Uptown Theater (Washington, D.C.) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Uptown Theater |
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| General information | |
| Type | Theater |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Location | Northwest, Washington, D.C., United States |
| Coordinates | 38°56′06″N 77°03′31″W / 38.9349°N 77.0585°W |
| Completed | 1936 |
| Height | |
| Roof | 171 feet (52 m) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | John Jacob Zink |
The Uptown Theater, often called The Uptown, was a famous movie theater in the Cleveland Park neighborhood of Washington, D.C.. It had just one giant screen. The theater first opened its doors in 1936.
It was a special place because it hosted the very first showings (called world premieres) of big movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Jurassic Park. The Uptown Theater closed in March 2020.
Its screen was the biggest movie screen in the Washington, D.C. area, not counting the screens at the Smithsonian Institution museums. In 2022, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site.
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What Is the Uptown Theater?
The Uptown Theater was a special movie house known for its huge screen and beautiful design. It was a popular spot for people in Washington, D.C. to watch films for many decades.
The Uptown's Unique Design and Features
The Uptown Theater first opened on October 29, 1936. It was designed by a skilled architect named John Jacob Zink. His company designed over 200 theaters across the United States. The Uptown was the 14th theater built by Warner Brothers in Washington, D.C.
The outside of the theater is made of yellow and red bricks. Part of the front is covered with smooth limestone panels. These limestone parts show off typical Art Deco designs, like zigzag patterns and flower shapes. The sign above the entrance, called the marquee, has sleek aluminum bands.
The Uptown Theater had a curved screen that was about 70 feet wide and 40 feet tall. This made it one of the largest screens around! When it first opened, the theater could seat 1,120 people. After a big update in 1996, the number of seats was changed to 850.
How Technology Changed at the Uptown
For many years, the Uptown used a special Norelco projector for 35mm and 70mm film. But in December 2010, this old projector was replaced. A new Christie Dual-Projector 3D system was put in for the movie Tron: Legacy. This new system allowed the theater to show movies in 3D.
Why Did the Uptown Theater Close?
In March 2020, AMC Theatres, the company that ran the Uptown, announced that the theater would close. The Uptown had been open for 84 years! AMC's rental agreement for the building was ending.
Unlike many other places that closed temporarily in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Uptown Theater's closure was permanent. It was not directly caused by the pandemic.
Efforts to Reopen and Historic Recognition
In October 2021, another theater company, Landmark Theatres, said they were talking about renting and reopening the Uptown. This gave many people hope that the theater might come back to life.
In May 2022, a group called the Historic Preservation Review Board in the D.C. government voted to add the theater to the D.C. Inventory of Historic Sites. They also suggested it be added to the National Register of Historic Places. In December 2022, the Uptown Theater was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Famous Movies That Premiered at the Uptown
The Uptown Theater was a very important place for movies. Many famous films had their first showings there.
- 2001: A Space Odyssey had its world premiere on April 2, 1968. It was shown with a special 70mm projector and amazing six-track sound. After this first showing, the director, Stanley Kubrick, made the movie a little shorter.
- Star Wars was one of only 32 theaters to show this movie on its opening day, May 25, 1977. It was first shown in 35mm with four-track stereo sound. Later that year, on December 16, the theater also started showing Star Wars in 70mm with even better six-track sound.
- Mississippi Burning had its world premiere at the Uptown on December 2, 1988. Many important people, like politicians and ambassadors, were there.
- The famous singer Madonna attended the world premiere of Dick Tracy on June 10, 1990.
- Jurassic Park had its world premiere at the Uptown on June 9, 1993. This was a huge event for the movie world.
- On October 3, 1979, the Uptown was one of only three theaters to show director Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now with a special six-track Dolby Stereo sound system. The movie was shown without opening or closing credits. Instead, people received a program with information.
- Dances with Wolves had its world premiere on October 19, 1990. During this showing, the movie projector actually broke down twice!
- The Guardian, starring Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher, premiered on September 7, 2006.
- Lions for Lambs, starring Robert Redford, Tom Cruise, and Meryl Streep, and directed by Redford, premiered on November 7, 2007.
- Jesus Christ Superstar (film) had its world premiere on June 26, 1973.
