Uptown Theater (Washington, D.C.) facts for kids
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Uptown Theatre
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The theater, with Cineplex Odeon signs, around the year 2000.
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 Location in District of Columbia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3426 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., United States |
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| Built | 1936 |
| Architect | John Jacob Zink |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Part of | Cleveland Park Historic District (ID87000628) |
| NRHP reference No. | 100008461 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 15, 2022 |
| Designated CP | April 27, 1987 |
The Uptown Theater, also known as The Uptown, was a famous single-screen movie theater in the Cleveland Park neighborhood of Washington, D.C. For over 80 years, it was a special place for movie lovers. It even hosted the first-ever showings of huge hits like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Jurassic Park.
The theater had the largest movie screen in the Washington, D.C. area, outside of the giant screens at the Smithsonian Institution museums. Because of its importance, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2022. This list recognizes America's most important historical buildings. The theater closed in March 2020.
Contents
History of the Uptown
A Grand Opening
The Uptown Theater opened on October 29, 1936. It was designed by an architect named John Jacob Zink, who was famous for creating over 200 theaters. The building's style is called Art Deco, which was very popular in the 1930s. Art Deco is known for its bold geometric shapes and fancy details.
The outside of the theater is made of yellow and red brick. Parts of the front are covered in limestone with cool zigzag patterns and flower designs carved into it. A big, bright sign, called a marquee, hangs over the entrance.
Inside the Theater
The Uptown was famous for its huge, curved screen, which measured 70 feet wide by 40 feet tall. When it first opened, the theater could seat 1,120 people. In 1996, it was updated, which made the theater more comfortable but reduced the number of seats to 850.
Over the years, the theater kept up with new technology. In 2010, it replaced its old film projector with a modern digital system that could show movies in 3D.
Closing and Future
In March 2020, the company running the theater, AMC Theatres, announced it was closing the Uptown for good. The decision was made because their agreement to use the building was ending.
However, the story of the Uptown might not be over. In 2021, another company, Landmark Theatres, said they were talking about reopening the historic theater.
Because of its long history, the D.C. government officially made the theater a historic site in May 2022. Later that year, in December 2022, it was also added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Famous Movie Premieres
A "world premiere" is the very first time a movie is shown to the public. The Uptown Theater hosted many of these exciting events, often with famous actors and directors in attendance.
- 2001: A Space Odyssey: The world premiere of this classic science fiction film was held here on April 2, 1968. After seeing how the audience reacted, the director, Stanley Kubrick, decided to cut about 20 minutes from the movie.
- Jesus Christ Superstar: This musical film had its world premiere at the Uptown on June 26, 1973.
- Star Wars: On May 25, 1977, the Uptown was one of the first 32 theaters in the world to show Star Wars on its opening day.
- Mississippi Burning: This film about the Civil Rights Movement had its premiere here on December 2, 1988. Many important people, including politicians and reporters, came to see it.
- Dick Tracy: The pop star Madonna, who was in the movie, attended the world premiere on June 10, 1990.
- Dances with Wolves: The world premiere for this epic Western film took place on October 19, 1990.
- Jurassic Park: On June 9, 1993, the Uptown hosted the world premiere of this blockbuster dinosaur movie.
- The Guardian: This action movie starring Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher premiered on September 7, 2006.
- Lions for Lambs: This film premiered on November 7, 2007, with its famous stars Robert Redford, Tom Cruise, and Meryl Streep in attendance.
