Comments from Local619

Showing 1 - 25 of 114 comments

Local619
Local619 commented about Warner Theatre on Jan 4, 2020 at 1:56 pm

Big Joe.. In 1973 “Old Downtown” Washington was on hard times.. Adult XXX was the fare.. but they were shown on Big Norelco 35/70 projectors

Local619
Local619 commented about Uptown Theatre on Jul 11, 2019 at 7:26 pm

Per the Washington Post.. Circus World was running 11-17-64.. Lili ran 11-20-64 to 12-24-64.. Father Goose then ran 12-25-64 until 3-7-65.. The theatre was closed 3-8 & 3-9 then The Greatest Story Ever Told opened 3-1-65 with advance mail order ticket sales.

Local619
Local619 commented about Sunset Drive-In on Aug 17, 2017 at 6:00 pm

This theatre was never called The Arlington Boulevard Drive In (that is The Lee Highway Drive In in Merrifield) The Sunset Drive In was on Virginia Route 7, Leesburg Pike at Baileys Cross Roads several miles from Arlington Blvd (US-50)

Local619
Local619 commented about Lee Highway Drive-In on Aug 17, 2017 at 5:55 pm

My bad.. the Lee Highway Drive In ran Brenkert (RCA) Projectors.. The Mount Vernon Drive In (the other Redstone Drive In) ran Simplex XLs..

Local619
Local619 commented about MacArthur Theater on Jul 13, 2016 at 4:10 pm

Washington Post display ads of 12-5-1979 and 12-8-1979 only state Dolby Sound.. no mention of 70MM at any of the five DC area theatres.. MacArthur, Langley, Jennifer and Carrollton 6 all on Dolby and Marlow (no Dolby)..

Local619
Local619 commented about Wisconsin Avenue Cinemas on Jun 29, 2016 at 4:29 pm

The only display ad that I found (in the Washington Post) was on July 3, 1991 page B-10.. The Fine Arts, Arlington Blvd Multiplex and Reston Town Center Multiplex are the only three listed as 70MM with digital sound.. The listings also show the Fine Arts..

Local619
Local619 commented about Wisconsin Avenue Cinemas on Jun 28, 2016 at 5:43 pm

Terminator 2 was released on 3 July 1991.. The 4 July 1991 Washington Post lists it playing at (in The District)Wisconsin Ave, MacArthur, Union Station, Cerberus Foundry..

Local619
Local619 commented about Park Avenue Theatre on Apr 8, 2015 at 7:46 pm

Found an exterior picture.. next to the Jaguar dealer.. following link is easier to see theatre.. http://www.shorpy.com/node/19419?size=_original#caption

Local619
Local619 commented about Americana Theatre on Jan 25, 2015 at 7:40 pm

I was the Projectionist from 1973 to 1975 (after Susan and her father moved to The Valley) Relief Projectionist was Allen..

Local619
Local619 commented about National Theatre on Dec 26, 2014 at 2:29 pm

I have heard the stories of how the Broadway Actors boycotted the National moving legitimate theatre to The Shubert on 9th Street.. and how the National ran as a Movie house during the boycott.. But.. Fantasia opened in Washington on May 12th 1941 as a reserved seat roadshow at the National. (May 10, 1941 Washington Post)

Local619
Local619 commented about Newport Theater on Nov 4, 2013 at 5:03 pm

Google aerials still show the Newport but Street View shows demolition in progress.. 04 NOV 2013.

Local619
Local619 commented about Rosna Theatre on Nov 4, 2013 at 5:01 pm

Saw This is Cinerama there in the Spring of 1962.. The Rosna was just around the corner from the late Newport Theatre (saw several Disney movies at the Newport..

Local619
Local619 commented about Manassas Drive-In on Oct 22, 2012 at 7:26 pm

JWMovies is right..

Google lists the location as Dent Masters.. it is better known as Manassas Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.

The following link from Historic Aerials shows the Drive-In there thru 1981 and the Chrysler Dealer in 2002. The building just to the South of the Drive-In is a good landmark, it has been there since the 1962 map, then as the old Chrysler Plymouth dealer, now as Restless Wheels RV dealer.

http://www.historicaerials.com/aerials.php?scale=3&lon=-77.45102908457018&lat=38.78018350555157&year=2005

Local619
Local619 commented about Stanton Art Theatre on Jul 5, 2012 at 7:33 am

The above picture is of the Stanton Art Theatre at 3100 18th Street Northeast, Washington.

