PRESERVATION ALERT: THE GEORGIA THEATRE

From Peter Sefton:

The Georgia Theatre near the corner of Park Road and Georgia Avenue NW is reported to be threatened with total demolition.

The Georgia is DC’s old surviving movie theatres, exceeded only by the Minnehaha, which now houses Ben’s Chili Bowl on U Street NW. Although relatively few historical details are known, the Georgia was a nickelodeon style theatre built to serve the local African-American community in 1912. After a few years, it became a store and later an auto repair shop. However, as the attached pictures suggest, much of the historic detailing of the façade remains intact. In 2005, the committee inquired about the effect of a condominium project planned for the theatre site. We were told that the historic features of the theatre would be retained for the project, which appeared to be the case when we monitored the site. But John Muller, Executive Director of the DreamCity theatre group, has been advised by HPO that a demolition permit application for the theatre was recently received. The next step is that it will go before the ANC within the next several weeks for review.

As discussed, DC’s imperiled neighborhood theatres are likely entreants on the 2007 “Most Endangered Places” list. To help the Committee determine our recommendation on the Georgia , I’ve invited Mr. Muller to make a guest presentation at Monday’s meeting. I will also contact Bob Headley, author of Motion Picture Exhibition in Washington, DC to see if he would like to sit in.

First picture is Jan 2007, second in 2005.

Photos by Peter Sefton.