Masking aka matting screens is no longer being done this year, having sometimes not been done last year. Auditoriums 1 thru 5 are set to “flat” which means “scope” screens are letterboxed horizontally. Auditorium 6 is set for “scope”
Masking is not used in the RPX (a remodel, set to flat), and I haven’t been in the Imax, but masking is used in the other auditoriums here, thankfully. I’m not purchasing a ticket anywhere if masking isn’t used for my screening.
As an official volunteer, I’ve often added screen sizes to the Introductions of our pages, especially when I see the most credible proof, such as the theater’s official website providing specifications so feel free to link such information -copy & paste from the link & mention the source- in a comment on the relevant theater page. I’ll often see such pages for well known movie theaters. This site wishes to be specific for each theater.
I thought the exterior was legally protected by the local historic commission so IF like here in Philly, permission would need to be asked to remove iconic Uptown letters.
In its 1st weekend- last weekend, Dunkirk earned a nice fifth of its box office revenues at Imaxes. When I looked online, I saw that many seats were already selling for this weekend at this particular Imax- which makes this comment relevant to this page. In general, war movies just don’t do so well, not anymore. I also saw the movie at a 70mm Imax, as I commented at the appropriate page (Franklin Institute in Imax) and hope Nolan at the very least finally gets nominated for Best Director.
This is not a blog about movies or who owns what sound equipment. This page is about this one particular movie theater. Feel free to address your movie experiences in this theater. If there’s more comments that stray away from this theater, as many do above, they will be deleted.
http://wamu.org/story/17/07/21/filmmakers-protest-smithsonian-plan-close-samuel-c-johnson-imax-theater/
One of the well-known IMAX theaters on the National Mall will close this fall. The Samuel C. Johnson IMAX Theater at the Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum, which opened in 1999, is scheduled to close on Sept. 30, and some filmmakers are putting up a fight.
About 7 million people visit the Natural History Museum every year — and 3.4 million this year to date. The IMAX theater at the museum is the only dedicated IMAX space for movies about nature and the threats facing our world today.
The theater has six-story screen — the largest of its kind in D.C. To put that into perspective, that’s taller than many of the District’s iconic brownstones.
But now, its days are numbered. The Smithsonian says they’re closing the theater to make room for an expanded exhibition area and a cafeteria.
A spokesperson for the Smithsonian wasn’t available for comment, but a dozen producers and filmmakers have plenty to say about the theater’s closure.
“Why are they taking it away?” asked filmmaker Jonathan Barker, who notes the important educational purpose of the theater.
Barker and about a dozen other filmmakers sent a letter to the head of the museum, and started a petition to save the IMAX. If the theater goes, he worries about where thousands of kids will watch movies that connect them to the outside world.
For Barker, it’s a matter of priorities.
“The idea that at this point in our state in North America, that a decision would be made by the Natural History Museum — the leading natural history museum in — that what our children need is less nature and more fast food. It’s just shocking to me,” Barker said.
Barker and the other filmmakers want to know if expanding food services doesn’t have to come with the cost of losing the theater. They’ve asked the director of the museum to disclose the financial reasons behind their decision, and get public input before closing the theater.
With a nearly sold out audience, I saw Dunkirk in 70mm Imax here this afternoon at 3:15 PM matinee. The movie was one of the greatest spectacles of 21st Century cinema so far. Projection & surround sound were outstanding. The aspect ratio didn’t change like 5 years ago at the only other feature I’ve seen here, The Dark Knight. This is one of only 25 theaters in the US showing it in 70mm Imax. I met a couple young fellows who drove 5 hours from Pittsburgh PA to see it here in 70mm
Imax. 2 of my photos here- http://www.in70mm.com/news/2017/dunkirk_notes/index.htm
There is no harm to this website’s having a page for this wonderful theater, no matter how little it may have hosted film. I can assure you that Ken Roe’s volunteer work is much appreciated by the site’s owners.
Wonder Women is still playing in 70mm here, I believe in its 6th week. That’s not a comment on the long term future of the theater, but merely stating that as 70mm screenings are rare, it maybe worthwhile. The film was filmed entirely in 35mm, so this is an example of “blowup” to 70mm.
