I remember the interior as rather plain, long but narrow in relation to its length. The only film I distinctly recall seeing there was “Goldfinger.” Remodeling to open it as a single theatre is what is needed, and I think legitimate theatre would be best, with removal of the ugly stores in what used to be the entrance (Mayfair days) to create an inviting entrance. Multi-plexing is not an answer to improving a rather blighted block on Seventh Avenue.
The C Street address in Washington S.E. sounds correct as a start. laIn the late 50’s, the theatre showed revivals (The Birth of a Nation, later Chaplin films, foreign filmes), perhaps of films whose copyright had lapsed or was questionable. Afterward, perhaps in 1959 or 1960, the management moved the theatre’s policy and its name to the 18th Street N.E. address listed above. In fact, the management seems to have taken over a whole group of theatres in Baltimore (Cameo), Philadelphia, and New York, and afixed the word Art to the theatre name, with similar programing. The word Art would often precede the theatre name, to bring the house to the top of alphabetical listings. The 18th Street Stanton Art later featured sex films.
As I remember it, the Shubert was closed due to a fire (not sure when). I attended plays there in the 50s, including the pre-Broadway tryout of Two for the Seesaw with Henry Fonda and Ann Bancroft. Bookings were rather scarce, while the National, as the only other D.C. house at that time for Broadway tours and tryouts, was almost always occupied. 9th Street was filled with pinball and tatoo parlors, and another theatre across the street and perhaps a block away featured “Burlesk.”
I remember the Centre as being a second-run theatre in the 50s. In the days of “art theatres,” showing foreign and specialized films, it became the Film Centre. I remember seeing Diabolique, Sabrina, and Walt Disney’s “true-life adventure” films, like The Living Desert, there. It continued to be called the Film Centre when TODD-AO was installed, and also had a reserved-seat run of Gigi in conventional 35mm. At some time after that, as previously stated, it was converted into a bank.
I remember the interior as rather plain, long but narrow in relation to its length. The only film I distinctly recall seeing there was “Goldfinger.” Remodeling to open it as a single theatre is what is needed, and I think legitimate theatre would be best, with removal of the ugly stores in what used to be the entrance (Mayfair days) to create an inviting entrance. Multi-plexing is not an answer to improving a rather blighted block on Seventh Avenue.
The Columbia’s biggest claim to fame is as the theatre where Helen Hayes made her stage debut.
The C Street address in Washington S.E. sounds correct as a start. laIn the late 50’s, the theatre showed revivals (The Birth of a Nation, later Chaplin films, foreign filmes), perhaps of films whose copyright had lapsed or was questionable. Afterward, perhaps in 1959 or 1960, the management moved the theatre’s policy and its name to the 18th Street N.E. address listed above. In fact, the management seems to have taken over a whole group of theatres in Baltimore (Cameo), Philadelphia, and New York, and afixed the word Art to the theatre name, with similar programing. The word Art would often precede the theatre name, to bring the house to the top of alphabetical listings. The 18th Street Stanton Art later featured sex films.
As I remember it, the Shubert was closed due to a fire (not sure when). I attended plays there in the 50s, including the pre-Broadway tryout of Two for the Seesaw with Henry Fonda and Ann Bancroft. Bookings were rather scarce, while the National, as the only other D.C. house at that time for Broadway tours and tryouts, was almost always occupied. 9th Street was filled with pinball and tatoo parlors, and another theatre across the street and perhaps a block away featured “Burlesk.”
I remember the Centre as being a second-run theatre in the 50s. In the days of “art theatres,” showing foreign and specialized films, it became the Film Centre. I remember seeing Diabolique, Sabrina, and Walt Disney’s “true-life adventure” films, like The Living Desert, there. It continued to be called the Film Centre when TODD-AO was installed, and also had a reserved-seat run of Gigi in conventional 35mm. At some time after that, as previously stated, it was converted into a bank.