Uptown Theatre
3426 Connecticut Avenue NW,
Washington,
DC
20008
3426 Connecticut Avenue NW,
Washington,
DC
20008
60 people
favorited this theater
Showing 126 - 150 of 592 comments
it was part of the current CEO of AMC Entertainment plans to get every theater they run signed under one of 3 brands AMC, AMC Classic, and AMC Dine-in. Apparently no one thought to check if the community liked the old sign before requesting to replace it with the AMC logo text. looking at the size it might get rebranded to the Classic sub brand for smaller theaters in low traffic markets. they should have just stuck to replacing the street level signs.
well those plans were quickly dismissed:
‘AMC Nixes Plan to Replace Iconic Uptown Theater Sign’
http://dcist.com/2017/07/uptown_theater_1.php
One would think and hope this is the case but the public / neighborhood outcry has begun -the public meeting is scheduled for the latter end of September
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.
I recently went to see a 3D screening of ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ and it was by the most underwhelming presentation, visually. Even with the glasses slightly diminishing the colors and brightness I was rather surprised the dimensionality was retained. Outside of the drained colors, the image had this murky graininess hampering the image – if this were laser projection this wouldn’t be an issue. The very top of the image was ever so cropped but wasn’t too visually distracting. The 5.1 sound was great probably the best part of the experience, but this is one theater that AMC seriously needs to consider installing a Dolby Atmos sound system, why they are being so bullheaded over this is beyond me. Lastly speaking of AMC, they are in the process of removing the iconic vintage lighted ‘Uptown’ sign from off of the building – ?!? (why?) They way they have been treating this theater I’m surprised they want to install a tacky AMC on the front …. unreal.
Made my last visit to the Uptown to see “Prometheus” and left before it was half-way through; couldn’t believe that this theater was showing a projected image that did not fit the screen, most distracting — unbelievable!
Howard…No I am not a projectionist, AR would be 2.2 and at 2.76 the image on a screen with a height of 30 feet would need to be 7.5 feet wider on each side.
As to Ben Hur, would it have projected 2.2 aspect ratio? Would’ve lost a bit of the 2.76 aspect at left and at right?
Thank you, patryan. Were you are projectionist there?
Howard…Of those 6 films, only Fiddler and Ben-Hur were in 70mm, the latter using the 69 reissue that did not have the original extra wide image.
Recently published: “Khartoum”: The Roadshow Engagements, which, of course, includes a mention of its run at the Uptown.
Patryan, I had known re Fiddler on the Roof but neglected to mention it above. Are you saying that Amadeus, GWTW, and Lawrence of Arabia were all shown then in 35mm? And, that Dr Zhivago was shown 35mm? Was Fiddler on the Roof in 35mm? Was Ben Hur shown in 35mm or 70mm? I don’t think the ads or whatever were clear to me as to Ben Hur & Dr Zhivago format.
Fiddler played between DZ (not 70mm) and WSS. The others ran as you listed, but were also not in 70. Prior to Boys in 70 was 1st run Black Robe for 3 weeks.
Ah, right, then For the Boys would’ve been the next release. Kwai was a faded print.
Thanks, Howard. Your comment suggests my notes are incomplete on the matter of the 70mm festival (and the 1990s-era Uptown bookings). Those details were jotted down many years ago while researching for evidence of a screening of a 70mm print of “The Bridge on the River Kwai.” I came across them while pulling some notes recently for another project and thought readers might find them of interest. Anyway, I doubt “For the Boys” was a part of the fest, since it was a new movie getting its initial release that November (unless there was a pre-release screening that concluded the fest).
Hello-
to patryan6019 thanks for your take posted on Jan.14 about the souvenir program for “Krakatoa……”. it must have been odd for patrons to buy a program the first two pages of which describe the “new” Cinerama yet the film they’re about to watch isn’t “in Cinerama”.
Coate, the 1991 film festival didn’t conclude with Dr Zhivago. On Oct 12, I saw West Side Story in 70mm. My notes of films before West Side Story (and after Dr Zhivago) are Amadeus, GWTW, Lawrence of Arabia, and though my notes don’t indicate whether 70mm or not, probably. My notes after West Side Story are For the Boys, again my notes no indicate format.
thanks Coate posting the 1991 70mm fest – I remember seeing ‘Ben-Hur’ and ‘Alien’ – the latter in particular since my first time I saw the movie was on a small 13 inch TV (in no way to see or experience it) – the 70mm version was far and out the best way to see and hear it – the airduct scene I was digging my fingers into the arm rests.
[off topic]
Paging patryan6019…. Did KHARTOUM play “in Cinerama” roadshow runs in Birmingham, Chattanooga and Providence? Answer here, or email me, please (michaelcoate[at]thedigitalbits[dot]com).
^ sad
I think the theater you are thinking of JodarMovieFan is Portland’s Hollywood Theater
The Norelco projectors came out much earlier for Cinerama. They went to the Cinema 7 theatre in Bailey’s Crossroads when it opened. There they remained until the Apex Annapolis Harbor opened when one moved there. When the Cinema 7 closed, the second moved to be a parts machine. For the DCinema conversion, they were trashed (thrown in the dumpster).
Upon movie showtime searching this evening, I had noticed that showtimes at this theater were not posted on the AMC website. I had initially feared that the theater may have closed and no one knew about it. Googling revealed that they are showing the latest Captain America.
In the google search, I noticed a Wiki page on the Uptown where it states the Norelco 35/70mm projector was taken out in ‘10 when Tron Legacy came out. Going through the posts, I saw the discussion thread that took place but didn’t see where the venue’s old Norelco projectors went to? Does anyone know? I was thinking maybe the Portland OR theater that had 70mm capability installed a few years ago, but forgot the name of it. :P
The 70mm Festival that ran here during 1991 included….
1991-07-19 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1 week)
1991-07-26 … 2010 (1)
1991-08-02 … BLADE RUNNER (1) (test-screening version)
1991-08-09 … BEN-HUR (1)
1991-08-16 … THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1)
1991-08-23 … THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1)
1991-08-30 … ALIEN (1)
1991-09-06 … DAYS OF HEAVEN (1)
1991-09-13 … CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1) (”The Special Edition”)
1991-09-20 … FANTASIA (1)
1991-09-27 … DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1)
Back open today, with Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Thanks, if the federal government closed today, I understand better. Yesterday, at least, AMC Mazza Gallerie was open, but that’s in a mall.