Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Bill Clinton once called the White House movie theater the ‘best perk’ of the job. It was destroyed this week
CNN ^ | Oct 25, 2025 | Lisa Respers France

Posted on 10/26/2025 1:30:44 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican

One of the stars of the White House is no more.

The White House Family Theater, the movie theater which first came to be in 1942 when a cloakroom was converted into a screening room, was demolished this week as part of the destruction of the East Wing to make room for President Donald Trump’s planned $300 million ballroom.

From sporting events to film screenings, the theater provided entertainment and enjoyment to presidents and their families since the latter part of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency.

According to The White House Historical Association, Roosevelt enjoyed watching World War II-era news reels in the former cloakroom in the East Terrace at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, “and took special interest in the battles fought in Europe and Asia.”

The 32nd US president demonstrated an understanding of the importance of pop culture, including movies.

“Entertainment is always a national asset,” Roosevelt said in 1943 as the United States was engaged in WWII. “Invaluable in time of peace, it is indispensable in wartime.”

Not that there weren’t movies shown in the White House before that.

Well before the installation of the White House Family Theater, then-President Woodrow Wilson screened 1915’s “The Birth of a Nation,” with the film projected onto the walls of the East Room.

Later presidents greatly enjoyed showing movies in the theater, and the George W. Bush Library detailed that film screenings would run the gamut from official events with members of the public invited as guests to “private events and intended for the enjoyment of the President, his family, and his close friends and staff.”

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Humor
KEYWORDS: ballroom; eastwing; renovation; whitehouse
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-57 next last

1 posted on 10/26/2025 1:30:44 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

They can watch on their iPads.


2 posted on 10/26/2025 1:32:23 PM PDT by crusty old prospector
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

And I suppose it will be impossible to watch movies elsewhere in the white hut complex.


3 posted on 10/26/2025 1:33:04 PM PDT by Organic Panic ('Was I molested. I think so' - Ashley Biden in response to her father joining her in the shower.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

If Bill Clinton said that it is because the seats were used for something else. Hope they burnt them.


4 posted on 10/26/2025 1:33:34 PM PDT by wbarmy (Trying to do better.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

PORN ?


5 posted on 10/26/2025 1:34:14 PM PDT by butlerweave (Fateh)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

Is it true that Obama spent $400M of the taxpayers’ money on a basketball court?


6 posted on 10/26/2025 1:34:17 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy (Democrats seek power through cheating and assassination. They are sociopaths. They just want power.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

7 posted on 10/26/2025 1:35:10 PM PDT by DallasBiff (Apology not accepted.la is not the sharpest knife in the drawer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

Gosh - Lisa Respers France is arcing out over this.

Hope she doesn’t swallow her tongue during the fit.


8 posted on 10/26/2025 1:36:11 PM PDT by kiryandil (No one in AZ that voted for Trump voted for Gallego )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

The "best perk" of the job for Bill was...well, you know.
I don't want to mention her name, because she has been mentioned enough and deserves to live her life without being associated with Bill any longer.

Anyway, people can watch movies on a nice flat screen TV with a sound system in their living room or bedroom.

No movie theater needed.


9 posted on 10/26/2025 1:36:59 PM PDT by chud
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

And the left decorated with unicorns and rainbows and streaked nekkid snorting coke.


10 posted on 10/26/2025 1:37:06 PM PDT by TornadoAlley3 ( I'm Proud To Be An Okie From Muskogee)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

Maybe someone can ask CNN why Obama needed a BASKETBALL COURT at the White House..who besides Obama would use it..NO ONE but him and Big Mike..meanwhile a Ballroom will be used by EVERYONE..they are acting like once Trump leaves he takes the Ballroom with him LOL its there forever, it will be used by everyone regardless of political party..but since Trump is doing it the commies have to pretend OMG we are SO outraged, NO THEY ARE NOT


11 posted on 10/26/2025 1:37:12 PM PDT by Sarah Barracuda
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ClearCase_guy

Yep he sure did, but hey Obama was the messiah he can do whatever he wanted dont ya know


12 posted on 10/26/2025 1:37:41 PM PDT by Sarah Barracuda
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

Bill Clinton may have said that, but he really considered young female groupies the best perk of the job.


13 posted on 10/26/2025 1:37:43 PM PDT by Verginius Rufus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wbarmy
Briefing Room 1970-1973
White House

https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/the-white-house/

Major Events Timeline

1998
Bill Clinton Scandal
President Bill Clinton's affair with intern Monica Lewinsky was exposed, leading to White House perjury investigations. The Oval Office trysts fueled impeachment for obstruction.

14 posted on 10/26/2025 1:40:56 PM PDT by kiryandil (No one in AZ that voted for Trump voted for Gallego )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican
destroyed

Oh no..."the Sky is Falling"...this is worse than Watergate!

15 posted on 10/26/2025 1:41:27 PM PDT by Brandonmark (November 5, 2024 - A New Day in America!Adam Schiff PARDONED criminal!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DallasBiff

https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/4348775/posts?page=14#14

It’s actually on the White House “About” web page.

😂😂😂


16 posted on 10/26/2025 1:42:49 PM PDT by kiryandil (No one in AZ that voted for Trump voted for Gallego )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican
I think in Bill Clinton's twisted mind, Miss Mondale would have been the best perk of his time in the White House:

(And if Bill Clinton was single, I'd have agreed with him.)

17 posted on 10/26/2025 1:43:27 PM PDT by Yossarian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

If it makes Bill sad, I’m glad


18 posted on 10/26/2025 1:44:26 PM PDT by bigbob (We are all Charlie Kirk now)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

Movie Theater?

The president can have a movie night when he’s back home from his deployment to the White House

What? He’s supposed to negotiate trade deals over a Bruce Springsteen biopic?

My late aunt told me in 1991 we would never see the Clinton’s leave the political stage

I knew she was right

My whole adult life I have to hear idiocy from these two, their surviving coconsprators and now their daughter


19 posted on 10/26/2025 1:45:01 PM PDT by stanne
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ClearCase_guy

No, it was a small part of an ongoing WH upgrade.


20 posted on 10/26/2025 1:45:28 PM PDT by Paladin2 (YMMV)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-57 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson