AMC Springfield Mall 10
6500 J Springfield Mall,
Springfield,
VA
22150
6500 J Springfield Mall,
Springfield,
VA
22150
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Does anyone have any photos of the auditoriums of the old Springfield AMC theater? The last film I saw here was back in 2002, Austin Powers in Goldmember.
it’s opening date is actually October 17th.
It appears that Regal is building a twelve screen complex in or around where the initial six auditoriums were. It will be all stadium seating and is scheduled to open in November 2014.
I remember waiting in line to watch the opening day of Star Wars Return of the Jedi. We waited in line for over 6 hours and it wrapped around the mall- almost entirely around it. It was crazy! I lived closer to Skyline Mall so usually went to AMC there but Springfield on occasion. I will miss the mall and theater. Lots of memories. Did anyone have an ice cream birthday party there at Farrell’s ? They had this HUGE ice cream bowl with like 20-30 scoops for the party to dig in. Not very hygienic but loads of fun. I guess this is part of getting older-watching those things we loved from our youth slip away. Bummer
New Springfield Mall Cinema coming in 2011; Article from the February 22, 2011edition of the Fairfax Times
“Springfield Mall owner Vornado Realty Trust also is ready to take advantage of the expected traffic and population boom, and is taking the next step toward achieving its vision for an urban-style town center development around nearby Springfield Mall.
Vornado representatives declined to comment on the company’s exact plans. But, according to Fairfax County Supervisor Jeffrey McKay (D-Lee), a 10-year redevelopment of the mall — split into four phases — is currently under way.
“It is a mall revitalization project that will develop into Springfield Town Center, with high density office and residential space,” he said.
Phase one, which McKay said could begin as early as next month, is an interior renovation of the mall, including an improved food court and construction of a new movie theater.â€
I got a few shots of the 7-10 before they were boarded up and would love to see photos of the 1-9 theatres. I think AMC still hold the lease and will open a new complex in the mall if and when the renovation gets underway.
I had the good fortune of getting inside the 7-10 theaters the other day, and they’re still in good shape! The projectors and seats are still in there, and the lights are still on. Because of that, I’d say they plan on reopening after the renovation. You don’t just leave decent projectors in disuse like that.
There weren’t any reels around, but I’m pretty sure the projectors would still work. No visible issues with them, and with the exception of one torn screen, the screens are still fine. Lots of memories in that place, and I thought I should see it one last time just in case they tear it all down. I took a 2 hour look around, and I didn’t see a single reason they couldn’t reopen in a month or two if they had the willpower.
Instead of the Springfield Mall and the former AMC theaters being torn down into an urban complex for drug dealers, Hispanics, possibly Koreans and Pakistanis, I wish this mall would get converted into an anime convention called “Beltway-Con” with the Funimation Store inside, with the food court intact sponsored by other fast food retailers (Subway, Pizza Hut, Panda Express, Popeyes, Dairy Queen, Burger King, etc.) and a other retailers such as FYE and Borders and the movie theater (both floors) renovated to screen anime shows and movies (first run, older and newer) by other licenced companies. That would be cool, but it will only be a dream.
The last movie I saw here was “Zodiac” in February 2007. It was so hot in the auditorium I was sweating.
I hadn’t been to Springfield Mall since then, so I didn’t know this place had closed until now. The Washington Post really should put something in the business or metro section when a local theater closes. (The Lee Highway Multiplex closing came as a complete surprise too). But it seems the paper only cares if a DC theater closes.
Thanks for the shot. It’s been about a year since I’ve been in the mall.
Thanks for that update on the chronology kengcc. I didn’t start frequenting the place until the 80’s. I’d agree, there was a stretch there where this was a really good place to see a movie.
Here is a 2008 photo of what remains of the upstairs cinema.
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.
I am very sad to see it has closed, but thank you so much for reporting this on your site! We are new to the area and saw a couple movies there in the last few months, just before 2/14, but also saw no information about it closing. Annoyingly, AMC doesn’t even have it mentioned on their page as ever having existed, and when you call the number listed for the theatre, it just rings, no message.
Although one theatre we visited was very cold and a few others were a bit like “holes in the ground”, we very much appreciated the pricing structure as an affordable way to see big-screen features and not break the bank.
