The new theater website photos continue to show the Astor Theatre’s raised section of seats. Is RAD simply a local entity? not part of a national concert promoter?
Also, Zoetmb do you have a source for the 61 foot size of the Astor Plaza? I had read it was about the size of the Ziegfeld, though it did look large.
Today’s Sunday Philadelphia Inquirer front section has a photo of theater manager Jessica Saviano holding 3 huge bags of popcorn in front of the marquee & facade with the caption “While the small movie theaters run by Bradford County’s art council remained shuttered, Sayre Theatre manager Jessica Saviano sells popcorn curbside for $10 a bag.
Mentioned in today’s Sunday, Philadelphia Inquirer, in article re Coronavirus- B section- The Region- headline Code Yellow, BACK TO LIFE: In tiny town, reconnecting after the shutdown.
“The art deco Arcadia Theatre, visible through the cafe window at Dunham’s has no timetable for reopening.” Dunhams is mentioned as a department store and adjacent hardware store. There’s a photo of Nancy Dunham.
3-8-19 news-
what will occupy the long-vacant Old Town Theater in Alexandria: a Patagonia retail store.
The outdoor apparel and equipment retailer will open in the 8,500-square-foot space, Patagonia spokesperson Corley Kenna confirmed to the WBJ. While Patagonia gear is sold at dozens of other locations around Greater Washington, this will be just the second dedicated store for the company in the region after Georgetown.
The retailer is keeping its plans for the store pretty quiet for now, but did say plans on a 2020 opening.
https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2019/03/08/heres-whats-going-into-the-old-town-theater-in.html
from the company’s website:
Opening March, 2020
Taking great care to preserve its beautiful character and value as a performance venue, we’re pleased to announce the spring opening of a new Patagonia store in Alexandria’s beloved Old Town Theater at 815½ King Street. It’s our first store in Virginia, and we’re really excited to join the community. We realize what it meant to see the theater close back in 2014, but we intend to keep a lot of its energy alive by providing a steady stream of events, films and presentations, as well as a gathering place to support environmental nonprofits working to defend clean water and air, protect wildlife and divest from dirty technologies. The stage remains a stage with sound and lighting, and the balcony provides a rotating gallery for the work of area artists and a place to host meetings and events. The space devoted to product will hold a beautiful selection of quality clothing and gear for the whole family.
AMC confirmed they will no longer operate the theater.
“Yesterday was AMC’s final day of operations at the location and all associates have been provided the opportunity to move to nearby AMC locations,” AMC director of corporate communications Ryan Noonan told WTOP.
https://wtop.com/entertainment/2020/03/uptown-theater-historic-host-of-2001-jurassic-park-premieres-closes-in-dc/
Many loving tributes online over time, including this article https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/film-tv/article/21016116/an-oral-history-of-dcs-uptown-theater
Huge crowd enjoyed Jurassic Park last night. Upcoming 35mm films at are Caddyshack (with a 35mm Three Stooges cartoon, Brideless Goon) at 8 PM Friday March 27 and the Wizard of Oz (with a Betty Boop short)at 7 PM Sat April 11. Both with organ played before movie & free popcorn, total price only $5.
I’ve been seeing movies at the Paris every other month or so for many years. City Cinemas closed the Paris for a couple weeks in 2007 prior to Victoria and Abdul, and reupholstered chairs. The Paris looked very good in all functional aspects to me then. With Netflix, the changes that I saw were exterior: front doors papered over with movie promotion, windows above marquee also so. And, Netflix put movie “stills” in the lobby’s horizontal poster case, a practice that for the most part had not been done in many years at the Paris. So, in those aspects, Netflix added some razzle dazzle to the Paris. I didn’t scrutinize the difference in concession offerings. There was no difference in the Mens restroom which has always been fine. Netflix also upgraded the digital projection from 2k to 4k as to DCPs. City Cinemas had installed 7.1 surround, which is what Netflix also has used at the theater, but the surround sound did seem better after Netflix tookover.
On Feb 21, 2020 my friend Josh Silver emailed me as follows (edited down a bit):
I happened to come upon the Hollywood Theater on Potomac Avenue close to Liberty Avenue, in a central area of Dormont, which is right next to Pittsburgh.The Hollywood appears to have opened in 1925 and to remain an undivided theater, or at least showing just one movie at a time in the evening, and currently a new release – “Birds of Prey”.
