| Maryland Suburbs By Matt Slovick Washingtonpost.com Staff August 2001 | ||
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Egyptian 24 Theaters (Muvico), Hanover
This is the largest all-stadium-seating venue in the region with 24 auditoriums, four of which have 60-foot screens and seat 500. What makes this venue unique to the area is a large children's playroom. For the price of an adult ticket, a child (age 3 to 8) is supervised while parents attend a film. The concession stand features traditional choices along with quesadillas, popcorn shrimp and pizza. Gourmet coffees as well as frozen coffee drinks can be purchased. Valet parking is available for $4.
 Many seats at the Rockville theater have retractable arm rests that create a love seat.(Craig Cola/washingtonpost.com) |
This Rockville theater features all stadium seating and all digital sound. What makes it unique? It's underground. After purchasing a ticket, which can be done with any major credit card, moviegoers take an escalator or elevator down to the theaters. Some arm rests in each house retract to create love seats. The lobby has a coffee cafe, which includes baked treats. The Rockville Metro stop is a block away, and the adjacent parking lot validates for moviegoers.
Annapolis Mall (Crown)
Crown closed its cookie-cutter variety auditoriums inside the mall and opened a new stand-alone 11-screen complex with stadium seating and digital sound adjacent to the mall in July 2000. The contruction included a new parking garage
Kentlands Stadium 8, Gaithersburg
It's the first stadium-seating theater built by an independent owner in the region, but the design is familiar. The smallest of the suburban stadium-seating venues also has wall-to-wall screens, all digital sound, comfortable high-back seats and free parking.
 Snowden Square has stadium seating in all of its 14 theaters. (Craig Cola/ washingtonpost.com) |
The region's first all-stadium-seating facility opened in December 1997. It has quite a one-two punch two 500-seat houses with 58-foot screens. The lobby is roomy, pizza is served at the concession stand and the large lot has plenty of free parking. People waiting to get into the theaters can watch trailers on a large screen high on a wall in the lobby.
Bowie Crossing Cinemas 14 (Hoyts), Bowie
This Hoyts facility in Bowie is similar to the venue in Linthicum. It also has stadium seating, all digital sound and a coffee cafe. One noticeable convenience here is the total number or restrooms eight for women and four for men. And many of the restrooms have diaper-changing stations. Parking is free and plentiful.
Rio 18 (Loews), Gaithersburg
The renovation on this complex ended in November 2000. The former 14-screen multiplex now has 18 theaters that all include stadium seating and digital sound. The multiplex is part of Washingtonian Center, which includes a number of restaurants. And food from the coffee cafe is allowed inside the theater.
West Nursery Cinemas 14 (Hoyts), Linthicum
Besides its stadium seating and digital sound, the facility also features a coffee bar, which is standard in Hoyts' new theaters. The menu includes specialized flavors, espresso, cool drinks like Smoothies, cookies and brownies. Its two largest screens measure 50 feet across. Plenty of free parking is available in the large lot.
Centerpark 8 (Loews), Calverton
The eight theaters are not huge but none is small at Centerpark, which was built in 1993. The seating capacity ranges from 250 to 380, and all theaters have large screens. Its two biggest theaters have earned THX certification, which means the sound can't get any better. Parking is free.
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