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Home » Theater Guide » Location » United States » Maryland » Bethesda » Bethesda Theatre
Also known as BORO Theatre

Bethesda Theatre

Bethesda, MD
7719 Wisconsin Avenue
, Bethesda, MD 20814 United States
(map)
Status: Open
Screens: Single Screen
Style: Art Deco
Function: Live Performances
Seats: 949
Chain: Unknown
Architect: John Eberson
Firm: Unknown
Bethesda Theatre
Exterior view from the early 1990's of the Bethesda Theatre Cafe
Photo courtesy of Martin McCaffery
Opened on May 19, 1938 as the BORO Theatre, the movie house changed its name just a year later to the Bethesda Theatre. It kept this name and operated continuously until the early 1980's, when it closed.

In 1983, the historic theater was purchased, renovated, and reopened as the Bethesda Cinema 'N Drafthouse. In addition to watching a movie, moviegoers could feast on a steady diet of pizza, sandwiches, and beer. In the early-1990's, the Bethesda changed its name again to the Bethesda Theatre Cafe, to bring more families and adults to its seats.

The Bethesda closed when construction of a new hi-rise began above the cinema, but in 2007 it re-opened for live shows.

Related Websites

Bethesda Theatre (Official)
Contributed by Ross Melnick

YOUR COMMENTS

 
The Bethesda Theatre is doing very well indeed under all the construction. The current owners are working diligently with the historic architects and the theatre marquee itself is currently being restored to a snapshot in time immediately after the theatre changed from BORO to Bethesda some 63 years ago.

The steel erected over the theatre to support the apartment complex is unreal. It was designed so that there will be no weight placed upon the theatre itself.

It is anticipated that the completely restored marquee will be reinstalled sometime between August 15 and October 15 subject to the current construction conditions. I'll send new photos of the completed marquee when ready.
posted by PaulDrury on Jun 8, 2002 at 10:01am
As a kid in the 40's and 50's, we went to we see a lot of movie's there. Please bring her back!

Thank you Fred
posted by Unknown user on Nov 5, 2003 at 5:40am
As a movie theatre the Bethesda Theatre seated 949 people.
posted by William on Nov 21, 2003 at 9:40am
A circa-1940s photograph of the Bethesda/Boro's beautiful Art Moderne auditorium can be found at this link. From the Library of Congress.
posted by Bryan Krefft on Dec 15, 2003 at 5:56pm
The address for the Bethesda Tehatre is 7719 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Md.
posted by Chuck1231 on Mar 6, 2004 at 8:04pm
Will this theater reopen? Does anyone know a time schedule?
posted by BeltwayBrian on May 24, 2005 at 2:38pm
National Register information & photo:
http://adsw.org/site/MD/Bethesda/WisconsinAve/7719/status-1999-02.html
posted by TC on Sep 27, 2005 at 2:59am
Here is a photo:
http://www.roadsidenut.com/beth204.jpg
posted by ken mc on Jan 21, 2006 at 2:47pm
Added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1999

Bethesda Theatre (added 1999 - Building - #99000133)
Also known as Boro Theatre
7719 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda
Historic Significance: Event, Person, Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Woodmont Development Co., Eberson, John
Architectural Style: Art Deco
Historic Person: Lust, Sidney
Significant Year: 1938
Area of Significance: Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Recreation And Culture

posted by Lost Memory on Jan 3, 2007 at 9:39am
what's up with this theatre? I thought there was mention/rumour that it would reopen after the adjacent new apartments were completed as a complex for 'live theatre'/touring productions like 'Blue Man Group'.
posted by Giles on May 31, 2007 at 5:54am
This is a recent photo of the former Bethesda Theater building.

posted by Lost Memory on Jun 21, 2007 at 4:36pm
looks like it's haunted to me
posted by cinalpvill on Sep 5, 2007 at 4:03pm
The theatre is reopening October 8, with the 'live' production of the longest running off-broadway musical "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change"
posted by Giles on Sep 6, 2007 at 6:29am
Here is a website for the Bethesda Theater.

posted by Lost Memory on Sep 6, 2007 at 10:34am
This is great news. I thought the front was just a facade leftover from what was the theater and that if you were to go past the doors, you'd be in the apartment complex! I guess I was wrong! I'm looking foward to checking out this place when it does open.
posted by JodarMovieFan on Sep 6, 2007 at 8:58pm
I saw about 2 dozen movies at this fine theatre during its heyday. One thing: Most theatres back then discounted their matinees by about 30%, but not Sidney Lust Theaters, hence not the Bethesda. I was in high school and usually near broke, so paying the higher price wasn't easy. These days kids are rich and don't care about prices, but learning thrift young has made me very wealthy.
posted by rlvjr on Oct 6, 2007 at 9:14pm
This is a close-up view of the Bethesda Theater.

posted by Lost Memory on Dec 27, 2007 at 7:02pm
Here, here, and here are photos from January 2008 of the Bethesda Theatre.
posted by JackCoursey on Jan 12, 2008 at 7:58am
I spent nearly every Saturday for several years of my childhood (the 60's) in this theater. My mother would give me from 75 cents to a dollar and I would pay 50 cents for a double feature (usually old monster or Sci-Fi movies) and spend the rest of the loot on popcorn and candy. Kids from blocks around would come and spend their Saturday in the same place. It was here that I first learned to cope with fear. The first time I saw a monster feature there, I was frightened like I always prevously had been at monster movies. I was amazed to see that the other kids were laughing instead of being afraid. Pretty soon I started laughing with every one else. The Bethesda is where I learned to overcome fear (of monsters) as a child. This theater meant a lot to me.
posted by cshartsis on Mar 22, 2009 at 6:32am
1976 photo of the Bethesda Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c20%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=12&ProductID=28072
posted by Chuck1231 on Apr 16, 2009 at 11:16am
Here is a 1984 photo of the Cinema 'N' Drafthouse which should be an aka name.

posted by Lost Memory on May 23, 2009 at 5:48am
1988 Photo

posted by Lost Memory on May 31, 2009 at 6:13pm
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