Government or official record
The Knickerbocker Storm
National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington
Where this source supports the record
Each entry separates the article’s editorial relevance note from its exact, section-level claims. A bibliography link without a direct claim is labeled plainly.
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Engineering failures · 28 January 1922Open article references →
The Knickerbocker Theatre Collapse
Former Knickerbocker Theatre site at 18th Street and Columbia Road · United States
Why editors use it hereMeteorological history of the 1922 snowfall and its regional effects.
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Quick read
During a silent-film screening on 28 January 1922, the snow-loaded roof of Washington's Knickerbocker Theatre collapsed onto the balcony and orchestra seats.
Reviewed 26 July 2026 -
Trigger and conditions
At about 9 p.m., a critical roof connection or support region failed under accumulated load.
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Uncertainty
Investigations differed over whether the decisive defect was design, detailing, fabrication, erection, inspection, or a combination.
Reviewed 26 July 2026 -
Why it matters
The collapse shows how an unusual weather load exposes latent design, construction, and inspection weaknesses.
Reviewed 26 July 2026
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Quick read