Kaywood Theatre
2211 Varnum Street,
Mount Rainier,
MD
20712
2211 Varnum Street,
Mount Rainier,
MD
20712
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The Kaywood Theatre’s architect, Frank Gail Ackerman, worked as a draftsman in the office of theater architect William McElfatrick, 1911-1916, while studying at Cooper Union. On graduation, he entered the office of Thomas Lamb, where he worked until 1925 as an administrative assistant and specifications writer. He later worked in the offices of noted New York architects Emery Roth and Van Wart & Wein, before becoming a partner in Van Wart & Ackerman in 1933. He established his solo practice in 1940.
December 26th, 1945 grand opening ad in photo section
The Kaywood opened at 3:00 PM on Wednesday December 26, 1945. Per the Washington Post of December 21, 1945
“A new theatre seating 1000 will be opened at Kaywood Gardens in Mount Rainier Wednesday at 3 PM (12/26/1945) Mayor Floyd B. Mathias of Mount Rainier and T. Howard Duckett of the Prince George’s Bank and Trust will be among the guests.”
Boxoffice featured an article about the Kaywood Theatre in the issue of February 2, 1946. The article says the Kaywood had opened on Christmas Day. It also attributes the design of the theater to Frank G. Ackerman, but doesn’t mention the Ebersons.
This theatre is listed on the John and Drew Eberson Architectural Records archive at the Wolfsonian in Florida as one of their designs.
Here and here are March 2008 photos of the former Kaywood Theatre.
The marquee with the Kaywood name is still there, a rare survival for which the New Horizon Faith Outreach Center is to be thanked.
There is a photo on this page:
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The KAYWOOD was the nicest and most architectually distinct theatre in the Sidney Lust chain. The street is Varnum with an A. The KAYWOOD went under as street crime engulfed the neighborhood, still a good place to buy dope or get murdered, but real bad for living. Operating as a Christian church now, just what the neighborhood needs. Plenty of sinners to work on.
I well remember the Kaywood. As a child I lived at 4230 22nd St. N.E. in D.C. In fact, as a six year old, I can recall the night when the Katwood first opened because the theatre’s neon lights were visible from my house. My friends and I used the Kaywood as our neighborhood flick along with some others in D.C. such as the Jesse,Newton and Village.
Tom Lawty
Hello and thank you for your interest!
The New Horizon Christian Faith Outreach Center (NHCFO), formally known as the KAYWOOD THEATER located at 2211 Varnum Street, Mount Rainier MD, 20712, is now open and operating as a facility that offers a variety of Christian programs, performances, plays, concerts, educational and cultural events. We are making minor changes to our website and will feature theater information and pictures for viewing by mid August. If you are ever in the area, stop by the theater for a wonderful time of Christian family fun and entertainment! Visit www.nhcfo.org
I believe the street name is spelled V-a-r-n-u-m. I know because when I was a teenager, I used to work at the store across the street from this former theater! On the other side of the street there was a Buddhist temple and on Sundays, the store would be packed with hundreds of church goers going in to get hot dogs, sodas, nachos and chips. I have always been curious as to what the interior of this theater looked like. If someone has posted pictures of the interior on the internet, or the venue’s website, please advise. Thanks.