The Capitol was originally a part of the RKO chain. In 1953 it was purchased by the Stanley Warner chain and converted to Cinerama. At the time, it was one of two Cinerama theaters in Ohio – the other being in Cleveland. All of the Cinerama travelogues played at the Capitol. In the late 50’s, after the Cinerama travelogues had run their course, a “flat” CinemaScope screen was installed in front of the deeply curved Cinerama screen. 70mm projectors were installed in the booth over the balcony. Several “roadshow” attractions played at the Capitol during this time, the most notable being “Ben-Hur”. When MGM revived the 3-strip Cinerama process with “Brothers Grimm”, the flat CinemaScope screen was removed and Cinerama returned to the Capitol. After “How The West Was Won” ran its course, the Capitol was converted to single-strip 70mm Cinerama with “Mad, Mad World”. The last film to play at the Capitol was in 1967. The “Super Cinerama” presentation of “Grand Prix” was cut short by the theater loosing its lease. The Capitol has since been demolished for office development.
The Uptown is still the theater of choice in the Washington area. They can install all the “stadium"seating they want in the multiplexes, seeing a film at the Uptown is still an "event”. The Cinerama screen is massive, the Dolby Digital sound system is second to none, and its one of the few theaters that still has a “curtain” presentation. Now if Lowe’s would just get rid of those tacky slide advertisements between showings!! Even bad movies look great at the Uptown.
The Capitol was originally a part of the RKO chain. In 1953 it was purchased by the Stanley Warner chain and converted to Cinerama. At the time, it was one of two Cinerama theaters in Ohio – the other being in Cleveland. All of the Cinerama travelogues played at the Capitol. In the late 50’s, after the Cinerama travelogues had run their course, a “flat” CinemaScope screen was installed in front of the deeply curved Cinerama screen. 70mm projectors were installed in the booth over the balcony. Several “roadshow” attractions played at the Capitol during this time, the most notable being “Ben-Hur”. When MGM revived the 3-strip Cinerama process with “Brothers Grimm”, the flat CinemaScope screen was removed and Cinerama returned to the Capitol. After “How The West Was Won” ran its course, the Capitol was converted to single-strip 70mm Cinerama with “Mad, Mad World”. The last film to play at the Capitol was in 1967. The “Super Cinerama” presentation of “Grand Prix” was cut short by the theater loosing its lease. The Capitol has since been demolished for office development.
The Uptown is still the theater of choice in the Washington area. They can install all the “stadium"seating they want in the multiplexes, seeing a film at the Uptown is still an "event”. The Cinerama screen is massive, the Dolby Digital sound system is second to none, and its one of the few theaters that still has a “curtain” presentation. Now if Lowe’s would just get rid of those tacky slide advertisements between showings!! Even bad movies look great at the Uptown.