Crown Theatres Annapolis Mall Cinema 4

2002 Annapolis Mall,
Annapolis, MD 21401

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Apex Cinemas, Crown Theatres LLC, K-B Theatres

Previous Names: K-B Annapolis Mall Cinema 4, Apex Annapolis Mall Cinema 4

Nearby Theaters

December 1983

This 4-screen incarnation opened along with the mall in the early-1980’s, and I remember it could be accessed from the center of the mall’s interior. It closed in the early-2000’s to make room for a new 11 screen theater by the redesigned food court and operating today as the Bowtie Annapolis Mall.

Contributed by Nick Sestanovich

Recent comments (view all 11 comments)

Ftopel
Ftopel on April 24, 2016 at 4:29 pm

My old childhood movie theater. I remember in the early ‘80s they used to have family movies on weekends. I remember when the big theater first got DTS sound, it was incredible. Always had a soft spot for that one tiny theater, first door on the right.

Anyone have pics of this one?

Robby
Robby on August 1, 2017 at 6:31 am

I added the only photo I have. I started working there about a year later. This photo was among the junk lying around during my time there (1984-1989). I’m glad I saved it.

Ftopel
Ftopel on August 1, 2017 at 11:47 am

This is fantastic! Looks like it was Christmas. Glad you saved it and would love to hear about your time there. I worked for Apex at Harbor 9 in the ‘90s.

Do you recall a family movie series on weekends? My parents took me every week. Hope you find more in your stash!

Robby
Robby on August 1, 2017 at 12:04 pm

The photo is from early December of 1983. I dated it from the posters which I listed in the photo description. This theater WAS first. The 11 house theater came much later. And the theater wasn’t so much ‘demolished’ as it was ‘built-over’. It was opened in 1980 along with the mall itself.

I do recall the family movies shown in house number 4 (the largest one). I vaguely remember running The Little Price (1974 version).

I left before it became Apex, but I remember the Harbor 9. I don’t think I ever saw a movie there as I lived out of state for most of its run.

Ftopel
Ftopel on August 3, 2017 at 8:34 pm

Thanks, rrrobinsonjr. Here’s a really random question for you. Does your stash include any shots from the opposite direction of the Chinese restaurants across the way, or the Tilt arcade next door?

Do you remember Batman showing there in ‘89? Was it just insane? I recall I couldn’t get in to see it for weeks, but that may be my childhood memory playing tricks.

Robby
Robby on August 4, 2017 at 6:52 am

Sorry to say that the one above is the only photo I have. I do remember eating food from the Panda Express across the way (and Boardwalk Fries) many times. I also remember the arcade next door VERY well.

When we showed Tim Burton’s Batman, there was a lot of excitement. The marketing on that movie really built on something that was already highly anticipated. Tickets were not hard to get the first few weeks if you arrived early enough, came to a Monday-Wednesday showing, or you were willing to wait in long lines.

We received the print a few days before it opened. I had a screening for TWO people that Wednesday night/Thursday morning well after hours; myself and a friend. I had a hard time staying awake. I didn’t find the movie that compelling, but it was still fun to see it before the general public…a great perk back in the day. This is mostly impossible now since everything has gone digital and requires a code be entered.

Ftopel
Ftopel on August 4, 2017 at 12:14 pm

Checking the print after closing was fun. I’d hope they still check digital, since it’s not without problems.

The Chinese places across the way were locally owned. Jade Tree was their sit down restaurant. They had a fast food version next door and I wish I could remember what they called it. Mm, Boardwalk Fries.

The Tilt Arcade was fun. Interesting the mall had two arcades at opposite ends, but the location next to the theater was probably beneficial. There was a story in the late ‘90s of a robbery at the arcade.

I always had a soft spot for the tiny theater, first door on the right.

Robby
Robby on August 5, 2017 at 1:45 am

My memories is fuzzy on some stuff, but I do remember Jade Tree. I did not know they were the same owner. I could have sworn the carry out was called Panda Express, at least eventually.

That small house on the right was the place where big hit movies died. Sometime it was the last stop for the movies that never quite found an audience. I remember that house running ‘Back to the Future’ long after everyone had seen it at least once. I sat in there many times to watch it again. I must have seen it 13 times before it was finally gone, and I saw the ending countless times.

Ftopel
Ftopel on August 5, 2017 at 7:51 am

Seeing the ends of movies over and over was one of the perks/curse of being an usher.

I saw many unpopular movies their opening (and only) weekend in the small theater: Swing Kids, Mr. Destiny, Crazy People, Brain Donors, The Player (too arty for Annapolis at the time)… but I also slept on Total Recall, Toy Soldiers and Predator 2 long enough that I only caught them in the small one. I love to picture Back to the Future playing in the large house all summer and working its way down.

If you want a really old memory, next to the department store (JC Penny?) there was a computer store, Babbage’s, where I bought all my PC games as a kid. That corner of the mall was one stop shopping for me!

Robby
Robby on August 5, 2017 at 11:14 am

Yes. Babbages! The JC Penney is still there I think. We called it Jacques Pené.

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