Uptown Theatre
3426 Connecticut Avenue NW,
Washington,
DC
20008
3426 Connecticut Avenue NW,
Washington,
DC
20008
60 people
favorited this theater
Showing 201 - 225 of 587 comments
Classic films, including 70mm always looks better on bigger screen venues like here, unless its a true 70mm film..filmed in 65mm and NOT a blow up. I remember seeing many 70mm films here, almost all blow ups and wondering why there was so much grain. Grain is one of those detractions that hinder the best theatrical experiences. On the other hand, the saving grace was the six-track stereo sound track that envelopes and draws you into the movie. Even some of the worst movies I’ve ever seen were decent theatrical ‘experiences’ because of the immersive sound and picture.
Raiders would’ve been nice to see again on the Uptown’s bigger screen. Unfortunately, I had to miss it this time around. A one week run is too short.
or let Cinemark run it and let them do their great Thursday ‘Classic Series’ film showcase.
but even AMC’s non-booking of say the one off ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ screening on the 4th of October or even the Indiana Jones marathon (tomorrow) convey’s that AMC doesn’t care or want to make the effort to present alternate programming on a screen that needs (and deserves) it. Honestly, I kind of wish AMC would wipe it’s hands of the theater and let someone like the folk over at the Avalon take over and book films like the Castro does.
As far as AMC running this theater into the ground – I think it is more likely that chains, regardless of whether it is a big one such as AMC or a smaller one such as Clearview, simply have unimaginative business models that do not really allow for a cost-effective operation of large single screen theaters, which, admittedly, is a challenge.
A blockbuster-type film, even several weeks into its run, probably fills a larger percentage of the house than many of the films that are typically released during this time of the year. AMC’s reduction of showings to one-a-day seems to me similar to Clearview’s closing down the Ziegfeld in NYC when no big event film is available. However, even single-screen houses with imaginative and varied programming, such San Francisco’s Castro Theater, have taken to closing the theater on days such as Mondays and Tuesdays because the audience just is not there.
I have heard that “Trouble with the Curve” is probably opening here, in a week.
is AMC purposefully running this theater into the ground – ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ is STILL here, but screenings have been reduced to one screening a day – sad, sad, sad. They could have easily booked the DCP of ‘Raiders’ or ‘Finding Nemo 3D', something? … ??
I, too, have only been to the Uptown once. That was in 1963 or 1964 to see “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.” I thought it was going to be in 3-projector Cinerama, and was disappointed to find out it wasn’t.
Hello From NYC-
i have only been to the Uptown once. it was April of 1963 and i was on a family vacation during which we took in a showing of “How The West Was Won”.
now i discovered Cinema Treasures the last week of January 2011. so i decided to create a project for myself. said project was simple. using CT i was wondering how many of the grand old movie theaters/palaces built in the 1913-1941 heyday of such building were still single screen and still operating as 1st run theaters since the day they opened. after much browsing of CT of all the grand old movie theaters/palaces built in the U.S. in the 1913-1941 period i could find only 2 count ‘em 2 still single screen and were still operating as 1st run theaters since the day they opened. one is the Uptown and the other is Grauman’s Chinese in Hollywood. certainly an accomplishment.
I keep notes of what I see, and my notes are 70mm for Raiders. Somebody may wish to check the Washington Post ad.
much thanks sguttag on that little tidbit of news regarding ‘The Master’
I really don’t remember Raiders being in 70mm for the anniversary at the Uptown (note, I ran it in 70mm on the original release in 1981 at the KB Cinema and then in 1982 in 70mm at the KB MacArthur…it was the movie that closed the MacA as a single.
I too wish that the Uptown remained a show place and retained its 70mm projectors…it would be my preferred place to watch big-screen movies…but with how the Uptown is being run…what would be the point?
Note, the AFI/Silver will likely run the new 70mm movie that just premiered in Chicago called The Master
SG
I meant the Northeast region, not coast, and checking the AFI page, I see that you, JodarMovieFan, are aware of the 70mm series at the Silver.
JodarMovieFan, yes, 2001 was last 70mm for me too at the Uptown, and yes, no more equipment but digital. You are presumably aware that the AFI Silver now has a 70mm festival with 13 titles? Though I agree they belong on the mega sized Uptown screen, it is still neat they are there. I am not sure that there’s any other theater showing 70mm in all of the Northeast coast of the USA.
writing a physical letter to corporate may not get you an answer, I’ve never got one, but the alternate ways to vent one’s frustration with AMC and specifically the Uptown is via AMC’s facebook page and/or AMC’s website which has an email option under ‘contact us’
and yes, sadly the 70mm projector is gone … :(
Amen to that Howard and Giles. I sometimes get jealous at reading the programming at Hollywood’s Cinerama Dome when they have one of their retro festivals. Then I have to remind myself that that theater is in the movie capital and they have ready access to the prints and people who can make things happen.
