Last night I went to the newly opened West End Cinema and sat next to some veterans of the independent movie scene in D.C. Listening to them reminisce about the theater options back in the day made me wonder what had happened to all of those theaters. I soon found Cinema Treasures: a great catalog of all of the theaters that had existed in D.C.

Can you believe that 111 theaters have opened (and most closed) in the District? Only 7 major theaters are open today, and sadly, most of them are multiplexes that only show blockbusters.

While there is no way for me to go through the history of the 97 closed movie theaters, here are some of the standouts.

The Biograph, at 2819 M Street NW in Georgetown, existed inside an old auto dealership. Opened in 1976 and closed in 1996, the theater will be remembered for, among other things, its odd ticketing system: after purchasing a ticket you got an old metal token to get through a turnstile into the theater. Like many old movie theaters, the Biograph is now a CVS.

Washingtonians gave the Janus 3, at 1660 Connecticut Avenue NW in Dupont Circle, the nickname the “Heinous Janus” because of the theater’s shabby decor and a column in the center of one of the theaters. Opened in 1965 and closed in 2002, the Janus 3 screened lesser-known independent and avant-garde films. The Janus 3 is now larger building that hosts the restaurant Sette Osteria.

Many considered the Trans-Lux, pictured above at 738 14th Street NW, the most elegant art deco theater in D.C. Opened in 1936 and closed in 1975, the Trans-Lux was a classy theater to see a film in. During the last years of its operation, the Trans-Lux was renamed the Town II Theatre. Sadly, it was demolished in 1975.

Have memories of other now closed movie theaters? Please share them in the comments.