Maryland Historical Trust Inventory No. 37/25 Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form
1. Name of Property (indicate preferred name)
historic Flower Theater and Flower Shopping Center; Flower Avenue Shopping Center other (preferred) Flower Theater and Shopping Center
2. Location
street and number 8701-8739 Flower Avenue not for publication city, town Silver Spring, MD 20903 _ vicinity county Montgomery
3. Owner of Property (give names and mailing addresses of all owners) name Flower Avenue Shopping Center Limited Partnership street and number 6931 Arlington Road, Suite 410 telephone city, town Bethesda state MD zip code 20814 4. Location of Legal Description courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Montgomery County Courthouse liber 6551 folio 261 city, town Rockville tax map JP51 tax parcel P20/P21 tax ID number 13-01397603 5. Primary Location of Additional Data Contributing Resource in National Register District Contributing Resource in Local Historic District Determined Eligible for the National Register/Maryland Register Determined Ineligible for the National Register/Maryland Register Recorded by HABS/HAER Historic Structure Report or Research Report at MHT Other: 6. Classification
Category Ownership Current Function Resource Count district public agriculture landscape Contributing Noncontributing x building(s) x private x commerce/trade recreation/culture 3 buildings structure both defense religion sites site domestic social structures object education transportation objects funerary work in progress 3 Total government unknown health care vacant/not in use Number of Contributing Resources industry other: previously listed in the Inventory
7. Description Inventory No. 37/25
Condition
excellent deteriorated x good ruins fair altered
Prepare both a one paragraph summary and a comprehensive description of the resource and its various elements as it exists today.
SUMMARY The Flower Theater and Shopping Center (designed 1948; built 1950, 1954), 8701‐8733 Flower Avenue, is a post‐war modernist Park and Shop located at the northeast corner of Piney Branch Road in the Long Branch area of Silver Spring. The shopping center, which faces west, is serviced by an automobile forecourt, side parking lot, and rear alley, all of which are contained within the 2.4 acre parcel. Designed by national architect Frank Grad & Sons, in association with local architect John J. Zink, the complex has a modernist character derived from the balanced asymmetry of volumetric building forms, undulating roof and wall planes, sculpted fronts, flat roofs and ribbon windows. The shopping center, which contains three anchor stores and arcaded shops, is dominated by the Flower Theater, designed in a Modern Classic style with stylized pilasters and medallions. The complex is sheathed with limestone and buff brick walls set on a base skirting of black marble. Metal ribbed cornices and wall facings enliven entrances of storefronts and theater boxoffice. Sign panels above store entrances installed in a 1978 modernization effort now partially obscure limestone and brick facing, while canvas canopies cover a portion of the ribbed metal canopy. These changes are reversible and appear to have left original material intact. One store entrance (9711) was replaced with a window wall when the store was combined with its neighbor (8709). On the southern end of the shopping center, the Whelan Drugs store (8701) was altered when glass curtain walls were replaced with brick walls punctuated by individual windows. This block retains its wide streamlined metal cornice, and corner entrance at Piney Branch and Flower Avenue.
DESCRIPTION The Flower Theater and Shopping Center (designed 1948; built 1950, 1954), 8701‐8733 Flower Avenue, is located in the southeastern region of Montgomery County, Maryland, east of downtown Silver Spring and just north of the municipal boundary of Takoma Park. Located at the northeast corner of Piney Branch Road and Flower Avenue, the resource lies west of Sligo Creek and east of Long Branch. Facing west on Flower Avenue, the complex includes the shopping center, movie theater, automobile forecourt, north side parking lot, and a rear alley all on a 2.4 acre parcel. The concept design for the modernist Park and Shop was designed by Frank Grad & Sons in 1948. Most of the construction for the shopping center and theater was accomplished in 1949, with the former opening to the public in January 1950, followed by the latter in February. The Flower Theater was one of last projects for John J. Zink, theater architect for the Kogod‐Burka chain, who died in 1952. The Woolworth’s store was built in 1954, according to plans by Edwin Weihe.
The resource has a modernist character derived from the balanced asymmetry of volumetric building forms, undulating roof and wall planes, sculpted fronts, flat roofs and ribbon windows. Visually, the complex is dominated by the Flower Theater, designed in a Classical Modern style with stylized pilasters and medallions. The theater and the 1950 shopping center buildings have concrete block construction with steel truss roof system. The F. W. Woolworth store, built in 1954, has a steel frame with glass curtain walls in front and brick facing on the rear facade. Front (west) façades are faced with limestone and buff brick with a black marble base, while rear (east) walls facing the alley are sheathed with red brick. Metal cornices, with horizontal ribbing, and wall facings, with vertical ribbing, enliven entrances of storefronts and the theater box office. The Woolworth’s store and arcaded section have increasing setbacks to face an automobile forecourt. On the north side of the Giant supermarket is a parking lot. An alley runs behind the complex with access to Piney Branch Road. Historically the shopping center accommodated twelve businesses.
Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
Number 7 Page 1
The shopping center consists of five main components. From north to south they are: Giant Food Store supermarket, Flower Theater and shops, F. W. Woolworth & Co store, arcaded stores, and Whelan Drug Store.
1‐Giant Food Store Supermarket Historic address: 8733 Flower Avenue; Current addresses: 8735‐8749 Flower Avenue This block historically housed a Giant supermarket, which opened in January 1950. On the interior, the main store portion had a tall ceiling, while the rear portion was outfitted with a second floor. The structure has a streetfront curtain window wall, punctuated by limestone pilasters and flanked by buff brick facing. A ribbed metal cornice stretches across the west façade of the structure, extending horizontally above the plate glass windows. This metal cornice matches those found above the entrances to the theater and the Woolworth store. The cornice is largely obscured by a non‐historic canvas awning. Above the window wall is a limestone wall that extends to the roofline. The lower level of the limestone facing is obscured by a non‐historic sign panel. North side and rear walls are red brick facing. The north side features brick pilasters and corbelled cornice also found on the theater’s rear auditorium. The structure has a full basement.
The storefront now contains two businesses. The historic entrance, flanked by limestone pilasters, is in the southern‐ most bay facing Flower Avenue, and now accesses the Coin Laundry, at 8735 Flower Avenue. The current steel frame doors and surrounding windows in the entrance bay are compatible with the historic configuration, as evidenced by historic photographs. A new entrance was created in the window wall to the north, accessing El Golfo Restaurant, at 8739 Flower Avenue. Three businesses (martial arts, seafood store, and religious center) are located at 8745‐49 Flower Avenue in the rear of this block, facing the parking area on the north facade. This portion of the Giant Food Store was historically divided into rooms and included the ice machine, according to the Sanborn map. The north wall of this building is divided into bays with brick pilasters and corbelling at the eaves.
2‐Flower Theater block 8721‐8729 Flower Avenue The Flower Theater, designed by theater architect John J. Zink, is the centerpiece of the shopping center. Designed in the style of modern classicism popular in the metropolitan Washington area for landmark buildings in the World War II era, the theater has a stylized temple‐like form with classical detailing. The theater opened in February 1950, a month after Giant supermarket. The towering façade of buff brick with limestone detailing features reeded pilasters, medallions, an engaged entablature and center inset bay. The stepped‐up roofline frames raised neon lettering reading “Flower” in a stylized streamline font. A triangular marquee shelters the lobby entrance. The streetfront has an undulating character created with a series of three polygonal bays. The outer polygons, sheathed in limestone, contain inset poster boxes with metal frames. The central polygonal bay is the ticketbooth with vertical ribbed sheathing capped by a horizontal ribbed cornice that echoes those found on the flanking anchor stores. The ticketbooth is flanked by paired glass entrance doors with Lucite handles. The ensemble is surmounted by a metal framed marquee. The ceiling beneath the triangular marquee, has recessed lighting and panels with metal strip accents extending radially from the ticket booth. The vestibule has terrazzo flooring.
The north and south side walls are recessed behind the front facade and are solid except for two sash windows on each side. Three bands of darker brick run below the roofline. A wall plane parallel to the front façade extends above the roofline, marking the front of the theater auditiorium. The stepped parapet of its roofline mirrors the front façade. The auditorium is set within the rear of the building, sheltered under a metal‐sheathed gable roof. The exterior walls of red brick on the rear and side walls of the auditorium are divided into bays with brick pilasters and corbelled cornice that Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
Number 7 Page 2
match those found on the north wall of the Giant store. A tall brick chimney rises at the rear gable end of the auditorium. The theater overall retains a high level of integrity.
The theater is flanked by one‐story streetfront shops that appear as one‐story wings extending north and south. Two smaller stores (450 sq ft) are on the north side of the theater entrance, at 8727‐8729 Flower Avenue, and a larger store (600 sq ft), at 8721 Flower Avenue, is on the south. The storefronts have plate glass display windows with metal frames. Like the theater, the storefronts have black marble skirting, buff brick facing, and recessed entrances. Non‐historic sign panels obscure the buff brick walls above the glass storefronts. The store at 8721 Flower Avenue historically housed a barbershop and is the Flower Barber Shop today. The shop at 8727 Flower Avenue originally housed a beauty shop and is now an optician. The nail salon at 8729 Flower Avenue was a gift shop from 1950 until at least 1969.
3. F. W. Woolworth & Co. Store 8715 Flower Avenue The Woolworth’s store has steel frame construction and is sheathed on the front and south side with an undulating glass curtain wall. A ribbed cornice above the glass plate windows matches cornices on the theater and Giant store sections. Designed by architect Edwin Weihe, the store was built four years after the rest of the shopping center, yet it maintains a continuity of design and material. Black marble skirting, metal sash windows, and recessed door entrances are original. A deep canopy shelters the wide sidewalk apron and provides continuity with the canopy of the shopping arcade. The store has a greater setback that the northern portion of the shopping center, but not as deep as the arcade section. A deep wraparound sidewalk separates the store from the adjacent automobile forecourt. Twin recessed store entrances on the west side have terrazzo floors embellished with “Woolworth’s” lettering inlay. The building has a full basement. A modernist tapered pillar that matched those found in the arcaded stores once stood at the southwest corner of the front façade but is no longer extant. Limestone facing above the wide eave has been covered with a sign panel.
4. Arcaded stores 8703‐8711 Flower Avenue One‐story stores arranged in a row are sheltered by a deep overhang supported by modernist tapered pillars. Storefronts have window walls surmounting black marble skirting. Historically there were five equally sized stores in the arcaded section; today there are four, although the altered storefronts retain their historical appearance and the arcade continues to read as five store bays. The entrance and display windows of one storefront, at 8711 Flower Avenue, has been replaced with modern steel framed windows in an effort to consolidate the store with 8709. A divider with ribbed metal paneling between the storefront at 8705 Flower Avenue, the former Aristo Cleaners, matches the ribbed paneling of the theater entrance, as does the recessed display case. The store at 8703 Flower Avenue, originally the Piney Branch Hardware Store, is the only one of this group built with a full basement.
5. Whelan Drug Store 8701 Flower Avenue The Whelan Drug Store was strategically located at the intersection of Piney Branch and Flower Avenue. The store has a canted corner entrance providing access to both thoroughfares. Glass window walls originally rose above a black marble base. The glass walls were replaced by 1978 with brick facing that is punctuated with individual fixed sash windows. Marble skirting has largely been removed. The store retains its original canted corner entrance and streamlined metal cornice. The structure has a partial basement.
FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES 1
Frank Grad & Sons rendering of the Flower Theater and Shopping Center (Maryland News, June 4, 1948)
Flower Theater and Shopping Center, c1950. View southeast. (Robert Headley , Maryland’s Motion Picture Theaters, Arcadia Press, 2008)
2 FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES
The Giant supermarket opened in January 1950, followed by the Flower Theater in February. View northeast. (Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington, Giant Food Store Archives)
View south of Giant supermarket about the time of its opening, January 1950. Whelan Drug store at far right. (Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington, Giant Food Store Archives)
FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES 3
ÍN
Giant supermarket Theater & lobby shops Woolworths Store Arcaded stores Whelan Drug Store (Sanborn map, 1953)
The parking forecourt is located in front of arcaded section at the southern end of the shopping center. Several independent stores included the Flower Deli and Piney Branch Hardware. At right is the Whelan Drug store. The site of the future Woolworth’s store is at far left—the building was built in 1954. (The Evening Star, January 14, 1950)
4 FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES
The Washington Post, January 15, 1950
This view from about 1962 shows neon signs in place at the shops between the Giant grocery store and the theater. At far right is the F.W. Woolworth & Co. store with raised lettering set on limestone facing. See detail enlargement on page 29 of this Figures Section. (Shannon & Luchs Archives, American University)
FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES 5
Flower Theater Opening Day celebration, February 1950. (Owner’s submission, 10‐6‐2010)
The windows of the newly constructed Giant supermarket reflect vestiges of the rural character of the area in the carriage house‐like outbuilding across the street. (Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington, Giant Food Store Archives)
6 FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES
Edwin Weihe plan showing new Woolworth’s store (in black) and parking scheme, c1954 (Owner submission, 7‐14‐2010)
The F. W. Woolworth & Co. store (center) is seen in this 1978 view with its original signage. By this time the walls of the Whelan Drug Store building, far right, had been altered. (Owner submission, 7‐14‐2010)
FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES 7
Top and Above: Opening day advertisement for the Flower Theater. (The Evening Star, February 14, 1950)
8 FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES
Opening day advertisement for the Flower Theater. (The Evening Star, February 14, 1950)
FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES 9
The Flower Theater was featured on the cover of Boxoffice magazine, the movie industry trade journal. (Boxoffice, July 22, 1950)
Boxoffice featured the interior of the Flower Theater in its October 1950 issue. (Boxoffice, October 7, 1950) At right is the Flower Theater floorplan as it appeared in another trade publication, Theatre Catalog (1949‐1950).
10 FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES
Richard Coe devoted his Washington Post column to the Flower Theater opening. (The Washington Post, Feb 12, 1950)
FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES 11
The Flower Avenue Giant was the third Giant store to open in Montgomery County and is now the oldest remaining Giant store building in the county. (The Washington Post, January 20, 1950)
12 FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES
Flower Avenue Giant advertisement. (The Washington Post, February 1, 1950)
FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES 13
The Flower Avenue store was one of the first Giants that had air conditioning. The Heidi bakery was a Silver Spring facility, located at Georgia Avenue and Jesup Blair Drive. (The Washington Post, July 28, 1950)
Giant Food Store, Flower Avenue, interior, c1950. (Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington, Giant Food Store Archives)
14 FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES
The Flower Deli catered to the Jewish community with kosher products. The store was closed on Saturdays in observance of the Sabbath. (The Washington Post, October 24, and December 5, 1952)
Felix Nedel of Bernstein’s Bakery, 8709 Flower Avenue (The Washington Post, Dec 3, 1979)
FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES 15
The Essex House (1930), an early project designed by Frank Grad, is a Manhattan landmark, located on Central Park South, New York. (Jumeirah)
One of Frank Grad’s last buildings was the Forrestal Building (1970), GSA, Independence Avenue and 10th Street, SW, under construction at the time of Grad’s death in 1968. The building was designed by a consortium of Curtis & Davis; Fordyce & Hamby Associates; and Frank Grad & Sons. (AIA Guide to the Architecture of Washington, DC, 1994)
16 FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES
The Salaam Temple (1925), a Classical Revival building, was designed by Frank Grad, Henry Baechlin and George Backoff. The resource is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building later became Newark Symphony Hall. (Peter Rubenstein, 1976, National Register file)
Frank Grad designed the modernist Rego Park Jewish Community Center (1948), Queens, NY, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. (1950 view, Flickr)
FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES 17
Frank Grad’s design for Adas Israel Temple, 701 3rd Street Northwest, Washington, D.C. (Washington Post, August 16, 1947)
Left: Frank Grad, architect (standing), with Abraham S. Kay, building committee chairman, at cornerstone laying ceremony for Adas Israel temple. (The Washington Post, May 8, 1950) Right: View of the temple at the time of its dedication, with leaders of Adas Israel congregation, including Fred S. Kogod (The Washington Post, Sept 21, 1951).
18 FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES
Fred S. Kogod was honored for his service by the Variety Club, in 1949. (The Washington Star, June 23, 1949.)
FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES 19
Fred S. Kogod was an example of the American success story, according to this Washington Times column. Washington Times‐Herald, January 3, 1945.
20 FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES
Kogod was elected president of the Jewish Community Center in 1947. (The Evening Star, January 17, 1947.)
FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES 21
The first theater Kogod and Burka built was the Apex Theater in Spring Valley, Washington DC. Like all the theaters the partners built, the Apex was designed by John J. Zink. The theater was demolished in 1977, despite fierce public opposition, and replaced with an office building. (The Washington Post, November 20, 1940)
22 FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES
Fred S. Kogod (with shovel) at ground‐breaking ceremony for the Apex Theater (1940) on Massachusetts Ave., NW. To his left is his partner Max Burka. (Douglas Gomery, “A Movie‐Going Capital,” Washington History, 9:1, Spring/Summer 1997.)
A neon sign directing moviegoers to the north parking lot was perched atop the rear roofline, and was removed by 1988. The sign is similar to one still in place at Zink’s MacArthur Theater. This c1984 photo shows signage installed in a 1978 revitalization effort. (AmericanClassicImages.com)
FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES 23
Sign panels were installed in a revitalization effort iniatiated in 1978 (Montgomery Journal, Dec 7, 1981)
Street improvements in the 1980s included new sidewalks and tree plantings. The glass walls of the Whelan Drug Store were replaced with brick by the time of this 1988 photo. (The Washington Post, Nov 3, 1988)
24 FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES
View east, with Giant supermarket at left. (Lisa Mroszczyk, M‐NCPPC, 54‐2010)
View north, from left to right: Giant Food Store, lobby shops, and theater entrance. (Clare Lise Kelly, M‐NCPPC, 6‐ 2010)
FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES 25
View from the southwest, from left to right: theater, barber shop, Woolworth’s, arcade. (Lisa Mroszczyk, M‐NCPPC, 4‐ 2010)
Arcaded shops with automobile forecourt parking. (Clare Lise Kelly, M‐NCPPC, 6‐2010)
26 FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES
View north on Flower Avenue, with south façade of liquor store (Whelan Drugs) at right, and Piney Branch Road in foreground. (Clare Lise Kelly, M‐NCPPC, 6‐2010)
View east, with north façade of Giant supermarket at left, and access drive to north parking lot.
FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES 27
The original façade of the Giant supermarket is seen in this c1962 view. (Shannon & Luchs Archives, American University)
The Giant supermarket retains its original limestone façade which is now obscured by awning and signage. The original entrance to the Giant store now opens into a laudromat. Other original intact features include limestone pilasters punctuating the storefront, and ribbed metal cornice. (Clare Lise Kelly, M‐NCPPC, 6‐2010)
28 FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES
Flower Theater and lobby stores. (Clare Lise Kelly, M‐NCPPC, 6‐2010)
Flower Theater lobby entrance with ticketbooth. (Clare Lise Kelly, M‐NCPPC, 6‐2010)
FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES 29
The slice of the Woolworth store evident in this c1962 view shows raised lettering set against the limestone facing above the storefront. A canted pillar at the corner of the store matched those in the arcaded section of stores. (Shannon & Luchs Archives, American University)
Woolworth’s Store . (Clare Lise Kelly, M‐NCPPC, 6‐2010)
30 FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES
The Woolworth storefront (8713) has a high level of integrity with original window walls, black marble base, and ribbed metal cornice. Terrazzo Floor (below). (Clare Lise Kelly, M‐NCPPC, 6‐2010)
Woolworth’s name is spelled out in the Terrazzo Floor of both entrances, west façade. (Lisa Mroszczyk, M‐NCPPC, 5‐ 2010)
FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES 31
Arcade looking north toward Woolworth store. Stepped up canopies are supported by canted pillars. Undulating storefronts have black marble skirting. The wide sidewalk provides access to the automobile forecourt. (Clare Lise Kelly, M‐NCPPC, 6‐2010)
Original Toy Store (left) and Liquor Store, later Flower Bakery at 8711‐8709. The entrance to 8711 has been replaced with windows when the two storefronts were combined, now forming Mary’s Center, a health clinic. (Clare Lise Kelly, M‐NCPPC, 6‐2010)
32 FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES
The Flower Deli has been located at 8707 since the shopping center opened in 1950. (Clare Lise Kelly, M‐NCPPC, 6‐ 2010)
Aristo Cleaners store at 8705 features vertical ribbed metal sheathing with a display case that matches features found at the theater entrance. (Clare Lise Kelly, M‐NCPPC, 6‐2010)
FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES 33
Piney Branch Hardware store at 8703 operated from this location for 58 years. A post office counter was located here to serve the local community. (Clare Lise Kelly, M‐NCPPC, 6‐2010)
View north of east façade, with 8707 in foreground and theater in background, showing rear alley at right. (Lisa Mroszczyk, M‐NCPPC, 4‐2010)
34 FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES
This detail of a 1950 photograph shows the Whelan Drug Store building with its wide metal cornice, canted corner entrance, and continuous windows. (The Washington Post, January 15, 1950)
The original walls of the Whelan Drug Store building were replaced with brick facing and individual window units. Original features that remain include the curved metal cornice and the canted entrance that faces the corner of Piney Branch and Flower. (Clare Lise Kelly, M‐NCPPC, 6‐2010)
FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES 35
The north façade of the Whelan Drugstore, under construction. Photo taken before mid‐January 1950 when the store opened to the public. (Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington, Giant Food Store Archives)
Storefronts in arcade at left, with north façade of former Whelan Drugstore, right, now a County Liquor Store. The walls have been sheathed in brick, though the entrance has been retained and metal cornice remains in place. (Clare Lise Kelly, M‐NCPPC, 6‐2010)
36 FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES
The Silver Spring train station, and the community that grew around it, were named for Francis Preston Blair’s estate. Blair Road, today’s Piney Branch Road, ran from the Silver Spring estate through Blair family holdings. Flower Avenue terminated at Blair Road into the 1920s. At the intersection of these roads (see arrow) is the current site of Flower Shopping Center. (Baist’s Map of Washington DC, 1917)
FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES 37
N G Becker house, site of Flower Theater and Shopping Center site, 1931 Klinge Real Estate Atlas
The Sligo Creek area east of downtown Silver Spring was the focus of development efforts in the New Deal era. Arrow added to identify Flower Shopping Center site. (North Washington Realty Company brochure, 1934.)
38 FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES
1948 Klinge Real Estate Atlas, with updates
1953 Sanborn map, with updates
FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES 39
Vicinity Map of Long Branch Area, Silver Spring, MD. (M‐NCCPC, GIS 11‐2010)
40 FLOWER THEATER & SHOPPING CENTER‐ FIGURES
FLOWER THEATER &
FLOWER SHOPPING CENTER
Site Map, Flower Theater and Shopping Center, 8701‐8739 Flower Avenue, Silver Spring, MD (M‐NCCPC GIS 11‐2010)
8. Significance Inventory No. 37/25
Period Areas of Significance Check and justify below
1600-1699 _ agriculture economics health/medicine performing arts 1700-1799 _ archeology education industry philosophy _ 1800-1899 x architecture engineering invention politics/government _x_1900-1999 art x _ entertainment/ landscape architecture _ religion 2000- x commerce recreation law science communications __ ethnic heritage literature social history community planning exploration/ maritime history transportation conservation settlement military other:
Specific dates 1948;1950;1954 Architect/Builder Frank Grad and Sons (shopping center); John J. Zink (theater); Edwin Weihe (Woolworth’s)
Construction dates 1949-50;1954
Evaluation for:
National Register Maryland Register not evaluated
Prepare a one-paragraph summary statement of significance addressing applicable criteria, followed by a narrative discussion of the history of the resource and its context. (For compliance projects, complete evaluation on a DOE Form – see manual.)
