Wisconsin Avenue Cinemas
4000 Wisconsin Avenue NW,
Washington,
DC
20016
4000 Wisconsin Avenue NW,
Washington,
DC
20016
5 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 48 comments
This opened on December 18th, 1987, a very big day for Cineplex Odeon as they also opened the University 4 in Provo UT, the London Town Square in Calgary, AB, the Cinémas Egyptien 3 in Montréal, QC, the Whitemud Crossing 6 in Edmonton, AB, the Newport Centre in Jersey City, NJ, the Golden East in Rocky Mount, NC and the Pantages, Sherway and Oakville Mews in the Toronto area. That’s 10 openings in the same day for Cineplex.
JodarMovieFan, yes, I read online a few months ago about building replacement! Please post photo. Hard to tell online where entry was. Was a nice multiplex.
I drove by here on Monday, 4-19-21, and discovered they are tearing down the building. I took a picture of what I believe was the multiplex entrance and will send it in.
JodarMovieFan: Per your comment of July 11th… I’m not likely to thank Cinema Treasures generically in my articles since I don’t consider it a source, per se (it’s certainly not a primary source). I would have included you in the article’s special thanks if you posted under your real name. Other Cinema Treasures contributors were thanked in the article. Email me….
Howard, this site is a better place with the pictures you and others have taken to better illustrate and preserve the memories of those movie venues that we have enjoyed that are gone. ^5. I thank you.
At least its nice to know this place is still there and could return to being a first run place.
Saw my first film in DC here Tommy Lee Jones in Cobb Appreciate the impact it had on DC residents but a pretty basic CO plex in my mind…Toojay’s deli around the corner a treat Went back and did Trainspotting and Brando in Island of Dr Moreau back to back
Loews Pentagon City more convenient for big studio pictures
Living in DC when it opened, I attended a movie “Broadcast News” here one week after it opened. I’m glad, JodarMovieFan, that I photographed it the year before it closed as my 4 photos are still the only ones on this page. I was there then to see “Munich”
Michael, after all the T2 discussion on the different DC venue pages and no mention of us? :P While it may have been too much to individually mention us, you could have collectively thanked the “Cinema Treasures Group” in your article. :)
Can’t believe its been 10 years since the place closed to the public and almost 30 years since it opened.
Here’s the link to my recently-completed “T2” 25th anniversary retrospective article that’s related to my recent comments.
Yes, in your 11:05 AM post, I realized you mean CDS to be cinema digital sound. I’m more used to the brands & to my knowledge, DTS was the 1st, with Jurassic Park, which I saw at the Uptown.
Howard, CDS=Cinema Digital Sound. Re: Jurassic Park, you’re right. I’m thinking the Dolby Digital installs at the Arlington Multiplex Cinemas were the first installs in this area. Thats where I saw Dragon and Whats Love Got to Do With It. I referenced my post on that venue’s page.
Bleh. What I typed didn’t show up on the website properly.
As I wrote that, for some reason, I’m thinking 70mm and CDS for Dick Tracy at the Arlington Multiplex Cinemas. More likely, it was 70mm 6 track in the larger of the two THX certified venues they had at the time. But, my memory may be blurred by what I read on in70mm about it being booked at a Hollywood venue. :P
Digital sound (DTS) was ushered in with Jurassic Park, not earlier. What’s “CDS”?
Um..wait a second. I don’t believe there were any DC area 70mm DIGITAL engagements of T2. It had to have been 70mm 6 track. In the Post, the movie ads usually had the 70mm engagements with those audio sound waves. Something like this: <<< 70 M M > > > more to size inside a box.
The only DC area digital engagement was the CDS one at the UA, now Regal Bethesda 10. Maybe I’m wrong, but I doubt it.
The DC area venues didn’t get Dolby Digital and DTS until around Jurassic Park, Whats Love Got to Do With It and Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story. I saw them all and remember traveling to the Multiplex Cinemas in Virginia to see/experience it.
I believe the first 70mm DTS movie we got in the area had to have been the Vertigo re-release. I saw that at the Uptown and in my mind, I was thinking 70mm movie print and separate digital disc for the sound.
Local619… Sorry to drag this out, but your latest reply prompts more questions than it answers. Any chance you made (or can make) a copy of the ad and can email to me (michaelcoate[at]thedigitalbits[dot]com)or post it in the Photos section for this theater?
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..
Thank you, Local619. I don’t suppose you made a note of any of these being shown in 70mm and/or digital sound?
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..
Does anyone recall/know in which DC theater “Terminator 2” played first run? Was it here?
I worked this place since the beginning (installed projectors) until then early 2000’s now I work for fannie mae and I’m in charge of all the equipment in the space guess I can with the building…….
Managed this theatre from 1990 til 2003. Held many premieres, biggest one for Schindler’s List with Spielberg and Clintons in attendance. Many great memories and wonderful people who became really good friends. Got to see theatre now it’s a conference center. Sad thing was the people that work there had no idea it was DC’s busiest theatre for quite some time.
I am organizing an event including documentaries, and would like to rent the rooms at the 4000 Wisconsin Avenue, NW DC. Does anyone have or know how to get their phone number?
Thanks!
: )
This was my second favorite theatre of all that I ever worked, I really loved this place.
Showcase was Pedas' suburban division, while Circle was exclusively within the District. Soda & popcorn cups had logos for both.
Pedas operated Circle cinemas, that I know. What’s “Showcase”?