Central Theatre

Opened as the Imperial Theatre, on vaudeville with ‘Imperial Photo Plays’ as part of the bill, the opening date was November 20, 1911. The architect was C.W. Sommerville. An unusual feature of the design was that instead of having the usual side stage boxes on each side of the proscenium, there were a set of stairs on each side which led up from the front orchestra level to a loge section which was totally seperate from the main balcony.

In 1913 it was acquired by Tom Moore and he re-named it Moore’s Garden Theatre. He made extensive improvements to the theatre in 1918 and ran it successfully as a movie theatre.

In 1922 it was taken over by Henry Crandall and he re-named it the Central Theatre, again doing some improvements to the building. It re-opened on December 21, 1922 with the movie “Broken Chains” starring Colleen Moore. Eventally all the Crandall theatres were taken over first by the Stanley organisation who in turn were merged into the Warner Bros. Circuit Management. The Central Theatre was still shown in the Film Daily Yearbook as being operated by Warner Bros. in 1950, but this was its last year on movies.

The Gayety Theatre (later Shubert) had been a burlesque theatre for many years and when it went ‘legit’ in 1950, the name and style of entertainment transferred to the Central Theatre.

So the Central Theatre became the Gayety Theatre, with live burlesque until it closed and was demolished in June 1973.

Recent comments (view all 12 comments)

Local619 on December 14, 2007 at 6:57 pm

The Central Theatre is listed in the 1960 Yellow Pages under “Stanley Warner Theatres”> The 1961 Yellow Pages do not list it, all of the other Stanly Warner Theatres are listed but not the Central.

Worked the booth at the Gayety in 1971 or 72.. booth seemed an afterthought, hanging from the ceiling with access via a ladder up the back wall. Balcony was closed, follow spor was located at fron rail of balcony.
Theatre was a grand old house, big marble stair ways on each side of lobby (closed off), much ornate plasterwork in ceiling. Had been a very nice theatre in it’s day.

Local619 on May 31, 2008 at 7:22 pm

Washington Post of January 7, 1940 lists the Central as a Warner Brothers Theatre. 425 9th st.. Phone ME-2841.. On April 15,1955 The Central is listed as a Stanley Warner Theatre. Phone is now ME-8-2841

jflundy on August 5, 2008 at 6:33 pm

Here is a photo with Moore’s Garden Theater in background around 1921.

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Local619 on August 31, 2008 at 8:05 pm

Another link to the same picture.. a little more detail.. maybe

http://www.shorpy.com/node/4256?size=_original

jflundy on December 17, 2008 at 7:42 am

http://www.shorpy.com/node/5130?size=_original

Circa 1916

This is a large and wide photo. Pan to right with your Browser to see “Moore’s Garden Theater”.

lostmemory on April 6, 2009 at 6:11 pm

This website has a 1969 photo of the Gayety Theater and a photo of Moore’s Garden Theater which should be an aka name.

Local619 on August 18, 2009 at 9:07 pm

Two more pictures from Shorpy

http://www.shorpy.com/node/6662?size=_original

http://www.shorpy.com/node/6660?size=_original

One newer snap..

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WAJWAJ on January 2, 2010 at 10:11 pm

The text says this opened as the Imperial Theater in 1911, but advertisements in the Washington Post as early as Jan 4th, 1909 exist for burlesque shows at the Gayety Theater (“Ninth St Near F”) put on by my great-great grandfather, Louis Robie.

kencmcintyre on March 26, 2010 at 3:39 pm

Architect should be C.W. Sommerville as noted in the introduction.

Chuck1231 on April 15, 2010 at 8:13 am

Side by side photos courtesy Jack Coursey.
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