- Chase's Theater and Riggs Building
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Chase's Theater and Riggs Building
Location: 1426 G Street and 615-627 15th Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. Coordinates: 38°53′52″N 77°1′58″W / 38.89778°N 77.03278°WCoordinates: 38°53′52″N 77°1′58″W / 38.89778°N 77.03278°W Built: 1912 Architect: Jules Henri de Sibour Architectural style: Beaux-Arts Governing body: Private NRHP Reference#: 78003053 [1] Added to NRHP: September 7, 1978 The Chase's Theater and Riggs Building, also know as the Keith-Albee Theater is an historic building located at 1426 G Street and 615-627 15th Street, Northeast, Washington, D.C., in the Downtown neighborhood.
Contents
History
Keith theater
It was originally built in 1912, and was designed by Jules Henri de Sibour.[2] The Beaux-Arts theater, was a part of the B.F. Keith vaudeville circuit, which became a part of the Keith-Albee-Orpheum chain, and then RKO Pictures. President Taft attended the opening in 1912, and Woodrow Wilson regularly attended. Entertainers included: Will Rogers, Eddie Cantor, Rudy Vallée, Laurel and Hardy, and ZaSu Pitts.
In 1956, RKO sold the building, to Morris Cafritz for $1.55 million. In 1959, he offered to sell the building to the city as a performing arts center, but the city would not assume the $1.5 million mortgage. The movie theater closed in 1978; it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In March 1978, the United States Commission of Fine Arts recommended saving the facade of the Keith-Albee Theater and National Metropolitan Bank.[3][4][5]
In 1979, the D.C. Superior Court halted demolition of the Keith Albee building,[6] but then allowed demolition of the interior.[7] The developer said he would preserve the historic facade of the Keith-Albee theater building, if he could demolish Rhodes' Tavern.[8]
It is now the Metropolitan Square office building.[9]
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in the District of Columbia
- Theater in Washington D.C.
References
plaque- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-01-23. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html.
- ^ http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/78003053.pdf
- ^ "The Battle to Save Rhodes Tavern: A Chronology." The Washington Post September 11, 1984.
- ^ Gerard Martin Moeller, Christopher Weeks (2006). AIA guide to the architecture of Washington, Part 3. JHU Press. ISBN 9780801884689. http://books.google.com/books?id=HwxObsj2GOQC&pg=PA139&lpg=PA139&dq=Rhodes'+Tavern+washington&source=bl&ots=q1fmRsJR0x&sig=Q7OBcpUgA6lus-RYRrZLtqwG0ns&hl=en&ei=QBBUTua3G8eBgAf9ueBI&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CEkQ6AEwCDge#v=onepage&q=Rhodes'%20Tavern%20washington&f=false.
- ^ Perl, Peter. "Panel Approves Rhodes Demolition, Calls for Delay Pending Vote in Fall." Washington Post. May 11, 1983
- ^ "Court Order Temporarily Halts Demolition of Albee-Keith Facade." The Washington Post C4. April 24 1979
- ^ Wheeler, Linda. "Solomon-Like Court Order Is Slicing District's Historic Keith-Albee Building." Washington Post. June 15, 1979
- ^ Oman, Anne H. "Developer Has New Plan For Historic Buildings." Washington Post. August 2, 1979.
- ^ http://www.bostonproperties.com/site/washington/metropolitansquare.htm
External links
- http://www.streetsofwashington.com/2010/05/vaudeville-and-other-high-drama-at-15th.html
- http://www.wikimapia.org/4468154/Metropolitan-Square
U.S. National Register of Historic Places Topics Lists by states Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • WyomingLists by territories Lists by associated states Other Categories:- National Register of Historic Places in Washington, D.C.
- Art Deco architecture in Washington, D.C.
- Theatres in Washington, D.C.
- Buildings and structures completed in 1938
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