Tyson 4 Theatres
Chain Bridge Road,
McLean,
VA
22101
Chain Bridge Road,
McLean,
VA
22101
2 people
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Ok, let’s set the story straight. Tyson Center 4 closed in December 1990 following the opening of the Fairfax Sqare 8 THAT WAS RIGHT ACROSS LEESBURG PIKE! I know because I opened the one and closed the other.
My name is Jim Downer and I was the last manager of Tyson Twin Theaters. The theaters closed in the late 70’s (I don’t remember the exact date). #1 theater had the largest indoor screen in the entire DC Metro area. #1 theater was plagued by flooding by an underground stream that was controlled by a sump pump. When the pump failed, the theater flooded up to the 3rd row. Mr. Storty, the owner, had been offered a 3 month exclusive run of Star Wars IV (DC premier) and turned it down. It was then offered to the Uptown theater which is still in operation today. After years of debate with the owners of the original Tysons Corner mall over the rent increase, Mr. Storty was forced to close. It was a beautiful theater at one time but had fallen into disrepair. There hasn’t been a theater like it since.
Was this theater also known as NTI TYSONS CORNER 4? If so, then yes for INDIANA JONES 70MM.
Coate has INDIANA JONES 70mm lists!
http://www.in70mm.com/news/2010/raiders/index.htm
http://www.in70mm.com/news/2010/doom/index.htm
http://www.in70mm.com/news/2010/crusade/index.htm
so is this the theatre that had 70mm engagements of ‘Close Encounters’ ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’/‘Last Crusade’ – ??
This theatre was still going in the summer of 1990; saw Back To The Future III there. In 1992, saw Twin Peaks:Fire Walk With Me at the Loew’s (formerly Roth’s) Tyson Corner 8; or was it 9?
I have a question. I remember walking down a long (or it felt like that anyways) hall with a some posters on the left and then that hall would connect from the mall to the theatre. is this the theatre I’m thinking of?
The original space on the lower level occupied by the theaters is now used for batting practice; story here: View link
The Tyson’s 1&2 opened on 10/16/68. Number 1 showed DOCTOR ZHIVAGO, and Number 2 showed THE PARENT TRAP (1961), which had just been re-released.
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).
No, the Roth’s theaters opened in 1975. The Tysons Twin (by then Tysons 4) lasted until December 1990, when the Fairfax Square eightplex opened across the street.
The Tysons Twins were located at Fashion Court of the original one level Tysons Corner Center. Entrance to the theatres was on what is now the upper level but then the only level. Down one level was a mezzanine where offices and projection rooms were located (no theatre seating on the mezzanine) . The auditoriums were on the second level down (what is now the Mall lower level but at that time was delivery access under the mall) . Back to back twins 1200 & 800 seats (as I remember) with a large lobby between them. The projection rooms each had Century projection & sound heads with water cooled Stron Futura II arc lamps mounted on old Simplex pedestals. The theatres were Independent, owned by Mr. Francis J. Storty. The big twins closed when the Roth (8 ?) miniplex opened on the lower level by were Lord & Taylor is now.