Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club

7719 Wisconsin Avenue,
Bethesda, MD 20814

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Related Websites

Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club (Official)

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Sidney B. Lust Theaters

Architects: John Adolph Emil Eberson

Functions: Concerts, Live Performances

Styles: Art Deco

Previous Names: Boro Theatre, Bethesda Theatre, Bethesda Cinema 'N Drafthouse, Bethesda Theatre Cafe

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 240.330.4500

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News About This Theater

Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club

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 theatre 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 Theatre changed its name again to the Bethesda Theatre Cafe, to bring more families and adults to its seats.

The Bethesda Theatre closed when construction of a new hi-rise began above the cinema, but in 2007 it re-opened for live shows. Closed in 2010, it reopened in February 2013 as the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club.

Contributed by Ross Melnick

Recent comments (view all 24 comments)

sott68
sott68 on March 2, 2010 at 1:38 pm

The Cinema & Drafthouse was a great place to hang.. saw many movies there in the late 80’s, early 90’s… On Sundays they showed Redskins games and once I remember the Greaseman doing a live show – I was pretty drunk that night, so dont remember much.. there were a ton of creepy dudes there that night.
A good place to watch a cheap movie and have a few drafts. The pizza was pretty crappy but edible after a few pulls on the glass.

Giles
Giles on June 8, 2010 at 3:09 pm

well… um…. even converted to showcase ‘live’ plays/musicals – this theatre is not surviving. I’m not sure where the fault lies, but it’s not able to operate under current management (or lack there of). Personally I’d book concerts and comedy acts/comedians – or even, (shock!] put a screen back up and show movies! Even in it’s current configurement, which I must admit isn’t well suited to live performances – the stage is set way too back.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on June 16, 2010 at 6:09 pm

This theater is going on the auction block as the current owners are in default on a mortgage: View link

Giles
Giles on July 1, 2010 at 8:48 am

the NBC channel 4 story (which they misspelled auction as “acution”) stated that the theatre is to remain, if and when a bid/purchase is made, as a performing arts venue

Giles
Giles on March 26, 2012 at 3:58 pm

the marque now states the theater will reopen in the Fall (2012) as a Jazz/Blues music venue – I think they’d also might want to branch out and include other musical genres as well – it actually might work.

Giles
Giles on April 29, 2013 at 12:15 am

so the theater space is up and running again – for live music this time. (wonder how long it will stay open?)

2ndStix
2ndStix on March 27, 2014 at 11:38 pm

A terrific theater. Saw a handful of movies there as a kid when it was part of the KB chain. The last movie I saw there before it became the Cinema ‘N Drafthouse was a truly abominable print of “2001: A Space Odyssey” in the autumn of 1981.

jojopuppyfish
jojopuppyfish on December 19, 2015 at 7:14 am

Is there anything preventing this location from becoming a movie theater again?

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on December 6, 2018 at 10:10 pm

Undated link with photos and Vimeo presentation.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/1938-historic-theater-becomes-blues-jazz-club?fbclid=IwAR0O1F4OQd7i7YfSnWXnmWfiV4hhjqyteiwMMjmL1396NuOakLWfcbrH1Jk#/

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