Wisconsin Avenue Cinemas
4000 Wisconsin Avenue NW,
Washington,
DC
20016
4000 Wisconsin Avenue NW,
Washington,
DC
20016
5 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 48 of 48 comments
Actually, Cineplex Odeon entered the the DC market in 1986, when it acquired the local NTI chain of suburban houses. A few years later CO took over the Pedas Circle/Showcase group. Wisc. Ave. was the first to be built directly by CO.
Here is an article that discusses some of the anti-trust issues:
http://tinyurl.com/33vuwm
I would like to let all of you know that Fannie Mae Sold everything that was inside the 4000 Wisconsin Ave Theatre this past week.And now it’s empty. Fannie Mae will be building offices and Conference Center. Also the Taco bell next to the theatre closed 2 months after they closed the Wisconsin.
I would like to let you guys know that Fannie Mae will change the Wisconsin theatre into a Conference Center they will only keep theatre 4-5 as is. And the others will be office space. I have connections with Fannie Mae and Building Managers.Also Fairfax Square 8 at Tyson will close next Sunday 7/29/07. It will be a Gym.
I have great memories of 70mm here. Its good to know Fannie Mae isn’t dismantling it yet. It would be an opportunity for one of the other chains, or better yet, a well financed and dedicated cinephile to run this as a theater.
Yes, for meetings and such. I believe they are the current lease holder for the space. This is entirely speculation though.
Steve, what do you mean “control of the space”? Is Fannie Mae using the space?
As of DC Filmfest 2007…the 70mm projectors (Simplex 35/70s) still were there as was most of the “permanent” equipment. I don’t think the 70mm conversion kits remained though. I believe Fannie Mae has control of the space at this point. For the most part everything fired right back up after a little bit of TLC (and replacing some “missing” items).
My earlier notes indicate that (perhaps earlier than when closed) theater 1 had 280 seats, theaters 2 & 3 had 190 seats, 4 had 450 seats, 5 had 495 seats, and 6 had 255 seats, and that 4 & 5 had 70 mm projectors.
My later notes indicate that by 1995, 4 had 400 seats, and theater 5 had 460 seats and that this theater was 6 blocks south ofTenleytown
Actually I disagree with you JodarMovieFan. Just looking at their website, there are quite a few titles that DC hasn’t or will like not get with so few screens at the current two Landmark theatres. Movies at the ever popular Bethesda location don’t change for months. A Landmark theatre at that location is perfect for the American University students and those who don’t like to fight parking in Georgetown or downtown. Landmark could also easily add DLP units in the two former larger auditoriums (6 and 7) as well as book more mainstream popular films. Just perusing the current list of films from their website, this could include: 28 Weeks Later, Evan Almighty, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Mr. Brooks, Ocean’s Thirteen, et al (all of which will be released in the DLP format) Add a DLP-3D screen and the masses will flock (I’d go).
A Landmark Theater would be great but there is already one in DC. With the Bethesda one just up the street, I doubt the market would support another one. Mixed programming of current and classics (70mm) would be better assuming they still have their 70mm projectors.
a Landmark Theatre would be perfect for this location since DC is rather sparse on the foreign/indie film. I know the owner expressed interest that another chain reopen this theatre although I think Fannie Mae has dibs on the space.
Most of the 2007 Filmfest DC screenings in late April are being held at this location. Haven’t heard anything about its future though. Perhaps it is just sitting there until they can find a buyer who will keep it as a theater? I’m sure AMC wouldn’t have had trouble selling this space for some other purpose if they actually had the ability.
This wasn’t a bad venue. I remember attending the grand opening weekend back in ‘87 or so watching “Broadcast News” and became a favorite movie plex of mine up through the mid 90s.
Auditoriums 4 and 5 were THX certified in previous years and had 70mm capability. They had great 70mm presentations of “Die Hard,” “Star Trek V,” “Batman” and “Dick Tracy” from what I can recall. I believe they also had “Lawrence of Arabia” for a brief time after it had played the Uptown, during the late 80s or early 90s. But as 70mm releases pretty much dried up, so did my patronage of this plex. I believe the last time I saw a movie here was probably ‘00 and believed they lost THX certification in 4 and 5 as the plaques and trailers were gone. The 'experience’ and movie that I saw were both forgettable.
It is true there is a grand lobby for the venue, so if a new owner runs the place, they could turn it into a Bistro or Cafe. A mix of mainstream and art programming (classic 70mm anyone?) could make it viable again since Landmark is in Bethesda, on one end, and AMC Georgetown is at the other end of Wisconsin Ave and neither of those venues can show 70mm.
I don’t know what the specific agreement was in DC, but in other places, they were required to sell it to someone who would continue to operate it as a first-run cinema for some fixed number of years. AMC Fenway 13 in Boston, for instance, went to Regal.
he whole point was to ensure continued competition. Closing the theatre obviously doesn’t achieve that.
I thought AMC was required, by anti-trust agreement with the government, to sell this, not close it?
Are they really closing the uptown?
I saw the theatre on the last day of closing 11/30/06. AMC left every thing behind. Donohoe ask to leave every thing. Theatre 1 seats 250,theatre 2,3 seats 164 each, theatre 4 seats 398,theatre 5 seats 450, theatre 6 seats 215. I would to see this theatre Reopen. If you book it right it can make money and Kick AMC butt.
There are no movies listed today, so apparently closed. Below online from the Washington Post:
The old stand-by on one of Northwest D.C.’s main thoroughfares.
Editorial Review
This six-screener opened in December 1987, and boasts good-size houses, great sound and parking in an adjacent garage. Theaters 4 and 5 are the largest with seating capacities of 450 and 495, respectively. Both theaters can show films in SDDS and DTS, thus earning the THX certification. None of the others is terribly small; seating ranges from 190 to 280. Unlike the older Cineplex Odeons, the lobby here provides a large waiting area and good-sized concession stand.
— Shesha Pancholi
today, November 30 showtimes for what I presume is last day, from AMC website:
AMC Loews Wisconsin Ave 6 Movie Times and Tickets
Date of Show: Today, Nov. 30
Let’s Go to Prison
R • 1 hr. 24 min.
4:30
A Good Year
PG-13 • 1 hr. 58 min.
1:40 I 4:25 I 7:10
Flushed Away
PG • 1 hr. 26 min.
2:05 I 4:20 I 7:25
The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
G • 1 hr. 38 min.
2:10 I 4:45 I 7:15
Flags of Our Fathers
R • 2 hr. 12 min.
1:30 I 7:00
The Prestige
PG-13 • 2 hr. 15 min.
2:00 I 5:00 I 8:00
The Departed
R • 2 hr. 29 min.
1:50 I 4:55 I 7:55
The antitrust agreement requires AMC to sell this theatre, not close it.
My photo link was previously linked to this page. I don’t know why it went missing:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/howardbhaas/77637685/
Antitrust concerns upon merger seemed to be ensuring competition, but there won’t be competition in much of Washington D.C. (outside of downtown-Union Station) won’t exist if the theater closes and AMC retains Mazza Gallerie and Georgetown.
I would like everyone to know that the 4000 Wisconsin theatre will close on November 30,2006. Someone who works for Donohoe show me a letter that AMC sent to Donohoe. Also I heard that AMC will close the Uptown soon, no date on when.