinating exteriors and curtains. However, I’ve not actually been to the Fairfax Square, so I didn’t realize there isn’t an exterior. I am, however, thinking about the Fine Arts curtain….where I did see movies.

sguttag
sguttag on July 22, 2007 at 6:06 pm

What exterior? Its lobby is HUGE and under ground but the exterior? There really isn’t one (and yes, I’ve even worked this theatre once or twice shortly after it opened. I also worked the Tyson’s IV across the street which this theatre replaced (the Tyson’s 4 was a HUGE twin that was turne dinto 4 decent sized theatres).

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on July 22, 2007 at 3:44 pm

I created it earlier today:
/theaters/20626/

And, this one, which needs somebody to photograph it real soon! (exterior, and if somebody can, lobby and and a large auditorium)
/theaters/20638/

JodarMovieFan
JodarMovieFan on July 22, 2007 at 3:39 pm

Steve, the thing is my friends, relatives and I WOULD come to places like this when they booked the right movies, particularly if it was in 70mm. There was a time, where I’d see a movie, with a friend, then go again and see it with somene else, then again, with relatives and even by myself, if it was something worth seeing in the bigger auditorium. I can pretty much say I’ve seen just about every 70mm movie they booked here throughout the 80s, which isn’t much. If they had booked ST IV here and not at the Multiplex Cinemas; Mt. Vernon, Alexandria and Montgomery Mall 3, I would have come here the 8X or so I saw it in 70mm :)

Howard, I will post more KB Cinema memories, as soon as I can recall specific movie events of the last 27 years or so…

You know there needs to be a page for the KB Fine Arts. This was another favorite of mine that is sadly gone.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on July 22, 2007 at 10:02 am

JodarMovieFan, the community was really upset, which is especially ironic considered how apprehensive they were that a movie theater was going to open back in 1946.

I’ve searched flickr for photos, but none. Can’t somebody photo its exterior?

My 1995 notes are that MacArthur’s 2 small screens, both from in the sides of the auditorium but not all the way to the front, were maybe each about 20 feet wide. The middle auditorium with original Proscenium Arch (screen) had about 500 seats, a stage, and orange curtain that was used before the screen (whereas the vertical curtains in the small auds were no longer used in 1995) and screen that looked like 40 feet wide. There were 25 rows of 2 seats, 13, 2 more, and then additional seats in front of that configuration. Each auditorium had a tiny balcony of 12 seats. There weren’t any bothersome (glaring) lights or exit signs near the screen. I saw John Boorman’s Beyond Rangoon that day, which was beautifully filmed; in 1998, I saw his Hope and Glory but possibly in one of the small screens.

JodarMovieFan, why don’t you post some memories of the Cinema on that page? I saw Empire of the Sun in 70 mm there. I’ve been the only one posting on that page, and that theater deserves way more!

sguttag
sguttag on July 22, 2007 at 9:56 am

You know…it is a funny thing about campaigns to save theatres…if these same people loyally came to the theatre…it wouldn’t close. They tend to get all upset when the prospect of losing their familiar landmark. However, it is a business and the key to the business is patronage. Now if these same people were to demand quality when the business is open, they would be more effective. It is cheaper to keep a business going than it is to open new ones. But when the business demands fall into non-profitability…how can you blame the owners of the business for leaving?

JodarMovieFan
JodarMovieFan on July 22, 2007 at 9:41 am

Given the fact that the CVS selling floor occupies the old theater’s lobby space, perhaps the theater part could come back again. It would be an odd combo walking into the theater through a drug store but hey, wouldn’t it be great to have the place showing movies again?

Howard, I never knew about the write-in campaign. I’m surprised Cineplex Oden still decided to close it. I think part of the problem was getting exclusives to show here. I remember they had Star Trek IV advertised in 4 track Mag Stereo, but I preferred to see it in 70mm and THX at the then new Multiplex Cinemas in Virginia. Empire of the Sun played in 70mm at the Cinema, whereas it could have played here. Same with Roger Rabbit, which played at the Uptown in ‘88, Batman and Star Trek V at Wisconsin Ave.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on July 22, 2007 at 8:51 am

Later, in 1997, a letter to the editor was in the Washington DC Post, stating that Cineplex Odeon didn’t speak to the community, and instead presented 2nd run movies there.

I believe the theater’s last day was 3-30-1997 with English Patient likely having on the big screen, and on the 2 smaller screens, Jerry Maguire and Prisoners of the Mountains (Russian film).

11-10-1997 Washington Post, Business Section reported the theater had become a CVS despite a local boycott “I shall return.” The CVS had been open 3 weeks.

