Crown Theatres Annapolis Mall Cinema 4
2002 Annapolis Mall,
Annapolis,
MD
21401
2002 Annapolis Mall,
Annapolis,
MD
21401
2 people
favorited this theater
Showing 11 comments
Yes. Babbages! The JC Penney is still there I think. We called it Jacques Pené.
Seeing the ends of movies over and over was one of the perks/curse of being an usher.
I saw many unpopular movies their opening (and only) weekend in the small theater: Swing Kids, Mr. Destiny, Crazy People, Brain Donors, The Player (too arty for Annapolis at the time)… but I also slept on Total Recall, Toy Soldiers and Predator 2 long enough that I only caught them in the small one. I love to picture Back to the Future playing in the large house all summer and working its way down.
If you want a really old memory, next to the department store (JC Penny?) there was a computer store, Babbage’s, where I bought all my PC games as a kid. That corner of the mall was one stop shopping for me!
My memories is fuzzy on some stuff, but I do remember Jade Tree. I did not know they were the same owner. I could have sworn the carry out was called Panda Express, at least eventually.
That small house on the right was the place where big hit movies died. Sometime it was the last stop for the movies that never quite found an audience. I remember that house running ‘Back to the Future’ long after everyone had seen it at least once. I sat in there many times to watch it again. I must have seen it 13 times before it was finally gone, and I saw the ending countless times.
Checking the print after closing was fun. I’d hope they still check digital, since it’s not without problems.
The Chinese places across the way were locally owned. Jade Tree was their sit down restaurant. They had a fast food version next door and I wish I could remember what they called it. Mm, Boardwalk Fries.
The Tilt Arcade was fun. Interesting the mall had two arcades at opposite ends, but the location next to the theater was probably beneficial. There was a story in the late ‘90s of a robbery at the arcade.
I always had a soft spot for the tiny theater, first door on the right.
Sorry to say that the one above is the only photo I have. I do remember eating food from the Panda Express across the way (and Boardwalk Fries) many times. I also remember the arcade next door VERY well.
When we showed Tim Burton’s Batman, there was a lot of excitement. The marketing on that movie really built on something that was already highly anticipated. Tickets were not hard to get the first few weeks if you arrived early enough, came to a Monday-Wednesday showing, or you were willing to wait in long lines.
We received the print a few days before it opened. I had a screening for TWO people that Wednesday night/Thursday morning well after hours; myself and a friend. I had a hard time staying awake. I didn’t find the movie that compelling, but it was still fun to see it before the general public…a great perk back in the day. This is mostly impossible now since everything has gone digital and requires a code be entered.
Thanks, rrrobinsonjr. Here’s a really random question for you. Does your stash include any shots from the opposite direction of the Chinese restaurants across the way, or the Tilt arcade next door?
Do you remember Batman showing there in ‘89? Was it just insane? I recall I couldn’t get in to see it for weeks, but that may be my childhood memory playing tricks.
The photo is from early December of 1983. I dated it from the posters which I listed in the photo description. This theater WAS first. The 11 house theater came much later. And the theater wasn’t so much ‘demolished’ as it was ‘built-over’. It was opened in 1980 along with the mall itself.
I do recall the family movies shown in house number 4 (the largest one). I vaguely remember running The Little Price (1974 version).
I left before it became Apex, but I remember the Harbor 9. I don’t think I ever saw a movie there as I lived out of state for most of its run.
This is fantastic! Looks like it was Christmas. Glad you saved it and would love to hear about your time there. I worked for Apex at Harbor 9 in the ‘90s.
Do you recall a family movie series on weekends? My parents took me every week. Hope you find more in your stash!
I added the only photo I have. I started working there about a year later. This photo was among the junk lying around during my time there (1984-1989). I’m glad I saved it.
My old childhood movie theater. I remember in the early ‘80s they used to have family movies on weekends. I remember when the big theater first got DTS sound, it was incredible. Always had a soft spot for that one tiny theater, first door on the right.
Anyone have pics of this one?
I think the description is incorrect. The 4 interior theaters were open well after the one above the food court opened. Not sure exactly when, but I’m guessing it was the early 00s, most likely before the first Qualcom DP projector was put in #11, which was for ‘Star Wars Eps II: Attack of the Clones, in '02.
Crown operated both venues, to be bought out by BowTie in ‘06 or so.
I vaguely remember the theaters here, but never saw a movie inside. I believe seeing marquee titles and digital sound in some, maybe 2 of the 4. The DTS logo being seen as a sound format. Since the 4 were in the middle of the mall, I suspect they were more of the shoebox variety then anything grand by way of design or special projection systems. Definitely, no 70mm. 35mm for sure.