Old Greenbelt Theatre facts for kids
Greenbelt Cinema (formerly Old Greenbelt Theatre) is a special two-screen movie theater with a long history. It was built between 1937 and 1938 in Roosevelt Center, located in the Greenbelt Historic District of Greenbelt, Maryland. This cinema is famous for its cool Art Deco style of architecture. More specifically, it shows off the Streamline Moderne look, which was a popular version of Art Deco in the 1930s. The theater first opened its doors on September 21, 1938. The very first movie shown there was Little Miss Broadway, starring the famous child star Shirley Temple.
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The Story of Greenbelt Cinema
The Greenbelt Cinema has been a part of its community for many years. It was built during a time when movies were becoming very popular. People loved going to the cinema to watch films and escape into different stories. This theater quickly became a favorite spot for families and friends in Greenbelt.
Its Unique Art Deco Style
The building itself is a piece of history. It was designed in the Art Deco style, which was very modern and fancy in the 1920s and 1930s. The cinema specifically uses the Streamline Moderne style. This means it has smooth, curved lines and a sleek, futuristic look. Think of it like a fast train or a shiny new car from that time period. This design makes the Greenbelt Cinema stand out.
How the Community Saved It
In 2002, the cinema faced a big problem. Its owner thought about closing it down and turning it into a different kind of store. But the people of Greenbelt loved their movie theater. So, the City of Greenbelt stepped in to buy the building. This made sure it would stay a movie theater for everyone to enjoy.
Because the theater was old, it needed a lot of work to become modern. In 2012, experts thought it would cost about $1.5 million to fix and update everything. The City worked hard to get the money needed for these big changes. From 2014 to 2015, the cinema went through a major renovation.
The updates were very important for the theater. They added new digital projection equipment, which is how most movies are shown today. They also kept a special 35MM projector for showing older, classic films. The lobby and ticket booth were restored to look beautiful again. The restrooms were improved, and the snack area was made better.
Greenbelt Cinema Now
After the renovations, a local non-profit group called The Friends of Greenbelt Theatre took over running the cinema. This group is dedicated to keeping the building safe and making sure it continues to show movies.
Today, Greenbelt Cinema has two screens. The main auditorium can seat 368 people, which is a lot! There's also a smaller room called The Screening Room, which can seat 40 people. This makes it a cozy place for smaller groups or special showings. The Greenbelt Cinema is one of the only non-profit and two-screen movie theaters in the entire state of Maryland. It's a true community treasure.
