I worked at this theater in 1989. It was an 8 screen complex with theaters that went down two hallways from the consession area. 70mm was capable on 1 screen down the left hallway, the only house on the right. Theater 2 was straight ahead from the conession stand. In the summer they would run midnight shows of “Heavy Metal” and “Rocky Horror” on Saturday nights.
This location ran as a $1 house for a time after Fairfax Towne Center opened.
When this single was twinned, rather than cut the house lengthwise down the center, they cut across the center, and build a new screen/booth. The original width of the screens maintained, but with a very short throw from the booth port, maintaining focus was somewhat troublesome.
The slope of the floor was maintained, so screen 1 was at a gentle angle, while screen 2 maintained the slop and then curved back up to the orginal screen. The original doors to the house were retained for access to screen 1, and a new hallway was constructed on the outside of the original exterior wall to gain access to the new house. This ‘outside hallway’ was enclosed in a new construction, and the hallway had windows to the parking lot and one-sheet poster cases down the hall.
The screens were so large and the seats so close to the screen, when I saw “The Last Starfighter” there in 1985, I couldn’t read the name “Catherine Mary Stewart” without moving my head. It was literally impossible to watch the entire screen all at once.
I worked there for two weeks in 1987 when it was operated by Showcase theaters. I projected “Over the Top”, “The Color of Money” and “A Room with a View”.
When the site closed, the building was gutted and became an eye glasses shop. The old parking lot has a new building, but the original theater structure still stands.
Tyson’s Center 4 closed in 1988 when the mall expanded to 2 stories – and with the demise of Neighborhood Thaters. The Fairfax Square eight-plex is no where near Tyson’s Corner.
It was originally a twin (saw Friday the 13th in 3D there), but was closed and completely gutted. The new theaters were 3 stories up. The 2nd floor mall level was just the box office enterance. Down a flight of stairs was the mezzanine level with office, projection booth, art gallery and arcade. Then the world’s longest (it seemed) escalator ride to the lobby with the octagnal conession stand (featured for years in the “Film Journal”.
This theater operated for years in conjunction with Roths Tyson’s Corner 5 (later expanded to 8).
The original expansion beyond I & II was with Cinemas III & IV. They later added on to make V & VI.
In 1988, Cinemas I & II closed for renovation. This included a complete lobby redesign, digging out under the theater to build a lower booth and 4 smaller screens (125 – 190 seats), all mono. All original booth equipment was removed, except the CP100 for screen 1. The original Century JJ projector was replaced with a Vic-8. Vic 5’s were installed in the new houses (which was the same equipment as in Screens 7-10).
The new Cinemas I-VI opened in 1989. 70mm playback was retained, but between 1989 and 1991 when I worked there as a projectionist, the only 70mm engagement was “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”. Between 1991 and 1993, they did also play “Dick Tracy” in 70mm. When I returned to the theater in 1993 and until my departure again in 1995, there were no other 70mm engagements.
In 1993, DTS playback was added for “Jurassic Park” in Cinema 8 only. When I left in 1995, that was the only Digital Audio house in the complex. GCC was really cheap. In 1995, they had the CP100 on Screen 1, a CP50 on screen 2 and CP55s on Screes 7-10 (with DTS on screen 8). I assume that AMC added SDDS to Cinema I at some point after I left, and whatever else they added to Screens 7-10.
I worked at this theater in 1989. It was an 8 screen complex with theaters that went down two hallways from the consession area. 70mm was capable on 1 screen down the left hallway, the only house on the right. Theater 2 was straight ahead from the conession stand. In the summer they would run midnight shows of “Heavy Metal” and “Rocky Horror” on Saturday nights.
This location ran as a $1 house for a time after Fairfax Towne Center opened.
When this single was twinned, rather than cut the house lengthwise down the center, they cut across the center, and build a new screen/booth. The original width of the screens maintained, but with a very short throw from the booth port, maintaining focus was somewhat troublesome.
The slope of the floor was maintained, so screen 1 was at a gentle angle, while screen 2 maintained the slop and then curved back up to the orginal screen. The original doors to the house were retained for access to screen 1, and a new hallway was constructed on the outside of the original exterior wall to gain access to the new house. This ‘outside hallway’ was enclosed in a new construction, and the hallway had windows to the parking lot and one-sheet poster cases down the hall.
The screens were so large and the seats so close to the screen, when I saw “The Last Starfighter” there in 1985, I couldn’t read the name “Catherine Mary Stewart” without moving my head. It was literally impossible to watch the entire screen all at once.
I worked there for two weeks in 1987 when it was operated by Showcase theaters. I projected “Over the Top”, “The Color of Money” and “A Room with a View”.
When the site closed, the building was gutted and became an eye glasses shop. The old parking lot has a new building, but the original theater structure still stands.
16 auditoriums ranging from 117 to 438 seats. All stadium seating. All equipped with Dolby Digital audio.
Tyson’s Center 4 closed in 1988 when the mall expanded to 2 stories – and with the demise of Neighborhood Thaters. The Fairfax Square eight-plex is no where near Tyson’s Corner.
It was originally a twin (saw Friday the 13th in 3D there), but was closed and completely gutted. The new theaters were 3 stories up. The 2nd floor mall level was just the box office enterance. Down a flight of stairs was the mezzanine level with office, projection booth, art gallery and arcade. Then the world’s longest (it seemed) escalator ride to the lobby with the octagnal conession stand (featured for years in the “Film Journal”.
This theater operated for years in conjunction with Roths Tyson’s Corner 5 (later expanded to 8).
A couple of additional history elements:
The original expansion beyond I & II was with Cinemas III & IV. They later added on to make V & VI.
In 1988, Cinemas I & II closed for renovation. This included a complete lobby redesign, digging out under the theater to build a lower booth and 4 smaller screens (125 – 190 seats), all mono. All original booth equipment was removed, except the CP100 for screen 1. The original Century JJ projector was replaced with a Vic-8. Vic 5’s were installed in the new houses (which was the same equipment as in Screens 7-10).
The new Cinemas I-VI opened in 1989. 70mm playback was retained, but between 1989 and 1991 when I worked there as a projectionist, the only 70mm engagement was “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”. Between 1991 and 1993, they did also play “Dick Tracy” in 70mm. When I returned to the theater in 1993 and until my departure again in 1995, there were no other 70mm engagements.
In 1993, DTS playback was added for “Jurassic Park” in Cinema 8 only. When I left in 1995, that was the only Digital Audio house in the complex. GCC was really cheap. In 1995, they had the CP100 on Screen 1, a CP50 on screen 2 and CP55s on Screes 7-10 (with DTS on screen 8). I assume that AMC added SDDS to Cinema I at some point after I left, and whatever else they added to Screens 7-10.