After closing in March 2020, the historic Washington DC Uptown Theater is finally on track to reopen. Sandro Kereslidze and Tatiana Pastukhova, who recently purchased the Uptown, hope to continue the theater’s long-standing legacy and impact on the Cleveland Park Community.
As founders of the DC-based Artechouse, Pastukhova, and Kereselidze have always been inspired by and passionate about the arts. Their Artechouse exhibition is dedicated to leading immersive digital art productions by groundbreaking artists. The two are prepared to expand the cinematic experience at the Uptown.
AMC, the world’s largest theater movie chain, acquired the theater in 2005. However, their long-standing lease on the building expired during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the extreme economic struggles the industry was experiencing at the time, the company chose not to renew its contract for the Uptown building. Once roaring with film, culture, and life, the theater now lies barren on Connecticut Avenue, a relic of its former glory.
The Uptown Theater first opened its doors in 1936, notable not only for its liveliness and beauty but also for innovations in film. The theater underwent a renovation to accommodate a wrap-around screen using a three-screen projector with a new high 70mm resolution. Making waves in the technological field, the Uptown also hosted an array of world premieres, from the original Star Wars in 1977 to Jurassic Park in 1993.
The theater maintained its status as a center for Washingtonians to celebrate film, culture, and art for decades. Despite thinning crowds in the 2000s, the Uptown still managed to draw masses of fans who camped out in front of the theater for screenings of the Star Wars prequels. Viewers and fanatics relished returning to the cinema to watch the newest chapter in the Star Wars saga in such a historic landmark, honoring the theater’s connection to the original trilogy.
Although the 84-year-old cinema has since closed, spectators can find peace knowing the theater’s revival is on the horizon. Expecting the reopening to be a multi-million dollar pursuit, the new owners hope to bring back the glamor of the Uptown Theater and rekindle its role as a community gathering place.
While there is yet to be a confirmed timeline for when the cinema will reopen, the landmark building is prepared to return years after its extinction. The Uptown Theater’s rebirth holds a promise not only to restore a historic venue but to infuse the Cleveland Park area with a fresh artistic vision that respects its legendary past. •