This stretch of Potomac is at least partly viable as an old-time, eclectic neighborhood shopping street, while that appears to have been kept alive by doses of gentrification and immigration from what I have seen of this small South Hills suburb. Next to the Hollywood is Fredo’s (a nice little eatery) and “Beyond Bedtime Books”, which appeared to be a cozy and wonderfully crowded independent bookstore.
The website does not refer to a health provider. I checked photos via google of the marquee, and I don’t see the health provider name there either. Count Basie, that I see.
9 films for Awards season! From Jan 21 thru Feb 6. One time screenings of each at 7 PM, check website. Toy Story 4, Honeyland, American Factory, Judy, Marriage Story, Parasite,The Lighthouse, The Two Popes, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Tuesday, Jan 21, are the only screenings of The Irishman which are at 10 AM & 8 PM. After Jan 21, the films mentioned above but not The Irishman, are listed thru the end of the month.
I saw “1917” here this past week. The movie was in the Dolby auditorium (#1) Huge (maybe 60 feet wide) curved screen! Dolby Vision with dual Christie laser projectors; the projection means a brighter picture, better colors, and more details! Dolby Atmos means the best surround sound including ceiling speakers! Downsides: 1) flat screen without masking so ‘scope films are letterboxed, 2) must reserve seats, 3) recliner chairs are soft, so not great for one’s back, and 4) waiter service, but I did not see waiters after the movie began, maybe because there are no call waiter buttons at chairs. Overall, the best movie experience for digital movies. I am eager to return the next time an intelligent mainstream movie appears there!
Giles, perhaps the Uptown was still using side masking in April when you witnessed the mistake, and as you stated, did not have reserved seats, but changed both factors by July? As I stated, Knives Out is flat, meaning 1.85, but was not masked in December. Being in Philly, last I was at Mazza Gallerie was December 2017, when some screens did use masking. If I lived in DC, I’d visit both the Uptown & the Mazza Gallerie more.
In December, I enjoyed seeing Knives Out at the Uptown. Seating is now reserved! When did reserve seating start- they didn’t have it last December. And, the “flat” (not scope) movie was not matted/masked. I had not seen a flat movie at the Uptown in years. When did the theater stop matting flat movies?
From today thru Tuesday, in addition to Marriage Story and The Two Popes, Netflix is showing docus The Edge of Democracy (today) and American Factory (Saturday & Sunday) & for the 1st time, animated films Klaus (today, Sunday, Monday) & I Lost My Body (Saturday, Monday)These Netflix films are all Oscar nominated. Netflix has more Oscar nominations this year than any other studio. Check Fandango for times.
I think the only 70mm print of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is faded to pink. I saw the Swedish, nice 70mm print of Cheyenne Autumn at the AFI Silver. I missed & would like to see the nice 70mm prints of Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines, The Agony and the Ecstasy and Lord Jim.
I enjoyed “The Two Popes” yesterday with awesome surround sound. I added photos of the marquee side panels with that movie. “Marriage Story” is still playing as well (and retains the marquee’s front panel, the graphics in the window above, and the lobby’s horizontal display case graphics). For Jan 2 thru Jan 7, four Netflix docus will play- American Factory, The Edge of Documentary, The Great Hack, and Knock Down the House. Then as of Jan 8, Marriage Story and The Two Popes start to show again.
Phila Film Society email today with 2 photos (to add to gallery)
The Film Society is proud to unveil an updated and renovated second floor theater at the Philadelphia Film Center.
Rechristened as the Albert M. Greenfield Education and Community Screening Room (formerly the Black Box Theater), the second floor theater space boasts state of the art digital presentation with 2K laser projection and 7.1 surround sound, brand new retractable stadium seating, new wood flooring, and update entry & concessions areas.
Stop by the Film Center and see the new space and enjoy a first-run film or one of our upcoming special programs.
The new theater website photos continue to show the Astor Theatre’s raised section of seats. Is RAD simply a local entity? not part of a national concert promoter?