SUMMARY TheFlowerTheaterandShoppingCenter(1950;1954)issignificantasapostwarexampleofaParkandShoptypeof shoppingcenter,atypeofshoppingͲparkingcomplexindigenoustotheWashingtonDCarea.Theshoppingcenterwas leasedandmanagedbyShannon&Luchs,whopioneeredtheParkandShopconcept.Theirpioneeringbusiness modelcalledforadvanceleasing,carefulselectionofchainstoresandstaplelocalbusinesses,strictproperty managementthroughdeedrestrictions,integratedparking,anddefinedparkingareatostorearearatio.The prototypewastheConnecticutAvenueParkandShopwithellͲshapedarrangementofstoresbuiltaroundaparking forecourt.Intheimmediatepostwaryears,developersinthemetropolitanWashingtonareabegantoinclude supermarketsinshoppingcenters,andexperimentedwithavarietyoflayoutsthatcouldincludeoffͲstreetparking andstreetfrontage.TheFlowerShoppingCenterincludesaparkingforecourtthatservedtheWhelan’sdrugstore,an arcadesectionofstores,and,after1954,theWoolworth’sstore.AlargesideparkinglotaccommodatedtheGiant FoodStoreandFlowerTheaterwhichbothfaceddirectlyontothestreet.Grocerystoreswereintegratedinto shoppingcentersforthefirsttimeinthepostwarera. ThemodernistFlowerShoppingCenterwasdesignedbyFrankGradandSons,aNewarkNJfirmthatestablisheda WashingtonDCsatelliteofficeinthewartimeyears.Itwasbuiltinanagewhenaccomplishedarchitectsincluded shoppingcentersintheirportfolioofprojects.Specialtyarchitectsdesignedcomponentsoftheshoppingcenter.John J.Zink,theaterarchitect,designedtheFlowerTheaterinamodernclassicstyle.CommercialarchitectEdwinWeihe, knownforhisofficebuildings,pedestrianarcades,andgraduatedsetbacks,designedtheF.W.Woolworth&Co.store. Morethanastyle,modernistdesignwasaprogramsolutionintendedtobeaproductofitsowntimes,usingindustrial formsandmaterials.ConservativemodernismcharacterizedmetropolitanWashingtonarchitectureinthisera. PrinciplesevidentintheFlowerShoppingCenterarethebalancedasymmetryofdynamicvolumesthatpullbackfrom lotlinesandaboverooflines,aswellasthesculptedglazedfronts,flatroofs,andribbonwindows.BythemidͲ1950s, aftertheFlowerwasbuilt,shoppingcenterschangedinarchitectureandplan.Developersreturnedtomore traditionallayoutswithparkingforecourts,andshoppingcenterdesignslippedoutofconsiderationasserious architecture. FredS.KogodwastheprimarydeveloperoftheFlowerShoppingCenter.RetailentrepreneurandleaderintheJewish community,KogodwasamovietheaterexecutivewhofoundedtheKͲBEntertainmentCompany,withpartnerMax Burka.ThecompanybecamethelongestlivedchainoffamilyͲownedtheatersinthemetropolitanregion.JohnJ.Zink designedalloftheKͲBtheatersbuiltduringhislifetime.TheFlowerTheateristheonlyextantcountyexampleofaKͲB theaterinthecountybuiltduringthelifetimeofeitherKogodorZink.ItalsorepresentstheendoftheeraofthelargeͲ screenneighborhoodtheater,builtbeforeregionalshoppingcentersandmultiplextheatersgainedfavor. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
Number 8 Page 1
TheFlowerShoppingCenterservedanincreasinglydiverseandboomingpopulationoftheLongBrancharea. Designedin1948andopenedin1950,itwasacommunitycenterprovidingshopping,entertainment,andparkingina largelyresidentialsuburbanarea.TheFlowerShoppingCenterincludedadvanceleasingofadiverseretailblendof establishednationalandlocalchainstoresandstaplelocalbusinesses.Businessesattheshoppingcenterrangedfrom grocery,bakery,restaurant,housewares,liquor,hardwareandpostofficetopersonalservicesofbarber,clothing,and florist.Inaddition,theFlowerTheaterofferedspacetocommunitygroupsincludingCommunityArtsCooperativeand MontgomeryCountyJewishCommunity,atatimewhenfewcommunityfacilitieswereavailableintheSilverSpring area.TheshoppingcenterincludestheearliestextantcountyexampleofaGiantgrocerystorebuilding,alocalchain establishedin1938;andalocallyrareextantexampleofaF.W.Woolworth&Co.store,anationalchainrecognizedas apioneerinthehistoryofchainstoresandvarietystores. HISTORICALCONTEXT TheFlowerTheaterandShoppingCenterlieseastofdowntownSilverSpringandnorthofthemunicipalboundaryof TakomaPark.SuburbandevelopmentintheSilverSpringͲTakomaParkareabeganwithcommuterrailserviceonthe MetropolitanBranchoftheB&ORailroad(1873)andcontinuedwithstreetcarlinesinthelate19thandearly20th century.InthepostWorldWarIera,theareaprosperedanddevelopmentexpandedinthe1920swithincreased availabilityoftheautomobile.WhileAmericanselsewherestruggledduringtheDepression,thefederalworkforce grewdramaticallyunderFranklinDelanoRoosevelt’sNewDealprograms.WorkersflockedtotheWashington,DCarea anddemandforhousinggrewaccordingly.Largeexpansesoffarmlandandestatesnortheastofthecityremained undevelopedintothisera.Thecombinationofinexpensive,undevelopedlandandgreatermobilitybroughton throughhigherratesofautomobileownershipmadetheSilverSpringareaaprimelocationfornewdevelopment. LargetractsoflandinandaroundSilverSpringwereownedbymembersoftheBlairͲLeefamily.FrancisPrestonBlair, WashingtonGlobeeditor,hadestablishedhis300Ͳacre“SilverSpring”summerestatein1842.Thecommunitythat grewaroundtheestateandnearbytrainstationwasnamedafterBlair’sestate.Intheinterwarera,E.BrookeLee,a WorldWarIhero,realestatemagnate,andcountypoliticalboss,becamethesinglemostsignificantinfluenceonthe developmentofMontgomeryCounty,generally,andSilverSpring,particularly.Leeplayedakeyroleinestablishing theMarylandͲNationalCapitalParkandPlanningCommission(1927).HeworkedwiththeStateRoadsCommissionto establishEastͲWestHighway(1934),anearlybeltwayconnectingSilverSpringwithChevyChaseandBethesda.Inthe SilverSpringarea,Leedevelopedlargeexpansesofland.Healsoestablishedschoolsanddonatedlandforparks, includingSligoCreekPark.Leeandhiscohortsfoundedrealestate,bank,andconstructioncompanies.1 EnvisioningtheSilverSpringareaasabedroomcommunityforfederalworkersinthepostWorldWarIera,Lee foundedadevelopmentcompanyin1920andnamedittheNorthWashingtonRealtyCompany.IntheNewDealera, E.BrookeLeeandhisrealestatepartnerscontemplatedanewvisionfortheLongBranchareaofeasternSilverSpring, withwellͲdesigned,affordablehousesmarketedtomiddleclassfamilies. TheFederalHousingAdministration,createdin1934,boostedtheresidentialdevelopmentofSilverSpring.TheFHA encouragedmultiplefamilyhousingdevelopmentsbyinsuringmortgagesforgardenapartmentcomplexes.Thefirst
1RayEldonHiebertandRichardK.MacMaster,AGratefulRemembrance(Rockville:MontgomeryCountyGovt&MCHS,1976),p264.ClareLise Kelly,PlacesfromthePast:TheTraditionofGardezBieninMontgomeryCounty,Maryland(SilverSpring:MͲNCPPC,2001),p296.SamStavinsky, “GamblePayingOffinCoinofBigBusiness,”TheWashingtonPost,September5,1948. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
Number 8 Page 2 federallyinsuredgardenapartmentsinMontgomeryCountyweretheFalklandApartmentsbuiltin1936onthenewly openedEastͲWestHighway,at16thStreet.Othersfollowed,includingPineyBranchApartments(1941)intheLong Brancharea. Retaildevelopmentcloselyfollowedtheresidentialdevelopment.Aretailcomponentincludedinthecomprehensive planforFalklandApartmentswasunrealizedandsupplantedbytheSilverSpringShoppingCenter,whichopenedin 1938withstoresandamovietheater.LocatedatthecornerofGeorgiaAvenueandColesvilleRoad,thisretailand entertainmentcomplexwasaregionalshoppingcenterthatshiftedthefocusofSilverSpring’scommercialdistrict severalblocksnorthofthetrainstation.2 ItwasduringtheWorldWarIIerathatthearea’spopulationexperiencedexponentialgrowth.Thepostwardecades introducedenormouschangestoWashingtonanditssuburbs.Asthefederalbureaucracyexpanded,newcomers flockedtothegovernmentboomtown.Returningveteransandnewlyarrivedgovernmentworkerscontributedto Washington’stransformationfromcapitalcityintometropolitanregion.Seekingnewhomes,theyjoinedanexodus fromthecitytotheMarylandandVirginiasuburbs.Housingdevelopmentsmushroomedinthisera.Inthe1940sand 1950s,Washington,DCsuburbswerethethirdͲfastestgrowingareainthecountry.In1940,28,877people,or approximatelyoneͲthirdofthecounty’sresidents,hadaSilverSpringaddress.Between1940and1948,permitswere issuedintheSilverSpringareafor8,796singlefamilydwellingsand2,712apartments,whichwereasmanybuildings ashadbeenconstructedintheentirecountyupto1930.Forthefirsttime,SilverSpringwasarguablythelargest communityinthestateafterBaltimore.By1956,SilverSpringaccountedforhalfthecountypopulation.3 LONGBRANCHDEVELOPMENT TheLongBranchareaderivesitsnamefromtheLongBranchstream,whichrunsparallelandbetweenSligoCreekand theNorthwestBranch.ThearearemainedlargelyfarmlanduntiltheNewDealera.Before1920,FlowerAvenue, originatinginTakomaPark,terminatedatPineyBranchRoad,thenknownasBlairRoad.JamesH.Cisselacquireda 323ͲacretractflankingSligoCreekandplattedasubdivisionin1920withlarge,residentiallotsaveragingaroundfive acres.4FlowerAvenuewaslaterextendednorthofPineyBranchRoad,terminatingneartheIndianSpringGolfClub, whichwasestablishedin1924.TheFlowerShoppingCenterislocatedonwhatwasLot21ofCissel’ssubdivision. WilliamBeckerboughtLot21in1925andbuiltahouseona2.6acrelot.Nextdoor,EdwardandAlmaCareybought Lot20,immediatelynorthonFlowerAvenue,in1932.5
2Kelly,PlacesfromthePast,40Ͳ41.RonaldL.Andrews,“SilverTheaterandShoppingCenter,”NationalRegisterofHistoricPlaces RegistrationFormM:36Ͳ7Ͳ1,MarylandHistoricalTrust,1988.RichardLongstreth,“TheMixedBlessingsofSuccess:TheHechtCompany andDepartmentStoreBranchDevelopmentAfterWorldWarII,”PerspectivesinVernacularArchitecture,Vol6,ShapingCommunities, 1997,pp244Ͳ262.E.BrookeLeebuilthisNorthWashingtonShoppingCenter(1936)neartheoldcommercialcenterbythetrainstation, onGeorgiaAvenue. 3HiebertandMacMaster,pp265,329,315Ͳ317,336.“’WashingtonMd’TownsDescribedby‘Sun’Writer,”MarylandNews,July29,1949. Stavinsky,opcit.TheWashingtonPost,Sept24,1947andApril25,1948. 4DeetsandMaddoxmap,1916.“PlatofJamesH.Cissel’sAdditiontoSilverSpring,MontgomeryCounty,MD,”MontgomeryCountyCircuit Court,Plat3:209,June17,1920. 5Deed372:4(March13,1925).1931KlingeRealEstateAtlasshows‘WGBecker’ontheparcelwith3structures.TheCareyHouseremains standingnorthoftheFlowerShoppingCenter. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
Number 8 Page 3
CisselwasabusinessassociateofE.BrookeLee.Apromoterofsuburbandevelopment,LeeservedasMontgomery County’spoliticalbossfrom1919to1946,andwasthearchitectofthecounty’smoderngovernmentalstructure.Lee foundedhisNorthWashingtonRealtyCompanyin1920andbuiltmanySilverSpringsubdivisionsoverthenexttwo decades.LeeandCissel,alongwithFrankHewitttogetherorganizedand/orownedavarietyofrelatedSilverSpring businesses,includingtheSilverSpringNationalBank(latertheSovranBank)andtheSilverSpringBuildingandSupply Company.In1932,theSilverSpringInvestmentCompany,withJamesHCissel,President,andE.BrookeLee, Secretary,initiatedthesubdivisionofseveralsectionsofHighlandView,locateddirectlynorthoftheFlowerShopping Center.Advertisinglandforsaleherein1934,Leepromoteditsproximitytodowntownjobs:“averagedrivingtime, 20minutes”fromtheWhiteHouse.Insupportofhisrealestateventures,Leetoutedthreemajorplanned componentsinthearea:parks,highways,andresidentialcommunities.InaNorthWashingtonRealtyCompany promotionalbrochureof1933,FlowerAvenuestretchedfromTakomaParktotheIndianSpringGolfClub,whilePiney BranchconnectedUniversityBoulevard,anewStateHighway,withSligoCreekParkanddowntownSilverSpring.6 FlowerAvenue,inthe1930s,wasenvisionedasaboulevardlinedwithhandsomehouses.Thedeedsdraftedatthe timeincludedrestrictivecovenantsgivingthedevelopersdesignreviewforproposedhouses.Thedeedrestrictions followedthemodelsetinthe1890sbytheChevyChaseLandCompany,withminimumcostsestablishedforthe constructionofhouses,withhighercostssetforcornerlotsfrontingFlowerAvenue.By1936,FlowerAvenuewas considered“afineconcreteStateHighway”andpublicutilitieswereinstalled.7Startingin1937,Leeofferedcustom housesforhisForestHillssubdivision,locatedwestofFlowerAvenue,alongSligoPark.LeerevisedCissel’s1920plan forthedevelopment,promotingwellͲdesignedhousesonsmallerlots.Thefollowingyear,Leebeganmarketing customhousesdesignedbyGeorgeDeFranceaux’sPermanentHomesCompanyinHighlandView.Initsfirstyear,the companydesigned90houses,75ofwhichwereinHighlandView.PermanentHomesfeaturedfurnishedmodelhomes forprospectivebuyers,andwasapprovedbytheFederalHousingAdministration.8 AcontemporaryofLeewasAbrahamKay,whoboughttheIndianSpringGolfClubin1939.Kayestablishedthe County’sfirstrecreationplaceavailabletoJews,whenheopenedclubmembershiptotheJewishcommunity.He proceededtodevelopadjoiningresidentialdistricts,whichbecameoneofSilverSpring’sfirstlargelyJewish communities,outofwhichthecounty’sfirstJewishorganization,MontgomeryLodgeofB’naiB’rith,wasorganized.9 MoreonSilverSpring’sJewishcommunityfollowsinalatersection. MultiͲfamilyhousingcametotheLongBranchareawhenE.BrookeLeebuilthis214ͲunitPineyBranchApartmentsin 1941.Thecomplex,locatedonPineyBranchRoadatSligoParkway,wasinsuredbytheFHAandvaluedat$1,020,000
6LeewasSpeakeroftheMarylandHouseofDelegates,andlaterGovernorRitchie’ssecretaryofstate.SourcesonE.BrookeLeeincludeHiebert andMacMaster,AGratefulRemembrance;GeorgeH.Callcott,MarylandandAmerica,1940Ͳ1980;biographicalfilesatMCPLRockvilleand MNCPPCHistoricPreservationOffice.HighlandViewplats,1932.NorthWashingtonRealtyCompanybrochure,1933,MCHS. 7HighlandViewSectionOne,August1932,Plat447,SilverSpringInvestmentCompany.ThedeedrestrictionsinDeed542:53,Aug29,1932were timelimitedtoJanuary1,1952.“HighlandViewofSligoParkTractOpened,”TheWashingtonPost,April19,1936. 8“NewResidencesEasilyModifiedtoSuitBuyer”(June13,1937),“CorporationSells90HomesinFirstYear”(July30,1939)and“HomeSoldin HighlandView,”(November20,1938),TheWashingtonPost. 9IndianSpringCountryClubwasestablishedbyFayetteThomas“Tom”Moore,ownerofamovietheatercircuitthatincludedRialtoandTivoli theaters.RobertHeadley,MotionPictureExhibitioninWashington,DC,p76;KlingeRealEstateAtlas1931WilliamOffutt,“AShortHistoryof CountyCountryClubs,”MontgomeryCountyStory,November2003;SallyGagné,NorthHillsofSligoPark,p154;JewishHistoricalSocietyof GreaterWashington,JewishWashington:ScrapbookofanAmericanCommunity,pp40,46.TheIndianSpringClubrelocatedtotheLayhillareain 1957whenplanswereannouncedfortheCapitalBeltway. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
Number 8 Page 4 atthetimeofconstruction.Severalotherapartmentcomplexesfollowedinthe1940sand1950s,builtlargelywiththe helpofFHAandVeteransbenefits.10 Recreationfacilitiesandschoolswereexpandedtomeetthegrowingpopulation’sneeds.TheMarylandͲNational CapitalParkandPlanningCommissionbuilttheLongBranchRecreationCenterin1950—tobeopenedtoresidentsin 1951.AtthesametimetheCommissionboughta2½acretracttoexpandtheLongBranchValleyPark.In1947,Kay plannedanewclubhousefortheIndianSpringGolfClub,withanestimatedcostof$250,000,butitgotcaughta backlogofconstructionprojectsduringthewaryears.RobertSensemandesignedhisawardͲwinningOakView ElementarySchool,whichopenedin1948.11 AlthoughLongBranchemergedasadesirableresidentialneighborhoodduringthisperiod,retaildevelopmentdidnot keeppace.Intothepostwarera,LongBranchresidentsshoppedindowntownSilverSpring,TakomaPark,orinthe district,becausetherewerefewstoresavailablewithintheneighborhood.AnexceptionwastheZigZagShopping Center,establishedabout1939atthenorthwestcornerofPineyBranchandFlowerAvenue.Withtheopeningofthe FlowerShoppingCenterin1950,followedbyaDonaldJohnsonͲdesignedshoppingcentersouthofPineyBranchRoad, theintersectionofPineyBranchRoadandFlowerAvenueevolvedintoacommercialnodebytheearly1950s.12 FLOWERSHOPPINGCENTERDEVELOPMENT IsadoreGudelsky,whoarrivedontheSilverSpringsceneabout1930,wasrememberedasoneofthefirstJewish businessmeninthearea.GudelskyownedtheConteeSandandGravelbusiness,inWhiteOak.In1945,Gudelskyand associatesassembledlandwheretheFlowerShoppingCenternowsits,acquiringtheBeckerHouseparcel(Lot21)in July,followedbypartoftheCareyHouseproperty(Lot20)inOctober.BythetimeGudelskyhadpurchasedthe Beckerproperty,hehadalreadydevelopedtheMontgomeryArmsapartmentsneardowntownSilverSpringin1941. TheGudelskygrouplaterwentontodevelopotherprojectsincludingtheWheatonPlazamall.13 Gudelsky’sinitialplansfortheparcelareunknown.By1945,newswasoutthatplanswereafootforashopping center.TheWashingtonPosttheatercolumnist,NelsonBell,reportedinAugust1945that“KogodandBurkahave [engaged]thatabletheaterspecialistJohnJ.Zink”todesignanewtheateratPineyBranch,andalsohereported planswereunderwayforashoppingcenter.FredS.KogodandMaxBurkaoperatedachainofmovietheaters.A
10HiebertandMacMaster,p328.MͲNCPPCGISdatabase.TheWashingtonPost,January2,1941;December17,1940;May4,1941;Nov3,1950. In1948,theFHAannounced2,186newapartmentunitsintheWashingtonarea.TheLongBrancharea,nearWhiteOak,includedsignificant amountsofFHAhousing,includingtheCharlesABlockApartments,onFlowerAvenue,andtheGoodacreApartments,atDomerandGlenview, featuring300apartmentsin37buildingsdesignedbyarchitectsCorningandMoore.ThePineyBranchApartments,atManchesterandPiney BranchRoads,appearonthe1941KlingeRealEstateAtlas. 11TheWashingtonPost,ConradP.Harness,“Can’tHurdleHighCosts,Restrictions,”May18,1947;November3,1950.RobertSenseman, AmericanArchitectsDirectory,AIAAward1950. 12KlingeRealEstateAtlas,1941,1948.TheWashingtonPost,March21,1948. 13Deeds976:66and976:70(July1945)and987:95(Oct1945).AfterWilliamBeckerdied,in1943,hiswidow,TheresaBecker,soldtheproperty toSadieMilestoneinJuly1945,who,inthesameweek,conveyedaportiontotheGudelskygroup.ThegroupincludedCharlesandFannie Scheffres,IsadoreandBerthaGudelsky,HarryandLeaGudelsky,HomerGudelsky(unmarried),IdaGudelsky(widow),andAnnaGudelsky (unmarried).TheGudelskysboughttheCareypropertyinOctoberthesameyear.MilestonesoldanadditionalportionoflandtotheKogod groupin1946.JackNeumann,Oralhistory,in“RecollectionsofHappeningsinMontgomeryCounty,”AustinL.Carlinetal,Aug27,1987. MontgomeryCountyLandRecords,GrantorIndex,1942Ͳ1952.MontgomeryArms,36/7Ͳ2,MIHPformandMasterPlanfile,HistoricPreservation office,MͲNCPPC. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
