Uptown Theatre
3426 Connecticut Avenue NW,
Washington,
DC
20008
3426 Connecticut Avenue NW,
Washington,
DC
20008
60 people
favorited this theater
Showing 76 - 100 of 592 comments
this theater most definitely does NOT need reclining seats, recliners while comfortable would cheapen it in my opinion. Laser projection is paramount in boosting both the illumination of the image, and having the colors better pop.
JodarMovieFan, 2001 will definitely this time not have the scenes cut after world premiere restored- they’d have announced such. There’s been discussion online that this print isn’t likely from original negative either, but it will likely still look awesome. http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2018/03/not-so-fast-on-that-70mm-2001-mastering/
Hello-
I wish people would stop equating being able to reserve seats online with traditional roadshow engagements from the prime Sept. 1952 to Dec. 1972 period.
AMC should renovate this theater with reclining seats in the near future so it’s up to date with other DC area AMCs that have gone through the process. They should also use reserved seating just like it did when 2001 came out in that format.
The (San Francisco) Castro Theatre’s website lists 2001 as also opening May 18 for 9 days with a 70mm print. 2001
If they do show 2001 here, it will probably be in 4K. I haven’t been here since Dreamgirls, which I believe was 2K DP. One would think 4K would be better but my memory of the DP presentations here were that they tended to be darker.
In70mm reports a new 70mm print made from the original negative, so you know it doesn’t get much better than that. Although, I wonder if that means the cut scenes are also restored.. :)
On the other hand, if they did a IMAX version and showed it at one of the Smithsonian venues…now THAT would be quite immersive. I think I’d get motion sickness rewatching some the scenes that involved anti-grav or earth-orbit shots that go in circles.
Since I assist with both websites, I will note that 3 theaters have announced- in Chicago (Music Box), NYC (Village East), and Boston area (Sommerville). There are all great historic theaters though without Uptown’s huge curved screen. We look forward to updating the list when announcements are made. I’d expect AFI Silver to likely show this sometime. http://www.in70mm.com/now_showing/index.htm
I can’t find any officially announcements online with the schedule for the 50th Anniversary Screenings of 2001: A Space Odyssey in May. Since this is where it all started, I’d love to make the pilgrimage to DC and see it here. I haven’t reached out to AMC directly…does anyone on this forum have any intel?
@ Howard: AMC for whatever reason removed the left/center, and right/center channels out from behind the screen, but retained the original center and left/right speakers, they’re still there, but the original cinerama configuration is gone.
@ veyoung52 – yes in the 90’s 6-track split stereo surround became the standard, but Sony also it’s 8-channel mixing, cinema presentation that brought back the five stage channels, and boy did it sound glorious.
if AMC were to ever consider integrating/renovating the Uptown’s sound system to feature Dolby Atmos, reinstalling the left/center and right/center is paramount as Atmos does recommend the two additional speakers for especially wide screen dimensions (Arclight Bethesda for example is five front [plus bass] on it’s Atmos,‘widescreen’ screen)
Here’s the link to a new article on roadshow and large format presentations in Washington, DC, which includes numerous mentions of the Uptown.
Showcase Presentations in Washington, DC
The piece is a work in progress, so please don’t hesitate to offer up any useful feedback.
Just in time for the big anniversary, here’s a new retrospective article on Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey.” The Uptown and lots of other cinemas get mentioned in the piece.
Still the Ultimate Trip: Remembering “2001: A Space Odyssey” on its 50th Anniversary
Yup.
Happy Birthday, “2001: A Space Odyssey!”
Howard – 70mm used to have five backstage speakers: Left, Left/Center, Center, Center/Right, and Right. The mixers eventually used those channels on the prints for subwoofers, so many theatres took them out.
Channels two and four in six-track mixes and their associated loudspeaker placements became obsolete in the nineties.
Weinstein installed the 70MM equipment for Hateful 8. Warner Bros bought most of it when Dunkirk was coming out last summer. I highly doubt that any of the equipment would be removed from a theatre somewhere to be installed here.
Giles, are you saying there is only a center channel behind the screen? and, left and right speakers exist but to the actual left and right of the screen?
It would be cool if the curtain’s motor would be replaced or fixed so a curtain could be used again including classics like 2001 in 70mm…..the way I saw it the last time, in the year 2001.
^^ while they’re at it put back the left/center, right/center speakers behind the screen that were removed years ago.
WB installed 70mm in several theatres to show The Hateful Eight. How cool if they would do that at the Uptown for 2001. Just dreaming.
Thanks, JodarMovieFan. I should have realized the 70mm projectors would be gone. It would be so great to see it again on a real Cinerama screen – unless they got rid of that too?
Bill, that would be so awesome. On the other hand, the 70mm projectors are gone, so if they do decide to show it here, it would be in 4K Digital. The only other close 70mm auditoriums would be the AFI Silver (so so past presentations), Library of Congress and maybe the MPAA theater(?).
Does anyone know if the Uptown is planning to show “2001: A Space Odyssey” during its 50th anniversary year? In 1993, the 25th anniversary, they showed it for a week. The movie had its world premiere at the Uptown on April 2nd, 1968.
apparently there was a December edition with ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ and ‘Elf’ – who knew ?? (I’m slipping here). For the record last weekend’s movie was ‘Sing’ (I love that movie).
Yes, they’ve put it together with the Cleveland Park Business Association: https://www.cpcadc.org/wp-content/uploads/WEEKEND-MORNING-SHOWS.pdf
Big (1988) at 10 AM today at the Uptown. Is there a family classic series on weekend mornings?