Uptown Theatre

I heard the last minute or so of a news story about this on the radio the other day. In reading the story on the Post, the idea sounds interesting. However, I hope they restore some 70mm film projection, too. The question I have is parking space for people who drive in. I don’t like Metro. I don’t think we can part in the neighborhood streets like we used to with the parking stickers they have for that area now these days and there’s only so many parking space around there, too.

Before Doug Trumbull passed, I know he was working on a HFR system sort of like a modern day Showscan. Wonder whatever happened to that. Or, could this be a variation on that?

It took almost a year of browbeating my mom and dad, but in early 1978, we finally piled in the car and drove to The Uptown to see STAR WARS. No small thing, as the theater was almost two hours from our house. I had already seen it at a local cinema, but not in 70mm Dolby! It was a revelation. My mom was so impressed, we ultimately saw quite a few movies there if she deemed them “Uptown worthy."

There are booth pictures on film-tech.com in the warehouse – pictures.

Regarding the Washington Post article about the Uptown published a couple days ago, that people are having difficulty accessing, try this link Instead.

So what did the article say?

I scanned through the article and blanked out when I read the part of a 375 seat main theater. LOL! I assume the large screen is untouched. If they make it smaller, forget it. It seems the event films like your Avatars and Top Gun 2s get the people out to the big screens as it should. I’d never pay $20+ to stream a movie at home, unless I’m rich and have a dedicated THX-certified or better cinema auditorium.

The other sources of revenue from food and other entertainment makes economic sense. However, its not going to get me to drive there and pay $$ for pretty looking spoonfuls of food served on bone China and crystal glassware.

Another 2021 article about possible renovation:

https://wtop.com/entertainment/2021/10/is-the-uptown-theater-returning-to-dc-heres-what-we-know-so-far-folks/

Since for years, I’ve sat in the Uptown balcony, it would be disappointing if the balcony became a 2nd screen. It the entire theater was divided left to right, that would be even worse. New seats would be fine. I doubt Landmark anywhere has any Dolby Vision or Dolby Atmos surround sound, but that would be great, too. If Landmark could get the curtain used again, that would also be nice.

I heard over the local news station that the neighborhood board association gave their approval for some kind of liquor permit to Landmark Theaters. However, it should be noted they didn’t apply for one, nor stated any intention to lease the theater. I suppose it was a gesture to entice Landmark to take over the venue.

If Landmark is successful in reopening, I don’t see how economically viable it will be to keep it a single screen. They’ve got to at least twin or triplex the place. They could turn the balcony into another single or twin..or more depending how much of a shoebox theater you want. Sounds depressing.

Parking is difficult, unless your patrons take the Metro. I don’t. Back in the day, you could park in the residential area adjacent to the theater but now they’ve got stickers so that isn’t going to work, either, except for the non-enforcement hours, which I don’t recall off the top of my head.

Sounds like they let the lease expire and opted to not renew rather than downgrade it to AMC classic. The only single screen theater they have left is a IMAX in Chicago, IL at the navy peir

What if Disney buys the uptown? It could be their flagship theater on the east coast much like the El Capitan is on the west coast, then renovate it with recliners and reserved seating and upgrade the audio to Dolby Atmos and dolby vision projection.