Number 8 Page 5 theaterinsider,BellhadworkedforHarryCrandall,theDistrict’smostinfluentialtheaterbuilder,andhadalsoworked withlocalmovietheaterpioneerJosephMorgan.Thesameweek,tradepublicationBoxofficerepeatedthenews. Whenthesereportsweremadein1945,thepropertywasstillownedbytheGudelskygroup.Whenthemuch anticipatedFlowerTheaterfinallyopenedin1950,RichardCoe,Bell’ssuccessor,wouldreportthat“thePineyBranch propertywassettledonsixyearsago,butonlylastfallwasconstructionstarted.”ItwastheGudelskytransactionthat hadtakenplacenearlyfiveyearsearlier.14 TheGudelskygroupconveyed2.5acresinApril1946toFredS.Kogod,HarryBurka,andM.DavidDubb.Overthenext fouryears,theKogodpartnershipassembledseveralparcelsofadjacentlandfortheFlowerShoppingCenter.In1947, theyacquiredtwoparcelstotaling4,000squarefeet.Another2,000squarefeetwasaddedin1949.In1950,more landwasadded(January31andFebruary13)foradditionalparkingspaces.15 AtthetimetheFlowerTheaterandShoppingCenterwasplanned,FredS.KogodandMaxBurkawerealreadyknown fortheirchainofmovietheaters,knownpopularlyastheKͲBtheaterchain,whichbythistimeincludedfourtheaters innorthwest,northeast,andsoutheastWashington,DC.KogodandBurka,whowerebrothersͲinͲlaw,hadpreviously establishedabusinessrelationshipasownersofastringofgrocerystoresintheDistrict.Kogodwasthe entrepreneurialforcebehindthecompanyanddevelopmentactivities.MoreonFredS.Kogodfollowsinalater section. WhileMaxBurkawasapartnerwithKogodintheKͲBtheaterchain,itwasMax’sbrotherHarryBurkawhowasacoͲ owneroftheinitiallandacquisitionfortheFlowerShoppingCenter.Harry,whoownedandmanagedapartment buildingsincludingArlington’sFillmoreGardenApartments,subsequentlyconveyedhisinterestintheFlowerAvenue propertytoHermanEig,in1949.16EigandM.DavidDubb,theothercoͲowner,werebusinessaffiliatesofKogod. KogodandDubbownedapplianceandstorefixturebusinessesinnorthwestWashington.LikeKogod,Dubbhada leadingroleinthenationalJewishWelfareBoard,andwasactiveintheWoodmontCountryClub.17HermanEigwasa fellowgrocerwhoin1944servedatVicePresidentofUnitedFoodStores,Inc.Inthisera,UnitedFoodStoreswasan activegrocerycooperative,with265members,mostofwhomwereJewishgrocers.18 ThoughplansfortheFlowerShoppingCenterhadbeeninthenewsin1945,itwouldbeanotherfiveyearsbeforethe complexopened.Onefactorthatmayhavecontributedtothedelayinconstructionwasthewartimeeconomy.Inthe metropolitanWashingtonarea,asintherestofthecountry,constructionprojectswerelargelystalledduringWorld WarII.In1941,Kogod,actingasanindependententrepreneur,plannedtheSenatorTheater,ashoppingand
14TheWashingtonPost,August20,1945.Boxoffice,Aug25&Sept8,1945.Headley,pp110Ͳ111,371,onNelsonBell.RichardL.Coe,“NewMovie HouseOpening,”TheWashingtonPost,February12,1950.Coe’sstatementisechoedinHeadley’s,MotionPictureExhibitioninWashington, D.C. 15Deeds1012:157(May6,1946);1097:111(August25,1947);1099:474(September18,1947);1246:105(April20,1949);1350:197(January31, 1950);1350:199(February15,1950).ThenameFlowerShoppingCenterappears,forexample,inthe1955leasefortheFlowerTheater.Liber 2049,Folio131. 16TheWashingtonPost,Jan29,1966(MaxBurkaobituary);Aug10,1974(HarryBurkaobituary). 17TheWashingtonPost,July18,1940;December2,1949;andOctober26,1953.Dubbresidedat3425GarrisonSt,nearFriendshipHeights. 18Eigwasvocalinaddressingtheplightofgrocersandbutchersinthewareconomy.TheWashingtonPost,March5,1939;January4,1944,July 1,1945,October24,1946.“HalfaDayonSunday,”ExhibitbyJewishHistoricalSocietyofGreaterWashington.Noestablishedfamilial connectionhasbeenmadebetweenHermanEigandrealestatedeveloperSamEigwhodonatedlandfortheMCJCsynagogueonEastͲWest Highway. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
Number 8 Page 6 entertainmentcomplexonMinnesotaAvenueNE.Contemporarypressaccountsdescribeditaslikelythelast significant,privateͲsectorprojecttobebuiltinWashingtonduringthewar.ThoughtheSenatorTheaterdidopenin 1942,theshoppingcenterwasonlypartiallyrealized.19 AnotherpotentialfactorrelatingtothedelayinconstructingtheFlowerTheaterandShoppingCenterwasongoing litigationinvolvingnationaltheaterchains.ThepracticeofHollywoodmovieproductionhousesowningthemajority ofmovietheatersacrossthecountrytocontroldistributionwasbeingchallenged.TheKͲBtheaterchainclashedwith theWarnerBrothers’CompanyovertheconstructionofMacArthurTheater.In1945,bothKogodͲBurkaandWarner BrothersplannedtheatersonMacArthurBoulevard.Ultimately,theMacArthurTheateropenedin1946asajoint venturebetweenthetwocompanies.In1948,aSupremeCourtrulingprohibitedmovieproductioncompaniesfrom owningtheaters.Accordingtoonesource,plansforactuallystartingconstructionoftheFlowerShoppingCenterwere announcedtwoweeksaftertheruling.20 InJune1948,BlairLeerevealedthedesignfortheFlowerShoppingCenterbyFrankGradandSons,inhis“Business Briefs”columnintheMarylandNews.21FrankGrad&SonswasanarchitecturalfirmbasedinNewark,NJ,that openedaWashington,DCofficein1944.KogodhadanestablishedarelationshipwithFrankGradthoughhisroleas buildingcampaignmanagerforthenewAdasIsraelsynagogue,whichFrankGradandSonsdesignedin1947foranew siteinNorthwest.Thesameyear,GraddesignedacommercialbuildingforKogodonHStreetNortheast. Thedesigndateof1948fortheshoppingcenterisfurtherestablishedbyleasessignedbytenantslatethatyearthat reference“ablueprintpreparedbyFrankGrad&Sons,Architects.”22Leeeagerlyanticipatedthestartofconstruction oftheFlowerShoppingCenter,affirmingthat“thelongawaitedshoppingcenterisactuallyonitsway”andthelotwas beingpreparedforconstruction.Planscalledfortheprojecttostartthatsummer,andtobefinishedearlyin1949.It wouldbeanotheryearbeforeconstructionactuallygotunderway.AnadvertisementfortheplannedFlowerShopping CenterappearedinaJune1948editionoftheEveningStar: TAKOMAPARK,MD:cornerPineyBrRd&FlowerAve.Newlargeparkandshopdevelopmenttobestarted soon,withmodern1,000seattheater.Giantsupermarketandlargechaindrugstoreareleasedandseveral
19DCBuildingPermits.TheWashingtonPost,February22,1942;Jun29,1945;May4&Sept7,1947;HansWirzandRichardStriner,Washington Deco:ArtDecoDesignintheNation’sCapital(Washington,D.C.:SmithsonianInstitutionPress,1984).DouglasGomery,“AMovieͲGoingCapital: Washington,D.C.intheHistoryofMoviePresentation,”(WashingtonHistory,Spr/Summer1997),p17.DuringWorldWarII,developersand buildersintheWashingtonDCareasufferedhighconstructioncosts,shortageofmaterial,andgovernmentrestrictionsonnewconstruction. Eventhoughthewarendedin1945,theconstructionindustrywasstymiedforyearsbyabacklogofprojects.Themajorityofplannedprojects from1942to1948werenotbuilt.TheWashingtonPostreported,“Foreveryhome,apartmentofcommercialstructureunderconstructionhere, twomorehavebeenpostponed.”ArchitecturalRecord’s“Washington”columnprovidedregularreportsonwarͲrelatedrestrictionscontinuedto affecttheindustry(forexampleVols86Ͳ87,1947Ͳ1948).RobertFriedel,“ScarcityandPromise:MaterialsandAmericanDomesticCultureduring WorldWarII,”WorldWarIIandtheAmericanDream(DonaldAlbercht(Ed),NationalBuildingMuseumandMITPress,1995),pp42Ͳ89.Harness, opcit.FredS.Kogod,withBurka,didmanagetoobtainbuildingpermitsforotherprojectsthroughoutthewar,includingtheNaylorTheater (1944).Kogodannouncedplansin1945forhismilliondollarshoppingͲentertainmentͲparkingcomplexonSouthCapitolStreet.By1947,a scaledbackeightͲstorecomplexwasbuilt.In1947,KogodandBurkaalsobuiltaFrankGradͲdesignedcommercialbuildingonHStreetNE. 20Rotensteinsuggeststhisfactorinhisreport,p6.Gomery,pp4Ͳ23.KennethTuran,“TheWashingtonMovieKings,”TheWashingtonPost,Feb 24,1974.EHTTraceries,MacArthurTheater,DCLandmarkNomination,1997. 21BlairLee,“BusinessBriefs,”MarylandNews,June4,1948andJuly29,1948. 22See,forexample,theleasefor8707FlowerAvenue,theFlowerDeli,madeNovember23,1948,inLandRecords1426:386. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
Number 8 Page 7
others.Openingsforbeautyshop,florist,bakery,children’swear,delicatessen,hardwareandvarietystores. ConsultMr.Taylor,Shannon&LuchsCoRealtors23 ShannonandLuchspioneeredtheParkandShoptypeofshoppingcenter,anautomobileͲorientedcommercialcenter thatfollowedabusinessmodelcallingforadvanceleasingandstrictpropertymanagement(seefollowingsection). Bygettingcommitmentsinadvanceofconstruction,theownerswereabletoensurebothwellestablishedbusinesses andadiversityofstores.LeasesfortheFlowerShoppingCenterincludedcovenantstocontroltheexterior appearanceoftheshoppingcenter,includingsigns,awnings,andreservedparkingareasforcustomeruse.More informationonFlowerbusinessesfollowsinasubsequentsection.24 InJuly1949,aconstructioncontractwasfinallyawardedfortheFlowerShoppingCenter,goingtotheRoscoe EngineeringCompanyfor$450,000.Thesameyear,HarryBurkaconveyedhisinteresttoHermanEig,andthe partnershipalsoacquiredadditionalacreage.25 ThesiteoftheFlowerShoppingCenterhadbeenselectedtofillacommercialbusinessvoid.Theprimarycommercein theareahadbeenthetenͲyearoldZigZagShoppingCenter(c1939)onthenorthwestcornerofFlowerandPiney Branch.FrankJ.LuchsappraisedtheproposedFlowerShoppingCenterinFebruary1949,findingthatitwouldbethe highestandbestuseoftheproperty.Luchsdescriptionstatedthat“thepropertyisboundedontwosidesbyheavily traveledhighways,namelyFlowerAvenueandPineyBranchRoad”,waslocated“intheheartofawellestablished growingsectionofMontgomeryCounty,Maryland”,and“withinonemileofthehomesofapproximately26,000 people,livinginover4,000singlefamilyhomes,andnearly3000apartmentunits.”26 StoresweredoingaboomingbusinessbyJanuary1950whentheGiantgrocerystoreopened.Accordingtothe companyaccount,theopeningmetanenthusiasticwelcomefromthecommunity.ThecornerofFlowerAvenueand PineyBranchRoadwasacommercialhubbytheearly1950s,withshoppingcentersonthreecorners.Theaccelerated postwardevelopmentintheFlowerAvenueareahadledtotheneedforincreasedlocalcommerce.InApril1950,I.G. McNayr,CountyManager,assuredLongBranchresidentsthatWayneAvenuewouldbeextendedto“thepopulous andgrowingFlowerAvenue”area.Inaddition,anewFlowerAvenuebusroutewasplanned.27 TheFlowerShoppingCenterwasbuiltintwostages.Thefirstphase,beingthemajorityoftheshoppingcenter,was builtin1949andopenedearlyin1950.Thesecondphase,builtin1954,wastheWoolworth’sstore,totheright (south)ofthetheatersection.Itwasnotuncommonforcommercialprojectstobebuiltinphases,justasitisnotan unusualpracticetoday.TheConnecticutAvenueParkandShopwasbuiltinphases,withtheautomobileservice facilityconstructedin1932,twoyearsaftertheshoppingcenteropened.TheF.W.Woolworth&Co.storein
23 SundayStar,Jun13,1948. 24LandRecords1426:386.F.WallaceStoever,“ParkandShopDevelopments,WashingtonD.C.,”NationalRealEstateJournal,December1938, p32.ForShannonandLuchsParkandShopprinciples,seediscussionbelow.AccordingtoRotenstein,WhelanStoresCorpsignedaleasein August1946(undocumentedleasecited,p7). 25TheWashingtonPost,July17&24,1949.OnJuly24, TheWashingtonPostcreditedtheentirecomplextoJohnJ.Zink,thoughheonly designedthetheater.ThedesignthatthePostpublishedinthatissueisthesamethattheMarylandNewshadpublishedayearearlier,which bearsthesignatureblockofFrankGrad&Sons. 26ShannonandLuchsArchives,Box5,AmericanUniversity. 27“Neighboringshoppingcenters”,TheWashingtonPost,January15,1950.MarylandNews,April17,1950. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
Number 8 Page 8
WilmingtonDelawarewasinitiallybuiltin1940andexpandedin1959withanupperstorythatwaspartoftheoriginal design.TheconstructionofaprojectinstagesdoesnotaffectitsarchitecturalsignificanceͲͲboththeConnecticut AvenueParkandShopandtheWilmingtonWoolworth’sarelistedontheNationalRegister.28 TheshoppingcenterwasdesignedbyFrankGradandSons.Specialtyarchitectsworkedontheprojectaswell.Frank Grad’sdesignfortheentirecomplexwaspublishedintheMarylandNewsinJune1948.Leasesforstoresthatwere executedthroughOctober1948bearreferencetoablueprintexecutedbyGrad.TheFlowerTheaterwasdesignedby JohnJ.Zink,theaterarchitectforalltheatersbuiltbytheKͲBchainduringhislifetime.In1954,commercialarchitect EdwinWeihedesignedtheF.W.Woolworth&Co.storewhichwasbuiltin1954.Hisplotplanofthatdateshowsthe Woolworth’sbuildingoutlineandanewparkingschemeforthenorthlot.Moreinformationontheshoppingcenter architectsfollowsbelow.29Additionalinformationonthearchitectsfollowsinasubsequentsection. TheFlowerTheaterandShoppingCenterwasacommunitycenterforresidentsintheLongBrancharea.Amongits offeringswereentertainment,restaurantdining,takeͲoutfood,groceries,housewares,hardware,postalservicesand personalservices.TheneighborhoodsofadjacentHighlandParkandSligoCreekwerehometoyoungfamilieswhose memberscouldeasilywalktotheshoppingcenter.Ampleparkingwasavailableinfrontandbehindthecenterfor thosewhodrove.ChildrenattendingthenearbyOakViewElementarySchool,builtin1948atEWayneandWalden Road,couldwalktothecenterontheirwaybetweenhomeandschool,andthesodafountainwasapopularhangout forlocalyouth.30 TheFlowerTheaterwasusedbylocalgroupsinanerawhencommunityfacilitieswerelimited.Theopeningofthe FlowerTheaterwascelebratedwithaconcertbytheTakomaParkHighSchoolBand,broadcastonradiostation WGAY.ThetheaterincludedapartyroomknownastheMarylandRoom.Availablebyreservation,theroomcould accommodateabuffettableandhadseatingforapartyof21.31TheCommunityArtsCooperativeheldcreativedrama classesattheFlowerTheater.Inaddition,thetheaterwasaninterimfacilityforthenascentJewishcommunityata timewhennopermanentfacilitywasavailableinthecommunity.Intheearly1950s,MontgomeryCountyJewish CommunityusedtheFlowerTheaterforfundraisingandreligiousservices.32Seesectionbelowformoreonthe relationshipofFlowerTheaterandShoppingCenterandtheJewishcommunity. SHOPPINGCENTERSANDSHANNONANDLUCHS TheFlowerShoppingCenterwasbuiltasacommunityParkandShop—ashopping,entertainment,andparking centerthatservedthelocalcommunity.Theshoppingcenterfollowedacceptedrealestatepracticesaccordingtosite
28RichardLongstreth,“TheNeighborhoodShoppingCenterinWashington,D.C.,1930Ͳ1941,”JournaloftheSocietyofArchitecturalHistorians, Vol.51,No.1(March1992):p14.CynthiaJohnson,“F.W.WoolworthBuilding”Lexington,KY,NationalRegisterofHistoricPlacesform,2008. “ClevelandParkHistoricDistrict”,NationalRegisterofHistoricPlacesform,1987. 29TheMarylandNews,June4,1948.TheWashingtonPost,July7,1949.Landrecords1426:308(Oct7,1948);1426:337(Dec22,1948).In November1948,JohnJ.Zinkpreparedablueprintfortheshoppingcenter.TheWashingtonPostpublishedZink’sdesigninJuly1949.Itbearsno visibledifferencefromGrad’sdesign.PlotplanprovidedinRotensteinreport. 30Klinge,Atlas,1948.TheWashingtonPost,March17&July24,1949.TanyaSchmielerandEileenMcGuckianinterviews,MarcieStickle correspondence. 31RichardCoe,TheWashingtonPost,February12,1950.Openingdaybrochure,February1950. 32TheWashingtonPost,September15&30,1951;September6,1950“Children’sTheaterPartytoBeBenefit”;September2,1952“Jewish CenterSetsServices”. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
Number 8 Page 9 selectionandlayout,advancedleasingoftenants,parkingtoretailsquarefootageratio,andpropertymanagement. Furthermore,theFlowerShoppingCenterwasplannedandmanagedwiththeservicesofShannonandLuchs,who pioneeredtheparticularWashington,DCformofdriveͲinshoppingcenterwithparkingforecourt,knownasthePark andShop.33 In1930,ShannonandLuchsdevelopedtheConnecticutAvenueParkandShop(1930),nowarecognizedparadigmfor theautomobileorientedretailcenter.DesignedbyarchitectArthurHeaton,theConnecticutAvenueParkandShop incorporatedanLͲshapedarrangementofstoreswithananchorgrocerystore,alignedaroundanintegratedparking forecourt.Unlikeearliershoppingcenters,theParkandShopwasnotbuiltaspartofaresidentialdevelopment.34 ShannonandLuchsformedacorporationcalled“ParkandShop,Inc,”andcopyrightedthename.By1938,the companyhadsevenParkandShopscompletedorunderway. HerbertShannonandMortonLuchsfoundedtheShannonandLuchsCompanyin1906.Bythe1920s,thefirmhad establishedareputationforexpertleasingandsales,especiallywithchainstorecompanies.Beforelaunchingintothe developmentofshoppingcentersinthe1930s,ShannonandLuchs’innovationsincludedtheuseoftheculͲdeͲsacand parkinggarage.TorealizetheirmodelfordevelopmentscateringtoautomobileͲdrivingcustomers,thefirmemployed architectArthurHeaton,whowasknownforadvancingautomobileorientedarchitecturaldesign.35 BytheWorldWarIIera,shoppingcenterdesignhadbeenmethodicallyanalyzed.TheUrbanLandInstitutepublished guidelinesforthenumberandcompositionofstoresandservices,siteplans,andparkingratio.ArchitectsGeoffrey BakerandBrunoFunarowereshoppingcenterspecialistswhopublishedashoppingcenterbuildingtypestudyin 1949,publishedin1951asShoppingCenters:DesignandOperation.36 BakerandFunaroidentifiedthreetypesofshoppingcenters:neighborhood,community,andregionalcenters. AccordingtoBakerandFunaro’sdefinitions,theFlowerShoppingCenterisacommunitycenter,intermsofitssize andvarietyofservices.Thesmallerneighborhoodcenter,whichservedaminimumof750families,containedanchor storesofsupermarket,drugstore,andpossiblyavarietystore,aswellasseveralbasicservicestoressuchasshoe repair,barber/beautyshop,anddrycleaner/laundry.Acommunitycenterservedalargerarea,containedmore stores,andincludedmorepublicservicesthananeighborhoodcenter,yetlessthantheregionalshoppingcenter
33RichardLongstrethhasidentifiedWashingtonDCasaprovinggroundforthedriveͲinneighborhoodshoppingcenterandestablishedthe significantroleoftheWashingtonDCParkandShopasaparticularbuildingtype.“TheNeighborhoodShoppingCenterinWashington,D.C., 1930Ͳ1941,”JournaloftheSocietyofArchitecturalHistorians,Vol.51,No.1(March1992):5Ͳ34;andTheDriveͲIn,TheSupermarket,andthe TransformationofCommercialSpaceinLosAngeles,1914Ͳ1941.(Cambridge,MA:TheMITPress,1999),pp158Ͳ9.Longstrethdefinesatrue shoppingcenterasonewithcentralmanagementandcontrolovertenancyandphysicalappearance.CityCentertoRegionalMall: Architecture,theAutomobile,andRetailinginLosAngeles,1920Ͳ1950.(CambridgeMA:TheMITPress,1997),p196. 34InMontgomeryCounty,thefirstplannedshoppingcenterswerebuiltstartinginthelate1920s.EarlyexampleswerebuiltinTudorRevival stylesincludingtheLelandShoppingCenter,onWisconsinAvenue,builtaspartoftheLelanddevelopment(1926)andtheMontgomeryHills ShoppingCenter(1930),atGeorgiaAvenueandSeminaryRoad,SilverSpring.Builtbyasingledeveloper,thesecomplexesweresmall,withless than10stores.AndreaRebeck,“TwentiethCenturyCommercialResourcesinMontgomeryCounty,”1987. 35RichardLongstreth,“NeighborhoodShoppingCenter”,pp12Ͳ14.AlocalexampleofcollaborationbetweenHeatonandShannon&Luchsis ChevyChasePark,intheTownofChevyChase,1929Ͳ30.Kelly,PlacesfromthePast,pp327,332. 36GeoffreyBakerandBrunoFunaro,ShoppingCenters:DesignandOperation,ProgressiveArchitectureLibrary,ReinholdPublishingCo,1951. “ShoppingCenters:ANeighborhoodNecessity”UrbanLand,Oct/Nov1944.Stoever,p22.JohnE.Mertes,“TheShoppingCenter—ANewTrend inRetailing,”TheJournalofMarketing,13:3(Jan1949)374Ͳ379. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
Number 8 Page 10 whichservedmanythousandfamilieswithinahalfͲhour’sdrive,includedadepartmentstore,andcovered20Ͳ50 acres.TheFlowerShoppingCenterservedseveralthousandfamiliesandprovideddiverse,communityoriented amenitiesincludingthetheater,withmovieentertainment,aswellascommunityspaceforparties,dramaclassesand religiousservices;apostoffice,locatedinthehardwarestore;andotheradditionaldiverseservicesincluding restaurant,gifts,clothing,toys,sportinggoods,andhardwarestore.37 BeforeWorldWarII,supermarketswererarelyintegratedinshoppingcenters.Bythe1950s,thesupermarkets proliferatedandwereincorporatedintoshoppingcenters.By1950,theGiantFoodStoreCompanyhad20storesin themetropolitanarea.AppraisorFrankLuchs,ofShannonandLuchs,foundthecompany,in1949,tobe“avery successfullocalsuperͲmarketchain,gearingeachstoretoaminimumof$1,000,000volumeandbeingquitesuccessful inattainingthisgoal.”Apopulararrangementforthecommunityshoppingcenterintheimmediatepostwarerahad thesupermarketanddrugstoreonopposingendsandvarietystoresinthemiddle.Forcentersprovidingmorethan justthebasics,storesweregroupedaccordingtotypeofmerchandise.AttheFlowerShoppingCenter,thechildren’s toysandwomen’sclothingstoreswereplacedtogether,whilegiftsandcandyweregroupedwiththetheater.38 Chainstoreswerestandardcomponentsofsuburbanshoppingcentersbythistime.Truechainstoreshavebeen definedasthosewithcentralizedmanagement,standardoperationalcomponents,andmultipleoutletsratherthan onemainfacility.39InadditiontothelocalGiantFoodStore,anchorunitsattheFlowerShoppingCenterrepresented nationalchainsofF.W.Woolworth&Co,WhelanDrugStoresInc.,andthelocalKͲBEntertainmentCompanytheater. Ofallchainstores,thevarietystorewasespeciallyimportanttothesuccessofshoppingcentersnationwide.F.W. Woolworth&Company,establishedin1879,becameoneofthefirstchainstorebusinessesinthenation.Thesuccess ofWoolworth’s,accordingtohistorianCynthiaJohnson,wasbasedonthecompany’s“abilitytobuygoodsfrom manufacturersatbulkpriceswhichenabledthechainstoretosellitemsatlowerpricesthanthelocalmerchants.”40 TheWhelanDrugStorescompany,whichoriginatedinNewYorkCity,hadabout1,000storescoasttocoastwhenthe FlowerAvenuestoreopened.Inthe1940sand1950s,WhelanDrugStores,Inc.wasaprogressivecompany,among thefirsttosellrecords,toexperimentwithpipedͲinmusicforshoppers,andtosellinexpensiveremainderbooks.41 TheKͲBtheaterchainwasthelongestlivedfamilyownedtheaterchainintheregion,whichoperatedfrom1924until 1992.TheFlowerTheaterwasthesevenththeaterbuiltbyKogodandBurkaandthefirstintheKogodͲBurkachain builtoutsideofWashington,DC.42 WashingtonDCareashoppingcentersintheimmediatepostwarerawerevariedintheirconfigurationofstoresand parkingareas.LikeFrankGradandSons,otherareaarchitectsweredesigningshoppingcentersthatdeviatedfrom
