Do you recognize the white building with columns in the right side of this photo?
It was taken by Frank Zaza in July 1973, and written on the back side are these words: "Downtown in the Buckingham district. Looking north on Glebe Road from near the intersection of Glebe with Piedmont Street. The traffic lights are at Pershing Road.” This brief yet informative description helped Center for Local History staff to identify this beloved Arlington landmark - the former Buckingham Theater - now the Buckinghams Stations Post Office.
With architectural columns and a stark-white exterior, The Buckingham Theatre opened in 1939, and quickly grew to become a recognizable feature along Glebe Road. The theater remained operational until its closure in 1986.
What about you? How do you identify your snapshots? In a digital world where photographic prints are not being as massively produced as they once were, how are you capturing the everyday stories, developmental changes, and histories of your community? How will you leave your mark for the next generation?
To learn more about Buckingham Theatre, Arlington’s diverse history, or to see more items like this one, visit us at the Center for Local History located on the 1st floor of Central Library.
Enjoyed the photo of the Buckingham Theater. I grew up in the Buckingham Community, and lived on Pershing Drive (not Pershing Road, as noted), just a few blocks from here. Spent many, many Saturdays at the theater, viewing movies new and old. In 1966, we attended the new release of “Birds Do It,” where the owners stopped the film partway through, and film star Soupy Sales (and some co-stars) came out from behind the screen! Discovered later that my grandfather had worked as a projectionist at the same movie theater in the 1930’s, thirty years before my birth!
Our family saw SOOOOOO many movies @ Buckingham in the 1950s-70s. i still remember some frm. late 1950s, early 1960s when i was pre- and early elementary school.
Viewed a photography exhibit at NGA today. Gordon Parks, called one of the century’s greatest photographers, titled his works to describe who and what, and often, where .
Meaningful to see the works described by him, and in many taking you to where it was shot, like one title including “7th St, NW”. We were transported to 7th St in the 1940’s.
(See it, it’s beautiful/powerful/sobering)