Cliff, what’s playing in the Dome? National Treasure is #1 movie, so I don’t understand why they didn’t open it in the Dome in place of whatever is playing there (which could be shown in one of the other screens).
I meant to continue: as far as I’m concerned, there’s no other film experience like the Uptown from New York to D.C. I certainly hope the Uptown continues to show movies!
JodarMovieFan, Mazza Gallerie’s auditoriums WERE THX certified when GCC opened it in 2000. I saw Day After Tomorrow June 2004 at the Ziegfeld, so you haven’t been to the Mazza Gallerie in awhile. AMC didn’t present a THX trailer on Sunday. The National Guard trailer looked small on the Mazza screen (Aud 2) compared to the Uptown, and the Mazza did not have the sound turned up for it! Sound better for the movie, but not compared to the Uptown sound which rocks! They told me biggest Aud is 1. 1 & 2 are first in. I’ve seen one movie each in Auds 1 to 4.
I don’t know what AMC plans are, whether they depart the Uptown next year.
I forgot to note that this was the 1st time I was inside this theater. Lived in DC a few years in mid-1980’s and saw the exterior of closed Silver. Now in my hometown (Philly) and spent F-Sa-Su in DC.
yes, the manager did say the curtain will be repaired.
Historic Auditorium ran a THX trailer, or whatever it is called. Mazza Gallerie on Sunday didn’t. I was almost under impression that nobody pays for THX certification anymore? AFI still does?
When I walked into both auditoriums 2 & 3, the curtain was totally closed pre-film. I only stayed for a minute. Thank you, and AFI for arranging for such great film projection and sound. The overall presentation really is world class.
I’ve only seen you in person, a few years ago, at the Uptown, chatting with you in the projection booth.
I saw “I am Legend” 7 PM Saturday eve. I’d rather union projectionists but the projection was fine. Sound was great- the Uptown always has one of the most powerful sound systems on Earth!
Sunday, I saw Charlie Wilson’s War at the Mazza Gallerie. The National Guard commercial, showing helicopters & soldiers, wasn’t one bit as impressive as it was at the Uptown’s screen the day before!
Washington Post mentioned a D.C. premiere of “Charlie Wilson’s War” the week before. Piddy, was that at the Uptown?
Friday, December 21, I saw at 5 PM, Juno in the historic auditorium. After buying my ticket in the new building, I was able to walk into the historic Art Moderne lobby.
I sat in the last row, with the tables that JordarMovieFan sits to eat his stuffed pretzels. The lady next to me had a soft pretzel (not stuffed) and a cup of beer.
Movie projection & digital surround sound were excellent.
After Juno was over, the other movies had not started, so I briefly walked into the newer auditoriums. Juno was shown without any curtain being present, so I presumed curtain only used for special presentations? But, no, curtains were closed in the newer auditoriums! I asked, and the manager told me historic auditorium’s curtain has been broken at least a month, a chain broken.
I’d rather see a 70mm epic at the Uptown, with its huge Cinerama sized screen! However, overall, the AFI Silver is a great moviehouse with an excellent program of films.
I just telephoned the AFI Silver office number. The woman who answered said “we do not give out that information” as to which movie will play in which screen this weekend!! it will depend on ticket sales. Best she could do was speculate Juno would not be in the 75 seat auditorium. Could not tell me at all whether they plan Its a Wonderful Life or Juno in the historic main auditorium. She said if she was attending herself, she wouldn’t know.
grade of “F” to AFI Silver for attitude.
Anyone want to speculate whehter Juno or Its a Wonderful Life will b in the historic auditorium? 3rd movie is No Country for Old Men. Its a Wonderful Life is splitting a screen with other classics.
Screen sizes have been added to the Introduction. Steve Guttag’s comments about Auditorium 2 seem to be verified by the screen size and by the photos on the theater’s website.
Mr. Abromwitz, maybe you would be kind enough to “add theater” on thiw website for those theaters you designed that aren’t here (determine if not here by google theater name town & cinema treasures or by looking in Theater Guide) and describing those theaters as you did for this one.
If you have blueprints, photographs, etc. then the Theatre Historical Society of America would be interested in a donation (and you could get a tax deduction).
As you know, these cinemas are our history, and people enjoyed them and fondly recall them.
JodarMovieFan, though I do photo cinemas, I’ve haven’t been, so these aren’t mine. I found them on flickr and thought people would appreciate them.
Main auditorium screen is 40 feet wide for a scope film. That’s not Cinerama sized like the DC Uptown, but it isn’t small.
As to food, I love soft pretzels, hard pretzels, but not sure if pretzels should get stuffed!
photos of restoration, click on each month: View link
May 2000 article with photo of Art Deco chandelier: View link
larger version of chandelier photo: View link
photo of ceiling under restoration: View link
To answer above, 70mm projectors a gift from another theater Loews operated, /theaters/406/
ex KB Cinema in Washington, D.C. where I enjoyed 70 mm fillms including Glory and Godfather Part III. The last comment raves about 70mm films there.
another vintage postcard:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevp/1967708265/
Vintage photo from when still a movie theater:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevp/1349740141/
This is a wonderful 2007 photo of the main auditorium ceiling mural:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alykat/875443323/
Cliff, what’s playing in the Dome? National Treasure is #1 movie, so I don’t understand why they didn’t open it in the Dome in place of whatever is playing there (which could be shown in one of the other screens).
I meant to continue: as far as I’m concerned, there’s no other film experience like the Uptown from New York to D.C. I certainly hope the Uptown continues to show movies!