Howard, I think 2001 was the last 70mm movie I saw at the Uptown for its 40th anniversary. I remember taking my friend there for a different movie experience. He kept asking me what kind of movie it was and I had to tell him it will be unlike anything he has seen before and will probably not see anything like it again. At the time, we saw the movie K-Pax prior and it was one of those movies that provoked discussion on its meaning. I told him there was that similarity in the thought provoking nature but 2001 was heavy on visuals that were ahead of its time and is considered one of the greatest films of all time by some.
Unfortunately, he did not share my opinion and thought it was the worst thing he had ever seen. The movie was too long and that if he had edited it, it would have lasted 30 minutes. Our ensuing argument got no where and would make for an interesting movie on its own, along the likes of My Dinner With Andre. I blame his sentiment on the post MTV generation and how today’s movies seem to be edited with something happening every 120 frames or so. I call it Gen Y ADD.
We have a running joke between us in that every time he takes me to a movie I do not like that I have to pay for, he will have to sit through 2001, again. :)
The last time I wrote to AMC was to complain about a bad experience at their Magic Johnson Theater in Landover, MD. At that time, there was no contact AMC or email. You had to write to their headquarters in KS or someplace. I wrote and got no response. I suppose writing now may not make a difference or not.
I had thought they took out their 70mm projectors based on an earlier post. So..70mm anything is not going to happen. Given the size of the screen, perhaps IMAX-lite would be? As much as I like the Silver Theater, their tiny screen, in comparison to the Uptown’s, doesn’t do much for me and of the 70mm presentations I have seen, they have not been anything that was truly memorable.
I saw the 70mm print of “The Raiders of the Lost Ark” that I mentioned in the Intro, in 2001. It really is a shame that such re releases & special events are ignored at the Uptown by AMC.
question: can someone help me out with a inquiry regarding a screening of ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ a few years back, it was a 35mm print and I could have sworn the it was the expanded title of ‘Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark’ – I’m sure it was, but some folk on another website says such print with the title was never theatrically released as such. ???
Secondly, I have to say I’m getting sick and tired of AMC not giving the Uptown it’s dues in booking alternate programming – specifically the upcoming Indiana Jones marathon on September 15th.
The other insult is the non-booking of ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ on October 4th. I don’t get it, AMC gives the shaft to the Uptown when it comes to these screenings and treats the Uptown like a bastard child. Enough is enough for those of who like to write emails, letters, whatever – give AMC corporate a piece of your mind (I have).
Good for them. Like many, I enjoy the experience and momentary get away that good movies provide especially at venues like the Uptown back in its day. Even on those days where its just myself and maybe a few other patrons, you can have a good time.
As the news unfolds about what this individual did in CO, it does make me pause for thought about safety. Then again, I think that of the what..20,000 screens or so, across the country, going to the movies is safe. Hopefully, it won’t start copycat incidences.
If anyone sees Knight Rises here, I’m curious as to how the presentation goes and if there have been improvements all around; projection, customer service, etc. I’m being swayed by the movie chains to see and pay for event movies in the IMAX-lite, XD, ETX formats nowadays. If the Uptown improves and comes close to what it was in its glory days, I wouldn’t mind driving back into town for those event films they book. Then again, there’s Baltimore’s remodeled Senator that will reopen soon.. :D
ABC TV news tonight showed a very long line of people going into the Uptown for “The Dark Knight Rises” ABC news asserted that moviegoers aren’t going to let that one person (the Colorado shooter) destroy everybody’s plans.
I know this is a problem also at the Arclight Dome, but is it as severe? I don’t know if this true, but supposedly this can be rectified on the Christie projector lense but at a significant cost – I would rather AMC talk with Chrisite and see if something can’t be done and not go down the path of removing the curved screen.
I have worked in theaters with curved screens and with steep projection angles without such problems. It’s all in filing the aperature plate to compensate.
I heard from a person in the know and the Techs at AMC IS thinking about replacing the curved screen with a flat screen becouse of the problems they have ben having not being able to fill the corners of the screen ( since it’s curved ). Aprrentaly AMC Upper managment are in support of this idea and the other 99.999 precent are NOT! This is to happen later this year before the Holidays if it happens.
Yes, lesbrown0, “Star Wars” played 55 weeks in total, beginning its run on May 25, 1977, and being replaced by “Grease” on June 16, 1978.
I remember going to this theater in 1977/1978 to watch the original Star Wars. Can someone tell me if that movie played there for over 54 weeks?
John Carter lost money for its studio, Disney. Bigjoe59 might want to post his question as “News” since it doesn’t belong on this page. I want emails with updates to the Uptown, rather than on this other question.