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on July 22, 2007 at 8:43 am

3-23-1997 Washington Post article (page C-2) stated this theater would closed, despite 5000 petition signatures from the community wishing it to continue showing movies. The article says the theater, which opened 12-25-1946, had met with community protest before it opened! The article said that KB & Warner Brothers ran the theater, but in the early 1950’s, WB departed. KB made much money back then, in 1952 with Best of British movies, such as Peter Sellers comedies, dramas with Alec Guiness, Lawrence Oliver. It then had a 2nd floor lounge, assigned seats, ushers, candy but no popcorn. In the mid 1960’s it became 1st run, previously having served a nabe theater ike KBs Naylor, Princess, Atlas, Senator, Apex (and also Ontario, Calvert). In 1981, KB proposed demolition, to build an office building. In 1982 it became a Circle theater, with 2 more screens created within the original auditorium. However, since the 1987 sale of Circle to Cineplex Odeon, Cineplex Odeon lost money operating it.

sguttag
sguttag on July 22, 2007 at 6:47 am

I understand your dismay about the grain…but at least you could see it…nice and sharp. As I recall Star Trek II in 70mm…I remember noting that the image had a steaky feel to it…like it was not developed uniformly…I saw it in the gate and on screen. If you recall…the subwoofers for the MacA were on stage and visible. There was no more room behind the screen and it was believed when they were installed that the MacA’s days were numbered.

Here is another bit of trivia for you. The MacArthur had a notably narrow front-end. As such we cropped a bit too much in width. If we projected Paramount’s opening title card “Paramount Pictures Presents”…it would read “aroumnt Pictures Present” We opted to keep the curtains closed (and douser closed) for that card and then open the douser and curtain after the card passed so what you, the audience, saw first was the star field but you may recall the musical score started first. I actually really liked that progression…like going to a stage play with the orchestra starting it off first.

Another bit of triva…the last film to play at the MacArthur as a single was “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (reissue) in 70mm.

I did work the Langley from time to time in relief…it was never a permanent job for me. In fact, there were very few theatres that bore the KB or Circle/Showcase badge that I didn’t work at least one shift or two in. I was with KB from 1980 to 1987 and then Circle (and its successors) from 1987 until 2005.

JodarMovieFan
JodarMovieFan on July 21, 2007 at 10:55 pm

Ahhh Steve. You’re the one I can thank for many years of experiencing cinema at some of my favorite DC venues like the MacArthur, Langley and Uptown, etc etc.

To add to my post above, my school buds and I saw Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan opening show, on opening day. My friends and I tried to stay back for the second show by hiding in the mens restroom..and almost succeeded until an Usher came in to inspect the place and we were almost caught. Instead of just going home, I bought my friends tickets and went to the back of the very long line to see it again. This time, we sat right smack in the front row to almost become part of the adventure with the crew of the Enterprise. This particular showing was more enjoyable as there were a lot more people to fill the theater with and they were a lot more alive than the first one.

Being a part of and observing an audience reaction to the right mix of sound and picture is something to experience. Not just the cheering and clapping but things like when in this movie Khan released those ceti eels to the shreiking jump of James Horner score..then Chekov and Terell scream…there was always a few women who would also shriek during that scene. Then there was that fish-out-of-water shot of the Reliant leaping up and over the Enterprise filling up the screen
accompanied by that subwoofer rrruuummble. So cool. My favorite sound effect/experience from the movie was a quiet one. The scene where Kirk and the landing party beam down to the Genesis cave, there is this momentary silence. Then there is a sound of a bolt dropping and then rapidly bounces on the floor. The sound is quick, distinct but heard in the rear right of the theater. I noticed heads turning back, foolishly, as if there was actually something THERE.

If there was one thing that bugged me about this presentation and many other 70mm of this time period was the grain. I know that the movie was NOT shot in 65mm and this and others during the 80s are blow ups from 35mm. It shows on screen, but the 6-track sound is oh so marvelous.

I do remember seeing Arch Campbell sitting in the back row wearing a hat. He was chatting up with some other patrons but I did not feel comfortable (being a geeky teen) enough to approach him. Even though the audience thoroughly enjoyed the movie, his rating later that night was only 2 stars or something and from then on, I never had much respect for the guy as a reviewer.

Of all the closed DC big screen venues, I wish this one comes back someday.

sguttag
sguttag on July 15, 2007 at 7:42 pm

I worked the MacArthur quite a bit and was its chief projectionist when it closed as a single (KB Theatre) in 1982. I woked with Nick at several theatres, including the MacA for REDS though the Silver was my theatre for that film.

As to politicians…having worked a great many theatres in the DC area…they all seemed to have gotten their share. I showed films at the KB Cinema to them and a great many films at the Uptown were seen by local and federal politicians.

I recall Arch Cambell (sp?) and Davy Marlin Jones (was the CBS affiliate movie reviewer of the day and my favorite) coming to see films there quite a bit too.

Of all the theatres I’ve worked and shown movies at…the MacArthur remains my favorite…there was just something about that felt like “home.” It was always the theatre that I requested to be my permanent theatre at K-B until it closed. I didn’t get it until its last year in 1982…just before Star Trek II opened. Carbon Arc, 70mm and reel-to-reel…how can you not like that as a projectionist? It could also pack em in too which was always nice.

NickCoston
NickCoston on August 16, 2005 at 10:33 am

I was the manager during the first Star Trek (we had the World Premier as well) film, where we filled the joint up for the first 2 weeks, every show, everyday. KB Theatres ran it and it had some characters. Most of the older employers claim it was haunted and never went into the theatre alone. When I moved back to DC in 1982, I managed it again when REDS played there. There was probably no theatre anywhere that had so many politicians seeign movies there. And they were regulars.
By the way, the joint was indeed haunted.

