Is Uptown doomed?
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Yesterday, while lamenting the loss of District movie theaters Post columnist and blogger Marc Fisher mentioned rumors of the Uptown Theatre closing. Corporate consolidation (Loews Cineplex and AMC merged) seems to be the possible catalyst.
Obviously, Uptown closing would be a HUGE loss for moviegoers in the area and the District itself. No other venue says “blockbuster” like Uptown; seeing a movie there is an event in itself. Hopefully, the rumors are based on fears of moviegoers and not on actual plans. If there is something to the rumors I hope prospective councilmember Mary M. Cheh and other elected officials come out support the Uptown remaining open, it is too important to let corporate beancounters kill it without a fight.
On the Web
Cinema Treasures (source of rumors, scroll down)
Closing the Uptown would be a horrible, horrible loss.
I really, really hope there’s no truth to that! I find it hard to believe, seeing as the Uptown still gets some pretty big premieres now and then. You’d think Loews/AMC would want to keep it going just for the sake of prestige.
I dunno, seeing a movie at the Uptown isn’t all that pleasant to me. The screen is really curved (like, REALLY curved), and there isn’t stadium seating. It’s a cool old building, but I can’t think of any other reason to see a movie there….
I love the panoramic screen. Seeing Trilogy Tuesday there was amazing, despite the lack of stadium seating, you saw in an audience that was engaged in the film. Everything I’ve seen there on opening night has been far, far superior than anything I’ve seen at Hoffman Center or the Cinema De Lux.
It’s an aweseome place to watch a movie! Memories include lining to see the Star Wars series when the weather was 30F and below, waiting for your friend to come relieve you while you run into the Starbucks to get a hot coco and pee, talking to strangers ahead and behind you, running up the stairs to get to the seats on the first row on the right side off center, the art deco remnants in the decor…
I’d take the Uptown over stadium seating any day.
One of the concerns is that the building is landmarked, both for its design and its use. What happens if the place closes and there are no takers?
Noooooooooooooooo! Going to see a movie at the Uptown has always been special… like it was more of an event than just a regular movie. I can think back at movies I’ve seen over the years and remember exactly which ones I saw at the Uptown. The crowds are great there and really get into the movie (and not in the obnoxious, yelling at the screen kind of way).
Pretty cool pics of the projector booth.
If the rumors are true, it will be a sad day in DC when the Uptown closes. Easily the best movie theater I’ve ever visited. The curved screen takes getting used to, but I prefer it over the screens today. After seeing a movie at the Uptown, even some cineplex’s larger screens seem like bedside TVs in comparison. Add to that a sound system that puts most theaters to shame, and this place is a Meca to movie buffs.
I remember seeing Jurassic Park there before the rennovation. My parents and I sat in the front of the balcony, and when you saw the ripples in the water from T-Rex’s footsteps you could feel your chair rumbling along with it. Recently, I took a friend to see King Kong – she had never been to the Uptown. During the final scenes, with the camera swooping all around Kong atop the Empire State Bldg., she started getting a little nauseous. She still raves about it and suggests we see what’s playing whenever we’re in town. Like me, she’s hooked.
Good times.