When Did the White House Get a Movie Theater?

Movie Theater|Theater

The White House was built in the late 1700s and has been the official residence of the President of the United States since John Adams moved in back in 1800. But did you know that it didn’t get its own movie theater until 1942?

It all started when Franklin D. Roosevelt moved into the White House in 1933. He was an avid fan of movies and would often watch them to relax after a long day at work. The only problem was, there was no dedicated theater for him to watch his films.

The solution came from the first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt. She convinced her husband to build a theater in the White House and he agreed. The theater was designed by noted architect Eric Gugler, who also worked on other buildings such as Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center.

Construction of the theater began in 1941, and it was completed just one year later. The theater had a seating capacity of 250 people, which made it one of the largest movie theaters in Washington D.C. at that time.

The first film to be shown at the newly built White House theater was Wings Over Hawaii, a war drama starring Robert Montgomery and Wallace Beery that had been released just a few months before.

Since then, countless films have been screened at this historic venue, including classics such as Gone with the Wind, Casablanca, The Godfather, and more recent releases such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

The White House movie theater continues to be used today by both current and former presidents.

When Did The White House Get A Movie Theater?


In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt had a movie theater built in the White House so he could enjoy his favorite films after a long day at work. Since then, many presidents have enjoyed this historic theater, watching classic films like Gone with the Wind or modern blockbusters like Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The White House movie theater continues to be used today by both current and former presidents alike, providing entertainment for generations of Americans for over 70 years now!