37BakerandFunaro,p10.Fillingstationswereconsideredbysometobestandardforaneighborhoodcenter,butintheWashingtonDCareathis featurewasoftenomitted.Longstreth,“NeighborhoodShoppingCenter”,p21. 38 Longstreth, TheDriveͲIn,p162.BakerandFunaro,p11.GiantFoodStores,corporatehistory,www.giantfood.com.WashingtonPostdisplay advertisements.ShannonandLuchsArchives,AmericanUniversity. 39Longstreth,CityCenter,pp71Ͳ74. 40Johnson,“F.W.WoolworthBuilding”,Lexington,KY,NationalRegisterform,2002.ThisKentuckyexample,listedontheNationalRegister underCriterionA,wasfoundtobelocallysignificantintheareaofcommercewithinthehistoriccontext,“TheRiseofWoolworth’sFiveand DimeasaNationalRetailChainStore,1879Ͳ1997”. 41Billboard,Oct25,1947;Mar6,1948.TheNewYorkTimes,Jun18,1950;Aug15,1951. 42TheWashingtonPost,advertisements1942Ͳ1953.Celebratingits75thanniversary,theGiantFoodStoreCompanycreatedinͲstorehistory displays.Anewspaperadvertisementillustratesonepanel,withthecaption:”Between1950&1952,Giantopensfivenewstores,growingto21 locations.TheWashingtonnewspaperschronicleeverynewaddition.” Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
Number 8 Page 11 thetraditionalParkandShopmodelwhichhadanLͲshapedconfigurationofstoreswithparkingforecourt.Leon Chatelain,Jr.orientedhisMichiganAvenueShoppingCenter(1947)atrightanglestoanintersectionoftwobusy streetsonatriangularlot.CorningandMoorefacedthestorefrontsofWashingtonandLeeShoppingCenter(1945), inArlington,directlyonasidestreet,servicedbytwoparkingareas—onenexttothesupermarketandtheother acrosstheroad.Bythelate1950s,themorestandardforecourtconfigurationwasrevived,alongwithanincreasein theproportionofparkingspaces.43 TheFlowerShoppingCenterhadasplitparkingarrangementtoserveshortandlongtermcustomers.Thefacilityhad acomplexform,withoneenddefinedbyaUͲshapedplanwithshallowparkingforecourt,andtheotherarectangular planwithangledparkingspacesonthestreetandparkinglots.ThesplitparkingarrangementprovidedshortͲterm parkingforquickshoppingatservicestores,andbiggerlotsforlongertripsastothesupermarketandtheater. Divisionbetweenpedestriansanddriverswasalsoanimportantconsideration.Thesidewalkinfrontofthetheater andrelatedstoresbroughtpedestriansoffthestreet.Arearalleyaccommodateddeliverytrucks.44 Adequateparkingwasakeyissueforshoppingcentercustomers.Inthepostwarera,theprevailingwisdomforthe idealparkingtostoresquarefootageratiowas2:1.ThiswaspromotedbyULIandbyWashington,DC,shopping centerexpertWaverlyTaylor.BakerandFunaroadvisedaratioof3:1,particularlyforcentersexclusivelydependent oncustomersarrivingbycar.TheFlowerShoppingCenterhadaratioof3:1eventhoughitwaspedestrianaccessible totheLongBranchcommunity.EarlierParkandShopshadaparkingtostorearearatioof1:1.BythemidͲ1950s, developerswereprovidingthreetimestheamountofparkingcomparedtothepostwaryears.45 Shoppingcenterguidelineshighlightedamenitiesforcustomerconvenienceandaesthetics.Theseincludedoverhangs toprotectshoppersfromweatherandencouragewindowshopping,anduniformsignagewithrestrainedlettering. GuidelinesrecommendedthatthesitebelocatedattheintersectionoftwowellͲtraveledroads,adjacenttodense residentialdevelopment.AttheFlowerShoppingCenter,thegrocerystorewasplacedatthefrontofthelotandan alleylocatedtotherearfortruckloadingandtrashremoval.Agroupofstoreswassetbacktoaccommodate automobileparkinginfront,easilyaccessiblefromthestreet. FredS.KogodengagedShannonandLuchstoleaseandmanagetheFlowerShoppingCenter.ShannonandLuchs securedleasecommitmentsfromtenantsinadvanceofconstruction.LeasesfortheFlowerShoppingCenterusedthe term“ParkandShopstoredevelopment”.46InhisarticleonParkandShopretailcentersinNationalRealEstate Journal,F.WallaceStoeverofShannon&Luchoutlinedhiscompany’sdesignandbusinessmodelforthese neighborhoodshoppingcenters.AkeycomponentofShannonandLuchsplanwasthecarefulselectionoftenants.As
43 Longstreth,“BuildingforBusiness:CommercialArchitectureinMetropolitanWashington,”inC.FordPeatross,CapitalDrawings,2005.Baker andFunaro,pp110Ͳ111.TheWashingtonPost,November30,1947. 44Ibid,pp37Ͳ39,87. 45BakerandFunaro,pp36Ͳ37.Longstreth,“BuildingforBusiness,”p142.Inlateryears,theangledonͲstreetparkingspacesattheFlower ShoppingCenterwereremoved,creatingashortageofspacesforcustomersofthearcadeshopsalongtheforecourt. 46AnotherconsiderationstatedbyShannonandLuchswasalocationonthehomeboundsideoftheroad.TheParkandShopsonConnecticut Ave,MassachusettsAvenue,WisconsinandGeorgiaarealllocatedonthehomebound(east)sideofthesemajorarterialsleadingoutof WashingtonDC.TheFlowerShoppingCentertooislocatedontheeastsideofFlowerAvenue.Liber1426,Folio391. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
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Stoeverstated,“Wedecidedthatwewantedonlythosetenantswhosereputationsasprogressivemerchantswould drawcustomersofthedevelopment,andthatwemusthavediversityofbusinesses.”47 RaymondM.TaylorwastheShannonandLuchsrentalagentresponsiblefortheFlowerShoppingCenter.According tocompanyrecords,Taylorpromotedandleasedmoreshoppingcentersfrom1931to1956thananyotherpersonin themetropolitanarea.AnativeofWashingtonDC,TaylorstartedworkingforShannonandLuchsin1926and eventuallyservedasthecompany’sVicePresident.TaylorwasPresidentoftheWashingtonRealEstateBoard,and memberoftheWashingtonBoardofTrade.ByJune1948,TaylorhadsecuredtheGiantFoodStoreforananchorstore intheFlowerShoppingCenter.48 Anotherimportantfactorwaspropertymanagement.AccordingtoStoever,ShannonandLuchsfound:“Itwas necessarytoprohibitthedisplayandsaleofmerchandiseonthesidewalkandintheparkingarea.Exteriorsignsof tenantsmustbelimitedtoapprovedsizeanddesign.Tomaintainprestigeandahighstandardoftenants,theexterior ofthebuildingandallpavingmustbekeptinfirstclasscondition.”Inaddition,itwasimperativethat“theparking spaceisusedonlybycustomerswhilemakingpurchasesinthestores,andrequiredeliverytruckstoloadandunload intherearalley.”Useofapropertysuperintendantandparkingattendantwereencouragedtoensuretheserules werefollowed.49 ShannonandLuchswasinvolvedwithatleasttwoearliershoppingcentersinMontgomeryCounty.IntheNewDeal era,ShannonandLuchsworkedwithE.BrookeLeeonhis1936NorthWashingtonShoppingCenter,7709Ͳ7723 GeorgiaAvenue.TheotherwasPorterandLockie’sBethesdaͲChevyChaseShoppingCenter(1936Ͳ7,partially demolished),7101Ͳ7139WisconsinAvenue,inBethesda.50 FrankJ.Luchs,sonoffounderMortonLuchs,workedwithFredS.Kogodininitialandsubsequentappraisalsofthe FlowerShoppingCenter.InFebruary1949,Luchsdescribedtheproperty: ThesubjectpropertyislocatedintheheartofawellestablishedandgrowingsectionofMontgomeryCounty, Maryland,whichisboundedonthesouthbyTakomaParkandwhichliesapproximatelytwomileseastof SilverSpring.Thispropertyisboundedontwosidesbyheavilytraveledhighways,namelyFlowerAvenueand PineyBranchRoad,whichbearagreatportionoftheflowoftraffictoandfromWashington.51
47Stoever,pp32Ͳ33. 48ShannonandLuchsArchives,AmericanUniversity,Box11,50thAnniversaryScrapbook.Stoever,32Ͳ33.BlairLee,June4,1948.FredS.Kogod maywellhaveworkedwithShannonandLuchsonearlierprojects.ShannonandLuchsarecreditedashoppingcenteratMinnesotaAveand BenningRd,SEwithJohnJZinkarchitect(Longstreth“NeighborhoodShoppingCenter”,34).Kogodobtainedbuildingpermitsforatheaterand inSoutheastWashingtonIn1941and1947.KogodsecuredbuildingpermitsfortheJohnJZinkͲdesignedSenatorTheaterandstoresat3946Ͳ 3954MinnesotaAvenue,and,in1947,foraWoolworthstoreat3932MinnesotaAvenueSE,FrankBeatty,architect.Kogodobtainedabuilding permitfortheNaylorTheaterin1944.DCBuildingPermits. 49NationalRealEstateJournal,December1938,pp32Ͳ33. 50“ParkandShop”,AmericanCity,October1937,71Ͳ2.“.RichardLongstreth,“TheNeighborhoodShoppingCenterinWashington,DC,1930Ͳ41,” JSAH1992,pp12Ͳ14,17,33Ͳ34.LizabethCohen,“FromTownCentertoShoppingCenter,”1996.NREJ,opcit.BethesdaͲChevyChase(Lakeview) ShoppingCenter,1948photograph,MͲNCPPCArchives.AnneCissel,“CongressionalShoppingCenter”,MIHPForm26/21Ͳ6,October1986. 51FrankJ.LuchsAppraisalReport,FlowerAvenueTheaterandShoppingCenter,Feb25,1949,ShannonandLuchsArchives,AmericanUniversity, Box5. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
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LuchsstudiedthedevelopmentoftheLongBranchareaandfoundthattheFlowerShoppingCenterwas“located withinonemileofthehomesofapproximately26,000people,occupyingover4,000individualhomesandnearly 3,000apartmentunits.”LuchsfoundtheconstructionoftheFlowerShoppingCentertobe“betterthanthatusually foundinneighborhoodshoppingcenters.”Inaddition,hewrote,“Itistheopinionofthisappraiserthattherentalsof thisshoppingcenterareinlinewithcomparableshoppingcenterscontainingsimilarhighclasstenancies”inthe metropolitanarea.Luchsfoundthat“shoppingcentersofthistypewithseveralgoodtenantsofthechaintypeand withsomeindependentshavebeensellingforeleventimestheirannualincome.”Justasthefirstwaveofautomobile orientedshoppingcenterswerebuilttoserveNewDealresidentsandgardenapartmentdwellers,theFlower ShoppingCenterservedthepostwarcommunitiesintheLongBrancharea.
KͲBTHEATERSANDTHEWASHINGTONAREAMOVIEINDUSTRY TheFlowerTheaterwasthefirstKͲBTheaterbuiltoutsideofWashington,DC.Theearliestmovietheaterswerethe soͲcalledpicturepalaces,grandarchitecturaljewelsbuiltincitycentersinthe1910sand1920s.Localexamples includedtheTivoli(ThomasLamb,architect,1924),builtbyHarryM.Crandall,andtheEarle[Warner]Theater(C HowardCrane,architect,1924),builtbytheStanleyCompanyofPhiladelphia.Startingin1928,theWarnermovie studiobeganbuyingtheatersinWashington.ThiswaspartofanationaltrendinwhichthetopfivemajorHollywood studios,bythelate1920s,acquiredallthemajormovietheatersacrossthecountry.Washington’stheaterswere largelyownedbyHollywoodstudiocompaniesWarnersand,toalesserextent,Loews(ownersofMGM).52 EmergingfromtheDepression,theWarnerstudiomadeclearthatsuburbanneighborhoodswerethewaveof thefuturefortheaterdevelopmentandparkingwasakeyfactortosuccess.TheUptownTheater(Zink,1936), wasbuiltneartheampleparkinglotoftheClevelandPark’s1930ParkandShop.ThenexttwoWarnertheaters wereintegratedintoparkandshopcomplexes,firstwiththeSheridanTheater(Eberson,1937),inBrightwood, andthentheSilverTheater(Eberson,1938),SilverSpring. Duringthisera,entrepreneursbroughtcompetitiontothenationaltheaterchains.SidneyLust,aformer Warneremployee,builttheMilo[Villa]TheaterinRockville(Zink,1935)andtheBoroTheater(Eberson,1938)in Bethesda.TheBoroTheater,laterknownastheBethesda,wasoriginallydesignedaspartofalargershopping complexandwhileultimatelyconstructedwithonlysingleflankingstores,retainedalarge500spaceparking lot.53 ItwasKogodandBurka,however,whocreatedthebiggestthreattotheWarnerchain.Thepairstarteda partnershipwithJohnJ.ZinkwiththeAtlasTheaterandStores(1938),thefirsttheatertheybuilt.Locatednear thePrincessTheater,whichtheyhadacquiredin1924,theprojectwasatestthatprovedasuccess.ThenextKͲ BTheaterwastheApexTheaterandstores(Zink,1938),which,followingthemodeloftheUptown,waslocated adjacenttotheParkandShoponMassachusettsAvenueinSpringValley.KogodnextworkedwithShannonand LuchstoplanashoppingcenterthatwouldincorporateatheaterinSoutheast.Thoughtheprojectwasnotfully realized,theSenatorTheaterwithadjacentstoresopenedtothepublicin1941.
52Headley;DouglasGomery,“AMovieͲGoingCapital:WashingtonDCintheHistoryofMoviePresentation,”WashingtonHistory,9:1(Spr/Sum 1997). 53Kelly,283,305. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
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DuringWorldWarII,movietheatershadanewroleinthecommunityasnewsreelsprovidedinformationaboutthe warandpromotedpatriotism.Inthisera,theatersbecamethe“absolutecenterofAmericanculturallife.”Inthe postwarera,shoppingcenterspecialistswerebeginningtoadviseagainstneighborhoodtheaters,infavoroftheaters inlargerregionalshoppingcenters.YetdevelopersintheWashingtonareacontinuedtoincludetheatersin neighborhoodshoppingcentersandthevenuescontinuedtobeaplacetoescape,socializeandbeentertained. StartinginthemidͲ1950s,neighborhoodtheatersbegantofalloutoffavorandtheatersweremorecommonlybuiltin regionalshoppingcenters.54 Commercialdevelopers,alerttoanemergingmarket,soughtlocationsfortheatersnearpostwarhousing complexesandresidentialcommunitiesinrapidlyexpandingneighborhoods.KogodandBurkabuilttheNaylor Theater(1944),locatedinsoutheastWashingtonnearthenewlyopenedNaylorGardens,agardenapartment complexbuiltin1943bytheDefenseHomesCorporation.Likewise,KogodsitedtheFlowerTheaterand ShoppingCenternearPineyBranchApartmentsandotherhousingthatdevelopedinthisera.SkidmoreOwings &MerrilldesignedtheAeroTheaterandShoppingCenter(1942),inconjunctionwithAeroAcresresidential developmenttoservetheworkersoftheGlennL.MartinAircraftCompany,nearBaltimore.55 DevelopersidentifiedmovietheatersasaningredientinthemodelforsuccessfulpostͲwarneighborhood shoppingcenterdevelopment.ShoppingcenterhistorianRichardLongstrethexplainsthat“atheateraspartof ashoppingcentercouldsignificantlyenhancepatronage.Motionpictureexhibitorslikewisesawthebenefitsof cooperation,fortheshoppingcenterfitwellintotheirnewprogramofbuildingmoderateͲsized,neighborhoodͲ orientedfacilitieswhereattendancewouldseemlikearoutinepastimemorethanaspecialoccasion.”In additiontotheFlower,localexamplesofshoppingcentercomplexesthatincludedatheaterinthiserainclude KaywoodTheater,inMt.Rainier(1945);ViersMillTheater,ViersMillRoad,Rockville(1950);AllenTheater,New 56 HampshireAve,TakomaPark(1951);andLangleyTheater,NewHampshireAvenue,LangleyPark(1952). StudioͲownedtheaterchainsdisbandedaftera1948SupremeCourtcaseprohibitedmoviecompaniesfrom owningtheaters.Fromthe1950sintothe1980s,theatersinthemetropolitanregionwerelargelylocally owned.Whiletherewasasurgeintheaterbuildinglocallyintheimmediatepostwaryears,theincreasing numberofhouseholdtelevisionseventuallybegantoaffectmovietheaterattendance.Thisissueisreflectedin theatercriticHarryMacArthur’sFebruary1951editorialintheWashingtonStarentitled“IstheNeighborhood MovieWashedUp?”.57MultiͲscreenmovietheaters,startingin1965,oftenlocatedinsuburbanshoppingmalls, helpedboostthemoviebusiness.58
54MaggieValentine,TheShowStartsontheSidewalk:AnArchitecturalHistoryoftheMovieTheater,StarringCharlesS.Lee(NewHaven:Yale UniversityPress,1994):6andKevinJ.Corbett,“TheBigPicture:TheatricalMoviegoing,DigitalTelevision,andBeyondtheSubstitutionEffect,” CinemaJournal40,No.2(Winter2001):23.BakerandFunaro.InMontgomeryCounty,thefirsttheaterbuiltafterthewarwasnotinthe Washingtonsuburbsbutfarnorth,inDamascus.TheDruidTheater,constructedin1945Ͳ1947,wassaidtobebasedonJohnJ.Zink’sdesignfor theApexTheater.Ithasonestorycommercialwingsonbothsidesandwasacclaimedforitsairconditioning.MͲNCPPCfiles,Resource11/6Ͳ2. 55HollyChamberlain,“PermanenceinTimeofWar:ThreeDefenseHomeCorporationProjectsintheWashingtonMetropolitanArea,”in HousingWashington,RichardLongstreth(Ed),CenterforAmericanPlaces,2010,p181Ͳ201. 56Longstreth,”NeighorhoodShoppingCenters,”p21.BakerandFunaro,p128. 57Headley,pp176Ͳ177. 58Valentine,6Ͳ7andCorbett,pp23Ͳ24. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
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Laterinthe20thcentury,threeindependenttheaterbusinessesdominatedthemetropolitantheatermarket: PaulRoth’sRothTheaterCircuit,CircleTheatersownedbybrothersJimandTedPedas,andMarvinandRon Goldman’sKͲBTheaters.Foradecadeendingin1978,KͲBCinemaswasownedbyMaxBurka’ssonFredand grandsonDavid,andFredS.Kogod’ssonͲinͲlawMarvinGoldmanandgrandsonRonald.TheBurkasleftthe businessin1978,leavingtheGoldmansassoleproprietorsofKͲBTheaters.In1980,KͲBTheatersoperated24 screens,PaulRothoperated28,andCircleTheateroperated36.Inanerawhentherewereover200screens operating,thesethreecompaniesweredubbedWashington’s“firstfamiliesoffilm”.Thetheaterscenebeganto changeinthelate1980swiththereturnofnationalchains.By1987,AMC,GeneralCinemaandUnitedArtists werebuyingorbuildingtheatersinthearea.Thesameyear,Toronto’sCineplexOdeonboughttheCircle TheatersownedbythePedasbrothers.RonGoldmansoldtheKͲBTheaterCompanyin1992,thoughhe retainedfiveofthetheaters,calledApexCinemas,anamerecallingthetheaterbuiltbyhisgrandfather,FredS. Kogod,52yearsearlier.59 MODERNISTARCHITECTURE "ModerndesignͲͲdesignofourtimeͲͲisnotastyle.Itisasolutiontomodernproblemsinmodernterms." ProgressiveArchitecture,194860 Theconceptofmodernarchitecturewastoexpressthespiritofanageandnotthetraditionalvaluesofpreceding generations.IntheconservativeWashington,DCarea,thisspiritwasslowtotakehold.Theearliestmanifestationof modernarchitecturewasintheNewDealerawithArtDecoandArtModerneprojects,builttoservenewfederal agenciesandtheinfluxofgovernmentworkers.Suchbuildingsweremodernmainlyinsurfacedecoration.61 Inthepostwarera,modernarchitecturetookdeeperroot,celebratingindustrialformsandmaterialsandpromotinga newMachineforLivingphilosophy.Thebasicprincipleswereabalancedasymmetryofdynamicvolumes,rejectionof appliedornament,useofflatroofsandribbonwindows,andemploymentofnewtechnologyandmaterials.62 Morethanjustasafeatureofsuburbanization,theshoppingcenterwasatestinggroundformodernistarchitecture, fromtheinterwartotheimmediatepostwaryears.Thetermpedestrianmodernhasbeenusedtodescribethe mannerinwhichordinaryretailbroughtmodernistdesignintoeverydaylife.Inanerawhenindustrialdesigners enteredtherealmofarchitects,shoppingcenterdesignwasacceptedasrespectableworkfortheprofession. ShoppingcenterswereamongtheportfolioofprojectsofsuchwellknownarchitectsasHolabirdandRoot,Eero Saarinen,PietroBelluschiandWalterGropius.TheirworkwasfeaturedforexampleinthePittsburghPlateGlass publication,ThereisaNewTrendinStoreDesign(1945),whichcatalogedmodernistshoppingcenterdesign.Popular techniquesincludedextensiveglazing,sculptedfronts,andvolumespullingbackfromlotlinesandaboverooflines.