JodarMovieFan, Mazza Gallerie’s auditoriums WERE THX certified when GCC opened it in 2000. I saw Day After Tomorrow June 2004 at the Ziegfeld, so you haven’t been to the Mazza Gallerie in awhile. AMC didn’t present a THX trailer on Sunday. The National Guard trailer looked small on the Mazza screen (Aud 2) compared to the Uptown, and the Mazza did not have the sound turned up for it! Sound better for the movie, but not compared to the Uptown sound which rocks! They told me biggest Aud is 1. 1 & 2 are first in. I’ve seen one movie each in Auds 1 to 4.
I don’t know what AMC plans are, whether they depart the Uptown next year.
I forgot to note that this was the 1st time I was inside this theater. Lived in DC a few years in mid-1980’s and saw the exterior of closed Silver. Now in my hometown (Philly) and spent F-Sa-Su in DC.
yes, the manager did say the curtain will be repaired.
Historic Auditorium ran a THX trailer, or whatever it is called. Mazza Gallerie on Sunday didn’t. I was almost under impression that nobody pays for THX certification anymore? AFI still does?
When I walked into both auditoriums 2 & 3, the curtain was totally closed pre-film. I only stayed for a minute. Thank you, and AFI for arranging for such great film projection and sound. The overall presentation really is world class.
I’ve only seen you in person, a few years ago, at the Uptown, chatting with you in the projection booth.
I saw “I am Legend” 7 PM Saturday eve. I’d rather union projectionists but the projection was fine. Sound was great- the Uptown always has one of the most powerful sound systems on Earth!
Sunday, I saw Charlie Wilson’s War at the Mazza Gallerie. The National Guard commercial, showing helicopters & soldiers, wasn’t one bit as impressive as it was at the Uptown’s screen the day before!
Washington Post mentioned a D.C. premiere of “Charlie Wilson’s War” the week before. Piddy, was that at the Uptown?
Friday, December 21, I saw at 5 PM, Juno in the historic auditorium. After buying my ticket in the new building, I was able to walk into the historic Art Moderne lobby.
I sat in the last row, with the tables that JordarMovieFan sits to eat his stuffed pretzels. The lady next to me had a soft pretzel (not stuffed) and a cup of beer.
Movie projection & digital surround sound were excellent.
After Juno was over, the other movies had not started, so I briefly walked into the newer auditoriums. Juno was shown without any curtain being present, so I presumed curtain only used for special presentations? But, no, curtains were closed in the newer auditoriums! I asked, and the manager told me historic auditorium’s curtain has been broken at least a month, a chain broken.
I’d rather see a 70mm epic at the Uptown, with its huge Cinerama sized screen! However, overall, the AFI Silver is a great moviehouse with an excellent program of films.
I just telephoned the AFI Silver office number. The woman who answered said “we do not give out that information” as to which movie will play in which screen this weekend!! it will depend on ticket sales. Best she could do was speculate Juno would not be in the 75 seat auditorium. Could not tell me at all whether they plan Its a Wonderful Life or Juno in the historic main auditorium. She said if she was attending herself, she wouldn’t know.
grade of “F” to AFI Silver for attitude.
Anyone want to speculate whehter Juno or Its a Wonderful Life will b in the historic auditorium? 3rd movie is No Country for Old Men. Its a Wonderful Life is splitting a screen with other classics.
Screen sizes have been added to the Introduction. Steve Guttag’s comments about Auditorium 2 seem to be verified by the screen size and by the photos on the theater’s website.
Mr. Abromwitz, maybe you would be kind enough to “add theater” on thiw website for those theaters you designed that aren’t here (determine if not here by google theater name town & cinema treasures or by looking in Theater Guide) and describing those theaters as you did for this one.
If you have blueprints, photographs, etc. then the Theatre Historical Society of America would be interested in a donation (and you could get a tax deduction).
As you know, these cinemas are our history, and people enjoyed them and fondly recall them.
Opening Day article with exterior photo:
View link
JodarMovieFan, though I do photo cinemas, I’ve haven’t been, so these aren’t mine. I found them on flickr and thought people would appreciate them.
Main auditorium screen is 40 feet wide for a scope film. That’s not Cinerama sized like the DC Uptown, but it isn’t small.
As to food, I love soft pretzels, hard pretzels, but not sure if pretzels should get stuffed!
2006 exterior photo:
View link
2007 exterior photo:
View link
I meant to post 2 different photos of the historic auditorium, both facing the screen.Here’s the other one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/blainepen/344898096/
Step inside!
current photos of the historic, main Auditorium:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/avatar1/159111720/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/avatar1/159111720/
organ console:
View link
Ken Roe has been kind enough to add the theater here:
/theaters/22431/
photos of restoration, click on each month:
View link
May 2000 article with photo of Art Deco chandelier:
View link
larger version of chandelier photo:
View link
photo of ceiling under restoration:
View link
Masonry repair:
View link
photos of exterior:
View link
View link
12-10-07 Photo of exterior at night, as opera house:
View link December 17, 2007 news
Article has a photo of the beautiful Lobby:
View link
Another news article:
View link
Premiere of Atonement at the Odeon Leicester Square:
View link
2006 Auditorum photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/magnus815/2116795008/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/magnus815/2116799904/
2007 photo of Astor Theatre historic auditorium:
View link
To answer above, 70mm projectors a gift from another theater Loews operated,
/theaters/406/
ex KB Cinema in Washington, D.C. where I enjoyed 70 mm fillms including Glory and Godfather Part III. The last comment raves about 70mm films there.