Congressional 5 Cinemas

question: I’m not seeing a listing for the Roth Seven Lock’s twin theater on Tuckerman Lane – in the strip mall that has the Giant. Is it not listed here?

I worked at the K-B Congressional 5 when it opened. It was located at 1631 Rockville Pike Rockville Maryland at the Congressional Plaza. It was in the spot where ULTA Salon & Cosmetics is located ( as of 12/2010). The concession stand and box office were combined into a long white formica island. At the front was the box office counter with two spots for cashiers. After a customer purchased a ticket they were roped into waking down either concession side (left or right). The concession stand had heaters on the counter the held pre filled popcorn tubs. This was the time when popcorn was sold in tubs not bags. There were bubblers that held, mixed and displayed pink or yellow lemonade. At the end of the counter were cashiers on each side.The stairs to go down were located after the end of the counter. There was a spectacular painting over the stairwell that the owner bought overseas to display in the theatre. The lobby had a blue carpet with a pattern that was glued to a concrete floor. The opening of the theater was delayed because it was discovered that the back two or three rows of seats in each theater were too low and the customers would not be able to see the screen. The contractor had to remove the seats and add foam then concrete to get the seats higher. Theater 3 was the smallest auditorium. There were often traffic jams emptying Theaters 2,3,and 4 because the patrons would have to exit through the lobby where other patrons were waiting or coming in.

I am pretty sure this was in the same plaza as Tower Records… I remember seeing movies here and then going to Tower, which was always open late and then going to eat at the pizza joint.

All right, I know I posted something about this place and its GONE again. So, here it goes. I remember seeing Footloose with my friends at this theater. As far as to the layout of the place, it is rather vague. I’m thinking that the auditoriums were of similar size and had speakers all over the theater. I remember when Deniece Williams' sang Lets Hear it For the Boy, both during the movie and during the end credits, you could hear her harmony and other instruments from different parts of the theater. Very nice.

I’m thinking I saw Unforgiven here as well. Of course, that film wasn’t an aural experience but more of a dramatically engaging for me after the first 1/3 of the movie.