The Commodore Theatre
Opened on November 14, 1945, the Commodore Theatre was designed by noted Baltimore architect John J. Zink and built and operated by William S. "Bunkie" Wilder, a Portsmouth native, as his flagship theatre. It is named for Commodore James Barron, veteran of the War of 1812, who is buried in the churchyard next to the theatre.
The Art Deco theatre has a nautical theme and two large murals depicting local and national history.
The Commodore showed motion pictures and hosted community stage presentations until 1975, when it closed for twelve years.
In 1987, Fred Schoenfeld purchased the theatre and spent two and a half years restoring it. He re-opened the Commodore on December 21, 1989 as a first-run movie theatre with full-service dining—the first such cinema-eatery in the United States.
Meeting stringent exhibition criteria for sound, image, and audience experience, the Commodore Theatre earned THX-certification for excellence.
Marker is on High Street west of Court Street, on the left when traveling west.
Courtesy hmdb.org
