Flower Theatre
8725 Flower Avenue,
Silver Spring,
MD
20901
8725 Flower Avenue,
Silver Spring,
MD
20901
3 people
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Showing 26 - 34 of 34 comments
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 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 –
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 ¾ length red coat with brass buttons and gold trim that was the uniform of the ushers.
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.
Tall for my age, I saw Animal House when I was 15 (1978). I think it was still a single-screen.
I used to live down the block from this theater,
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.
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)
The Flower Theatre seated 926 people.