Delaware City in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Theatre
Fort Dupont
— Shaped by History and Anchored in Nature —
The Theatre was constructed by the U.S. Army's 1st Regiment and the Works Progress Administration in 1933 to provide entertainment for soldiers, their families, employees and civilians. Adult tickets were 20 cents and children's tickets were 10 cents. The Theatre seated 398, and movies were shown on two Super Simplex film projectors, which remain intact.
Movies were a great escape from soldiers' ordinary routine and a distraction from the cares of a country in the midst of a Great Depression. This was also the only air conditioned building on the site in 1933.
[Captions:]
Left: A small bronze plaque on the front of the Theatre reads, "Constructed by the First Engineers 1933 — These bricks were brought from England in the 17th Century and used in the construction of the Lord Fairfax Mansion in Belvoir, Virginia 1730." It is believed the inscription refers to the four bricks directly surrounding the plaque.
Right: Various theatre schedules showcase the wide variety of programming.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Charity & Public Work • Entertainment
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Location. 39° 34.385′ N, 75° 35.139′ W. Marker is in Delaware City, Delaware, in New Castle County. Marker is on Sussex Avenue just east of Wingate Road, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 260 New Castle Ave, Delaware City DE 19706, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Constructed by First Engineers (a few steps from this marker); Post Headquarters (within shouting distance of this marker); Commanding Officer Quarters (within shouting distance of this marker); Post Exchange (within shouting distance of this marker); Parade Grounds (within shouting distance of this marker); Officers Row (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Floated Across The River (about 600 feet away); Chapel (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Delaware City.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 23, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 125 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 1, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