Also, Zoetmb do you have a source for the 61 foot size of the Astor Plaza? I had read it was about the size of the Ziegfeld, though it did look large.
Today’s Sunday Philadelphia Inquirer front section has a photo of theater manager Jessica Saviano holding 3 huge bags of popcorn in front of the marquee & facade with the caption “While the small movie theaters run by Bradford County’s art council remained shuttered, Sayre Theatre manager Jessica Saviano sells popcorn curbside for $10 a bag.
Mentioned in today’s Sunday, Philadelphia Inquirer, in article re Coronavirus- B section- The Region- headline Code Yellow, BACK TO LIFE: In tiny town, reconnecting after the shutdown. “The art deco Arcadia Theatre, visible through the cafe window at Dunham’s has no timetable for reopening.” Dunhams is mentioned as a department store and adjacent hardware store. There’s a photo of Nancy Dunham.
3-8-19 news- what will occupy the long-vacant Old Town Theater in Alexandria: a Patagonia retail store.
The outdoor apparel and equipment retailer will open in the 8,500-square-foot space, Patagonia spokesperson Corley Kenna confirmed to the WBJ. While Patagonia gear is sold at dozens of other locations around Greater Washington, this will be just the second dedicated store for the company in the region after Georgetown.
The retailer is keeping its plans for the store pretty quiet for now, but did say plans on a 2020 opening. https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2019/03/08/heres-whats-going-into-the-old-town-theater-in.html
from the company’s website: Opening March, 2020 Taking great care to preserve its beautiful character and value as a performance venue, we’re pleased to announce the spring opening of a new Patagonia store in Alexandria’s beloved Old Town Theater at 815½ King Street. It’s our first store in Virginia, and we’re really excited to join the community. We realize what it meant to see the theater close back in 2014, but we intend to keep a lot of its energy alive by providing a steady stream of events, films and presentations, as well as a gathering place to support environmental nonprofits working to defend clean water and air, protect wildlife and divest from dirty technologies. The stage remains a stage with sound and lighting, and the balcony provides a rotating gallery for the work of area artists and a place to host meetings and events. The space devoted to product will hold a beautiful selection of quality clothing and gear for the whole family.
AMC confirmed they will no longer operate the theater. “Yesterday was AMC’s final day of operations at the location and all associates have been provided the opportunity to move to nearby AMC locations,” AMC director of corporate communications Ryan Noonan told WTOP. https://wtop.com/entertainment/2020/03/uptown-theater-historic-host-of-2001-jurassic-park-premieres-closes-in-dc/
Many loving tributes online over time, including this article https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/film-tv/article/21016116/an-oral-history-of-dcs-uptown-theater
No movies listed after today! If closing, I hope another movie operator takes over the Uptown!
Huge crowd enjoyed Jurassic Park last night. Upcoming 35mm films at are Caddyshack (with a 35mm Three Stooges cartoon, Brideless Goon) at 8 PM Friday March 27 and the Wizard of Oz (with a Betty Boop short)at 7 PM Sat April 11. Both with organ played before movie & free popcorn, total price only $5.
I’ve been seeing movies at the Paris every other month or so for many years. City Cinemas closed the Paris for a couple weeks in 2007 prior to Victoria and Abdul, and reupholstered chairs. The Paris looked very good in all functional aspects to me then. With Netflix, the changes that I saw were exterior: front doors papered over with movie promotion, windows above marquee also so. And, Netflix put movie “stills” in the lobby’s horizontal poster case, a practice that for the most part had not been done in many years at the Paris. So, in those aspects, Netflix added some razzle dazzle to the Paris. I didn’t scrutinize the difference in concession offerings. There was no difference in the Mens restroom which has always been fine. Netflix also upgraded the digital projection from 2k to 4k as to DCPs. City Cinemas had installed 7.1 surround, which is what Netflix also has used at the theater, but the surround sound did seem better after Netflix tookover.
On Feb 21, 2020 my friend Josh Silver emailed me as follows (edited down a bit): I happened to come upon the Hollywood Theater on Potomac Avenue close to Liberty Avenue, in a central area of Dormont, which is right next to Pittsburgh.The Hollywood appears to have opened in 1925 and to remain an undivided theater, or at least showing just one movie at a time in the evening, and currently a new release – “Birds of Prey”.
