Misplaced Pages

Bethesda Theatre
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Front elevation and marquee, 2008
Show map of MarylandShow map of the United States
Location	7719 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, Maryland
Coordinates	38°59′14″N 77°5′41″W / 38.98722°N 77.09472°W / 38.98722; -77.09472
Area	0.4 acres (0.16 ha)
Built	1938 (1938)
Architect	Eberson, John; Woodmont Development Co.
Architectural style	Art Deco
NRHP reference No.	99000133
Added to NRHP	February 5, 1999

The Bethesda Theatre, constructed in 1938, is a historic Streamline Moderne movie theater located at 7719 Wisconsin Avenue (MD 355), Bethesda, Maryland, United States. It is a multi-level building composed of rectangular blocks: an auditorium block and a lower street-front lobby and entrance block, including shops. The theatre retains its original configuration of lobby, foyer, lounges, and auditorium. Many original interior finishes, including painted murals, remain intact, with the exception of the original seating. It was designed by the firm of the world-renowned "Dean of American Theatre Architects," John Eberson.

In 1983 it re-opened as the "Bethesda Cinema and Drafthouse" showing movies on a single screen and serving food and beer. In 1990 it changed its name to the "Bethesda Theatre Cafe". In 2007, under the leadership of Executive Director Ray Cullom, it underwent a major renovation and became a venue for theatrical productions. Cullom produced well-received DC-premiers of “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change”, the hit musical “Altar Boyz”, Smokey Joe's Cafe” and brought over several innovative productions from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In 2009, the theatre was forced to shut down after a severe water leak in the building directly above the auditorium and technical control booths caused the landmarked Art Deco ceiling to fall in, and rendered the theatre uninhabitable. The theatre was auctioned off on June 29, 2010, and reopened in 2013 as the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.

References

1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
2. Linda B. Lyons (August 1998). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Bethesda Theatre" (PDF). Maryland Historical Trust. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
3. Lee, Stephanie (2010-06-17). "Final curtain might be falling on Bethesda Theatre". Washington Post. Retrieved 2010-06-22.

External links

• Bethesda Theatre, Montgomery County, Inventory No.: M: 35-14-4, including photo in 1998, at Maryland Historical Trust website

v t e U.S. National Register of Historic Places in Maryland
Topics	Contributing property Keeper of the Register Historic district History of the National Register of Historic Places National Park Service Property types
Lists by county	Allegany Anne Arundel Baltimore County Calvert Caroline Carroll Cecil Charles Dorchester Frederick Garrett Harford Howard Kent Montgomery Prince George's Queen Anne's Somerset St. Mary's Talbot Washington Wicomico Worcester
Lists by city	Baltimore: (Central North and Northwest West and Southwest East and Northeast South and Southeast)
Other lists	Bridges National Historic Landmarks
Category:National Register of Historic Places in Maryland Portal:National Register of Historic Places

• v
• t
• e

• Theatres on the National Register of Historic Places in Maryland
• Streamline Moderne architecture in Maryland
• Art Deco cinemas and movie theaters
• Buildings and structures in Bethesda, Maryland
• Cinemas and movie theaters in Maryland
• Former cinemas in the United States
• John Eberson buildings
• National Register of Historic Places in Montgomery County, Maryland
• Washington metropolitan area, Maryland Registered Historic Place stubs
• Montgomery County, Maryland, geography stubs
• Theatres completed in 1938