The White House Movie Theater Is Gone. Presidential Secrets Went With It.

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President Trump is putting his own stamp on the White House, and one of the changes is the removal of the Family Theater, a small cinema used by the president and his guests. Before streaming services, this theater offered presidents a unique experience – they could request any movie they wanted, even new releases, for private screenings with family, staff, or visiting leaders.

According to Burt Kearns, co-director of the documentary All the Presidents’ Movies, the White House screening room felt incredibly personal – like the president was inviting guests into his home to relax and watch a movie. Kearns and co-director Brett Hudson explored the history of cinema in the White House, using detailed records kept by Paul Fischer, the theater projectionist who served from the Eisenhower to Reagan administrations. Fischer meticulously noted not only the films shown – over 5,000 of them – but also who attended each screening, offering a unique look at pop culture’s influence on historical events. Following the recent demolition of parts of the East Wing, Vulture spoke with Kearns about the theater’s significance – it was far more than just a 42-seat viewing space.

When I heard the theater was demolished, I was really saddened. I’m hoping the promises to rebuild and update it are true. It feels like a reflection of our times that the White House theater was torn down almost as an afterthought. It was a significant part of American history, having served for 83 years. Originally built as a cloakroom during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency, it remained in use through the Trump administration. Over the years, it was updated with features like Dolby Sound during the Reagan years, and Laura Bush added comfortable seating, a red carpet, and even some gold accents – something Trump likely would have liked.

The White House screening room offered a unique glimpse into what presidents enjoy. It was considered a real benefit – Bill Clinton famously called it the best perk of the job. Like in the movies, where the president can get anything they want at any hour, they could simply make a phone call and have any film delivered for viewing. While streaming services now offer instant access, it was different then. If a president wanted to see a movie that hadn’t been released yet, a quick phone call could get it delivered that day or the next.

Given the administration’s actions that seem to devalue the arts – like reducing funding and producing low-quality AI videos – how does this decision fit into that pattern? I won’t directly address that question. President Trump sees himself as someone who supports the arts and has his own preferences. He apparently enjoys the movie Cats, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s shown at the White House. It’s unfortunate to lose a space with such a unique and personal cultural impact, especially compared to a larger, more formal institution like the Kennedy Center.

This showed the president as a family man, staying connected to everyday life and enjoying moments with his loved ones. It was a place for creating memories, both personal and historical. Unlike the formal setting of the Situation Room, this was a relaxed space where he could unwind and simply appreciate a photo. Hopefully, this tradition of family connection will continue.

We discovered some fascinating details by reviewing Paul Fischer’s records of White House movie screenings. We were able to link films shown to important historical events and learn about the personal movie preferences of each president. For example, the logs reveal that President Nixon watched Patton with Henry Kissinger the night before he authorized the illegal invasion of Cambodia. It’s a striking connection! We also found that High Noon, starring Gary Cooper, was the most frequently watched film among all the presidents. It seems they identified with the film’s theme of a lone man making difficult decisions while facing opposition – a role they likely saw themselves playing.

The Kennedys often invited friends over to watch movies and chat. It turns out JFK and Jackie Kennedy watched 22 films together in their private screening room. Interestingly, the first film they screened was The Misfits, Marilyn Monroe’s final movie. It makes you wonder what JFK was thinking, choosing that particular film given his relationship with Marilyn Monroe.

Paul Fischer kept detailed records of everyone who attended film screenings, but when John F. Kennedy came, Fischer only noted “JFK plus one guest.” They were watching the British rock-and-roll movie Expresso Bongo, and it’s interesting to consider who JFK brought with him while Jackie Kennedy was traveling.

Besides the famous screening of Patton during the events in Cambodia, were there other significant movie screenings linked to world events? Generally, screenings at the time were previews of upcoming films. Interestingly, the very first movie shown at the White House was in 1915, during Woodrow Wilson’s presidency. It was Birth of a Nation, a film that glorified the Ku Klux Klan. This happened before the White House had a dedicated screening room.

Before its official release, Francis Ford Coppola showed President Jimmy Carter a rough cut of Apocalypse Now. A screening was held at the White House with high-ranking officials in attendance, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Secretary of Defense, and the Director of the CIA. Coppola was still working on the film’s conclusion at this point. When the movie ended abruptly, Carter was visibly confused and called out to the projectionist, demanding to know what had gone wrong and why the ending was missing. The projectionist, Fischer, had to explain that the version they’d just seen was the intended ending, which didn’t sit well with the President.

It’s true that some presidents had unusual hobbies. For example, Jimmy Carter was a big movie fan – he and his wife, Rosalynn, watched around 460 films during his time in office, which works out to about once every two and a half days! It’s a little surprising he had the time. He also made history by showing the first X-rated movie, Midnight Cowboy, at the White House.

As a film buff, I always find it fascinating to learn what movies presidents enjoy. Apparently, Obama was a big fan of the Godfather films and Lawrence of Arabia – a classic taste! Michelle Obama’s picks were a little more fun – she loved Shrek and Enchanted. It’s wild to think Eisenhower saw Angels in the Outfield four times, but even more surprising he banned Robert Mitchum movies after his arrest. It seems Field of Dreams was a bipartisan hit, enjoyed by both Bush Senior and Clinton. And get this – Kennedy actually used film screenings as actor auditions for his own biopic, PT 109! Plus, he was a James Bond fan; From Russia With Love was the last movie he watched before his trip to Dallas.

Lyndon B. Johnson didn’t care much for movies generally, but he enjoyed watching documentaries that featured him. He’d make people watch them repeatedly, simply because he was the focus. This gives some reason to believe Donald Trump might enjoy frequent screenings of Home Alone 2.

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2025-10-30 17:59