This stretch of Potomac is at least partly viable as an old-time, eclectic neighborhood shopping street, while that appears to have been kept alive by doses of gentrification and immigration from what I have seen of this small South Hills suburb. Next to the Hollywood is Fredo’s (a nice little eatery) and “Beyond Bedtime Books”, which appeared to be a cozy and wonderfully crowded independent bookstore.
The website says Count Basie Center for the Arts.
Yes, the Paris is selling refreshments.
The website does not refer to a health provider. I checked photos via google of the marquee, and I don’t see the health provider name there either. Count Basie, that I see.
9 films for Awards season! From Jan 21 thru Feb 6. One time screenings of each at 7 PM, check website. Toy Story 4, Honeyland, American Factory, Judy, Marriage Story, Parasite,The Lighthouse, The Two Popes, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Tuesday, Jan 21, are the only screenings of The Irishman which are at 10 AM & 8 PM. After Jan 21, the films mentioned above but not The Irishman, are listed thru the end of the month.
I saw “1917” here this past week. The movie was in the Dolby auditorium (#1) Huge (maybe 60 feet wide) curved screen! Dolby Vision with dual Christie laser projectors; the projection means a brighter picture, better colors, and more details! Dolby Atmos means the best surround sound including ceiling speakers! Downsides: 1) flat screen without masking so ‘scope films are letterboxed, 2) must reserve seats, 3) recliner chairs are soft, so not great for one’s back, and 4) waiter service, but I did not see waiters after the movie began, maybe because there are no call waiter buttons at chairs. Overall, the best movie experience for digital movies. I am eager to return the next time an intelligent mainstream movie appears there!
Giles, perhaps the Uptown was still using side masking in April when you witnessed the mistake, and as you stated, did not have reserved seats, but changed both factors by July? As I stated, Knives Out is flat, meaning 1.85, but was not masked in December. Being in Philly, last I was at Mazza Gallerie was December 2017, when some screens did use masking. If I lived in DC, I’d visit both the Uptown & the Mazza Gallerie more.
In December, I enjoyed seeing Knives Out at the Uptown. Seating is now reserved! When did reserve seating start- they didn’t have it last December. And, the “flat” (not scope) movie was not matted/masked. I had not seen a flat movie at the Uptown in years. When did the theater stop matting flat movies?
From today thru Tuesday, in addition to Marriage Story and The Two Popes, Netflix is showing docus The Edge of Democracy (today) and American Factory (Saturday & Sunday) & for the 1st time, animated films Klaus (today, Sunday, Monday) & I Lost My Body (Saturday, Monday)These Netflix films are all Oscar nominated. Netflix has more Oscar nominations this year than any other studio. Check Fandango for times.
I think the only 70mm print of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is faded to pink. I saw the Swedish, nice 70mm print of Cheyenne Autumn at the AFI Silver. I missed & would like to see the nice 70mm prints of Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines, The Agony and the Ecstasy and Lord Jim.
The theater itself does not yet have a website or Facebook presence, but both Fandango and Showtimes (both with.com) have all the times.
I enjoyed “The Two Popes” yesterday with awesome surround sound. I added photos of the marquee side panels with that movie. “Marriage Story” is still playing as well (and retains the marquee’s front panel, the graphics in the window above, and the lobby’s horizontal display case graphics). For Jan 2 thru Jan 7, four Netflix docus will play- American Factory, The Edge of Documentary, The Great Hack, and Knock Down the House. Then as of Jan 8, Marriage Story and The Two Popes start to show again.
We’ve added to the Intro the news that there’s a 2nd screen.
What year did this close? We can amend the Intro to include that info.
Phila Film Society email today with 2 photos (to add to gallery) The Film Society is proud to unveil an updated and renovated second floor theater at the Philadelphia Film Center.
Rechristened as the Albert M. Greenfield Education and Community Screening Room (formerly the Black Box Theater), the second floor theater space boasts state of the art digital presentation with 2K laser projection and 7.1 surround sound, brand new retractable stadium seating, new wood flooring, and update entry & concessions areas.
Stop by the Film Center and see the new space and enjoy a first-run film or one of our upcoming special programs.