Flower Theatre

The Flower Theatre seated 926 people.

The Flower Theatre was conceived and designed as an integral part of a modernistic shopping center in a fashionable suburb of Washington, D.C.. It opened February 15th, 1950, was designed by John J. Zink and Frederick L.W. Moehle. Other theatres that they designed were Parkville, Northway, Senator, Ambassador all in the Baltimore area and the Capitol in Annapolis,MD, Commodore, Portsmouth, VA.
An impressive facade of light brick, limestone, and marble dominates the theatre front with display cases mounted on either side. An enclosed boxoffice is centered between two pairs of glass entrance doors. Composition walnut paleling covers the walls of the lobby, which have been adorned with mirrors and poster cases. Terrazzo strips make uo the floor and indiresct lighting is set in a plaster ceiling. Solid pale Dubonnet carpeting has been used in the foyer and throughout the rest of the house, including the second floor. On the second floor they have added a private room for parties as well as a nursery for children.

The Flower Theatre is located at 8725 Flower Ave.

(The area was also known as Takoma Park)

I used to live a few blocks down the street from this theater. If memory serves me correctly, it was twinned sometime in the late 70s. The movies I saw there were: the 1980 Star Wars reissue, 2001: A Space Odyssey (for the first time) and Clash of the Titans. I don't think the twinned theaters had stereo as there wasn't any noticeable surround sound from those films. I will never forget the comment that one patron said after seeing 2001 when he said "I will neer see this movie again!" I guess it was too cerebral for him. Even though the presentation was non-70mm and mono, it still had quite an impact on me. The theaters were then cut up into four theaters sometime in the mid 80s. The twinned theaters were already small to begin with but to have them halved again, seemed too much, but I suppose the economics of the time dictated such drastic measures.

I used to live down the block from this theater,

Tall for my age, I saw Animal House when I was 15 (1978). I think it was still a single-screen.

I lived in Langley Park and walked to the Flower to see "Scared Stiff" with Martin and Lewis on a weeknight. This was probably in 1954 or 1955.

In about 1967 or 1968, one of the backs on the chairs was missing. Little Kenny Armstrong was the unfortunate child that sat down, leaned back and his head became stuck on the glue of the seat. He was with his brother Michael Armstrong, Terry Veal, Frank Swank, Bit O'Haver, and Jack McCown observed usher Sylvester Stone-- with a chip on his shoulder and a bully at heart--- grabbed Kenny and tore his scalp off the chair. There was so much blood involved that we freaked out and the five of us swarmed over Sylvester Stallone and beat him so badly he never spoke correctly again. At the time, we all were only 12 or 13-years-old. What I remember most about that day was the 3/4 length red coat with brass buttons and gold trim that was the uniform of the ushers.

I remember watching my first movie here - it was Bambi - there was a diner and a shoe store nearby also. As a kid it was pure heaven - later in the 1980s I saw Ghost Busters there - and was sad how dirty and "old" the theatre had appeared

I also remember a boy from Northwood by the name "BlackJack" Jack McCown Jr - wonder if the previous poster was that Jack - if so - would love to talk to ya' old friend -

The original theater was twinned by just putting a big wall down the middle.( like they did at the allen. It was never twinned again. Instead they went next door to the left and put 2 theaters there you went in and there was a hall to the left . I remember that with any kind of rain you would get 3-6 inches of water in the front half of theater the side that actually faced flower avenue. But then it was a dollar house then. Movie, popcorn and soda for $3.00

I drove by the theater today and there's a big FOR LEASE sign on the marquee. Perhaps someone with an interest may want to resurrect this place to at least a twin, if not single house movie theater again.

JodarMovieFan, on Friday, when I saw "Juno" at AFI Silver, I also walked into the lobby of the Majestic, also in downtown Silver Spring (as I'm sure you know). The Majestic has 20 screens for mainstream movies!

I went to the Majestic when it first opened and was not impressed. It was nice to be greeted as you entered but that's about it. Yes, its a megaplex and there are some huge auditoriums but the two movies that I saw there were disappointing presentation wise and have never went back.

As for Juno, I want to check it out at the new Landmark in Balto. Supposedly, they're running it in digital projection...maybe with the often talked about 4k projectors.

But back to the Flower, it is fondly remembered as I've said above.

"Juno" won't look better in digital projection than it does in 35mm at the AFI Silver. Projection is perfect at the Silver.

Tonight, I sent in a theater page for the Majestic. It will probably be added in a day or two. Do feel free to comment! I found the overall seat count, but didn't find how big the largest auditoriums are.

As to the Flower, all of architect Zink's theaters (including DC Uptown and Balt. Senator) are great so I'm sure it was. I was only suggesting there are probably enough screens now in Silver Spring.

Here is a recent photo.

The church ahs closed and the Flower is available for lease as of January 2008.

Hmmmmm....

Though it is nice to dream of this place reopening to its original glory and capacity of some 900 seats, I can't help wonder about the parking problem that would exist. Anyone who has driven by this place will know that the shopping center is usually full of cars on any given time. Probably the only sensible place to park would be around the corner where the Giant supermarket is to accommodate everyone.

Here and here are February 2008 photos of the Flower.

Jack, your last link takes one back to this page.

Dang! Let’s try it again: 1, 2

http://www.silverspringsingular.com/2008/05/theater-4-sale.html

Having driven by this place and, for the fact that the sign says for "lease", its not "for sale." Unless I'm missing something. Since my memories are only of its twinned operation, its hard for me to imagine it was ever larger than the Uptown in its original configuration. The ceiling seems too low for one, unless during the chopping process, portions of the useable area were quartered off some how. If its ever to come back, I suspect those unused spaces could become useable again. Maybe an upstairs exhibition auditorium or two? Vertically, I think it could be done..especially if there were crying rooms up there at one time.

Function should be unknown. Here is another photo.

Does anyone know who to contact about this cinema? I'd like to look into leasing it but I'm not local...

301-656-3030. Thats the leasing company listed on the front. See if that works. What are your intentions to restoring it to show movies, again? Twin? Single?

Thanks, I just called and left a message. We'll see how that goes. We're looking for a cinema in a neighborhood that would support films that are done with the festival circuit and some diverse programming. I'm open to suggestions!

Just FYI. The immediate area has a Hispanic population. Further up Flower Ave going towards Silver Spring are more family oriented single-family folk. On the other end you have singles, couples and small families in rental units; apartments, duplexes, etc until you run into Columbia Union College, a Seventh-day Adventist run institution, with of course, college aged more conservative leaning, but are generally, an open minded group and then the SDA church, itself.

As you know, the AFI is in the next town over. While their programming is decent, they seem to run the same 'classics' every year. More 70mm would be nice, but I suspect the catalog availability would be scarce and would probably require the the theater restoration to that of a single screen, unless you twin the upstairs to a smaller screening-type room.

Good luck with your plans, as I hope they come to fruition. It would be nice to have more variety programming in films than Hollywood fare and the AFI.

1985 photo of the Flower theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c20%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=19&ProductID=28108

A glimpse of the auditorium of the Flower Theatre on the cover of Boxoffice, October 7, 1950.

I never knew the theater was that large in its original state. I only visited the venue as a twin as posted above. I notice the 'flower' design on the wall, hence the name! Looking back in that picture, there was at least one crying room. Interesting! Thanks for the picture link, Joe.