In those renderings, I don’t see anything from the Ziegfeld movie theater. Maybe the stairway is where it is, but nothing at all looks the same. Gutted. If it looks similar on the exterior, good! but we can forget about the interior.
Of course, I miss the Ziegfeld. In the Midtown area, there’s one other wonderful single theater still showing daily movies, the Paris, where I love to see movies. The marquee is always decorated with the movie title. There’s no multitude of black box auditoriums inside. There’s one wonderful auditorium with its balcony open, its curtains used, and 1st rate projection & surround sound. I hope people who miss moviegoing that’s not in a plex will attend the Paris!
AMC & Regal multiplex remodels abandon “masking” so for example, if the screen is set for “flat” films (1.85 aspect ratio) “scope” films (2.39 aspect ratio) are “letterboxed” like scope films are when presented correctly on your HD flat screen TVs. I find this lack of masking to be distracting, and do not wish to patronize those theaters. Does the City Cinema 1,2,3, use proper masking?
Yes, and many other films in 70mm in this year’s festival. Hook. Sleeping Beauty. Top Gun. The Agony and the Ecstasy. Spartacus. Interstellar. Lord Jim. West Side Story. Short Cuts. Kong: Skull Island. Top Gun. West Side Story. https://musicboxtheatre.com/events/the-music-box-70mm-film-festival
Added a photo with comment by Rachel Hildenbrandt-
The Lindley seems to be very much intact, actually. It’s impossible to get a good photo inside, but it’s possible to see – when situated strategically – the proscenium arch, curtains on either side of the arch (pictured), and the a central chandelier with connected, surrounding light fixtures.
Masking aka matting screens is no longer being done this year, having sometimes not been done last year. Auditoriums 1 thru 5 are set to “flat” which means “scope” screens are letterboxed horizontally. Auditorium 6 is set for “scope”
The new movie “Detroit” had its world premiere here July 25.
Masking is not used in the RPX (a remodel, set to flat), and I haven’t been in the Imax, but masking is used in the other auditoriums here, thankfully. I’m not purchasing a ticket anywhere if masking isn’t used for my screening.
As an official volunteer, I’ve often added screen sizes to the Introductions of our pages, especially when I see the most credible proof, such as the theater’s official website providing specifications so feel free to link such information -copy & paste from the link & mention the source- in a comment on the relevant theater page. I’ll often see such pages for well known movie theaters. This site wishes to be specific for each theater.
I thought the exterior was legally protected by the local historic commission so IF like here in Philly, permission would need to be asked to remove iconic Uptown letters.
In its 1st weekend- last weekend, Dunkirk earned a nice fifth of its box office revenues at Imaxes. When I looked online, I saw that many seats were already selling for this weekend at this particular Imax- which makes this comment relevant to this page. In general, war movies just don’t do so well, not anymore. I also saw the movie at a 70mm Imax, as I commented at the appropriate page (Franklin Institute in Imax) and hope Nolan at the very least finally gets nominated for Best Director.
This is not a blog about movies or who owns what sound equipment. This page is about this one particular movie theater. Feel free to address your movie experiences in this theater. If there’s more comments that stray away from this theater, as many do above, they will be deleted.
http://wamu.org/story/17/07/21/filmmakers-protest-smithsonian-plan-close-samuel-c-johnson-imax-theater/ One of the well-known IMAX theaters on the National Mall will close this fall. The Samuel C. Johnson IMAX Theater at the Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum, which opened in 1999, is scheduled to close on Sept. 30, and some filmmakers are putting up a fight. About 7 million people visit the Natural History Museum every year — and 3.4 million this year to date. The IMAX theater at the museum is the only dedicated IMAX space for movies about nature and the threats facing our world today.
The theater has six-story screen — the largest of its kind in D.C. To put that into perspective, that’s taller than many of the District’s iconic brownstones.
But now, its days are numbered. The Smithsonian says they’re closing the theater to make room for an expanded exhibition area and a cafeteria.
A spokesperson for the Smithsonian wasn’t available for comment, but a dozen producers and filmmakers have plenty to say about the theater’s closure.
