Matt Lambros

Bill Clinton once described the White House Family Theater as, quote, the best perk of the White House.

The snug 40-ish seat venue provided a retreat for presidents and their guests for more than 80 years,

after its conversion from a cloakroom by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1942.

Jimmy Carter was a fan.

He watched hundreds of films there, starting with All the President's Men.

Richard Nixon saw Patton about the controversial World War II General George S. Patton multiple times during the Vietnam War.

Matt Lambros is a theatre historian.

Lambros says he hopes the Trump administration will build a new theater.

The White House did not respond to NPR's request for comment.

Chloe Veltman, NPR News.