February, 2001.

The Cinema Lounge Discussion Group:
Past, Present, and Future of DC Theaters

On January 8, 2001, Cinema Lounge met to discuss the past, present and future of DC theaters. With the help of special guest Bob Headley, who wrote Motion Picture Exhibition in Washington, DC: An Illustrated History of Parlors, Palaces and Multiplexes in the Metropolitan Area, 1894-1997, we received an in-depth lesson in theaters of bygone days. From tiny theaters of the silent era, like the Pickwick on 9th and Pennsylvania that seated only 160 people to the movie palaces of the 1920s like The Capitol Theater on 13th and F Streets, Washington has seen its fair share of theaters come and go. Attendees agreed that sometimes the theater makes the movie. What would Independence Day be if we didn't see the White House explode on the massive screen at the Uptown?

Also on hand was Jonathan Zuck from Visions to give us the lowdown on the present and future of theaters. Jonathan discussed everything from competing against theater chains for films to creating an enticing menu to lure folks away from the restaurant-heavy Dupont Circle. We further discussed the opening of the Muvico Egyptian 24 in Arundel Mills near Hanover, MD. Done in an Egyptian theme, this theater boasts ornate columns and imposing statues of Rah. It prompted one attendee to compare it not to the movie palaces of the 1920s, but to the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas.

Join us on February 12, the evening before the Oscar nominations are announced, as we try to guess who will be nominated in all the major categories. Before you get too creative and cocky, remember, Bob Hope, who is now officially older than dirt, still votes. As always, we will meet at 7:30 p.m. at Borders Books, 5333 Wisconsin Avenue NW, in the Café Espresso on the 2nd floor. Hope to see you there.

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