Calvert Theater
2324 Wisconsin Avenue NW,
Washington,
DC
20007
2324 Wisconsin Avenue NW,
Washington,
DC
20007
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Mann Theatres, Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp.
Architects: John Adolph Emil Eberson
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Nearby Theaters
The Calvert Theater was one of the many John Eberson-designed movie houses in Washington, DC. It opened on May 6, 1937 with Errol Flynn in “The Prince and the Pauper”. It was leased to Warner Brothers, who operated it for many years.
Taken over by Mann Theatres in July 1963, the Calvert Theater closed in 1967 and was later demolished. Its screen was removed after it was closed and installed at the Georgetown Theater.
Contributed by
Bryan
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
Im Looking for any exterior photos of the old Calvert. HELP
Thanks Bill
Bluesman’s e-mail is
After the theater was torn down the sign remained for a period of time, I think as the sign for Calvert Liquors. You went under the sign to enter the parking lot from Wisconsin Avenue. During the time that the theater was in existence the entrance to the parking lot was only from 37th Street; there was none from Wisconsin Avenue in those days.
I still remember the neon sign for the Calvert Theater. The letters were red. Each letter would light up in sequence: “C – A – L – V – E – R – T”. Then all the letters would go out. Then they would all come on again at once. Then they would all go out. Then the sequence would begin again.
Among the movies which I saw for the first time at the Calvert were “Vertigo”, “Rodan”, “Invaders From Mars”, “Cleopatra”, “How The West Was Won”, “The Blob”, and no doubt many others. Saturday matinees were thirty-five cents in the latter part of the 1950s.
Going to the Calvert Theatre was alot of fun during my high school years….As one of the “Avenue Boys” we usually spent the day playing ball at Jelleff’s Boys Club just down the street..
One night stands out..when our buddy…nicknamed “Jughead” …..got alittle too loud and rowdy during a ‘62 showing of “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence”……and we were asked to leave the premises.
photo of lobby:
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The Calvert closed 5/30/67 with a double bill of “Alfie” and “Funeral in Berlin”.
The Calvert began an on-again/off-again first-fun policy with “The Small World of Sammy Lee” on 9/20/63.
Among its more notable first-runs were “Knife In The Water” (1/64), “Bedtime Story” (6/64), “Marnie” (8/64), “The Slender Thread” (1/65), “Viva Maria” (2/66), “Shout Louder…” (12/66), and its last first-run “Night Games” (3/67).
“Marnie” which opened in multiple theaters that included the Calvert
was the first Alfred Hitcock film not to be shown in a downtown theater.
Most of the films ran from one to three weeks. ‘The Slender Thread" and “Viva Maria” both ran for four weeks. “The Easy Life” ran for six weeks.
“The Slender Thread opened in 1/66. Sorry about the typo
I remember this theater as a kid in the 1960’s shortly before being torn down for Pearsons Liquors parking lot. We used to enjoy a double feature,both with Peter Sellers, aThe Pink Panther and a Shot in the Dark. Peter was wild. Capucine hysterical in the hotel scene and David Nivens with that wonderful Italian actress.
Oh the actress name was Gabrielle Cardinelli and kids tickets .50 cents.Adults, $1.00
May 5th, 1937 grand opening ad in photo section.