bigjoe59 — Yes. There are a couple of other second-run theaters, and the Air & Space Museum does do 1st run features on the Imax screen, but the Uptown is the only non-museum single screen 1st run movie theater in DC. I think.
Mikeoaklandpark & moviebuff82 — AMC doesn’t own the Uptown. They lease it from the Pedas family, which used to run it (along with many other DC movie houses) up till the 1980s. Not sure when the lease is up or how well AMC does with it. It’s a bit of a mystery. When I go, there’s usually a good-size crowd but sometimes it’s pretty empty, and it’s been years since I’ve seen it full.
My understanding is that one of the Pedas Brothers (who used to run the Circle) owns the Uptown, not AMC. A long time ago, when the brothers closed the Circle, they promised to reopen it — and they did, sort of, via the Foundry and Jenifer discount theaters. But it was never quite the same; the spirit of the Circle just wasn’t there. I know they’re probably ancient by now, and that they support local theaters (always see their names onscreen at the AFI before the movies) but I think they still owe the moviegoing public on that old promise — I have one friend who is still holding onto his Circle ticket book for just that day. They can start with a double bill of “Picnic at Hanging Rock” and “The Last Wave”. Who’s with me?
Hi Piddy — What is your source for the $300 figure? It does seem low, especially given the Avalon advertises a $275 rental for two hours of use of their small upstairs theatre, in the morning. Thanks.
Yes, they’ve put it together with the Cleveland Park Business Association: https://www.cpcadc.org/wp-content/uploads/WEEKEND-MORNING-SHOWS.pdf
bigjoe59 — Yes. There are a couple of other second-run theaters, and the Air & Space Museum does do 1st run features on the Imax screen, but the Uptown is the only non-museum single screen 1st run movie theater in DC. I think.
Mikeoaklandpark & moviebuff82 — AMC doesn’t own the Uptown. They lease it from the Pedas family, which used to run it (along with many other DC movie houses) up till the 1980s. Not sure when the lease is up or how well AMC does with it. It’s a bit of a mystery. When I go, there’s usually a good-size crowd but sometimes it’s pretty empty, and it’s been years since I’ve seen it full.
I remember, too — also Lawrence of Arabia, Casablanca, and Wizard of Oz. I think that was during the period it wasn’t being leased by a conglomerate.
My understanding is that one of the Pedas Brothers (who used to run the Circle) owns the Uptown, not AMC. A long time ago, when the brothers closed the Circle, they promised to reopen it — and they did, sort of, via the Foundry and Jenifer discount theaters. But it was never quite the same; the spirit of the Circle just wasn’t there. I know they’re probably ancient by now, and that they support local theaters (always see their names onscreen at the AFI before the movies) but I think they still owe the moviegoing public on that old promise — I have one friend who is still holding onto his Circle ticket book for just that day. They can start with a double bill of “Picnic at Hanging Rock” and “The Last Wave”. Who’s with me?
Hi Piddy — What is your source for the $300 figure? It does seem low, especially given the Avalon advertises a $275 rental for two hours of use of their small upstairs theatre, in the morning. Thanks.