MediaQueen
MediaQueen on March 22, 2005 at 8:09 pm

As a youngster, I saw “Oliver” and “The Sound of Music” at the bygone MacArthur Theater on MacArthur Blvd in NW, Washington, DC. My classmates (Francis Scott Key Elementary) and I really enjoyed the field trips as a break from our studies. This was around 1974. The theater had just one large screen and a huge concession area. Very classic semi- art deco facade. It was magical to me. I recall that a water reservoir was just down the street from the theater that was situated in the Palisades part of Northwest DC. Being a bused black school boy from SE, DC, the area was just like being in another world. Sad to know, the theater is now a CVS! Aren’t there enough of them everywhere throughout the city?

teecee
teecee on March 18, 2005 at 5:46 am

photo & memories at this link:
View link

GeorgeTehaan
GeorgeTehaan on May 6, 2004 at 6:28 pm

I grew up in this neighborhood in the 1950’s and 60’s and remember that the MacArthur used to show many now classic British movies of the time, like “The Mouse that Roared”. My aunt took my cousin and me there as very young boys to see a reissue of “King Kong”, and one Saturday morning a special viewing was held of the big screen version of “The Lone Ranger” starring Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels! It was also the site for the world premiere of the first “Star Trek” movie. Many of the cast members including Shatner and Nimoy attended. Alas, though just a few miles away, I could not leave work to be there.

JodarMovieFan
JodarMovieFan on April 1, 2004 at 9:01 am

I was in the neighborhood last week and had to stop by and see how CVS redid the interior of the old theater. The marquee, box office and foyer are left intact but after that everything is what you’d expect from what CVS drugstore would look like.

The actual selling floor space does not make use of the entire theater. What was the balcony area seems to have been made into management offices. Beyond the store, there must be a large storage area going back towards where the screen(s) were.

Alawi
Alawi on March 7, 2004 at 12:57 pm

They also showed press screenings here, I went to review a comedy here called CRAZY PEOPLE(Dudley Moore)in 1989 or so.

Alawi
Alawi on March 7, 2004 at 12:45 pm

I saw TOTAL RECALL here, it was a great theatre with very friendly management. Sad to see it go.

sdoerr
sdoerr on January 2, 2004 at 8:08 pm

Any pics of the exterior and interior today? I really m curious to see.

JodarMovieFan
JodarMovieFan on December 31, 2003 at 11:04 am

I remember seeing Star Trek II:The Wrath of Khan in 70mm and being awestruck by the presentation as it was the only theater in DC that had it there in that format. It was during this time, I began to enjoy seeing movies in the largest and best venues, travelling almost any distance (from MD where I lived) to the best around town. The theater was remodeled that year, becoming a triplex and adding small balconies and reopened with The Dark Crystal (also in 70mm). When I saw Brainstorm there (in ‘83), I noticed that some of the speakers were blown as when some scenes went from 35mm mono to 70mm 6-track, there was a definite crackling sound in the middle part of the theater. The Return of the Jedi (70mm) was an event as the film was sold out and Auditorium 2 (the biggest one) was filled to capacity as people oohed, ahhed, cheered and booed to what was happening on screen. Even the smaller auditoriums had decent Dolby surround sound and balconies. I saw Flashdance in '83 (for the third time) and was impressed with the surround sound and even the curtains opening for the show!

During the 90s, the theater didn’t book any 70mm event films and I stopped going there. The last film I remember seeing there was Total Recall back in ‘90. I was sad to hear that it was closing back in '97. Its too bad there wasn’t enough support to keep CVS from taking it over. I’m surprised that given the rather affluent neighborhood, there wasn’t enough financial support to keep it a local theater much like the Avalon, also in DC.

sdoerr
sdoerr on December 29, 2003 at 2:59 pm

Since you consider being able to go into/access the theatre being open shouldn’t it be considered open?

williammeyeriv
williammeyeriv on December 14, 2003 at 11:40 pm

I never had the privilege of visiting this theatre during its hey days, but I have had the privilege to purchase discount band-aids here. It’s sad to stand in the middle of the store and look up at its vaulted ceiling and projection booth, seeing what became of a classic theatre. At least they have maintained the original doors, marble floor at the entrance, ticket booth (inoperational) and poster cases outside, complete with old movie posters, and they still light the big neon signs at night, with the CVS sign lower, just above the door, in place of the marquee.

sguttag
sguttag on November 28, 2003 at 6:06 am

The MacArthur was NEVER twined. It was operated by the K-B Theatre chain until the fall of 1982 (the last film was a 70mm reissue of Raiders of the Lost Ark). The management of the theatre was then shifted to the Circle theatre chain. The Circle Theatre chain tripled the theatre but did so in a way that the original stage and front-end remained the same. Steve

William
William on November 20, 2003 at 4:44 pm

The McArthur Theatre was located at 4859 MacArthur Blvd..