59KennethTuran,”TheWashingtonMovieKings,”TheWashingtonPost,February24,1974.ChristianWilliams,“TheNewMoguls,”The WashingtonPost,August10,1980.ThomasGoldwasser,“KͲBTheaters:FatherandSonStar,”WashingtonBusiness,TheWashingtonPost,June 21,1982. 60"ArchitectureͲNotStyle,"ProgressiveArchitecture(December1948),pp.49,120,122,138,quotedbySandyIsenstadt,“Moderninthe Middle”,Perspecta,Vol.36,Juxtapositions(2005),pp.62Ͳ72. 61IsabelleGournayandMaryCorbinSies,“ModernMovementinMaryland:ContextEssay.”UniversityofMaryland,2002,pp3Ͳ4,12.GSA ModernBuildings,p30. 62Ibid,p5.GSAModernBuildings,pp30Ͳ31. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
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BythemidͲ1950s,shoppingcenterdesignslippedoutofconsiderationasseriousmodernarchitecture.Inhistorian DavidSmiley’swords,shoppingcenterdesignsincethe1950sbecameawhippingpostfortheprofession.63 SuchmodernisttechniquesareevidentattheFlowerShoppingCenter.WindowwallsoftheGiantandthe Woolworth’sstoresgivethesensationtotheoutsiderofalreadybeinginthestore.Variedsetbackspositionedthe Woolworth’s,withitsundulatingtransparentwalls,awayfromthelotline,andthearcadedstoressteppedback fartherstill.Avariedrooflineisfoundnotjustintheseparatevolumesofanchorstores,butwithinthearcaded sectionaswell.ThetechniqueofsteppingͲupthearcaderoofwasalsofound,forexample,inSkidmoreOwings& Merrill’sAeroAcresShoppingCenter(1942),amodernistshoppingcenterhighlightedinBakerandFunaro’sShopping Centerstudy.64 Thecenterpieceoftheshoppingcenter,theFlowerTheater,hasastylizedtempleͲlikeformwithclassicaldetailing. EarlyformsofmodernismintheWashington,DC,areadrewontraditionalarchitectureinastyledescribedasmodern classicism.PaulCret’sFederalReserveBoard(1932)employsastylizedtempleformandhisBethesdaNavalHospital Tower(1942)featuresclassicalmedallions,whileEggers&HigginsusedatempleformfortheNavalOrdnance Laboratory’sAdministrationComplex(1945),WhiteOak. WarnerBrothersengagedMihranMesrobiantoremodel theatersinthe1940sandhechoseclassicalmodernistdesignssuchasthosefoundonhisSavoyTheater(1942).65 SILVERSPRING’SJEWISHCOMMUNITY TheFlowerTheaterandShoppingCenterrepresentsanerawhenaJewishcommunitywastakingrootinMontgomery County.TheproductofJewishdevelopersandarchitect,theshoppingcenterinitiallyservedagrowingJewish community.FollowingWorldWarII,alargeconcentrationoftheestimated500JewishfamiliesinMontgomery CountylivedintheSilverSpringarea.ThefirstcensusthatrecordedthepopulationoftheJewishcommunityinthe Washingtonmetroregion,takenin1957,foundthatthereweremoreJewsinlowerMontgomeryCountythan anywhereelseintheregion.ThefirstorganizedJewishgroupintheSilverSpringareawastheMontgomeryLodgeof B’naiB’rith,formedin1942.66 TheMontgomeryLodgeofB’naiB’rithwascomposedentirelyoralmostentirelyofIndianSpringClubEstates residents.DeveloperAbrahamKayhadboughttheIndianSpringCountryClubin1939andopenedittoJewish members,makingitoneofthefewclubsatthetimewhereJewswerewelcome.HedevelopedIndianSpringVillage with300housesnearthegolfcourse.TheproximitytothecountyclubandtheaffordabilityofKay’shousesattracted youngJewishfamiliesfromtheDistrict.ThecommunityapparentlyformedacoreofJewishresidentsinthelate
63DavidSmiley,PedestrianModern:Shopping,ModernArchitectureandtheAmericanMetropolis,1935Ͳ1955,PhDThesis,PrincetonUniversity, 2006. 64Smiley,14Ͳ16,76.AeroAcresinBakerandFunaro,p128. 65Inthecommercialrealm,DonnHougen’sPortEdwardsshoppingcentersusestempleformsforthetownhallcenterpieceandabankendunit, inBakerandFunaro,p113.Greenhorne&O’Mara,NavalOrdnanceLaboratory,MHTSHSIFform#33Ͳ25,1997;KarinAlexis,“GovernmentOfice BuildingsinMontgomeryCounty,”1988. 66JewishCommunityCouncildemographicstudy,1957populationchart,JewishWashington,p51.SaulMindel,oralhistory,April21,1988,Ohr Kodeshcollection,JHSGWArchives.HiebertandMacMaster,p337.AparalleleffortintheBethesdaͲChevyChasecommunityledtothe organizationin1945ofMontgomeryCounty’sfirstJewishgroupwestofRockCreek. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
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1930sͲ40s.SaulMindel,whowassecondpresidentofMontgomeryLodgeB’naiB’rith,movedto9621FlowerAvenue in1941.AccordingtoMindel,aboutathirdofIndianSpringClubEstates’residentswereJewish.67 Asearlyas1941,discussionswereunderwaytoestablishapermanentbuildingfortheJewishcommunity.Latein 1946,SamEigcametoaB’naiB’rithmeetingunannouncedwithanofferoflandalongEastͲWestHighwayfora permanentJewishfacility.Withinayear,thegroupmergedwiththeBethesdaͲChevyChaseCommunitytoformthe MontgomeryCountyJewishCommunityinordertoembarkonafundraisingcampaigntoconstructafacility.68 From1947to1950,MCJCoperatedoutofSamEig’sconstructionoffice,anabandonedhouseonColesvilleRoad,near FentonStreet.Asfundswerebeingraisedfortheirpermanentfacility,MCJCsoughtinterimfacilitiesforreligious servicesandSundaySchoolprograms.BetteEig,Sam’swife,waspresidentoftheWomen’sCouncilofMCJCwhich tookontheresponsibilityforfindinginterimfacilities.MCJCusedseveralSilverSpringfacilitiesforservices,Sunday Schoolandfundraisingeventsduringthisinterimperiod.TheseincludedtheJesupBlairHouse,SilverSpringArmory, SilverSpringElementarySchool,andMontgomeryBlairHighSchool.69 TheFlowerTheater,whichopenedinFebruary1950,wasamongtheonlyprivatelyownedfacilitiesusedbyMCJC. SaulMindel,MCJCPresident,recalledthechallengesofmovingequipmentfromFridaynightservicesattheSeventh DayAdventistChurch,atCarrollandFlowerAvenues,tothetheaterforSaturdaymorningservices.70MCJCusedthe FlowerTheaterforregularservices,holidayservicesandfundraiserbenefitevents.InSeptember1950,the MontgomeryCountyJewishCommunitygroupheldafundraiserbenefiteventattheFlowerTheater.Inaddition,Yom KippurserviceswereheldintheFlowerTheater.Bythistime,MCJCmembershipincludedover600families.A synagoguedidn’topeninMontgomeryCountyuntil1958whenMCJC’sfacility,laternamedOhrKodesh,openedon EastͲWestHighway.71 TheJewishcommunityrememberedtheyearswhentheFlowerTheaterservedastheircommunitycenter.Atthe 1958dedicationceremonyforthelongͲawaitedsynagogueattheMontgomeryJewishCommunityCenter,RabbiTzvi Porathremarked,“Aftertenyearsofvalgerinaroundinchurches,gymnasia,schoolswearefinallyinourownhome. Now,nolongerwillachildpointtotheFlowerTheater,asonedidsixyearsago,andsay,“Thisismyshul.”The significanceofthisperiodofoperatingwithoutapermanentplacewasnotlostonthegroup.AstheRabbiwentonto observe,“Worshipinmakeshiftquartershasbeenamakko,anaffliction,aproblemthatbeganatthedawnofJudaism withAbraham,IsaacandJacob,ourpatriarchs.”Theyear1948markedthebeginningofthestateofIsrael.Thisevent
67MindelbelievedtheMontgomeryB’naiB’rithtobethefirstJewishorganizationinthecounty.AccordingtoFrancesEdelstein,theBethesdaͲ ChevyChaseCommunitymetin1936,butdidn’tformallyorganizeuntil1945.ArchitectJohnJ.ZinkdesignedtheoriginalIndianSprings ClubhouseforfounderThomasMoore,theaterowner.FredS.KogodhadtieswithAbrahamKay,asafellowmemberofOhrKodeshand workingwithhim,forexample,onthebuildingcampaignforthenewsynagogue. 68MCJCDedicationCeremonyprogram,December8,1950.Mindeloralhistory.SamEigalsodonatedlandnearEastWestHighwayandGrubb RoadforCatholicandMethodistchurches,aswellastheRedCross. 69MCJCDedicationCeremonyprogram.MarylandNews,July29,1949.Inlateryears,thefoundingyearforMCJChasbeengivenas1948, coincidingwiththeoriginsoftheStateofIsrael,andalsoBrandeisUniversity.(OhrKodeshCongregationBulletin,March2008andHistoryof Women’sCouncilofMCJC;OhrKodeshVerticalFile,JHSGWArchives)Accordingtoonemember,FrancesEdelstein,BͲCCJCorganizedinformally in1936,and,afterformallyorganizingin1945,metattheRiverRoadUnitarianChurch,Bethesda.FrancesEdelstein,Oralhistory,January4, 1988,JHSGWArchives. 70SaulMindeloralhistory,opcit. 71 TheoriginalMCJCbuildingopenedin1950,containingclassrooms,officesandasocialhall. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
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Number 8 Page 18 cametobringaspecialsignificanceforthelocalJewishpopulationinsearchofahome,intheformofapermanent facility.72 AlargecontingentofdevelopersandbuildersintheDCareawereJewishimmigrantswhoearnedtheirwealthas entrepreneurs,mostofteninthegrocerybusiness.ThefoodretailbusinesswasfrequentlyasteppingstoneforJewish immigrantsinthisera.ThisgroupincludedthoseassociatedwithdevelopmentoftheFlowerTheaterandShopping CenterͲͲFredS.KogodandhiswifeCeliaKogod,andMaxandHarryBurkaͲͲaswellasdevelopersSamEigandAbraham Kay.FlowerShoppingCentercoͲownersM.DanielDubbandHermanEigwerealsoactiveintheJewishcommunity. TheseindividualsrepresentagenerationofJewishimmigrantswhofledCzaristRussia,arrivedintheDCareainthe 1910s,settledinsouthwestDC,andlaterexpandedtorealestateenterprisesinMontgomeryCountyintheNewDeal era.73 Acivicleader,FredS.KogodwasactiveintheAdasIsraelcongregation,servingfirstontheBoardofManagersand thenPresidentoftheCongregation.In1956,hewaselectedtotheJewishTheologicalSeminaryofAmerica.Kogodled thebuildingcampaignforAdasIsraelwhenFrankGradandSonswerehiredforanewsynagogue.KnownasNewark’s firstJewisharchitect,GradhaddesignedlandmarkbuildingsintheNewYorkmetropolitanarea,includingBethIsrael Hospital(1931),Newark,andtheRegoParkJewishCenter(1948),Queens.Aftersettingupasatelliteofficeinthe Washingtonarea,GradalsodesignedprojectsforMorrisCafritzandAbrahamKay.MoreonKogodandGradarein followingsections. Thearea’sJewishcommunitygrewinthe1930sasmanyJewsrelocatedtothenation’scapitaltoworkforthefederal government,whichexpandedgreatlyundertheNewDeal.OverathirdofJewishworkersinWashingtoninthatera werefederalemployees.InMontgomeryCounty,AbrahamKayopenedthedoorfortheJewishcommunitywhenhe boughtIndianSpringCountryClub,openedupitsmembership,andbuiltaresidentialdevelopment.FredS.Kogodwas closelyassociatedwithAbrahamKay,belongingtotheOhrKodeshcongregation,andworkingwithKayonthebuilding campaignforanewsynagogue.Inthe1930s,whileKaywasdevelopingIndianSpring,Kogodwasworkingin Bethesda,hisfirstknownventureinMontgomeryCounty. WiththeinfluxoffederalworkersintheWorldWarIIeracameanotherwaveofJewishresidents.By1956,halfofthe area’s81,000Jewslivedoutsidethecitylimits.IsadoreandMildredGromfineexemplifiedthismovementto Washingtonandthencetothesuburbs.In1942,IsadoreacceptedajobwiththeDepartmentofLabor,andthecouple movedfromBuffalo,NY,toanapartmentinsoutheastDC.In1948,withtwoschoolͲagechildren,theymovedtoSilver SpringandboughtahouseinSligoParkHills.74 Throughthe1940sand1950s,enclaveswereestablishedintheSilverSpringarea.RosemaryHillswaslocatednearthe MontgomeryJewishCommunityCenter,onEastWestHighway.GerryMeltzmovedtoRosemaryHillsin1948(Block G,Lot5),andjoinedMCJC,findingseveralotherJewishwomenlivingonherstreet.By1952,MCJChadengageda
72RabbiTzviPorath,speech,September14,1958,OhrKodeshcollection,JewishHistoricalSocietyofGreaterWashington.SourcesforJewish historyinmetropolitanWashingtonincludetheJewishHistoricalSocietyofGreaterWashingtonarchivalmaterial;JewishWashington:Scrapbook ofanAmericanCommunity,opcit;andonlineexhibitsincluding“ThroughtheLens:JeremyGoldberg’sWashington”atjhsgw.org. 73 JewishWashington.ThefirstwaveofJewishimmigrantshadarrivedintheDistrictinthe1850sͲ60s,attractedbyopportunitiesofbusinessand commerce. 74IsadoreGromfineoralhistory,1Ͳ22Ͳ1989,OhrKodesh,JHSGWArchives.HistoryofWomen’sCouncilofMCJC.Deed1161:271(May5,1948). Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
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Number 8 Page 19 fulltimerabbi,and,in1959,asynagoguewasopenforuse,at8300MeadowbrookLane.In1966,MCJCchangedits nametoOhrKodeshCongregation.75
By1952,theLangleyParkneighborhoodofPrinceGeorge’sCounty,justeastoftheFlowerAvenuearea,hada growingJewishcommunity.TheLangleyParkHebrewcongregationacquiredlandonUniversityBoulevardandbuilt thesynagoguelaterknownasTempleIsrael.Thefirstbuildingusedforworshipwasaformerwarbarracksdonatedby theUniversityofMaryland.SamEigdonatedmoneyforapermanentbuilding.76
BusinessesandservicesgrewtosupporttheJewishcommunity.WhentheFlowerDelicatessenopenedin1950,it providedZionkoshersalami,Manichevitzkosherwine,smokedNewYorkwhitefish,andHanukahcandles.Thedeli wasopenonweekdaysandSundays,butclosedonSaturdaysinobservanceoftheSabbath.TheParksideDeli, establishedin1961,servedtheOhrKodesharea. JewishbuildersandrealestatedevelopersplayedamajorroleinshapingSilverSpring’sbuiltenvironment,beforeand especiallyafterthewar.IntheNewDealeracameIsadoreGudelskyandhisMontgomeryArmsapartments,and AbrahamKayandtheIndianSpringClubdevelopment.AlbertSmallbuilttheSilverTheaterandShoppingCenterin 1938.SamEigstartedtomakeasignificantimpactonSilverSpring’sbuiltenvironmentneartheendofWorldWarII. AccordingtotheWashingtonStar,Eig“enteredthepicturein1944”whenheboughttheSilverShoppingCenter. From1944Ͳ1965,Eigestimatedthathedevelopedsome$100millionworthofrealestate,includingcommercial buildingsindowntownSilverSpring.Inaddition,hedonatedlandforreligiousfacilitiesalongEastͲWestHighwayͲͲ CatholicandMethodistchurches,andtheMontgomeryJewishCommunityCenterfacility(laterOhrKodesh synagogue).77 BIOGRAPHIESͲFLOWERSHOPPINGCENTER DEVELOPER:FREDS.KOGOD(1899Ͳ1956) FredS.Kogodwasatheaterchainexecutive,retailentrepreneur,commercialdeveloper,andaleaderincivicgroups andinhisJewishcommunity.AcentralelementofKogod’sdevelopmentmodelwouldbecometheestablishmentof retailandentertainmentcentersingrowing,largelyresidentialareas. AnativeofRussia,KogodarrivedintheWashingtonareaabout1913.In1918,hemarriedCeliaBurka,alsoaRussian native,and,by1921,thepairopenedKogod’sMarketat1200SixthStreetSW,wheretheyalsoresided.78Kogodwasa leaderinthedevelopmentoftheDistrictGroceryStores(DGS)cooperative.AccordingtotheJewishHistoricalSociety ofGreaterWashington,theaimofDGSorganizerswas“toimprovetheircompetitivenessbyusingtheircombined powertoextractbetterpricesfromwholesalers.Then,throughthecooperative’swarehouse,memberscouldbuy goodsatcost.Storeownersalsobenefitedfromjointadvertising,suchasfullͲpageadsinthelocalnewspapersthat
75Onopeningofthesynagogue:IsadoreGromfineoralhistory,p16. 76Leon&BettyAltschuler,TempleIsrael,Oralhistory,10Ͳ29Ͳ1989.JHSGWArchives. 77JHSGWArchives,MCJSfiles.CharlesAMcAleer,“TallBuildingsinSpotlightasSilverSpringGrowsUp,”WashingtonStarJuly14,1965. 78FredS.Kogodobituary,TheWashingtonPost,December14,1956.Kogod’sageatdeathwas57.HecametotheUSattheageof14,which wouldhavebeenabout1913.CeliaemigratedfromRussiain1914andfirstsettledinNewYorkbeforemovingtoWashingtonin1916.Celia Kogodobituary,TheWashingtonPost,October25,1989.Kogod’sfather,CharlesKogod(c1876Ͳ1949),aRussianimmigrant,hadbeena Washingtongroceruntilheretiredabout1934.CharlesKogodobituary,TheWashingtonPost,February27,1949. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
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Number 8 Page 20 featuredspecialsatallDGSstores.Besidestheseeconomicgains,thecooperativefoughttheantiͲSemitismthey encounteredinbusinessandsocialrelations.Bythreateningboycotts,theyforcedfoodmanufacturerstoabandon overtlydiscriminatoryemploymentpractices.”79 TheKogodandBurkafamilieswerecloselytied,astheyemigratedfromRussiaaboutthesametimeandestablished grocerybusinessesintheDistrict.AnotherBurkasibling,Harry,wasamerchantandrealestatedeveloper,who partneredwithKogodintheinitialacquisitionoftheFlowerShoppingCenterland.80MaxBurka(1891Ͳ1966) operatedagrocerystoreat8thandCStreetsNE,by1913.BurkabecameapartnerwithKogodinthemovietheater business.LikeKogod,Burkacontinuedtooperateotherbusinessesinadditiontothetheaterpartnership.Thelast thirdofhislife,BurkawasknownforhisUniversityMarketonWisconsinAvenueNW,whichhehadestablishedin 1934(nowtheCactusCantinarestaurant).81 KogodandMaxBurkaformedapartnershipwhichlaunchedalongcareerinthemovietheaterindustry.Byall accounts,theirentréeintothefieldwassomewhataccidental,beginningwiththepurchaseofablockofrealestatein the1920s.ThepairpurchasedtheNorthEastMasonicTemple,at12thandHStreetsNE,whichincludedthe1909 PrincessTheater(architectCEWebb),at1119HStNE.82 Withthisbeginning,thepairbegantobuildentertainmentcomplexes,eventuallyoperatingachainofmovietheaters. Overthenextthreedecades,theentrepreneurialpairestablishedanumberofcompaniesoperatingundervarious names,includingKogod&BurkaEnterprises,Inc.(1945)andK&BAmusementCo(1947),aswellascompaniesnamed aftertheirtheaters,suchasLangstonTheaterCorporation(1947).TheirearliestnamemayhavebeenNortheast Amusements,perhapsinrecognitionoftheWashingtonquadrantinwhichtheirfirstproperties—thePrincessandthe Atlas—werelocated.Kogod,presidentofthecompany,spearheadedthecompany’sactivitiesandservedasthe spokesman.83 In1938,KogodandBurkabuilttheirfirstdevelopmentͲͲtheAtlasTheaterprojectinNortheast.Locatedat1315Ͳ1331 HStreetNE,theAtlasTheaterandstorescomplexcostwasgivenat$130,000.ThepairhiredarchitectJohnJacobZink todesignaStreamlineModernmovietheaterandfourstores.TwoyearsearlierZink,aBaltimorearchitect,had designedtheWarnerBrothers’UptownTheaterinClevelandPark.TheAtlasmarkedthebeginningofalifelong relationshipbetweenZinkandKͲBTheaters.ZinkwoulddesignallKogodͲBurkatheatersduringhislifetime.84
79JewishHistoricalSocietyofGreaterWashington,databaseofstores.AlsoTheWashingtonPost,October21,1989. 80HarryBurkaobituary,TheWashingtonPost,August10,1974.JHSGWstoredatabase. 81TheWashingtonPostSeptember2,1934;October9,1915;ObituaryJanuary29,1935. JHSGWstoredatabase. 82Kogodacquiredthispropertyin1924,accordingtohisobituary,TheWashingtonPost,December14,1956.Burkawentintopartnershipwith Kogodin1926accordingtohisobituary,TheWashingtonPostJanuary29,1966.ThePrincessTheaterwasconsideredpartofthechainof KogodͲBurkatheaters.KogodandBurkareplacedthePrincesswithaFrankGraddesignedofficebuilding.TheWashingtonPostFebruary3, 1945andSeptember7,1947.Bldgpermit301697.AccordingtoRotenstein,PrincessTheaterownerJosephMorganretiredin1928,andKogod &BurkaweredoingbusinessasNortheastAmusementsbyc1928Ͳ29.Rotensteinp4. 83Kogod’snameappearsonmanybuildingpermits.OtherswereissuedtoLifeAmusementCo,(1940forApexTheater),LangstonTheaterCorp (1945),K&BAmusementCo(1945forMacArthurTheater).MaxBurkaobituary,TheWashingtonPost,January29,1966. 84DCBuildingPermit210377,1938.NelsonBell,TheWashingtonPost,March30,1945. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
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ThenextKogodͲBurkaprojectwastheApexTheaterandstores(1940),4811Ͳ1819MassachusettsAvenueNW,located neartheSpringValleyandAmericanUniversityParkneighborhoods.Ascontemporaryaccountsnoted,inselecting thissiteforthenewtheater,KogodandBurkabroughtthisunderserved,outlyingarea“withintheorbitofthe Capital’stheatricalactivities.”ByselectingaparceladjacenttotheMassachusettsAvenueParkandShop,Kogodand BurkawereagainfollowingthemodelsetbytheWarnerBrotherswhobuilttheirUptownTheateroppositethe ConnecticutAvenueParkandShop.Thedevelopersprovidedthreeacresofparkingbehindthetheater,and,inalater phaseofdevelopment,builttwomorestoresfacinganinteriorstreet,andadditionalstoreswerelocatedfacingYuma Street.Bynowfullyinvestedinthemovietheatercompany,KogodandBurkalocatedtheircorporateofficesinthe ApexTheatercomplex.85 ManyoftheKogodͲBurkaprojectsincludedacommercialcomponentinadditiontothetheater.Throughthe1940s thepartnershipbuilttheaterandshoppingcomplexesinNortheast,Northwest,andSoutheastWashington,including theNaylorTheater(1944),LangstonTheaterandstore(1945),andMacArthurTheater(1945).Theytargeted residentialareasthathadgrownduringtheNewDealeraandwereunderservedbycommercialandrecreation facilities.In1947,KogodandBurkaengagedFrankGradandSonstodesigna$340,000twoͲstorycommercial building,onthesiteofthePrincessTheater,at12thandHStreetsNE.86 KogodandBurkaoperatedundersuchawidevarietyofbusinessnamesthatevencontemporarieshadtrouble keepingtrack.TheowneroftheApexShoppingCenter(1940)projectwasdescribedinbuildingpermitsasLife AmusementCompany,whileTheWashingtonPostdescribedtheowneroftheApexTheateralternatelyasApex AmusementCoandKogod&Burka(1941).TheadvertisementfortheApexTheaterlistedtheKͲBAmusement CompanywithofficesinApexTheater,4813MassAvenue,locatedonthemezzaninelevel.Popularly,thechainwas knownasKͲBTheaters.87 FredS.KogoddevelopedandmanagedothercommercialprojectsoutsidetheKͲBTheaterrealm.Hehadateamof professionalswithwhichheregularlyworked,includingarchitectsJohnJacobZink,FrankGradandSons,andFrank Beatty;leasingagentShannonandLuchs;andretailchainsGiantFoodStoresandF.W.&Company.Kogodbuiltthe SenatorTheaterandstorecomplex(1941)onMinnesotaAvenueSE,independentofBurka,engagingZinkforthe design.OnSouthCapitolStreet,SW,Kogodplannedashopping,entertainment,parkingcomplexdesignedbyFrank Beatty.TheWoolworth’sstoreandseveralshopswerebuilt;howeveraplannedtheaterandparkinggaragewerenot realized.KogodhiredBeattytodesigncommercialbuildingsindowntownBethesda,includingaWoodwardand Lothrop’s.88
