Sneak peek at the White House home theater

by Darren Murph, posted Feb 26th 2008 at 8:31PM

C'mon, deep down in your soul, you knew even the White House had a home theater, right? Granted, we've all ideas (or, at least we hope) that it's used more often to impress foreign visitors than to sneak a peek at the latest Blu-ray release, but we digress. Truth be told, we're still entirely more enamored with the $6 million Kipnis Studio Standard, but then again, the president's own isn't half bad for what used to be a cloakroom. Check out another look after the break.

[Via AudioJunkies, thanks Lukas G.]

Filed under: Misc, Displays, Speakers

Tags: expensive, home theater, HomeTheater, luxury, president, white house, WhiteHouse

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

Lukas G @ Feb 26th 2008 9:17PM

There isn't a complete equipment list available unfortunately, but it was determined that they are using quite a bit of Snell gear in there.

Low Ranked

venk @ Feb 26th 2008 9:21PM

American Tax Dollars at work! :)

If Bush (or whoever put it together) paid for this out of their presidential salary or, at the very least, corporate kick backs from the oil and medical corporations, then I'd be less annoyed, but somehow I'm sure this came directly from my tax return.

Highly Ranked

jrog @ Feb 26th 2008 9:49PM

Yes, yes, it would be far more practical to send the president down to the local movie theater or blockbuster and get his own damn movies...

The security costs associated with doing something like that would cost more than that theater on the first trip.

Highest Ranked

Max @ Feb 26th 2008 9:49PM

You realize your tax return is the money the government gives you back right?

Highest Ranked

Killer @ Feb 26th 2008 9:57PM

Who says it wasn't Clinton?

Neutral

mr. Obsession @ Feb 26th 2008 9:57PM

No...I'm guessing he doesn't (too busy being self-righteous about taxes). And jrog is right about the costs associated with him actually going OUT to the cinema. Not gonna save any money there, venk.

Regarding the actual theater's design...Eh. Seen much better over at AVS.

Neutral

JF @ Feb 26th 2008 10:48PM

ever hear of netflix?....saves your money right there

Neutral

severian00 @ Feb 26th 2008 11:08PM

I agree with Killer, it probably was Clinton. He probably took Monica down there and watch some "training flix" if you know what I mean. He had to get in the mood so to speak.

Neutral

Shawn @ Feb 27th 2008 12:23AM

@jrog:

you realize that it's not, right?

"In common usage, people often refer to a refund of overwithheld taxes as a "tax return." This is incorrect terminology, as it should properly be called a tax refund. The term "tax return" specifically refer to the documents filed with the IRS such as Form 1040."
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_return_%28United_States%29

Neutral

Billy Fiul @ Feb 27th 2008 2:41AM

@ Shawn

Nice try, but we all know that anyone can edit Wikipedia. For all we know, the dude who wrote the original post probably edited it himself. And he's probably you, using a different name. Nice try at rebuttal, but you fail.

Neutral

Nate the Prophet @ Feb 27th 2008 10:56AM

Of course taxes paid for this. They also pay for the expensive Champagne that we serve to foreign dignitaries and the nice cars our leaders drive, etc. But that doesn't bother me at all.

You can't have your leaders looking like slobs and hobos when the Sheik they are meeting with to discuss deals that will get us cheaper oil live in houses that are literally lined with gold.

What bothers me is when tax money is used on stuff that serves no purpose or is unsuccessful. Congress's policy is to just keep throwing money at it and eventually it will be solved. Maybe that's why we're 4 Trillion in debt?

Neutral

Chad @ Feb 27th 2008 12:14PM

@ Billy Fiul

No, Shawn is right. A tax return is what you fill out in the winter/spring with the information on your 1040 forms. The tax refund is the money you may receive from the IRS because you filled out a tax return. A quick Google search for 'tax return' should be enough to convince anyone. You don't even need to go to a website from the search, just read the hits.

Neutral

venk @ Feb 26th 2008 10:21PM

Sorry, out of my paycheck not my tax return. :) Who says the Prez has to go to the movie theater, let him use bit torrent like the rest of us.

I kid I kid.

Highest Ranked

Mark @ Feb 26th 2008 11:15PM

The White House has had a movie theater since 1942. Blame FDR, and once a government program is started it never stops... hence the upgrade.

Neutral

Jove @ Feb 27th 2008 12:33AM

maybe i should run for president!

Neutral

LiqwidZero @ Feb 27th 2008 1:09AM

I saw a picture of this ages ago.

Seriously, why are people arguing about this? This home theater has been in the White House for quite some time now. It was made in 1942.

Neutral

LiqwidZero @ Feb 27th 2008 1:14AM

Here are pictures from 1948 to now. Look at how many times the chairs have been changed. It's crazy.
http://www.whitehousemuseum.org/east-wing/theater.htm

Oh, and the White House theater supposedly uses Snell speakers.
http://blog.hometheatermag.com/ces2008/011008snell/

Neutral

Billy Fiul @ Feb 27th 2008 2:50AM

"George Bush is a fan of the Austin Powers series and has been known to raise his little finger to his lips in imitation of the characters Dr Evil and Mini-Me."

Interesting.

Neutral

Isaac @ Feb 27th 2008 3:32AM

This theater pails in comparison to the holy fathers theater in Vatican city. When a coin in the coffer rings a soul in purgatory springs.

Neutral

Jody @ Feb 27th 2008 9:43AM

Each time a new President takes office, the first lady gets to redecorate the white house, the media room included. The costs for the clintons are estimated at $337,000 and $386,000 for Laura Bush.

Neutral

Joe T. @ Feb 27th 2008 9:43AM

These pictures are from the latest issue of Architectural Digest, in an article about Laura Bush's decorating of the White House. I think it looks like a whore house. Much better looking home theaters are over at AVS.

Interestingly, the very next article in AD was about a masterpiece of Japanese Minimalism, which made Laura Bush's work look like Mario Buatta exploded.

Neutral

Camperton @ Feb 27th 2008 10:43AM

Link?

Neutral

Camperton @ Feb 27th 2008 10:45AM

Never mind I found it. Funnily enough I thought you meant the article was at AVS when I asked.

Neutral

Joe T. @ Feb 27th 2008 10:49AM

Sorry for not posting a link-- I subscribe to AD, so the link would've been to the coffee table in my sitting room. ;)

Neutral

Cru Jones @ Feb 27th 2008 7:49PM

I am actually really glad Laura Bush used my tax dollars to redecorate that room (did you look at the "before" pictures of it?). Can you imagine a Saudi Prince or some of those guys that actually have golden toilets going into that old theatre? It would be an embarrassment to our country. I am in agreement that the leaders of our country and our historical landmarks (such as the White House) need to be kept presentable at all times.

P.S. It looks like this theatre is used to treat underprivileged children to movies more than it is for the President to catch the latest episode of 24.

Neutral

alan @ May 4th 2008 10:38PM

Interesting post about how the seating has changed over the years, I don't think their taste has changed much as the seats don't look as good as seats you can get for your own home. the gaudy red is still in.

I like this as there next update more contemporary but they could keep the red

http://www.htmarket.com/home-theater-furniture-home-theater-seating-palliser-assembled-home-theater-seating-palliser-tryad-h.html

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