File:Imperial Theater on West Potomac Street was built before World War I..jpg

Summary

The Imperial Theater on West Potomac Street was built before World War I. It was the venue for first run movies going back to silent films when a local pianist accompanied. At times, smoke effects were blown into the audience to create certain moods. This photo appears to date to the late 1920s.

It was also the scene of local events, including minstrel shows, country music acts that included Grandpa Jones and Minnie Pearl, holiday parties, and "Uncle Herb's Club" every Saturday afternoon in the late 1940s/50s. Uncle Herb offered drawings for free tickets and other prizes.

Over it's 50 years in business, owners and operatprs included Frank Spitzer, Herb Goldberg, Sonny Cannon and Lynn Follin. The theater was closed in 1962 after the roof collapsed. There were plans for rebuilding as a teen center, but it didn't happen. It's been an empty lot for over 50 years.

(Photo courtesy of the City of Brunswick, MD History Commission; information from "Images of America: Brunswick" by Mary H. Rubin)

Sherry Stull: I remember we always walked to the movies from the west end of Brunswick Street. If the movie had been a scary one, the boys always disappeared, ran ahead and jumped out and scared the girls on the way home. Good old fashioned fun.

Ila Snyder: My older brothers took me to see Hopalong Cassidy movies there. We walked from Grandma's I was very young, but if I remember correctly admission was a nickel.