85DCBuildingPermit234430,1940.NelsonBell,TheWashingtonPost,November21,1935.Gomery,pp16Ͳ17.TwostoresbuiltonYumaSt between48thand49thStreetNWTheWashingtonPost,April23,1950. 86Kogod’sprojectsincludedtheAtlasTheaterandShoppingCenter,SenatorTheaterandShoppingCenter,andS.CapitolStreetShoppingCenter. ContemporaryrecordsrefertotheApexShoppingCenter.Forexample,GiantFoodStoresadvertisement,Sept14,1953.Itisunknownifthis referstoKogod’sdevelopment,orisareferencetotheadjacentMassachusettsAvenuePark&Shop(notdevelopedbyKogod).Datesarewhen buildingpermitswereissued.FredS.KogodbuilttheSenatorTheatersolo,yetitbecamepartoftheKͲBTheaterchain.KogodandBurkahad thePrincessTheatertakendownforthesiteredevelopment. 87TheWashingtonPost,11Ͳ21Ͳ1940.OfficeswerelocatedintheApexby1940throughatleast1952andprobablyuntiltheApexwasdemolished in1977.ThenewofficebuildingbuiltontheApexTheatersitehousedKͲBTheaterscorporateoffices.TheownerswereFredBurkaandhisson David.TheWashingtonPost,3Ͳ17Ͳ1977;WashingtonBusiness,June21,1982. 88 TheWoodwardandLothropstorewasburnedin1954andwasreplacedbyalargerstore.RichardLongstrethcorrespondence,June20,2011. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
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Kogodalsooperatedappliancebusinesses.TheKogodͲDubbElectricalApplianceCompanywaslocatedat173114thSt NWby1939,andsoldproductsincludingtypewriters.Kogod’sapplianceendeavorswerecalledvariouslyKogod& DubbStoreFixtureCompany(by1945),andtheWashingtonRefrigerationCompany(by1950)andtheYork RefrigeratorCompany(1956).89 Kogodandhisfamily,whichincludedfourdaughters,livedinCrestwoodNW,by1941.KogodwasactiveinthePiney BranchcivicgroupintheCrestwoodneighborhood.TheKogodfamilylaterresidedinClevelandPark.Knownasa quietgenialgentlemanandnicknamed“smilingFred”,Kogodwasnonethelessaferventcommunityleaderwho publiclyspokehismindonsocialwelfareissues.HeservedontheDCWelfareBoard,andontheBoardofDirectorsfor HamiltonNationalBank.90Aphilanthropist,Kogodwaspresident(knownas“chiefbarker”)fortheVarietyClub,an internationalcharitableorganizationoftheentertainmentindustry.ThelocalVarietyClubgroup,organizedin1934, hadclubroomsintheWillardHotelunderthepresidencyofCarterBarron,regionalmanagerofLoew’stheatergroup. KogodwaspresidentoftheVarietyClubin1950whenmembershipexceeded500.91 AleaderintheAdasIsraelcongregation,KogodwaselectedtotheBoardofManagersin1940.Kogodhadleda buildingcampaigntoconstructthenewAdasIsraelsynagoguethatwasdesignedbyFrankGradandSonsin1947.By 1956,KogodwaspresidentoftheAdasIsraelcongregation.InJuneofthatyearhewaselectedtotheJewish TheologicalSeminaryofAmerica,inNewYork.Hedied,attheageof57,inDecember.Leavinga$1millionestate, Kogodestablishedawelfarefoundation,theFredS.KogodFoundation.TheVarietyClubmadeamemorial contributioninhisnametoChildren’sHospital,commemoratedintheChildren’sHospitalVarietyClubResearch Center.92 In1953,FredS.KogodandMaxBurkahadretiredfromthetheaterbusiness,sellingthecompanytoFredBurka,Max’s son,andMarvinGoldman,Fred’ssonͲinͲlaw.GoldmanhadjoinedtheKͲBTheatercompanyin1946asassistant manager,havingpreviouslyworkedforKogodinhisWashingtonRefrigeratorCompany,beforeservinginthewar.In 1964,FredBurka’sson,David,joinedthecompany,followed,in1967,byMarvinGoldman’sson,Ronald.In1978,the Burka’sconveyedtheirsharestotheGoldmans.93In1992,RonGoldman,facedwithcompetitionofnationalchains, sold10ofthechain’s15theaters.HerenamedtheremainingtheatersApexCinemaandkeptthebusinessrunning withsecondͲrunfilms.94 ARCHITECT:FRANKGRAD(1882Ͳ1968) Bestknownfordesigningskyscrapers,symphonyhouses,andsportsarenas,FrankGrad,andhisfirm,FrankGradand Sons,designedlandmarkbuildingsinManhattan,Washington,DC,andNewark,N.J.Ofallthefirm’sprojects,perhaps themostrecognizedistheArtDecolandmarkEssexHouse(ParkTower)onCentralParkSouth.Foundedin1907,the
89TheSenatorTheaterwasnotpartofthe1952schemeinwhichKͲBTheaterswereleasedtoBurkafamilymembers.TheWashingtonPost, March29,1939;Aug17,1952. 90In1943,theKogodslivedat1615BuchanenStNW.Kogodwasthetaxationcommitteechairofthelocalcitizensassociationby1941.Uponhis deathin1956,thefamilyhomewasat2916AblemarleStreetNW,inClevelandPark. 91TheWashingtonPost,May13,1951. 92TheWashingtonPost,January11,1950;January4,1957;April10andMarch20,1959. 93Headley,p375.ThomasGoldwasser,TheWashingtonPost,June21,1982. 94TheWashingtonPost,March28,1994. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
Number 8 Page 23 architecturalfirmofFrankGradandSonsoperatedforoveracentury.Aversatiledesigner,Gradturnedto governmentprojectsduringWorldWarII,anddesignedlargeͲscalemilitarybasesoverseas. FrankGrad,anAustriannative,wastrainedatViennaTechnicalSchoolandimmigratedtotheUSin1905.In1906, GradestablishedhisarchitecturalpracticeinNewark,becomingoneofthefirstJewisharchitectsinNewJersey.Grad waselectedtotheAmericanInstituteofArchitectsin1921.Inhissolocareer,hisnoteworthyprojectsincludedthe neoclassicalSalaamTemple,nowNewark’sSymphonyHall(1925),andtheStanleyTheater(1927).Bothofthese NewarklandmarksarelistedintheNationalRegister.Intheflushdecadeofthe1920s,GraddesignedmanymultiͲ milliondollarprojectsintheNewJerseyͲNewYorkarea.HishighestprofileprojectwasEssexHouse,a40ͲstoryArt DecolandmarkonCentralParkSouth,NewYorkCity(1929).HisfirmcontributedsignificantlytoNewark’sskyline, designingtheRaymondCommerceBuilding(1929),anArtDecotowerthatwasNewJersey’stalleststructure,at37 stories.FrankGradandSonsgrewtobecomethestate’slargestarchitecturefirm,andiscreditedwithhavingits signatureatonepointonhalfofNewJersey’shighͲrises.95 InthepostͲDepressionera,Grad’ssonsHowardandBernardjoinedthepractice.Bernard(1908Ͳ2000),attendedthe ÉcoledesBeauxArts,inParis(certificate,1930),andreceivedaB.S.ofArchitecturefromUniversityofPennsylvania,in 1932.BernardwaselectedamemberoftheAIAin1948,andadvancedtoFellowin1961.HowardwasaFellowofthe AmericanSocietyofCivilEngineers.96 FrankGradwasrememberedforhiskeenabilitytochangehispracticetomeettheneedsoftheday.Duringthe WorldWarIIera,thefirmdesignedavarietyofmilitaryinstallationsalongtheEastCoast.FrankGradandSons establishedaWashington,DC,officein1943.InadditiontoundertakinglargeͲscalegovernmentprojects,thefirm supplementeditspracticewithcommercialprojectssmallandlargeforlocaldevelopers.In1943,FrankGrad registeredforarchitect’slicensesinWashington,DC,andMaryland.Thefirm’sofficein1952waslocatedat1739 ConnecticutAvenueNW.97 ThefirstknownWashingtonareaprojectFrankGradandSonsworkedonwasa$20millionhotel,toutedin1944as themostexpensivehoteleverproposedtobebuiltintheUnitedStates.CalledtheDiplomatHotel,theluxuryproject wasproposedforlandontheCorbyestateinRockville,butwasnotrealized.FrankGradandSon’sWashingtonCircle Apartmentbuilding,acomplexwith261luxuryapartments,basementgarage,andfivestores,wascompleted. LocatedatPennsylvaniaAvenueandKStreets,NW,theprojectwasheraldedin1947asthefirstelevatorapartments tobebuiltwithFHAfunding.98
95GeorgeSKoyl(Ed),AmericanArchitectsDirectory,SecondEdition,1960.“FrankGrad”entry,inFrankJohnUrquhart,AHistoryoftheCityof Newark,NewJersey:EmbracingPracticallyTwoandaHalfCenturies,1666Ͳ1913,Volume3.Chicago&NewYork:LewisHistoricalPublishingCo, 1913. Read,opcit.D.Fitzgerald,WindowonthePark:NewYork’sMostPrestigiousPropertiesonCentralPark.ImagesPublishing,2009,p153. NationalRegisterformsforSalaamTemple(NewarkSymphonyHall),1976;StanleyTheater,1986.SalaamTemplewaslistedontheNational Registerwhenithadbarelyreached50yearsofage,theguidelineforhistoricdesignation. 96 AmericanArchitectsDirectory,1970.AIAlisting.TheBookoftheSchool,1874Ͳ1934,UniversityofPennsylvania.RobertE.Koehler,“Frank Grad&Sons:PracticeProfile,”AIAJournal,October1968(Vol50). 97AIAArchives,letterheaddatedMarch18,1952.DirectoriessummaryfromEHTTraceries,architectsfile. 98LuciusBeebe,“Nation'sMostCostlyHotelonPostwarDocketHere,”TheWashingtonPost;Dec17,1944;“NWGetsLuxuryApartments,”July 20,1947. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
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ThemajorityoftheWashington,DC,areaprojectsFrankGradandSonsdesignedwerecommercialand/orrecreational facilities.Thefirmdesignedthe12ͲstoreArlandriaShoppingCenterin1947forGoddenandSmall.Plansforanother shoppingcenteronGeorgiaAvenueNW,promotedthesameyear,includedamovietheater,butevidentlytheproject wasnotconstructed.FrankGradandSonsdesignedatleasttwoothermovietheaters:theDupontTheater(1947)on ConnecticutAvenueNWfortheGrosvenorfamily,andtheRexTheater(1948)on14thStreetNWforMorrisCafritz. AnothertypeofrecreationalprojectthefirmdesignedweresportshallsforAmericaonWheels.TheCapitolArena (1946),1661KaloramaAvenueNW,includedarollerskatingrink,gymnasiumandparkinggarage.Inlateryears,the Kaloramarollerrinkwasconvertedtoamoviestudio,wherePeggySueGotMarriedwasfilmedinpart.Calleda “remarkableexampleofstreamlineaesthetics,”thestructurehasbeenrenovatedandisnowtheHarrisTeeterCitadel store.AnotherrollerrinkbyFrankGradandSonsinBladensburg(1948)includedabowlingalley.99 FrankGradandSonsdidbriskbusinesswithmanyclientsintheyearsfollowingWorldWarII,asmanyprivatesector projectshadbeenputonholdduringthewar.100FrankGradworkedwithFredS.Kogodonavarietyofprojects, includingthe$1.25millionAdasIsraelsynagogue(1947),anofficebuildingat12thandHstreetsNE(1947)andthe FlowerShoppingCenter(1948).In1949,thefirmdesignedwasthe20thCenturyFoxExchangeBuilding,on3rdStreet NW.Thefacilitycombinedawidevarietyofpurposesincludingauditorium,filmstorage,salesdepartment,and offices. ConsideredNewark'sfirstJewisharchitect,FrankGradhadacloseconnectionwiththeJewishcommunity.Severalof Grad'sgreatestcommissions,theYoungMen’s&YoungWomen’sHebrewAssociationBuilding(1921);theStanley Theater(1927),andBethIsraelHospital(1931),allinNewarkNJ;andtheRegoParkJewishCenter(1948),inQueens, wereforJewishpatrons.IntheWashingtonarea,heworkedwithprominentJewishdevelopersMorrisCafritzand AbrahamKay.In1947,theyearbeforeFrankGradandSon’splanswereannouncedfortheFlowerTheaterand ShoppingCenter,theAdasIsraelcongregationunveiledthefirm’sdesignforAdasIsrael’snew$1.25million synagogue.101 FrankGradwasknownforhisstronginterestincityplanningissues.Hedesignedanearlyschemeforanunderground parkinggarageonanurbansite,underMilitaryParkindowntownNewark.Conceivedasearlyas1929,whenthe projectwasfinallybuiltin1959itwasrecognizedasoneofthefirstofitskindintheNewYorkarea.102InthepostͲwar era,FrankGrad’sprojectswereknownforthecleanlinesandefficientsolutionstoclient’sprogramrequirements. Gradexcelledatbringingavarietyoffunctionsintoacohesivedesigninprojectsthatrangedfromcorporate complexesforIBM,AT&TandXerox,togovernmentcenterfortheNewJerseyStateCapitol.TheAmericanInstituteof ArchitectscitedGrad’slegacyforunderstandingthebalanceofdesigntalentwithbusinessknowledgesocreativityis notwastedonprojectstooexpensivetocomplete.Gradremainedactiveinhisprofessionuntilhisdeathin1968.His firmwasthenoneofthelargestinthenation(inthetop30),andamajorprojectwasyetunderconstructionͲͲthe
99WirzandStriner,p88.TheWashingtonPost,June20,1948.DCSHPOandHistoricMarkerprogram. 100Beebe. 101 “BuildingforY.M.&Y.W.H.Association,”Newark,NJ,AmericanArchitectandArchitecture,Vol120(July20,1921).RegoParkJewishCenter, NewYorkLandmarksConservancy,newyorklandmarks.org.AdasIsraeltemplerendering,inTheWashingtonPost,August16,1947.According toOhebShalomrecords,GradwasNewark’sfirstJewisharchitect. http://www.newarkhistory.com/ohebshalomcemetery.html 102 Obituary,TheNewYorkTimes,Jan21,1968.Inhisresearch,RichardLongstrethhasfoundotherearliergaragesmorewidelypublicized includingUnionSquare,SanFrancisco(1941)andPershingSquare,LosAngeles(1951).CityCentertoRegionalMall,p214. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
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JamesForrestalFederalBuilding,ajointventureprojectatPennsylvaniaAvenueand10thStreet,NW.Grad establishedanarchitecturalfellowshipfundsatPrincetonUniversityandtheUniversityofPennsylvania.103 AfterFrankGrad’sdeath,hissonscontinuedtheupwardtrajectoryofthefirm,renamingitTheGradPartnershipin 1971.Inlateryears,thefirmcontinuedtotakeongovernmentwork,designingU.S.AirForcebasesinFrance,defense installationsinEnglandandPakistan,andgovernmentfacilitiesinThailand.ThefirmiscreditedwithdesigningU.S. militarybasesinsome17countriesworldwide.AfterthedeathofHowardGrad,in1992,andBernardGrad,in2000, thefirmcontinuedwithoutdirectfamilyinvolvement.Thefirmdisbandedin2010.104 ARCHITECT:JOHNJACOBZINK(1895Ͳ1952) JohnJ.Zinkwasoneoftheregion’sgreatmovietheaterarchitects.Asdescribedbytheaterhistorian,RobertK. Headley,“Theearly1950sprovidedacodatothecareerofoneofthegreatmovietheaterarchitects.InMarylandand adjoiningstates,duringthegreatageofmovietheaterconstruction,BaltimoreanJohnZinkwasatheaterarchitectpar excellence.”Zinkdesignednearly200theatersinMaryland,WashingtonDC,VirginiaandDelaware,includingalleight KogodandBurkatheatersbuiltduringhislifetime.(SeelistofZinkprojectsinafollowingsection.)TheFlowerTheater istheonlyremainingZinktheaterinMontgomeryCounty,designedincollaborationwithFrederickL.W.Moehle. ZinkwasborninBaltimorein1895andreceivedtrainingattheMarylandInstituteandthenworkedforthefirmof WyattandNoltingbeforetravelingtoNewYorktotrainwithrenownedtheaterarchitectThomasLamb,apioneer whodevelopedtheaterprototypesbythemidͲ1910s.ZinkreturnedtoBaltimorein1916andworkedwithEwaldH. BlankdesigningtheRialtoTheateratNinthandGStreet,NW,Washington,DC,completedin1918.TheRialtowas partofatheaterchainownedbyFayetteThomas“Tom”Moore.ZinkdesignedseveraltheatersforMoore,andalso washiredtodesignaclubhouseforMoore’sIndianSpringGolfClub,inSilverSpring.105 Zink’stheatersweredesignedinvaryingtraditionalandmoderniststyles.Examplesofhistraditionaldesignsareseen intheclassicaldetailingofhis1922TakomaTheaterandtheColonyTheater(1926)inWashington,DC.106 Zink’stheatersforKogodandBurkaweremoremodernistindesign.ThefirsttheaterZinkdesignedforKogod andBurkawastheAtlas(1938),at1331HStreetNE,aStreamlineModernemovietheateraccompaniedbyfour
103Obituary;“UnifiedImageinaThreeͲUnitComplex,”ArchitecturalRecord,Vol136(July1964),pp166Ͳ167;NJStateLibrary,AIAAwardofMerit, AIAJournalVol46n2(Aug1966),p51;ProgressiveArchitecture,Jan1966,p75.“ANoͲNonsenseApproachtoPractice:FrankGrad&Sons PracticeProfile,”AIAJournal,Vol50(Oct1968),pp59Ͳ66;AIAArchives,FrankGradfile.TheNewYorkTimes,April6,1959.ChristopherWeeks, TheAIAGuidetotheArchitectureofWashingtonDC,3rdEd,1994,p275.CharlesDuBoseworkedinGrad’sWashingtonDCofficefrom1948until atleast1952,andlaterdesignedIndependencePlaza,Hartford,CT.Grad’swifehaddiedin1959followingalongillness.FrankGradwasburied atthecemeteryofOhebShalom,Newark'ssecondoldestsynagogue.Newarkhistory.com. 104PhilipRead,“TheFirmthatshapedNewark,NYCskylinesclosesafter104years,”TheStarͲLedger,March25,2010.JenniferL.Nelson,“GRAD AssociatesCelebrates100Years”NewJerseyBusiness,Nov1,2006.AccordingtotheAIAArchives,thechronologyofthefirmwas:FrankGrad 1907,FrankGrad&Son1932,FrankGrad&Sons1935,andTheGradPartnership1971.Atthetimeitterminatedin2010,thefirmhadbeen knownasGradAssociates. 105Headley,MotionPictureExhibitioninWashingtonDC,1999,andMotionPictureExhibitioninBaltimore,2006,pp155Ͳ156.Zinkleft Moore’semployafteradisputewhentheIndianSpringClubhouseprojectwasinprogress.It’sunknownifhisclubhousedesignwas carriedout.TheSilverSpringYMCAincludesabuildingthathistoricallywastheIndianSpringClubhouse.AIAArchivescorrespondence. 106“TakomaParkGets$130,000FilmHouse”October15,1922:52and“WorkWillBeginAtOnceonNewCrandallTheater”July19,1925: R1;TheWashingtonPost. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
Number 8 Page 26 storefronts.Twoyearslater,ZinkdesignedtheApexTheater(1940),locatednexttotheMassachusettsAvenue ParkandShop.WithitshandsomeArtDecofaçadeandstateoftheartfacilities,theApexraisedthebarlocally formovietheaterarchitecture.ForKogodandBurka,ZinkalsodesignedtheSenator(1942),MinnesotaAvenue NE;theMacArthur(1945),MacArthurBoulevardNW;theNaylor(1945),AlabamaAvenueSE;theFlower(1950), FlowerAvenue,SilverSpring;theLangley(1951),LangleyPark;andtheOntario(1951),ColumbiaRoadNW. ZinkalsodesignedtheNationalRegisterͲlistedclassicArtDecoSenatorTheaterinBaltimore(1939).Zinkhas beendescribedasa“versatiledesigner;eachofhisbuildingswasdifferent,andallwereverywelladaptedto particularsiteconditions”andachievinginthemall,“aharmoniousarticulationoffaçades.”107 Ofthe15ZinkͲdesignedWashington,DCtheaters,onlythreearestructurallyintact:theUptown,theTakoma, andtheMacArthur(andofthese,onlytheUptowncontinuestoserveasamovietheater).EightotherZink theatersintheDistrictstandbuthavebeenaltered.InadditiontotheFlowerTheater,the1935MiloTheater (alsoknownastheVilla),at120CommerceLaneinRockvillewastheonlyotherZinkͲdesigntheaterconstructed inMontgomeryCounty.TheMilowasdemolished.Zink’sLangleyTheaterinPrinceGeorge’sCountystillstands thoughaltered.Zinkdiedin1952,makingtheFlowerTheateroneofhislasttheaters. ARCHITECT:EDWINARMSTRONGWEIHE(1907Ͳ1994) EdwinWeihehadamajorinfluenceonthedevelopmentofdowntownWashington.Knownas“Mr.Zoning”forhis activeroleinmodernizingcitycodes,hepioneeredtheinnovativeuseofconcreteinWashington,DC,andwasknown forhisuseofpedestrianarcadesandgraduatedsetbacks.108 AnativeofWashington,D.C.,WeihegraduatedfromCentralHighSchoolin1925.HereceivedhisBachelorsof ArchitecturefromGeorgeWashingtonUniversityin1931.WeiheworkedforCharlesH.Thompson,aconstruction company,forfiveyears,designingsubdivisionhousesandcustomhouses.HealsotaughtatGeorgeWashington University. Weiheopenedhisownpracticein1939whichoperatedunderasuccessionofnames.Weihespecializedinoffice buildings,hotels,apartmentbuildings,mixedusebuildingsandothercommercialstructures.Duringhislifetime,his firmdesignedmorethan90officebuildingsintheKStreetcorridorandelsewhereintheDistrict,andmorethan100 largebuildingsinCrystalCity,Bailey’sCrossroads,andotherurbancenters. WeihedesignedseveralmidͲcenturyprojectsintheSilverSpringareaincludingastoreandapartmentat7614Georgia AvenueNW(1940);RockCreekGardensapartments(1948),nearGrubbRoadandEastWestHighway;andCapeCod housesforCarrollKnollssubdivisionof200dwellings(1948),ForestGlen;F.W.Woolworth&Co.store(1954),Flower AvenueShoppingCenter;andtheBankofSilverSpringofficebuilding(1961),GeorgiaAvenue.