Local619
Local619 commented about Newport Theater on Jul 1, 2012 at 9:08 pm

Went to the Newport as a kid.. saw several Disney movies there.. AKC’s address looks right, I remember the entrance around the corner on Newport Ave.

Local619
Local619 commented about Reston Twin Theatre on Jul 1, 2012 at 7:49 am

Located at (Correct Address) 11840 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA Now occupied by Chili’s Grill & Bar

Theatre was a side by side twin. Owned and independently operated by Rene Stolbach.

A single boot served both theatres. 6000 foot reels with manual changovers, rebuilt Super Simplex projectors with RCA sound heads. Light was provided by an incandescent modification to an Arc lamp housing (Peerless Magnarc, maybe) the light modification was called a Claglight after it’s inventor Russ Claggett a long time DC Metro area RCA Theatre sound technician.

Local619
Local619 commented about Roths Theatre on Jun 10, 2012 at 8:59 am

Roth’s Mt Vernon I & II Was located in the Engleside Plaza on RT-1 (8644 Richmond Highway,Alexandria, VA 22309 is located in the Engleside Plaza) The theatre opened on October 20 1971 showing Klute and The Andromeda Strain. (per 10-13-1971 Washington Post, page B-12)

Local619
Local619 commented about Reed Theatre on Oct 13, 2011 at 7:12 am

The Reed was very “Art Deco” in design. Even the stairway to the projection room was curved (like the lobby wall). The booth ran Simplex E-7s with Peerless Magnarc Lamps. The Reed booth was the long time job of Sam Dale, Business Agent of IATSE Local 619, Mixed local Alexandria Virginia. The Union telephone was installed in the Reed booth, it was the closest thing there was to a Union office, and Mr Dale conducted business there until the late 60s.

Local619
Local619 commented about 7th Street Theatre on Jul 13, 2011 at 6:46 pm

Photo from “the flood of 1949”

http://www.shorpy.com/node/10751?size=_original

Local619
Local619 commented about Loew's Capitol Theatre on May 8, 2011 at 10:16 pm

If Glenn Miller played at a Loews in Washington in June of 1942 they did not advertize it in the Washington Post.

He did play the Loews Capitol the week of March 9th 1942.. the Movie was Joe Smith, American w/Robert Young

Local619
Local619 commented about The dead-rat-covered truth about movie theater nostalgia on Mar 3, 2011 at 9:01 pm

Dead rats huh?… Rumor had that about 1970 a rat had crawled into an air duct at the KB Cinema 5100 Wisconsin Ave, Washington D.C. to die, and smell the place up. I heard the story while working at another KB house, the KB Crystal.

Local619
Local619 commented about Buckingham Theater on Feb 4, 2011 at 1:31 pm

Another picture, no date, early 50s?

View link

Local619
Local619 commented about Meaning behind cinema names on Jan 28, 2011 at 8:10 pm

I was told, 40 years ago, that in the early days there were a lot of three and four letter theatre names.. The signs were cheaper

Local619
Local619 commented about Springfield Theatre on Aug 4, 2010 at 4:02 pm

View link
Following is text from the above link..
Fairfax County to Demolish Former Circuit City Building to Prepare for Future Park and Ride Lot

June 28, 2010
Starting Tuesday, July 6, Fairfax County will begin work on the future Old Keene Mill Road Park and Ride lot in Springfield with the demolition of the former Circuit City building, located at 7039 Old Keene Mill Road

future Old Keene Mill Road Park and Ride lot in Springfield with the demolition of the former Circuit City building, located at 7039 Old Keene Mill Road, near Springfield Boulevard in Springfield.

Local619
Local619 commented about One theatre gone, another rises up on Jun 28, 2010 at 12:12 pm

Correction.. Two theatres gone, a third rises up.. the Lee Highway Multiplex got it’s name from the Lee Highway-Arlington Blvd Drive-In.. Known locally as the The Lee Highway Drive-In occupied the site originally 1954-1984.