Glen Echo in Montgomery County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Glen Echo’s Art Deco Arcade

Photographed By Tom Fuchs, October 27, 2007

1. Glen Echo's Art Deco Arcade Marker

Inscription.

Glen Echo’s Art Deco Arcade. . Beginning in 1940, a new Art Deco arcade was added to Glen Echo park. Designed by the firm of Edward Schoeppe of Philadelphia, also the chief architect of the Crystal Pool and Spanish Ballroom, the arcade was constructed in stages from 1940 to 1958. , A New Entrance. The new entrance, built in 1940, greeted visitors getting off the trolley with an 11-foot high Glen Echo Park green neon sign supported by 48-foot pylons. , Fun Along The Arcade. A new Art Deco arcade was built to replace an older one which was styled as a castle. The storefront of the new arcade held Hamburger Haven, the shooting gallery, Skee Ball alleys, the Sportsland penny arcade and an archery range. Skee Ball was first introduced to the park in 1915 and remained a popular game. The penny arcade, originally called Pennyland, opened in 1925 and soon had 98 amusements ranging from mutascopes to pinball and fortune telling machines. , The arcade was built to house the park’s administrative offices, but it also contained many of the park’s refreshment vendors. Cotton candy, popcorn, sodas, candied apples, ice cream, beer and barbecue were all available. , Today’s Arcade. A $6.5 million renovation and rebuilding project to repair years of deferred maintenance was started in 2002 and completed in the summer of 2006. This complex will soon house The Puppet Co., Adventure Theatre, Photoworks, glass blowing, administrative offices, galleries, art studios, and general classrooms. Funds for the project came from the Federal Government, the State of Maryland and Montgomery County. , (photo caption on left side of marker) The Arcade stands sold popcorn, creamy whip (frozen custard ice cream) and sandwiches to those strolling the grounds. Sitdown service was also available at the Concourse Cafe and the Roof Garden Cafe on the second floor terrace, where diners could look out over the park. , (photo caption on upper right side of marker) Mutascopes such as this one (left side) would play short films for a penny. Kewpie dolls (right) first appeared in 1912 and were a common prize, especially in the 1920's. , (photo caption on lower right side of marker) The shooting gallery was a popular attraction from the park’s earliest days. The gallery had moving steel targets and a pond full of moving duck targets at which players shot using real rifles and live ammunition!

Beginning in 1940, a new Art Deco arcade was added to Glen Echo park. Designed by the firm of Edward Schoeppe of Philadelphia, also the chief architect of the Crystal Pool and Spanish Ballroom, the arcade was constructed in stages from 1940 to 1958.

A New Entrance. The new entrance, built in 1940, greeted visitors getting off the trolley with an 11-foot high Glen Echo Park green neon sign supported by 48-foot pylons.

Fun Along The Arcade. A new Art Deco arcade was built to replace an older one which was styled as a castle. The storefront of the new arcade held Hamburger Haven, the shooting gallery, Skee Ball alleys, the Sportsland penny arcade and an archery range. Skee Ball was first introduced to the park in 1915 and remained a popular game. The penny arcade, originally called Pennyland, opened in 1925 and soon had 98 amusements ranging from mutascopes to pinball and fortune telling machines.

The arcade was built to house the park’s administrative offices, but it also contained many of the park’s refreshment vendors. Cotton candy, popcorn, sodas, candied apples, ice cream, beer and barbecue were all available.

Today’s Arcade. A $6.5 million renovation and rebuilding project to repair years of deferred maintenance was started in 2002 and completed in the summer

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

of 2006. This complex will soon house The Puppet Co., Adventure Theatre, Photoworks, glass blowing, administrative offices, galleries, art studios, and general classrooms. Funds for the project came from the Federal Government, the State of Maryland and Montgomery County.

(photo caption on left side of marker) The Arcade stands sold popcorn, creamy whip (frozen custard ice cream) and sandwiches to those strolling the grounds. Sitdown service was also available at the Concourse Cafe and the Roof Garden Cafe on the second floor terrace, where diners could look out over the park.

(photo caption on upper right side of marker) Mutascopes such as this one (left side) would play short films for a penny. Kewpie dolls (right) first appeared in 1912 and were a common prize, especially in the 1920's.

(photo caption on lower right side of marker) The shooting gallery was a popular attraction from the park’s earliest days. The gallery had moving steel targets and a pond full of moving duck targets at which players shot using real rifles and live ammunition!

Erected 2006 by Leah Rand, Volunteer, National Park Service, in June.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Entertainment

Art Deco Arcade image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tom Fuchs, October 27, 2007

2. Art Deco Arcade

This picture includes the middle of the Arcade and its Eastern end. The other structure in the picture is the Cuddle Up Pavilion.

• Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the Art Deco series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1940.

Location. 38° 57.959′ N, 77° 8.291′ W. Marker is in Glen Echo, Maryland, in Montgomery County. Marker is on Macarthur Boulevard, ¼ mile Goldsboro Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Glen Echo MD 20812, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 11 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Glen Echo Civil Rights Protest (within shouting distance of this marker); 1921 (within shouting distance of this marker); c. 1926 (within shouting distance of this marker); Glen Echo Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Trolley Parks In America (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Glen Echo Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Glen Echo From Past to Present (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named 1921 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Roller Coasters of Glen Echo Amusement Park (about 300 feet away); The Changing Face of Glen Echo (about 400 feet away); Glen Echo Park’s Crystal Pool (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Glen Echo.

Related markers. Click here for

Photographed By Tom Fuchs, October 27, 2007

3. Art Deco Arcade

This picture includes the middle of the Arcade and its Western end. The marker can be seen in the lower right hand corner of the picture.

a list of markers that are related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.

Additional keywords. amusement parks

Credits. This page was last revised on January 12, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 30, 2007, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. This page has been viewed 3,188 times since then and 30 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week November 11, 2007. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 30, 2007, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.