107WirzandStriner,85Ͳ86. 108BenjaminForgey,“ArchitectAwardstoWeihe,Others”,WashingtonPost,November3,1990.J.Y.Smith,“ArchitectEdwinWeiheDies,Helped ShapeD.C.Skyline.”WashingtonPost,December29,1994.AIAArchitect,Obituaries,Edwin“Eddie”Weihe,April1995,p3.AIAMembershipfile. Bowkers,AmericanArchitectsDirectory,1956;1970.D.C.BuildingPermitsDatabase.JohnB.Willmann,“TheWeiheTrademarkisPragmatic Design,”WashingtonPost,December22,1979. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
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Weihehasbeendescribedasanunapologeticpragmatist.“Architectureshouldnotdirectattentiontothesculptureof abuilding,whichismeanttoprovideshelterandacenterforactivity,”hesaid,ina1979interview.“Idonotendorse eyesoresorextravaganceinprivatebuildings.”Weihewasknownforhisuseofgraduatedsetbackandarcades.Heis saidtohavesoldtheD.C.zoningcommissionontheideaofarcadesforpedestrianshelteraswellasarchitectural interest. Weihe,amemberoftheAIAfrom1946,receivedthefirstlifetimeachievementawardoftheWashingtonChapterof theAIA,whenhewaspresentedwiththeCentennialAwardin1991.Hewasrecognizedforbeingthefirsttopromote flatplateconcreteconstructionasasolutiontothecity’sbuildingheightrestriction,aswellashispioneeringtheuse ofprecastconcreteasbuildingcladdingintheDistrict.EdwinWeiheretiredfromactivepracticein1987.Hediedin 1994,attheageof87. FLOWERSHOPPINGCENTERBUSINESSES UsingtheservicesofShannonandLuchs,FredS.KogodandassociatesobtainedleasesinadvancefortheFlower ShoppingCenterinordertoobtainthepreferredblendofnationalchains,regionalchains,andindependentlocal businesses.ThekeystoneofthecomplexwastheFlowerTheater,supportedbythreeanchorstores:Giantgrocery store,aburgeoninglocalchain,andWhelan’sdrugstore.F.W.Woolworth&Company,anestablishednational varietystorechain,openedfouryearslater.Otherbusinessesincludedadeli,florist,cleaner,giftshop,hardware,and children’sclothingstore. FlowerTheater TheFlowerTheater,8727FlowerAvenue,istheonlytheaterinMontgomeryCountybuiltfortheKͲBtheater chain,thelongestlivedfamilyownedtheaterchainintheregion,whichoperatedfrom1924until1992.The FlowerTheaterwasthesevenththeaterbuiltbyKogodandBurkaandthefirstintheKogodͲBurkachainbuilt outsideofWashington,DC. NewsoftheplannedFlowerTheaterplansbrokeinAugust1945.109Thetheaterandshoppingcenterwere inextricablyconnected.TheFlowerTheater’sgeneralmanagerFrankBoucherdescribedtheshoppingcenteras a“naturalmagnetforthearea”andtheTheaterCatalogof1949Ͳ50calledit“anintegralpartofamodernistic shoppingcenterinafashionablesuburbofWashington,D.C….theamusementfocalpointofacommercial area…”110 AnarticlecoveringtheopeningoftheFlowerTheaterdescribedtheappealoflocaltheaters: Thisweekaddsonemoretothe70Ͳoddneighborhoodtheatersinoursprawlingarea…The‘Nabes,’asthetradehas them,alwayshavebeengoodbusiness,butespeciallysincethewar,they’vetakenagreatsurgeahead.Themagnates viewthedowntownpalazzosasshowcases,spotsforaspecialeveningout,orhauntsoftheWashingtontourist.But the‘Nabes’haveitwhenitcomestosolvingtheparkingproblemsandtheultimateincomfort.111
109BoxOffice,August1945. 110RichardL.Coe,“NewMovieHouseOpening”TheWashingtonPost,February12,1950:L1and“Flower,”TheaterCatalog,8thAnnual Edition,1949Ͳ1950(September1950). 111RichardL.Coe,“NewMovieHouseOpening,”February12,1950:L1and“NewShoppingCenterOpens,”January15,1950:R3;The WashingtonPost. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
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Thetheater’sgrandopeningwasonFebruary15,1950.ThefestivitiesincludedaperformancebytheTakomaPark HighSchoolBand,broadcastontheradio,andfeaturedtheshowingofParamount’s“TheGreatLover,”starringBob Hope.ThestateͲofͲtheͲarttheater,promotedasthe“MostBeautifulTheaterinThisAreaͲͲOneofAmerica’sMost Modern,”wasoutfittedwithpushbackseats,clearvisionseating,airconditioning,gasheat,aRCAprojectionand soundsystemandfree,easyparkinginthe600parkingspacesdesignedsothattherewouldbe“noneedforbacking andscratchingthatnewfender.”Thetheatercouldseat949andincludedasoundproofnurseryandpartyroom upstairs.Thetheaterwascreditedwiththearea’sfirstbuiltͲincandybar.InApril1950,ownershipofthetheaterand 112 lobbyshopswasconveyedtotheFlowerDevelopmentCorporation. F.W.Woolworth&Company TheF.W.Woolworth&Companystore,8715FlowerAvenue,isarareextantexampleofaWoolworth’sstorein MontgomeryCounty,andisrepresentativeofthispioneeringbusiness.Woolworth’shasbeenrecognizedasa significantcorporationinthehistoryofAmericancommerceinestablishingthechainstorebusinessmodelandin creatingthehighqualityvarietystore.TheFlowerAvenueWoolworth’sstorewasoneofseveralthatFredS.Kogod builtorownedintheDCarea. ThefirmF.W.Woolworth&Companyisnationallysignificantforpioneeringtheconceptsofthechainstoreandthe varietystore.FrankW.Woolworthopenedhisfirstsuccessfulvarietystorein1879,inLancaster,PA.Hepioneered theconceptofthefiveanddimestore,usingthephilosophythathighsalesvolumeandlowprofitmarginswouldturn ahandsomeprofit.ThisconceptbecamesopopularitwascopiedbyothercompaniesincludingKresge,anditlaidthe basisforsuchsuccessfulmodelsastoday’sTargetstores.F.W.Woolworth&Companybecameoneofthefirstchain storebusinessesinthenation.“Thepowerofthechain,”accordingtohistorianCynthiaJohnson,“wasfedbythe abilitytobuygoodsfrommanufacturersatbulkpriceswhichenabledthechainstoretosellitemsatlowerpricesthan thelocalmerchants.”113 TheFlowerAvenueWoolworth’sstoreopenedduringthemostsuccessfulperiodofthevarietystore’sbusiness,which lastedfromthe1930stothe1960s.DuringtheDepression,thecompanyhadabandoneditsfixednickelanddime prices.Thisnotonlyincreasedtheprofitsofthecompany,itallowedthestorestoexpandtheirrangeofgoods.The Woolworth’svarietystoretargetedpeopleofmodestmeans,presentingawidearrayofgoodsatbargainprices. Summingupthisphilosophywasthecompanylogo:“Everybody’sStore.” ThesignfortheWoolworth’sstoreintheFlowerShoppingCenteruseddimensionalredlettersthatwereappliedtoa baseandwhichfloatedontopofthelimestonefacing.InthiserathestandardWoolworth’ssignwasaredmetal bandwithraisedgoldlettering.EdwinWeihe’sdesignfortheFlowerAvenueWoolworth’susedlimestonefacingthat matchedtherestoftheshoppingcenter,andthisspecialletteringtreatmentpreservedtheexpanseoflimestone facingonthebuilding.Thoughpartofachain,theWoolworth’sstoresretainedsignificantindividualizedfeatures.114
112Deed1397:297. 113CynthiaJohnson,“F.W.WoolworthBuilding(1948)”,106MainSt,Lexington,KY,NationalRegisterofHistoricPlacesRegistrationform,2002. ThisKentuckyexample,listedontheNationalRegisterunderCriterionA,wasfoundtobelocallysignificantintheareaofcommercewithinthe historiccontext,“TheRiseofWoolworth’sFiveandDimeasaNationalRetailChainStore,1879Ͳ1997”. 114WirzandStriner,pp68,110.DebraSeltzer,roadsidearchitecture.com Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
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KogodhadworkedwitharchitectFrankBeattytoconstructtwoWoolworth’sstoresin1947,locatedat3932 MinnesotaAvenue,NEand4001Ͳ5SouthCapitolStSW.115Kogodownedthe1938Woolworth’sinBethesdaat7207 WisconsinAvenue(northofWillowLane),whichwasdemolishedc1984forconstructionoftheGatewayBuilding.The ceilingofthestorewaspreservedandreusedatMontroseSchool,thehistoricsiteonMontroseRoad,Rockville.116 GiantFoodStore TheFlowerAvenueGiantrepresentsanerawhengrocerystoreswerefirstincorporatedintoshoppingcenters.The FlowerAvenuestorewasthefirstMontgomeryCountyGiantintegratedinashoppingcenter,andthefirstbuilt outsideacommercialbusinessdistrict.ItisalsotheearliestextantGiantFoodgrocerystorebuildinginthecounty. OnlytwoGiantstoresprecededtheFlowerAvenuestore,neitherofwhicharestillstanding.OnewasinSilverSpring’s shoppingdistrict,onGeorgiaAvenue,andasecondinBethesda,nearWisconsinAvenueandGeorgetownRoad.117 TheFlowerAvenuestorewasequippedwithairconditioningͲͲanewconvenienceinthepostͲwarera.Halfofthe Giantstoresinthemetropolitanregionwerenotairconditioned. Promotingtheirnewstore,at8733FlowerAvenue,theGiantFoodcompanytrumpetedthedesignoftheirnew“food palace”andfeaturedtheadvertisingtagline:“ScoreAnother‘Eyeful’forGiant”.Thecompanyproudlypromotedthe storedesignasanillustrationofitsuseof“thecountry’sfinest,mostskilledarchitects,designers,contractors,service specialists,foodbuyers,displayengineers,andahostofothers”indesigningandequippingitsstores.Themodern designwasconsideredsoattractivethatthecompanyfeaturedphotographsanddescriptionsofthestoreintheir advertisementsthatranoverthenextmonth.118 ). “InournewFlowerAvenuestore,you’llfindthemostrecentimprovementsthisgigantic[food]industryhas developed.”Thead’stextdescribesabuildingtypewellknowntodayasasupermarket,yetwassuchanewconcept forcountyresidentsthatthecompanywascompelledtodevotefiveparagraphstomodernfeaturesincludingyearͲ roundairconditioning,selfͲserviceracksarrangedalongwideaisles,refrigerateddisplaycabinets,andseparatefood departments. TheGiantstoreexemplifiesasuccessfullocalexampleoftheregionalgrocerychain.Likemanythatdominatedthe region’scommerce,theGiantcompanywasJewishowned.In1936,NehemiahCohenandSamuelLehrmanopened thefirstGiantselfͲservicesupermarketatGeorgiaAvenueandParkRoad,NW. By1950,thecompanyhad20storesinthemetropolitanarea.Severalofthesewerelocatedinshoppingcenters, includingtheMassachusettsAvenueParkandShop,ArlandriaShoppingCenter,andParkingtonShoppingCenter.The companypromotedopeningswithfullͲpagenewspaperadsfeaturingarenderingofthelatestnewstore.Appraisor
115WirzandStriner,p111. 116Kogodacquiredthebuildingin1942(Deed869:411)andassumedtheleasetoWoolworthsin1949(1225:309).CatherineCrawford, “BethesdaCommercialDistrict,”MHTInventoryForm#35/14,11Ͳ1983.EleanorCunningham,MontroseSchool:TheFirstNinetyYears,p35. WilliamOffutt,Bethesda:ASocialHistory,p406.VeraHough,“ShoppingintheChevyChaseArea,”TownofChevyChaseHistory,p51. GeorgetownWoolworths(1940)at3111MSt,NW,withitsparapetroof,whichhasbeenanUrbanOutfittersretailstoresince1983. 117Theotherearlystoreswereat8703GeorgiaAvenue,SilverSpring,and7536Georgetown.Road,Bethesda. 118TheWashingtonPost,advertisementsJanuary20,February1,1950. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
Number 8 Page 30
FrankLuchsofShannonandLuchsfoundthecompany,in1949,tobe“averysuccessfullocalsuperͲmarketchain, gearingeachstoretoaminimumof$1,000,000volumeandbeingquitesuccessfulinattainingthisgoal.”119 Thecompanywascloselytiedtolocalhistory.In1948,theyearthattheFlowerShoppingCenterwasdesigned,the companyboughttheSheridanBakeryinSilverSpringandrenamedittheHeidiBakery,marketingthenamefortheir bakedgoods,andpersonifiedinacartooncharacter.Thecompanyhadgrownintoalargeregionalchainby1959, withover50stores,andreachedthe100storemarkin1974.120TodaytheFlowerAvenueGiantstoreencompassesa restaurant,at8739FlowerAvenue,andalaundromat. WhelanDrugStoresInc. TheWhelan’sdrugstoreopenedat8701FlowerAvenuein1950.WhelanDrugStoresInc.wasachainstorecompany thatoriginatedinNewYorkCity.WhenitopenedtheFlowerAvenue,thecompanyhadabout1,000storescoastto coast.Inthe1940sand1950s,Whelan’swasaprogressivecompany,amongthefirsttosellrecords,toexperiment withpipedͲinmusicforshoppers,andtosellinexpensiveremainderbooks.121 Washington,DC,hadaWhelan’sstoreby1928,locatedat14thandPennsylvaniaNW,oppositethenewWillardHotel. By1941,therewere300storesinthechainandthecompanywasthethirdlargestinthenation.A1948Whelan advertisementidentifiedstoresinDC,VirginiasuburbsandMtRanier,butnoneyetinMontgomeryCounty.122 TheFlowerAvenueWhelan’sstoreofferedfountainserviceandprescriptiondrugs.Inlateryears,Whelan’swas replacedwiththecountyliquorstore,whichmovedafewdoorsupfromitsoriginalsmallerlocationat8709.By November1988,thestorewasremodeledasglasswallswerereplacedwithsolidwallsandsinglewindows. FlowerDelicatessen FlowerDelicatessen,8707FlowerAvenue,isanearlylocalextantexampleofaJewishdelicatessen.Thedelicatessenin theUnitedStateswasinitiallyamainstayforthelargeGermanimmigrantpopulationinEastCoastcities,providing foodstuffsnotfoundinAmericanstores.Bythe1890s,thespecialtyshopsbecamegenerallypopular.In 1895,aNew YorkTimesreporterdescribedanewkindofstoreinNewYorkCityknownasadelicatessen,operatedbyGerman merchantsandfrequentednotonlybyGermancustomersbutby“allclassesandconditionsofpeople,fromFifth Avenuetothebordersoftheriver.”123Locally,FredAlbrechtsCafé,at219PennsylvaniaAveSEpromotedits “RestaurantalaCarte”in1901,featuringa“largevarietyofGermanDelicatessen”alongwithGermanwinesand beer.124 DeliofferingswerelatermodifiedbyinfluencesfromEasternEuropeandRussia.TheJewishdeliprovidedkosher optionstoagrowingJewishpopulation.TheNationalKosherDelicatessenofferedhomeͲcookedmealsat12057th
119TheWashingtonPost,advertisements1942Ͳ1953.Celebratingits75thanniversary,theGiantFoodStorecompanycreatedinͲstorehistory displays.Anewspaperadillustratesonepanel,withthecaption:”Between1950&1952,Giantopensfivenewstores,growingto21locations. TheWashingtonnewspaperschronicleeverynewaddition.” 120JewishHistoricalSocietyofGreaterWashington.GiantArchivestimeline,www.giantfood.com/about_us/company/company_history.htm 121Billboard,Oct25,1947;Mar6,1948.TheNewYorkTimes,Jun18,1950;Aug15,1951. 122TheWashingtonPost,Jul31,1928;C.A.Whelanobituary,Dec11,1941;Mar16,1948. 123NewYorkTimes,July21,1895. 124TheWashingtonPost,Nov22,1901. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
Number 8 Page 31
StreetNWin1935.125Intheearly20thcentury,delis,likedinersandlunchcounters,fulfilledtheneedforquickmeals. Inadditiontosandwichesmadetogo,delicatessensofferedcoldcutsandotherpreparedfoodsformakingquick mealsathome.126 TheFlowerDelicatessencateredtothelocalcommunitywithitskosherproductsandoperatinghours.Thedeliwas openonSundaysbutclosedontheSaturday,theJewishSabbath.ThebusinesswaspartoftheWashingtonSuburban DelicatessenAssociation,acompanythatincludedaMt.Rainierbusinessandwasformedinordertobringcustomers “thefinestdelicatessenproductsatchainstoreprices.”TheFlowerDeliofferedrestaurantdiningaswellastakeͲout sandwichesmadetoorder.127By1955,therewere16delicatessensinMontgomeryCounty,accordingtoadirectory ofMontgomeryCountybusinesses.MostofthemwerelocatedinSilverSpring.128OtherearlySilverSpring delicatessensaretheParkwayDeli,builtabout1963andlocatedinthevicinityofOhrKodesh,andtheWoodsideDeli, inMontgomeryHills,datingfromabout1947.Whiletraditionaldowntowndeliswerebecominganendangered speciesbythelate1950s,delisinthesuburbsweregrowingastheybecamepartoftheAmericanculture.In1979,the FlowerDeliwasnolongerconsidered“the‘in’spotforkosherclubsandwiches.”Thoughofferingadifferentmenu,a FlowerDelioperatestodayinthesamelocation,at8707FlowerAvenue.129 PineyBranchHardware Oneoforiginalbusinesseswhentheshoppingcenteropenedin1950,PineyBranchHardware,at8703FlowerAvenue, hadlongbeenalocalinstitutionwhenitclosedin2008.Thebusinesshadearlierrootswhenitbegan,by1948,inthe ZigZagShoppingCenter,atthenorthwestcornerofFlowerAvenueandPineyBranchRoad.Thehardwarestore movedtothenewFlowerAvenueShoppingCenterandbecameacommunityinstitution.Bythelate20thcentury,the businessofferedpostalservicestolocalresidents.130 PineyBranchHardwarehadthreeproprietorsoveritslonghistory.TedStaffordwasthelastownerofthebusiness, whichheoperatedfrom1979untilitclosedin2008.Hespecializedinbuildingpartstosupplythe,bythen,older housesinthecommunity.131Staffordranan“IfounditatPineyBranchHardware”advertisingcampaign,featuringthe specialtyproductscustomersfoundinhisstore.132 CountyLiquorStore AliquorstorehasoperatedintheFlowerShoppingCenterthroughoutitshistory.Thesitewasstrategicallylocated justoutsidetheborderofTakomaPark,acitythatprohibitedthesaleofalcohol,andhomeoftheheadquartersofthe SeventhDayAdventistChurchwhichadvocatedtemperance.133
125TheWashingtonPost,Feb3,1935. 126WilliamGrimes,AppetiteCity:ACulinaryHistoryofNewYork,p89.DavidSax,SavetheDeli,2009.ChesterLiebs,MainStreettoMiracle Mile.p194 127TheWashingtonPost,Oct24,1952andDec5,1952. 1281954Ͳ55Polk'sMDͲWashingtonSuburbandirectory. 129TheWashingtonPost,Dec3,1979. 130PineyBranchHardware“HomeandGardenGuide”1948.EileenMcGuckianinterview,2010. 131TakomaVoice,August2008,p23.InMarch1950,PineyBranch’sdisplayadstillincludeditsoldaddress,8484PineyBranchRoad.By November1,1950,thestore’sadlisteditsnewlocationat8703FlowerAvenue. 132Photosources:TakomaVoice,August2008.JeffKrulik,November2008 133MontgomeryCountyliquorstoreswereoperatedbytheLiquorControlBoardwithgovernorappointedmembers.In1951,theCountyCouncil createdtheDeptofLiquorControlwithcountyappointedmembers.LeagueofWomenVoters,“KnowYourCounty”,Rockville,Md:Montgomery Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
Number 8 Page 32
MontgomeryCountyopenedaliquorstoreat8709FlowerAvenue,whentheshoppingcenteropenedin1950.The storewasestablishedbytheLiquorControlBoard,whichoperatedfrom1933until1951withmembersappointedby thegovernor.In1951,theLiquorControlBoardwasreplacedbytheDepartmentofLiquorControl,enablingthe CountyCounciltoappointboardmembers.Theliquorstoreisthusillustrativeoftheshiftfromstatecontroltocounty rule.InMontgomeryCounty,thesaleofalcoholhadbeenprohibitedfrom1880to1933.Aftertherepealof Prohibition,hardliquorcouldonlybesoldinacountydispensary.Therewereonlyeightcountyliquorstoresin1954. In1954,however,therewerestill6of13electiondistricts,soͲcalleddrydistricts,whichprohibitedthesaleofalcohol. Thoughlocatedmainlyupcounty,theyincludedKensingtonandTakomaPark.Thedistrictsthatallowedthesaleof alcoholweredowncountyandincludedSilverSpring.MontgomeryCounty’sFlowerAvenuestoremovedinlateryears tothelargerspaceat8701FlowerAvenue,intheformerWhelan’sdrugstore.Todaythelocationisoneof25retail storesoperatedbyMontgomeryCounty.134 AdditionalBusinesses TheFlowerBarberShopat8721FlowerAvenuerepresentsagreatcontinuityincommerce.Abarbershopopened herein1950.Thebusinesswasoperatedin1953byS&PGrawitz.Ahistoricphotographfromthaterashowsaneon signfor“FlowerBarberShop.”ThebusinessinthislocationtodayiscalledFlowerBarberShop.Bernstein’sBakery wasapopularlocalbakerylocatedat8709FlowerAvenue,aftertheliquorstoremovedto8701.Thebakerywasstill operatingin1979whenFelixNedel’sphotographwastakenbytheWashingtonPostphotographer.135AristoCleaners, whichoperatedat8705FlowerAvenue,waspartofalocalchainoperatingby1949.Branchesincluded1505 MarylandAveNEand80711thStNW.136 RECENTHISTORY In1960,theFlowerAvenueDevelopmentCorporationsoldtheshoppingcenterproperty.137Whilethetheater continuedtooperateinthe1960swith“linesaroundtheblock,”iteventuallyclosedin1978afterbusiness“trickled downtoalmostnothing.”138Soonafter,amultiͲmilliondollar,tenͲyearrevitalizationprogramoftheFlowerͲPiney Branchcommercialarea,fundedbypropertyownersandfederalblockgrants,began.Revitalizationeffortsincluded newstorefronts,paving,streetlights,trees,sidewalksandcrosswalks.139IntheFlowerAvenueShoppingCenter, continuoussignboardswithdiagonalboards,intheEnvironmentalLookestheticoftheday,wereplacedoverthe limestonefacingthatKogodetalhadoncesoproudlyprotected.Undernewownership,theFlowerTheaterwas twinned,ordividedinhalftomaketotwosmallertheaters,andagrandreopeningwasheldinSeptember1980.Two
CountyGovernment,1954.In1947,leadersoftheSeventhDayAdventistChurchorganizedtheInternationalTemperanceAssn.GaryLand, HistoricalDictionaryofSeventhͲDayAdventists,Lanham,Md:ScarecrowPress,2005. 134HiebertandMacMaster,p197.LeagueofWomenVoters,“KnowYourCounty”,1954.MontgomeryCountyDepartmentofLiquorControl, History,montgomerycountymd.gov. 135TheWashingtonPost,Dec3,1979. 136TheWashingtonPost,Jan26,1949andMay28,1949. 137ThomasGoldwasser,“KͲBTheaters:FatherandSonStar,”TheWashingtonPost,June21,1982:14andMontgomeryCountyLand Records,deed2724/171,April14,1960. 138StephanieMansfield,“MeltingPotontheEdgeofAffluence,”TheWashingtonPost,December3,1979:A1.RutlegeHawn,who operatedthegiftshopinthetheaterbuildingfrom1959to1969,recalledwhentherewerelinesaroundtheblocktogetintothetheater. 139BethKaiman,“FlowerAvenueAreainFullBloom,”TheWashingtonPost,November3,1988:MD31. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
Number 8 Page 33 additionalsmallertheaterswerecarvedoutoftheoldGiantstorein1982,andtheyclosedin1995.Themaintheater closedin1996.140
ARCHITECTSͲPROJECTS JOHNJACOBZINKTHEATERSͲKogodͲBurkaprojectsinbold HARFORD 1920 BALTIMORE 2616Ͳ2620HARFORD EXTANT TAKOMA 1922 WASHINGTONDC 68334THSTNW HISTORICSITE COLONY 1925Ͳ26 WASHINGTONDC 4935GEORGIANW UNKNOWN METROPOLITAN 1926 WASHINGTONDC UNKNOWN SLOVAK 1926 GARFIELDNJ UNKNOWN TIVOLI 1927 FREDERICKMD 20WESTPATRICK HISTORICSITE RIALTO 1928 WASHINGTONDC 71399thSTNW DEMOLISHED APOLLO 1929 WASHINGTONDC 624HSTNE EXTANT BRIDGE 1930 BALTIMORE 2100EDMONSTON EXTANT EDGEWOOD 1930 BALTIMORE 3500EDMONSTON EXTANT PATTERSON 1930 BALTIMORE 3136EASTERNAVE EXTANT FEDERALSBURG 1931 FEDERALSBURG NMAINST DEMOLISHED LITTLE 1933 BALTIMORE UNKNOWN AMBASSADOR 1935 BALTIMORE 4604LIBERTYHTS EXTANT MILO(VILLA) 1935 ROCKVILLE 120COMMERCELN DEMOLISHED UPTOWN 1936 WASHINGTONDC 3426CONNAVENW HISTORICSITE NEWTON 1937 WASHINGTONDC 360112thNE HISTORICSITE NORTHWAY 1937 BALTIMORE 6701HARFORDRD ALTERED REED 1937 ALEXANDRIAVA 1723KINGST DEMOLISHED ATLAS 1938 WASHINGTONDC 1331HStNE HISTORICSITEKOGODͲBURKA LINDEN 1938 BALTIMORE UNKNOWN CAPITOL 1939 ALEXANDRIAVA UNKNOWN CONGRESS 1939 WASHINGTONDC 2931NICHOLSAVESE ALTERED SENATOR 1939 BALTIMORE YORKRD HISTORICSITE APEX 1940 WASHINGTONDC 4813MASSAVENW DEMOLISHEDKOGODͲBURKA VERNON 1940 ALEXANDRIAVA 3707MTVERNONAVE DEMOLISHED VILLAGE 1940 WASHINGTONDC 1307RHODEISLANDSE ALTERED CAPITOL 1941 ANNAPOLIS 187MAINST EXTANT SENATOR 1942 WASHINGTONDC 3946Ͳ56MINNESOTANE HISTORICSITEKOGODͲBURKA AVON 1944 WASHINGTONDC UNKNOWN
