White House Family Theater

The White House Family Theater is a small movie theater located in the White House in Washington, D.C. for the use of the president and his family. Originally there was no room in the White House specifically for screening films, so the present venue was converted from a cloakroom in 1942. It is able to seat 42 people.[1]

White House Family Theater
Guests watch Men in Black 3 in 3D in the White House Family Theater in 2012.
Address1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C., United States
OwnerUnited States government
OperatorOffice of the Chief Usher
Typemovie theater
Capacity42
Opened1942

History

The White House Family Theater is located in the East Wing of the White House. The first film screened in the White House was Birth of a Nation in 1915; however, early film viewings occurred in the main building as the facility lacked a dedicated theater. Originally a cloakroom known as the "Hat Box", the White House Family Theater was converted into its current use in 1942 on the orders of Franklin Roosevelt.[2][3]

Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan watch a film in the White House Family Theater in 1986.

Traditionally, American studios have made their films available to the White House on request, either directly or through the Motion Picture Association of America. Landing a screening in the White House Family Theater is considered a valuable marketing tool by studios and, during the 1980s, the motion picture industry financed renovation of the facility, which added terraced seating and other amenities. During the presidency of George W. Bush the facility was redecorated in "movie palace red".[3] In addition to its use screening films, the theater has also been used by presidents to rehearse speeches.[4]

Films viewed

As of 1988, Jimmy Carter had viewed more films in the White House Family Theater than any other person, having watched 480 films in the facility during his four-year term beginning with All The President's Men.[5][6][3] According to a list of film screenings obtained under a Freedom of Information Act request filed by Gizmodo, the first film watched by Bill Clinton in the White House Family Theater was Lorenzo's Oil on January 27, 1993. The final film watched was Chocolat on January 6, 2001.[5] The first film screened during the presidency of Donald Trump was Finding Dory.[7]

References
  1. "Obama's gadgets: What tech does the president use?". ZDNet. February 16, 2016. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  2. "Securing the White House". White House Historical Association. White House Historical Association. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  3. Johnson, Ted (July 23, 2011). "Now playing at the White House". Variety. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  4. Patterson, Bradley (2004). The White House Staff: Inside the West Wing and Beyond. Brookings Institution Press. p. 168. ISBN 0815798229.
  5. Novak, Matt (January 29, 2016). "Here Is Every Single Movie Bill Clinton Watched In The White House". Gizmodo.
  6. Mancini, Mark (October 10, 2013). "7 Fun Facts About the White House Movie Theater". Mental Floss. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  7. Harmon, Steph (January 29, 2017). "Finding Dory, a movie about travellers, is Trump's first White House screening". The Guardian. Retrieved February 10, 2017.

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