This is very sad. Very sad indeed. This theater is iconic. I'm sorry to see it go. I've really enjoyed seeing movies there.

It's a shame that this will no longer be a theater. It's the perfect location for second run and silent films w live piano, a la the Naro theater in Norfolk.

Being old and rundown doesn't make something iconic. This was a terrible place to see movies - from rude staff forcing everyone to buy a drink before they're allowed into the theatre, to a rude owner lecturing the audience for 15 minutes before starting the show. People who never went shouldn't feel bad that they won't be able to go now that it's closed - they didn't miss out on anything.

The Old Town Theater has been a theater since 1913, starting as a vaudeville theater. I was involved in a group that wished to purchase it and run it as a non-profit. Where is the city on this? Will the Mayor and City Counil let the theater be redeveloped into a chain store? We are spending 250 million on a Metro Station in Potomac Yards, couldn’t the city afford to purchase the theater so that it can remain a performance venue on the East End of the City, and lease it to a non-profit, with the agreement that they would raise the money to restore it and run the programming. It does not have to be movies, but it should remain a performance space. The City Planning Staff and members of Conil have been aware of this pending change and it is scheduled to go to the BAR. Let’s start a petition to keep the Old Town Theater alive, and show the new owner Rob Kauffman, that there is real support for keeping the theater going. Email me at boydwalker2012@gmail.com if you would like to help.

Is there going to be a 'final showing' event? Going to see a film there was always an adventure.

This is very said news. I love this theater. It's only three blocks from my house. The speaker to the flat screen TV in the window provides a unique soundtrack to King Street.

Sorry to see it go. Never encountered any rudeness. Always looked on the drink minimum as necessary to try to keep it alive. Maybe it wasn't the best place relative to sound/picture quality but we went there to help support it and keep it open. Obviously not enough people did that. We think it will be a loss for the city if it is not retained as some sort of entertainment venue. Agree with Mr. Walker's comment above and would be more than willing to sign a petition and write to city council.

I have to agree with LRS - I went a few times with friends as we wanted to support it but we also encountered a very odd extended rant by the owner, and while I enjoy the opportunity to have a cocktail while watching a movie, for those who are non-drinkers, the mandatory drink purchase (I believe it was $4 or $5 for a bottle of water?!?) made the experience extremely overpriced. That along with the fact that we could hear most of the movie being played in the second theater along with ours meant that we haven't been back. It's a shame as it could be such a great venue.

I thought it was great that we had a local theater with first run movies...as for the mandatory drink...seriously was that really an issue? We had a local theater that you could actually get a drink at...compared to what??? An $8 small popcorn at AMC? This was not the reason the place failed..the placed failed because the owner was constantly ticked off with the city about making him jump through hoops; Showtimes seemed to be more of suggestion rather then a rule...I went several times to see a movie and it wasn't even open...heck I called the last time and the owner answered his cell phone saying he would not be back until later. Oh yes and his mandatory rants/informercials on everything from the City to how to avoid night blindless while flying helicopters in Vietnam. There may be many reasons why this theater is closing, but the first place to start is the owner and how he ran the place. A place like this requires community loyalty and to be blunt the owner successfully accomplished the opposite.

Roger Fons tried his best, but I believe a new operator could be much more succesful. Rob Kaufman has contacted me, and I hope to meet with him to see if we can find a way to keep it as a theater. But please, keep on emailing me, so we can get a list of supporters to keep it open. If you have ideas about what kind of movies or shows you would go see, why not post that or email me at boydwalker2012@gmail.com. I have already gotten a number of positive responses, so thank you.

I couldn't agree more with your comments! I can reassure you that everyone involved in the new ownership of the theater has been doing their best to find a group that is interested in renting the space for entertainment purposes. I know that Arlington DH has been approached along with the a group which owns a comedy-type venue in DC. Rest assured that everything is being done to keep the arts a part of our beautiful city.

Please feel free to email me or pass my email address along and I will be more then happy to take your suggestions to the new owners myself. Thank you for your feedback!

jenniferekaufman1@gmail.com

The Old Town Movie Theater is on the Docket at the Board of Architectural Review tonight at 7:30. This may be the only public hearing on the theater, as no hearing would be needed for retail or other changes to the interior. Rob Kaufman paid 2 miilion for the building on Dec. 28th. Here is the docket item, and staff report: http://dockets.alexandriava.gov/icons/pz/bar/ohad/cy12/011812/di05.pd...f

There are two choices according to the staff report, and that is to restore it to its original appearance or to its original movie theater appearance, so what I would suggest is that if people speak, and you can sign up there, that the building be restored for use as a theater, instead of retail. There are current and historic photos in the staff report.

You can email Jennifer Kaufman at jenniferekaufman1@gmail.com to let PMA properties know that you would like it kept as a theater. Alos I posted a new blog, inspired by the movies: http://boydwalker.blogspot.com/

I just sent this letter to the Mayor and Members of City Council. To send your own letter go to: http://www.alexandriava.gov/contactus/mailto.php

The Old Town Movie Theater at 815 an 1/2 King St. is going before the BAR this evening. Th BAR has a choice whether to urge the new owner to turn the facade into a retail front or into the original movie marquis. The Theater has been in existence since 1914, and has been a home to Vaudeville, Silent Films, and the National Puppet Theater.
Has the city or city Counil considered purchasing the building to protect it as a theater. Currently the interior is not protected and if it is turned to a retail use would probably be gutted. The prchaser Rob Kaufman paid 2 million on Dec. 28th for the Theater, one of the oldest in the area, and probaly one of the oldest in the United States. Has the city done anything to talk to the new owner about maintaining it as a performance venue.
I think that it is very important to keep a mix of uses on King St., maintian the hisotiric character of the Street, which was recently given an award byt the American Association of Planners. The theater was badly managed by the previous owner, but I believe without some intervention by the city, it will be turned irreversibly into just another retail space.

Boyd Walker
Greater Alexandia Preservation Alliance

Boyd,
We sent an e-mail to the mayor and city council in support of your position. Hopefully, they will take a thorough look at the options and retain this as a performance venue.