140“GrandOpeningTonightoftheFlowerTwinTheaters[advertisement],”TheWashingtonPost,Sept30,1980andHeadley,262. MontgomeryJournal,December7,1981. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
Number 8 Page 34
COMMODORE 1944 PORTSMOUTHVA 421HIGHST HISTORICSITE MACARTHUR 1945 WASHINGTONDC 4859MACARTHURNW HISTORICSITEKOGODͲBURKA LANGSTON 1945 WASHINGTONDC 2501Ͳ07BENNINGRDNE DEMOLISHED NAYLOR 1945 WASHINGTONDC 2834ALABAMASE ALTEREDKOGODͲBURKA SHIRLINGTON 1946 ARLINGTONVA 2800SRANDOLPH DEMOLISHED TOWN 1946 BALTIMORE 315WESTFAYETTEST EXTANT CARVER 1948 WASHINGTONDC 2405MARTINLUTHERSE ALTERED KINGSPALACE 1948 ALEXANDRIAVA 1120QUEENST EXTANT SMYRNA 1948 SMYRNADE 106WCOMMERCEST ALTERED ALPHA c1943Ͳ49 CATONSVILLE 725FREDERICKRD ALTERED COLONY 1949 BALTIMORE 8123HARFORD EXTANT NEW 1949 ELKTONMD 102EMAIN EXTANT FLOWER141 1950 SILVERSPRING 8727FLOWERAVE EXTANTKOGODͲBURKA LANGLEY 1951 LANGLEYPARK 8014NEWHAMPSHIRE ALTEREDKOGODͲBURKA ONTARIO 1951 WASHINGTONDC 1700COLUMBIANW EXTANTKOGODͲBURKA FREDS.KOGODPROJECTS BoldindicatesprojectbuiltforKogod By1921Kogodgrocerystoreat1200SixthStSW.IncludedKogodresidence.Closedc1955 1924KogodandBurkapurchaseatauctionofNorthEastMasonicTempleat12thandHStreetsNE.AsectionofthebuildingwasthePrincess Theater(1909),1119HStNE,designedbyCEWebb.KͲBTheatersoperatedthePrincessTheateruntiltheydemolishedthebuildingin 1948tomakewayforanofficebuilding(seebelow). 1938AtlasTheaterandStores,1315Ͳ1331HStreetNE,JohnZinkarchitect,brickandtile,$130,000Permit#210377Owner:Kogod(FredS.)& Burka(Max) Built1½blocksdownHStreetfromthePrincessTheater By1938KogodownedpropertyonTrinidadAveNEthathewasleasingtoatailorandbeautyshop.(WPost4Ͳ17Ͳ1938) By1939KogodͲDubbElectricalApplianceStore,173114thStNW(WPost3Ͳ29Ͳ1939) 1940ApexTheaterandStores,4811Ͳ4819MassachusettsAveNW,JohnJ.Zinkarchitect,$105,000,concrete,steelandmasonryconstruction; LifeAmusementCo.,owner.Permit#234430.(WPost6Ͳ1939;11Ͳ5Ͳ1940;12Ͳ28Ͳ1940).Theateropened11Ͳ1940,demolished1977. ServedtheSpringValley,ObservatoryCircleandBethesdaneighborhoods ReferencemadetoApexShoppingCenter(Giantstoread). In1950KogodbuilttwostoresonYuma—behindApexTheatersite.Seereferencebelow 1941SenatorTheaterandStores3946,3950,3954MinnesotaAveNE,JohnJ.Zink,architect;FredS.Kogod,owner.$80,000fortwoͲstory masonry,stone,concreteconstruction.permit#247149.SenatorTheateropenedin1942(WPost)SeeKogod’sWoolworth’sstore, 1947,sameblock.ServedtheGreenwaydevelopment
141FlowerTheaterdesignedby1948. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
Number 8 Page 35
1944NaylorTheater,2834AlabamaSE,JohnJ.Zink,architect;Owners:FredS.KogodandMaxBurka,“movingpictures”[theater],,twostory fireproofconstruction,$115,000,permit272923.FormerlyknownasAvonTheater,28thStandAlabamaSE(Headleynotes).Near NaylorGardens.SeePhotoofNaylorTheaterandStoresinShannonandLuchsarchives 1945MacArthurTheater,4859MacArthurBlvdNW.Owner:K&BAmusementCo,“movingpictures”[theater],JohnJ.Zinkarchitect,1story, fireproof,$125,000,permit279547 1947FWWoolworth&CoDeptStore,3932MinnesotaAvenue,NE.FredKogod,developer.FrankBeattyarchitect.Permits300377&308205 (Wirz&Striner).Note:sameblockasKogod’sSenatorTheater(1941). 1947EightͲstorecommercialcenter4000blockSCapitolSt.FredS.Kogod.FGBeattyarchitect(WPost5Ͳ4Ͳ1947)FWWoolworth&CoDept Store,4001Ͳ4005SCapitolStreet,SW.FredKogod,developer.FrankBeattyarchitect.Permit2942SS(Wirz&Striner)Kogodhad announcedplansin1945foramilliondollarcommercialcomplexonSouthCapitolStSE.Itwasheraldedas“oneofthefinest recreational,shoppingandparkingcentersinthecity.”ThecenterwastoincludeaZinktheater.(WPost6Ͳ29Ͳ1945) 1947CommercialBuilding,12th&HStreets,NE.Kogod&Burka.(WPost9Ͳ7Ͳ1947) FrankGrad&Sons,architects.BuiltonthesiteofthePrincessTheater,whichwastorndowntomakewayforthiscomplex. Includedadressshopandvarietyshop. 1948FlowerTheaterandShoppingCenterplanned1945(WPost,Boxoffice).1948:FrankGrad&Sonsdesign(MarylandNews).Complexopened Jan1950.Theater:JohnJ.Zinkarchitect,buildingcost$225,000,theaterequipment$75,000,openedFeb1950. 1950TwoStoresonYumaStNW,60x165and25x100.(WPost4Ͳ23Ͳ1950)LocatednearApexTheater 1950LangleyTheaterplanned.Opened1952.JohnJ.Zink. 1951OntarioTheater,1700ColumbiaRdNW,opened.JohnJ.Zink.Inplanningstages,knownasParamount,thenRitz,beforefinallynamed Ontario.(WPost1Ͳ9Ͳ1950,6Ͳ1Ͳ1950,7Ͳ31Ͳ1951) 1954Parkinggarage,S.CapitolStreet,behindshoppingcenter(see1947).$500,000. 1955Woodward&Lothrop,7201WisconsinAve $400,000store,4story,26,000swft.LeasedbyWoodiesfromFredS.Kogod&Associates (WPost9Ͳ7Ͳ1955) Frank Grad & Sons DC Area Projects Clare Lise Kelly, M‐NCPPC 1‐2011 FRANK GRAD & SONS, WASHINGTON DC AREA PROJECTS Design Owner/ Date Resource Photo/Rendering Address Facility Developer Built? Extant? Source Rockville Pike, $20 mill, luxury hotel; Gaston Diplomat 1944‐12‐17 1944 Strathmore Hall puchase from Corby Lauryssen Not built Not built Hotel Wpost [No image available] property? family developer
Wirz & Striner, 1661 Kalorama Rd American on Yes, Harris Capitol Roller skating rink and WASH DECO; 1946 NW (garage 1631 Wheels/Kalorama Yes Teeter grocery Arena garage Bldg Permit; Kalorama) Co. store/garage Heritage Mkr
constructn 261 luxury apts, 5 soon 7‐20‐ Washington (2400 PA Ave) 25th & Washington 1947‐7‐20 1947 stores; 1st elevator apts Yes 1948; Nearing Circle Apts K St at Penn Ave, NW Circle Apts WPost built with FHA funds completn 4‐30‐ 1950 Mount Vernon Blvd, Alexandria Yes. Rec'd for Arlandria preservation 1947‐7‐20 1947 12 store shopping ctr Godden & Small Opened 11‐1947 Shopping Ctr by Alexandria Wpost Planning Dept
opened 1951; 1947 $1.25 million temple, cornerstone modified design; 1949 Bldg design; Adas Israel chapel, school, laying 5‐8‐1950; 2850 Quebec St NW Frank Grad at Yes Permit; 1947‐ 1949 Temple auditorium, kitchen, Kogod building cornerstone 8‐16 W Post library, parking campaign mgr built laying
Construction Banneker Georgia Ave near awaits lifting of 1947‐8‐17 1947 theater, offices, 6 stores Unknown Building Irving NW government WPost restrictions
Likely not built as designed: another Unknown Dupont Theatre 600 seat theater; to be [construction Dupont Next to 1347 Conn Gilbert Grosvenor 1322 Conn Ave 1947‐8‐17 1947 leased to Harry Brandt awaits lifting Theater Ave NW family opened 1948, WPost chain of govt designed by Leon restriction] Julius and Max Barth
1947 Bldg Commer‐ 12 & H Streets NE; Two‐story bldg includes Owner Kogod & Yes. Twelve 1947 Yes. Permit; 1947‐ cial building 1121 H St dress shop, variety store Burka Restaurant. 9‐7 WPost
Flower >8701‐8739 Flower Ave, Avenue Flower Avenue, Silver 6‐4‐1948 MD 1948 Silver Spring. Shopping Fred S. Kogod Yes, 1950; 1954 Yes Shopping Spring News; etc. Center Center
Bowling 4800 block Annapolis Building Permit 1948‐6‐20 1948 Alley and Yes Unknown Rd, Bladensburg application filed 1948 WPost Roller Rink
FRANK GRAD SONS 1 Design Owner/ Date Resource Photo/Rendering Address Facility Developer Built? Extant? Source
650‐seat first run 1948 Bldg Morris Cafritz, Built, altered or Possibly major 1948 Rex Theatre 1012 14th St NW theater, leased to NY Permit; 1948‐ owner/builder demolished altered syndicate 11‐7 WPost
20th offices, auditorium, 1949 Bldg Century Fox 1949 413‐17 3rd St NW sales dept, film storage, No Permit; 1949‐ Film shipping 3‐20 WPost Exchange
James Dept of Defense; With Forrestal 1000 Independence Curtis & Davis; and Weeks, AIA 1970 GSA Yes Yes Federal Ave Fordyce & Hamby Guide 1994 Building Assoc.
FRANK GRAD SONS 2 FRANK GRAD & SONS, NATIONAL PROJECTS
Date Resource Address Facility Extant? Source
First Prize, The YM&YW Recreation and Social 1921 High St, Newark NJ American Assn Hall Architect, 7‐20‐ 1921 Center AIA Record 1923 Newark NJ Design Market 1968 Salaam Temple/ National 1925 Newark Newark NJ Concert Hall Yes Register Symphony Hall 1926 Design; Stanley National Newark NJ Atmospheric Theater Yes 1927 Theater Register Built
Essex Historic Hotels 160 Central Park Jumeirah Essex 1930 House/ Luxury hotel of America, Natl South NYC House Park Tower Trust
Raymond 1929 Commerce Newark NJ Yes AIA Bldg
1925 Design; Beth Israel Newark NJ Hospital Yes AIA Records 193193 Hospitalp Built Martin Luther 50 Walnut St, GSA Federal Bldg & ? King, Jr. Yes AIA Newark NJ US Courthouse Courthous e The 109‐20 71st Rd & Rego‐Forest Warrenton Garden style apt 1939 109‐05 72nd Yes Preservation & The complex Ave, Forest Hills, Council Hampton NY
Asbury NYTimes 7‐14‐ 1946 Hotel Park Hotel 1946
Rego Park 97‐30 Queens Blvd, Rego Park Jewish NY Landmarks 1948 Jewish Yes Queens Center Conservancy Center State Capitol AIA Record complex Trenton NJ Government Center 1968 Military Park 1959 Garage Newark NJ Underground garage Obituary First unit campus plan, Rutgers Livingston campus, AIA Record Univ Rutgers College Campus 1968 NATO AIA Record bases France Militaryy 1968 FRANK GRAD SONS 3 Date Resource Address Facility Extant? Source Defense Installation AIA Record s England Military 1968
Defense Grad Obituary, Installation NYTimes 1‐21‐ s Pakistan Military 1968
Governme AIA Record nt facilities Thailand Government Center 1968
FRANK GRAD SONS 4 Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
Number 8 Page 36
ChainofTitleFlowerTheaterandShoppingCenter Landassembled1946Ͳ47byFredS.Kogod,HarryBurka,andM.DavidDubb.142 Date Transaction Reference 4Ͳ29Ͳ1946 AͲTotalͲ111,459sqft+.Twoparcelsofland.ToFredS.Kogod,HarryBurka,andM. Deed DavidDubb.FromCharlesandFannieScheffres,IsadoreandBerthaGudelsky,Harry 1012:157 andLeaGudelsky,HomerGudelsky(unmarried),IdaGudelsky(widow),andAnna Gudelsky(unmarried).Deedsigned4Ͳ29Ͳ1946;recorded5Ͳ6Ͳ1946.$10consideration. Parcel1Ͳ111,459sqfeet.PrimarilymajorityofLot21(Becker’slot),withsomeofLot 20. Parcel2–PtLot20,Block1(ptCarey’slot).Noacreagegiven. 8Ͳ2Ͳ1947 BͲ2,000sqft,ptlots20&21. Deed ToFredS.Kogod,HarryBurka,andM.DavidDubb.FromSadie&PhilipMilestoneand 1097:111 Gerald&BellaFreedman. Deedrecorded8Ͳ25Ͳ1947 9Ͳ6Ͳ1947 CͲ2,000sqft,ptlot20.ToFredS.Kogod,HarryBurka,andM.DavidDubb.From Deed CharlesR.&AliceLewis.Deedrecorded9Ͳ18Ͳ1947.Beingtherear40’oflandLewis 1099:474 acquiredin1932.[8807FlowerAve]143 1949 OwnershipoftheseparcelsconveyedtoKogod,DubbandHermanEig(alongwithan Deed additional2,000sqft). 1246:105 EarlierOwnersofland PARCEL1 Date Transaction Reference 6Ͳ17Ͳ1920 SubdivisionJamesHCissel’s AdditiontoSilverSpring. Plat3:209 Lot21shownas2.6acres 3Ͳ13Ͳ1925 JamesHCisseltoWilliamGBecker,Lot21 372:4Deed Racialrestrictionclause“…forthepurposeofsanitationandhealth,neitherthesaid granteetheirheirsnorassignsshallorwillgrantlease,rentorconveythesaidpremises toanypersonofaracewhosedeathrateishigherthanthatofthewhiterace.” MailedtoWGBecker,CenterMarket,WashDC5Ͳ7Ͳ1925 1931 WGBeckershownonmapwiththreestructures 1931Klinge 1941 WGBeckershownonmapwithonestructurealongPineyBranch 1941Klinge 10Ͳ22Ͳ1943 WilliamGBeckerdied 976:66Deed 6Ͳ15Ͳ1945 PlatofJamesHCissel’sAddition,madebyJamesM.Seyboltsurveyor Citedindeed 976:70 6Ͳ25Ͳ1945 FromTheresaJ.Becker,widow,andsurvivingtenantwithWmGBecker,herhusband 976:66 whodied10Ͳ22Ͳ1943toSadieMilestone.Deedrecordedforland,Partoflots20&21, Deed Block1,JamesHCissel’sAddition,Asshownin1945plat,Containing111,459sqfeet. (2.5acres).Deedrecorded7Ͳ9Ͳ1945. 7Ͳ5Ͳ1945 Parcel1ͲFromSadieandPhilipMilestone,ToCharlesScheffres,andGudelskys 976:70 (Isadore,Harry,Homer,Ida,andAnna).Deedrecorded7Ͳ9Ͳ1945 Deed
142Deed1012:157mailedtoSGrossberg,1709HStNW9Ͳ4Ͳ1946.Deeds1097:111&1099:474mailedtoGrantees,4813MassAveNW,3Ͳ2Ͳ48 and3Ͳ24Ͳ48,respectively. 143LuskeDirectorylistsCharlesRLewisat8807FlowerAve. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
Number 8 Page 37
Deedrecordedforland,Partoflots20&21,Block1,JamesHCissel’sAddition,Asshown in1945plat,Containing111,459sqfeet. PARCEL2 Date Transaction Reference 4Ͳ29Ͳ1932 FromGeorgeWChaseRealtyCoIncofDelawaretoEdwardW&AlmaSCareyof 538:265Deed WashingtonDC$10consideration Lot20,Block1 (MailedtoGWChase415CedarStTakomaPark) 10Ͳ3Ͳ1945 PtLot20,Block1.Deed987:95$10consideration. 987:95 FromEdwardW&AlmaSCareyToCharlesScheffres,andGudelskys(Isadore,Harry, Deed Homer,Ida,andAnna). 9. Major Bibliographical References Inventory No. 37/25 Seecontinuationsheet.
10. Geographical Data
Acreage of surveyed property _2.4 acre Acreage of historical setting Quadrangle name Quadrangle scale:
Verbal boundary description and justification ThepropertyisboundedbyPineyBranchAvenueonthesouthandFlowerAvenuetothewestandispartoflot20 and21onblock1ofJamesH.Cissel’sAdditiontoSilverSpring.
11. Form Prepared by
name/title ClareLiseKelly,Research&DesignationCoordinator,HistoricPreservationOffice organization MontgomeryCountyPlanningDepartment,MͲNCPPC date December2011 street & number 8787GeorgiaAvenue telephone 301Ͳ563Ͳ3400 city or town SilverSpring state MD
The Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties was officially created by an Act of the Maryland Legislature to be found in the Annotated Code of Maryland, Article 41, Section 181 KA, 1974 supplement.
The survey and inventory are being prepared for information and record purposes only and do not constitute any infringement of individual property rights.
return to: Maryland Historical Trust DHCD/DHCP 100 Community Place Crownsville, MD 21032-2023 410-514-7600 Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
Name Flower Theater and Shopping Center Continuation Sheet
Number 9 Page 1
BIBLIOGRAPHY Albrecht,Donald.WorldWarIIandtheAmericanDream:HowWartimeBuildingChangedaNation.Cambridge,MA: TheMITPress,andWashingtonDC:NationalBuildingMuseum,1995.
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Chamberlain,Holly,“PermanenceinTimeofWar:ThreeDefenseHomeCorporationProjectsintheWashington MetropolitanArea,”inHousingWashington,RichardLongstreth(Ed),CenterforAmericanPlaces,2010, pp181Ͳ201. Cissel,Anne.“CongressionalShoppingCenter,”MIHPForm26/21Ͳ6,October1986. Coe,RichardL.“OneontheAisle,”WashingtonPostmovietheatercolumn,variousarticles,1950Ͳ1956. Cohen,Lizabeth.“FromTownCentertoShoppingCenter:TheReconfigurationofCommunityMarketplacesin PostwarAmerica,”AmericanHistoricalReview,October1996. Corbett,KevinJ.“TheBigPicture:TheatricalMoviegoing,DigitalTelevision,andBeyondtheSubstitutionEffect,” CinemaJournal40,No.2(Winter2001):23Ͳ24. Crawford,CatherineCrawford,“BethesdaCommercialDistrict,”MHTInventoryForm#35/14,11Ͳ1983. Cunningham,Eleanor.MontroseSchool:TheFirstNinetyYears.PeerlessRockville,1999. Deeds,MontgomeryCountyLandRecords.mdlandrec.net Deets,EdwardH.andCharlesJ.Maddox,ARealEstateAtlasofPartofMontgomeryCounty,Maryland.Rockville,Md: E.H.Deets&C.J.Maddox,1916. DistrictofColumbia,BuildingPermitDatabase,Washington,DCStateHistoricPreservationOffice. Fitzgerald,D.WindowonthePark:NewYork’sMostPrestigiousPropertiesonCentralPark.Mulgrave,Australia: ImagesPublishingGroup,2009.“160CentralParkSouth,EssexHouse”p153+. “Flower,”TheatreCatalog,8thAnnualEdition,1949Ͳ1950,JayEmanuelPublications,Inc.,September1950. FlowerTheater,Openingdaybrochure,February1950.SilverSpringHistoricalSociety Friedel,Robert.“ScarcityandPromise:MaterialsandAmericanDomesticCultureduringWorldWarII,”WorldWar IIandtheAmericanDream,DonaldAlbercht(Ed),NationalBuildingMuseumandMITPress,1995,pp42Ͳ 89. Gagné,Sally.NorthHillsofSligoPark:History,PeopleandSurroundings.SilverSpring,Md:SallyGagné,2003. GiantFoods,CompanyHistory.http://www.giantfood.com/about_us/company/company_history.htm Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
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Goldwasser,Thomas.“KͲBTheatres:FatherandSonStar,”TheWashingtonPost,June21,1982:14. Gomery,Douglas,“AMovieͲGoingCapital:Washington,D.C.intheHistoryofMoviePresentation,”Washington History,9:1,Spring/Summer1997,pp4Ͳ23. Gournay,IsabelleandMaryCorbinSies.“ModernMovementinMaryland,”ContextEssay,Universityof Maryland,2002. Greenhorne&O’Mara,“NavalOrdnanceLaboratory,”MHTSHSIFForm,Resource#33/25,2Ͳ1997. Grimes,William,AppetiteCity:ACulinaryHistoryofNewYork,Macmillan,2010. Gromfine,Isadore,oralhistory,1Ͳ22Ͳ1989,OhrKodesh,JHSGWArchives. Headley,RobertK.MotionPictureExhibitioninBaltimore:AnIllustratedHistoryandDirectoryofTheaters,1895Ͳ 2004.Jefferson,N.C.:McFarland,2006. ͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲ.MotionPictureExhibitioninWashington,D.C.:AnIllustratedHistoryofParlors,Palaces,and MultiplexesintheMetropolitanArea,1894Ͳ1997.Jefferson,N.C.:McFarland&Co.,1999. ͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲ.Maryland’sMotionPictureTheaters.ArcadiaBooks,2008. JewishHistoricalSocietyofGreaterWashington,Archives.
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Klinge,FrankH.M.AtlasofMontgomeryCounty,Maryland.Vol2.Landsdale,Pa:FrankH.M.KlingeEngineersand Publishers,1931,1941,1948editions. Koehler,RobertE.“FrankGrad&Sons:PracticeProfile,”AIAJournal,October1968(Vol50). Koyl,GeorgeS.,AmericanArchitectsDirectory,1956,1960,1970. Land,Gary.HistoricalDictionaryofSeventhͲDayAdventists,Lanham,Md:ScarecrowPress,2005. LeagueofWomenVoters,“KnowYourCounty”,Rockville,Md:MontgomeryCountyGovernment,1954. Lee,Blair.“BusinessBriefs,”MarylandNewsJune4,1948:B1. Liebs,Chester.MainStreettoMiracleMile.Boston,Mass:LittleBrown&Co,1985. Longstreth,Richard.“BuildingforBusiness:CommercialArchitectureinMetropolitanWashington,”inC.Ford Peatross,CapitalDrawings,2005,pp.109Ͳ150. ͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲ.CityCentertoRegionalMall:Architecture,theAutomobile,andRetailinginLosAngeles,1920Ͳ1950. CambridgeMA:TheMITPress,1997. ͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲ.TheDriveͲIn,TheSupermarket,andtheTransformationofCommercialSpaceinLosAngeles,1914Ͳ 1941.CambridgeMA:TheMITPress,1999. ͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲ.“TheMixedBlessingsofSuccess:TheHechtCompanyandDepartmentStoreBranchDevelopment AfterWorldWarII,”PerspectivesinVernacularArchitecture,Vol6,ShapingCommunities,1997,pp244Ͳ 262. ͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲ.“TheNeighborhoodShoppingCenterinWashington,D.C.,1930Ͳ1941,”JournaloftheSocietyof ArchitecturalHistorians,Vol.51,No.1(March1992):29Ͳ31. Lusk’sRealEstateDirectory,WashingtonDC:RufusS.LuskandSons,1957. MacMaster,RichardK.andRayEldonHiebert.AGratefulRemembrance:TheStoryofMontgomeryCounty, Maryland.Rockville,Maryland:MontgomeryCountyGovernmentandtheMontgomeryCountyHistorical Society,1976. Mansfield,Stephanie.“MeltingPotontheEdgeofAffluence”WashingtonPost,December3,1979:A1. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
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Number 9 Page 6
Porath,RabbiTzvi,MontgomeryCountyJewishCommunityCenter,Dedication,September14,1958.JewishHistorical SocietyofGreaterWashingtonArchives.OhrKodeshcollection. Read,Philip,“TheFirmthatshapedNewark,NYCskylinesclosesafter104years,”TheStarͲLedger,March25,2010. Rebeck,Andrea,“TwentiethCenturyCommercialResourcesinMontgomeryCounty,”MontgomeryCountyintheEarly 20thCentury,SilverSpring,Md:HistoricPreservationCommission,1987. TheRecord,Bethesda.Microfilm,RockillePublicLibrary. Rotenstein,David.“TheFlowerTheaterandShoppingCenter:AReͲEvaluationofitsHistoricalSignificanceunder Chapter14AoftheMontgomeryCountyCode.”September13,2010. Rubinstein,Peter.“SalaamTemple(NewarkSymphonyHall),”NationalRegisterofHistoricPlaces,NominationForm, 1976. Sax,David.SavetheDeli:InSearchofPerfectPastrami,CrustyRye,andtheHeartofJewishDelicatessen.NewYork, NY:HoughtonMifflinHarcourt,2009. Shannon&LuchsArchives,AmericanUniversity. Smiley,David.PedestrianModern:Shopping,ModernArchitectureandtheAmericanMetropolis,1935Ͳ1955.PhD Thesis,PrincetonUniversity,SchoolofArchitecture,2006. Stoever,F.Wallace,Shannon&LuchsCompany.“ParkandShopDevelopments,WashingtonD.C.,”inSuburban ShoppingCenters,NationalRealEstateJournal,December1938,pp32Ͳ33. TakomaVoice.“PineyBranchHardware.”August2008,p23. Traceries,EHT.Architectsfile.FrankGradandSons. ͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲͲ.“MacArthurTheater,”DCLandmarkNomination,1997. Turan,Kenneth,“TheWashingtonMovieKings:WhatTheyLikeisWhatYouSee,”TheWashingtonPost,2Ͳ24Ͳ1974. Valentine,Maggie.TheShowStartsontheSidewalk:AnArchitecturalHistoryoftheMovieTheatre,Starring CharlesS.Lee.NewHaven:YaleUniversityPress,1994. Waller,GregoryAlbert.MoviegoinginAmerica:ASourcebookintheHistoryofFilmExhibition.Malden,MA: BlackwellPublishers,2002. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Inventory No. 37/25 Historic Properties Form
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