Calvert Theater

2324 Wisconsin Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20007

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Mann Theatres, Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp.

Architects: John Adolph Emil Eberson

Styles: Streamline Moderne

Nearby Theaters

CALVERT Theatre; Washington, DC.

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

Recent comments (view all 10 comments)

Bluesman
Bluesman on November 24, 2004 at 3:39 pm

Im Looking for any exterior photos of the old Calvert. HELP
Thanks Bill

Bluesman
Bluesman on November 24, 2004 at 3:40 pm

Bluesman’s e-mail is

eedesq
eedesq on June 11, 2005 at 7:54 pm

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.

unc1dmo
unc1dmo on May 8, 2006 at 6:36 am

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.

sconnell1
sconnell1 on March 14, 2009 at 11:01 pm

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.

sconnell1
sconnell1 on March 21, 2009 at 4:50 pm

“The Slender Thread opened in 1/66. Sorry about the typo

DC
DC on July 18, 2013 at 10:07 pm

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.

DC
DC on July 18, 2013 at 10:10 pm

Oh the actress name was Gabrielle Cardinelli and kids tickets .50 cents.Adults, $1.00

rivest266
rivest266 on June 21, 2015 at 10:31 am

May 5th, 1937 grand opening ad in photo section.

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