A night at the movies

Jerry Williams, senior projectionist at Wood Theater, cuts and splices trailers together for upcoming attractions before the evening’s screening.

Residents pull off great escape at Wood Theater

Eric Miller and his wife watch movies at Fort Belvoir’s Wood Theater at least twice a week, so they have their movie watching rituals. They always get popcorn and they always sit in a middle row on the left side of the theater.

As a former journalist, Miller comes to the movies to watch the stories with his wife who works on the installation as a civilian.

“I go to the movies to both escape reality, and to get a good dose of reality. I’m a former journalist, so I love telling and hearing stories — and movies offer a huge variety of stories,” said Miller, a former Air Force administrative specialist. “They also offer a great way to learn about the world we live in — to see places, characters, and situations we have never encountered. Some movies also can get us thinking, tending to either validate or cause us to reconsider our long-held philosophies or opinions on weighty subjects.”

The theater was recently remodeled in a record breaking 38 days. The most noticeable difference is the large purple seats. It also received new carpeting, curtains, a snack bar and a Dolby Digital sound system.

“The customers love it,” said John Murphy, food operations manager at Army and Air Force Exchange Services. “It’s like walking into a different world.”

Wood Theater was named after Lt. Col. Eleazer D. Wood in 1976. Wood was born in Massachusetts in 1783 and served in the Corps of Engineers during several battles in the War of 1812.

The building is dedicated to his memory because in 1814, while commanding a column of 900 men in sorties from Fort Erie, he was mortally wounded, becoming the first and only engineer officer to die in combat in the War of 1812, according to Installation Historian Gustav Person.

Movies show in the theater Thursday through Sunday starting at 7p.m. and cost $3.50 for adults and $1.75 for children 12 and under. There are also matinees on Saturday and Sunday, depending on party bookings.

Besides regular movie showings, the theater is also used for special presentations and private birthday parties for children and teens.

Movies show in the theater about four to six weeks after they are released at off post theaters.

For show times, call (703) 806-5237, to book a party, call Murphy at (703) 806-5808.