Washington, D.C., District of Columbia story
A Cinematic Disaster
Long before the digital age, the Knickerbocker Theatre was one of the most fashionable spots in the city. Opened in 1917 in the Adams Morgan neighborhood, it was the largest movie…
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Long before the digital age, the Knickerbocker Theatre was one of the most fashionable spots in the city. Opened in 1917 in the Adams Morgan neighborhood, it was the largest movie theater in D.C., seating 1,700 people. In those days, the 'soundtrack' was a live accompaniment to silent films.
But on January 28, 1922, the music stopped. While patrons were watching a film called Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford, the roof collapsed under the weight of a massive snowstorm. It remains the worst disaster in the city's history, killing 98 people.
Today, the site serves as a somber reminder of how a night of entertainment can turn into a tragedy in an instant.
Updated June 2026