“Why are they taking it away?” asked filmmaker Jonathan Barker, who notes the important educational purpose of the theater.
Barker and about a dozen other filmmakers sent a letter to the head of the museum, and started a petition to save the IMAX. If the theater goes, he worries about where thousands of kids will watch movies that connect them to the outside world.
For Barker, it’s a matter of priorities.
“The idea that at this point in our state in North America, that a decision would be made by the Natural History Museum — the leading natural history museum in — that what our children need is less nature and more fast food. It’s just shocking to me,” Barker said.
Barker and the other filmmakers want to know if expanding food services doesn’t have to come with the cost of losing the theater. They’ve asked the director of the museum to disclose the financial reasons behind their decision, and get public input before closing the theater.
With a nearly sold out audience, I saw Dunkirk in 70mm Imax here this afternoon at 3:15 PM matinee. The movie was one of the greatest spectacles of 21st Century cinema so far. Projection & surround sound were outstanding. The aspect ratio didn’t change like 5 years ago at the only other feature I’ve seen here, The Dark Knight. This is one of only 25 theaters in the US showing it in 70mm Imax. I met a couple young fellows who drove 5 hours from Pittsburgh PA to see it here in 70mm Imax. 2 of my photos here- http://www.in70mm.com/news/2017/dunkirk_notes/index.htm
Best seen in 70 mm Imax. However, perhaps best “heard” in the Imax Laser screenings.
website says Sept 10 City Lights with live organ. Will that still be held?
There is no harm to this website’s having a page for this wonderful theater, no matter how little it may have hosted film. I can assure you that Ken Roe’s volunteer work is much appreciated by the site’s owners.
bigjoe, heard it thru the grapevine! Everybody who has witnessed AMC in any region knows that.
Wonder Women is still playing in 70mm here, I believe in its 6th week. That’s not a comment on the long term future of the theater, but merely stating that as 70mm screenings are rare, it maybe worthwhile. The film was filmed entirely in 35mm, so this is an example of “blowup” to 70mm.
The Loews 72nd St East was originally & best known as the Loew’s Tower East.
In those renderings, I don’t see anything from the Ziegfeld movie theater. Maybe the stairway is where it is, but nothing at all looks the same. Gutted. If it looks similar on the exterior, good! but we can forget about the interior.
Of course, I miss the Ziegfeld. In the Midtown area, there’s one other wonderful single theater still showing daily movies, the Paris, where I love to see movies. The marquee is always decorated with the movie title. There’s no multitude of black box auditoriums inside. There’s one wonderful auditorium with its balcony open, its curtains used, and 1st rate projection & surround sound. I hope people who miss moviegoing that’s not in a plex will attend the Paris!
the Grange has its own page http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/21111
AMC & Regal multiplex remodels abandon “masking” so for example, if the screen is set for “flat” films (1.85 aspect ratio) “scope” films (2.39 aspect ratio) are “letterboxed” like scope films are when presented correctly on your HD flat screen TVs. I find this lack of masking to be distracting, and do not wish to patronize those theaters. Does the City Cinema 1,2,3, use proper masking?
Wonder Woman now in its 5th weekend in 70mm here in the large auditorium.
1st film for the summer in the main auditorium is “Despicable Me 3” starting Friday June 30.
The Philadelphia Inquirer has an insert today with Philly.com Readers' Choices 2017 winners. For movie theaters- this theater- the Ritz at the Bourse.
Yes, and many other films in 70mm in this year’s festival. Hook. Sleeping Beauty. Top Gun. The Agony and the Ecstasy. Spartacus. Interstellar. Lord Jim. West Side Story. Short Cuts. Kong: Skull Island. Top Gun. West Side Story. https://musicboxtheatre.com/events/the-music-box-70mm-film-festival
Added a photo with comment by Rachel Hildenbrandt- The Lindley seems to be very much intact, actually. It’s impossible to get a good photo inside, but it’s possible to see – when situated strategically – the proscenium arch, curtains on either side of the arch (pictured), and the a central chandelier with connected, surrounding light fixtures.
Perhaps more interesting is this cinema is currently showing all mainstream movies, not a single “art” movie.