Washington, D.C., District of Columbia story
A Cinematic Tragedy
In 1917, the Knickerbocker Theatre opened as one of the most fashionable spots in the city, seating seventeen hundred people. But on a snowy night in January 1922, the magic of th…
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In 1917, the Knickerbocker Theatre opened as one of the most fashionable spots in the city, seating seventeen hundred people. But on a snowy night in January 1922, the magic of the movies turned into a disaster. While patrons were watching a silent film called Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford, the roof collapsed under the weight of a massive storm.
Ninety-eight people were killed, including five students from Georgetown University. It remains the worst disaster in Washington's history, sparking nationwide demands for better building codes. The theater is gone now, but the site remembers a night when a trip to the movies became a city-wide tragedy.
Updated June 2026