AFI Silver Theatre

yes, the manager did say the curtain will be repaired.

Historic Auditorium ran a THX trailer, or whatever it is called. Mazza Gallerie on Sunday didn’t. I was almost under impression that nobody pays for THX certification anymore? AFI still does?

When I walked into both auditoriums 2 & 3, the curtain was totally closed pre-film. I only stayed for a minute. Thank you, and AFI for arranging for such great film projection and sound. The overall presentation really is world class.

I’ve only seen you in person, a few years ago, at the Uptown, chatting with you in the projection booth.

Friday, December 21, I saw at 5 PM, Juno in the historic auditorium. After buying my ticket in the new building, I was able to walk into the historic Art Moderne lobby.

I sat in the last row, with the tables that JordarMovieFan sits to eat his stuffed pretzels. The lady next to me had a soft pretzel (not stuffed) and a cup of beer.

Movie projection & digital surround sound were excellent.

After Juno was over, the other movies had not started, so I briefly walked into the newer auditoriums. Juno was shown without any curtain being present, so I presumed curtain only used for special presentations? But, no, curtains were closed in the newer auditoriums! I asked, and the manager told me historic auditorium’s curtain has been broken at least a month, a chain broken.

I’d rather see a 70mm epic at the Uptown, with its huge Cinerama sized screen! However, overall, the AFI Silver is a great moviehouse with an excellent program of films.

Screen sizes have been added to the Introduction. Steve Guttag’s comments about Auditorium 2 seem to be verified by the screen size and by the photos on the theater’s website.

Howard,

They used to have these delicous jalapeno cream cheese stuffed pretzels that were sooo good. If made right, its the perfect balance of crusty shell, the kosher salt and melting hot but not volcanic hot cheese with the right amount of jalapeno zing that’s, oh so yummy! The last time I was there..probably when they had 2001 a year ago, they were out of that, actually most of their snacked goods were GONE except for popcorn, soda and alcohol. I was so disappointed!

Nice photos, Howard. The last set is good in that you capture some of the better seats in the back that are spread out and not congested. If I’m snacking on something like their hot stuffed pretzels, I like the snack tables adjacent to the seats in the back. My friends and I snuck in sandwiches and soup from the Panera, next door, and had a good time with our movie!

On the other hand, the pictures point out the rather smallish screen. Small in comparison to some of the better single houses of yesteryear, sadly gone forever. I do wish that in ‘08, they have more 70mm other than Lawrence and 2001.

Step inside!
current photos of the historic, main Auditorium:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/avatar1/159111720/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/avatar1/159111720/

organ console:
View link

The historic SILVER theater is much bigger than 400 seats. The SILVER was bigger than the AVALON by a good 30%. Although AFI reduced the seating when they renovated, during my 1,000+ visits here when Warner’s owned it, the capacity was approx. 1,000 seats. Later, under KB ownership, it was sometimes used for first runs — because of its size and location. For example, when the KB Cinema was swarmed with people wanting to see THE EXORCIST, KB ordered another print and played it at the Silver.

I agree totally that on website, AFI should identify which film is in the historic auditorium!!

As to the Avalon, under various management over the years, that theater has always specified Avalon 1 (the beautiful huge downstairs auditorium) or Avalon 2 (upstairs). I'v seen a movie upstairs since the nonprofit community tookover, and it isn’t inappropriate for an arthouse film. It isn’t a huge auditorium or screen, but it has been refurbished as comfortable as possible. I’d rather see a movie upstairs any day than in NYC’s Lincoln Plaza.

Obviously most people using this website are interested in HISTORIC theatres. Whether “broom closets” is a fair description of the two new auditoriums sidesteps the point that AFI magnagement willfully does nothing to offer the customer a choice —– nothing to let us know which film is in the historic theatre, which is in the closet. How difficult is it to make such information available by phone? I want the AFI to be up front with customers as to what’s playing where.

In the nearby historic AVALON THEATRE, you can go to their website on any given day, or prior day, to find out what film is in the historic theatre and which is in the broom closet upstairs —– although they call the broom closet Avalon #2, that’s OK. The AFI are control freaks and would never do anything so helpful or honest.

The ‘shake’ that I speak of is when they play any trailer (film) especially the THX sound one, that usually precedes the main attraction. Since they didn’t play it for 2001, there wasn’t any shake.

I am in totally agreement with you about the other theaters here. I’ll take the AFI ‘broom closets’ over anything that their neighbor Consilidated has (and believe me they aren’t as good) or the nearby Regal Rockville 13, or the shoebox AMC White Flint 5 anytime anyday. Though to be perfectly honest, I’ve never watched a movie in the smallest AFI auditorium (lucky me).

I wish the AFI would play other 70mm movies than this film and “Lawrence of Arabia.” With their pull and industry contacts and affiliation, they should be able to do better for us east coast moviefans. We’re treated like step children here! And, yes, I’ve written to them to no avail. The last time they played “West Side Story,” “Sound of Music” and “Mary Poppins”(?) they were all in 35mm.

I happened to catch “2001: A Space Odyssey” this past Saturday to an almost sold out crowd of almost 400 that started a little late. The only vacant seats I could see were in the very first row. Management was kind enough to start the line and keep the crowd indoors and snake them around the lobby.

The presentation, itself, was very professional as they closed the curtain during the overture dimming the house lights. They also had the intermission with music..well, that 60s shreiking piece they played during the Stargate Corridor sequence. A Manager introduced the show and talked up AFI membership, but like in previous intros, they do so with the enthusiasm of visiting a proctologist. Maybe it was me since I sat in the very last row, but his voice ran fast and over the speel about joining AFI..blah blah blah. He made no mention about this particular movie as part of Kubrick’s body of work and how/why it is considered one of the best movies of all time. Or, at least explain the fact that the movie was in 70mm and how it is different from regular 35mm presentations. I say this since there were a lot of younger people (some probably no older than 6) in the audience, who probably have never seen a 70mm projected film in their lives.

The film had some scratches at the intro and at the start of the “To the Infinite and Beyond” sequence. Now, the close up of the bioreadouts of the crew before Hal killed them, looked grainy and dull to me. It made me wonder if this was a true 70mm print, or blow up, or 35mm? I suspect this print has been in circulation for awhile probably since the ‘01 rerelease. The soundtrack had an annoying tapping noise during Bowman’s rescue of Poole and proceeded up through the end of Hal’s disconnection. Other than that, the sound was full and encompassing. They played no trailers, whatsoever, not even the usual THX sound one.

On Sunday, 2-19, I was among over 400 attendees, to celebrate a birthday for Merv Conn (87), a local and very popular Accordionist, with some short films and live performances. This was a real treat as they showed some old films that showed what was Glen Echo Park and the old Trolleys that ran up through 1962…way, way before I was even born! I never knew Silver Spring had them but it was fascinating to see where they ran even though most of the tracks cannot be seen on the roads today. The live music was terrific that accompanied the silent color films. The 50 min HD video tribute to Merv Conn was played to the delight of the audiences, but I think that the director edited his interviews of his subject in a way that made him look like a buffoon. The man is 87 years old for pete’s sake and its a given that he’s going to be a little slow and hard of hearing!

All-in-all, its great to have a venue like the Silver to celebrate the arts both on film and live! Bravo!

I was planning on making a trip down from Harrisburg Pennsylvania. If not being able to see a movie in the original auditorium and see the beautiful lobby. I will not attend. Thank you rivjr for saving me a trip.