Here’s to hoping something will come of the mall renovations, but likely an over-priced stadium-seating mini-theatre multiplex…sigh
The NEW Springfield Mall complex was of mixed value. Springfield #1 with 660 seats, wide screen and THX stereo was an excellent place to see a movie; as were the #7, 8, 9 and 10 theatres across the mall. Large, comfortable, and with good sound and projection. #2 was next door to #1 and was awful in that the THX from #1 streamed right thru their poorly soundproofed wall. Theatres #3, 4, 5 and 6 were rat traps stuck in the basement. Ugh!
Once a strong drawing card, but always inferior to the now-long-gone single screen theaters, the Springfield was rendered obsolete by the newer stadium seating multiplexes which cut into its business in all 4 directions. Add management indifference to keeping order regarding trouble-minded youth, and lackluster AMC management, we have not returned to the Springfield in years.
The closing of this location is part of a renovation of the shopping mall. The mall is being refactored as a town center that has retail, office and residential space. Haven’t heard if there will be a new theatre here.
I worked at this location for 10 years, and just for posterity, the actual history is:
1970: Opened as a twin (“Cinemas I II”) with one 700 seat auditorium (later reduced to 640 seats) and one 500 seat house (later 404 seats).
1973: Opened a separate 4-plex (“Cinemas III IV V VI”) on the other side of the mall. This unit had smaller theatres and was run as a separate business unit.
1987: A new 4-plex was opened underneath the original twin (resulting in “General Cinema 1-6”). This ill-fated construction project went insanely over budget and caused the mall to shut down on several occasions due to accidents. The end result were 4 small theatres (ranging from 180 to 280 seats) with mono sound, that nobody liked to watch a movie in because they felt like you were in a hole in the ground (which you were.)
1988: When Macy’s came in the mall, they wanted the original 4-plex moved away from them, and they even helped finance a new 4-plex above the new food court (“General Cinemas 7-10”). Because they were using other people’s money, General Cinema splurged and made a whopping 2000+ seat count for just 4 theatres. Remember, this was a time when the average new house had less than 300 seats. The center theatres also were built to THX specification (but in another typical GCC fashion, they cheaped out on paying the licensing fees at the last second.)
2008: Closed on Valentine’s day. Many will say good riddance, and may be right for the state it’s been in lately, but there was a long stretch of time when this was the best spot to catch a flick in northern Virginia.
How sad. There were no announcements that I knew of about this place closing. Its perplexing AMC chose to close this given the fact that its in a mall and has foot traffic. They’ve got a decent theater in #1 and the newer ones at the end of the mall opened up 10 years ago or so. I vividly remember they were advertising the fact they had the Jurassic Park 2 trailer in DTS in the Post. Perhaps Regal or one of the other chains will reopen at least 1-6. Since 5-10 are inside the mall, late shows and, shall I say, certain riff raff elements walking about would not be desirable to mall management after most stores are closed.
This theatre complex closed February 14th 2008
Nope, this isn’t listed under anything else. I added the listing because it wasn’t on the site though, from JodarMovieFans comments, it was at some point before. From what some others have said, several theaters that used to be listed on here disappeared at some point (in transfer from another server or something of the like?) awhile back.
Is it likely that somebody is going through and starting a new listing just because it’s “AMC” now? Does the listing also exist as just “Springfield Mall 1-4” and “Springfield Mall "5-10”?
… and Cinema 1 is SDDS equipped.
Again, there was a listing for Springfield as I remember commenting on my experiences and now it is relisted. Here we go again. :)
1 was among the first venues in the country to become THX certified when it became available way back in ‘83. Cinema 1 also had 70mm projection capabilities that they kept even after the remodel when it became THX certified.
I’ve seen 2010 and Cocoon in 70mm and can say both films were outstandingly presented here even though the screen size was not all that large.
Unfortunately, quality has gone down as when I saw the last Matrix movie here, it was very, very disappointing. The soundtrack was muddled and hardly crisp and sharp. The first Matrix film was excellent as i distinctly remember that in this theater, I could hear the sound of spent bullet shells hitting the floor. In the presentation at DC’s Uptown, it was not as crystal clear.
Hopefully, things have improved since but with the AMC takeover, I doubt it.
The 660 seater, Cinema 1, is THX certified.
Does one of the auditoriums have THX Dolby Sound?