Red Lion Hundred in 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
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Location. 39° 34.385′ N, 75° 35.139′ W. Marker is in Delaware City, Delaware, in New Castle County. It is in Red Lion Hundred. It 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.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Wilmington and in Greater Philadelphia. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic and on the Delmarva Peninsula. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
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
Another marker is no longer nearby. Fort DuPont World War II Memorial (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Credits. This page was last revised on May 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 254 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 1, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
