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The Minnehaha Theatre / Ben's Chili Bowl

The Minnehaha Theater (1213 U Street) was D.C.'s first silent moving picture theater. It operated at this location and was later renamed the S.H. Dudley, after the famous comedian. In 1958, Ben and Virginia Ali opened up Ben's Chili Bowl in the building, promising "the Finest Hot Dogs and Chili Served with a Touch of Class." The Ali family has operated it ever since, celebrating the 40th anniversary with a street party in 1998. Ben's has become a D.C. landmark, and has survived its share of ordeals, such as the '68 riots and the building of the Metro stop across the street (where the Duke Ellington mural can be seen). Ben's Chili Bowl is Bill Cosby's favorite restaurant, as he courted his wife Camille here. Cosby makes a point to visit Ben's whenever he is in D.C. Scenes from "The Pelican Brief" were also filmed here and in the nearby Metro stop. The walls in the back room are covered in the remembrances of Shaw culture, including some pictures of the original Minnehaha, the facade of which can still be seen behind the Ben's sign.


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