| Movie Theatres |
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| MARYLAND |
| former Colonial Theatre Hagerstown, MD |
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| The Colonial Theatre was built in 1914 as the first large movie house in the Hagerstown area. Its Baroque design has an extravagant exterior but subdued interior. The interior was altered in the 1940s after a fire. In 1976, the theatre became a church (Faith Chapel) but it appeared vacant when I visited in 2003. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For more, see this website. |
| former Grand Theatre (gone) Baltimore, MD (photos #1 and #2: 1940; photo #3: 1949) |
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| The Grand Theatre was built in 1910 but it looks like it was updated in the 1920s or 1930s. The theatre closed in 1985 and remained vacant after that. In the late 1990s, there was talk of using it as a single-screen art house but it was considered too big of a financial risk. Following that, there were plans to spend $8 million to renovate it for use as the Southeast Anchor Library. However, it was declared too expensive to repair and the building was demolished in 2003. For more, see this website. [1940s photos thanks to Ed Dobbins] |
| former Pikes Theatre Pikesville, MD |
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| The Pikes Theatre was built in 1937. It closed around 1980 and reopened briefly in the early 1990s as a revival house. The theatre was then gutted and became DiPasquale's at the Pikes (a deli/restaurant). DiPasquale's closed in 2003. By 2004 (first photo), the building was home to another restaurant, Café 921 (a reference to its address of 921 Reisterstown Road). By 2007, it had become Pikes Diner (second photo). For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| former Druid Theatre Damascus, MD |
Carroll Arts Center Westminster, MD |
Greenbelt Theatre Greenbelt, MD |
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The Druid Theatre was built in 1947 in the Art Moderne style. It closed in 1990 and was converted into an office building. It is now used as a Rite Aid drug store. For more, see this website.
The Carroll Arts Center, formerly the Carroll Theatre, was built in 1937. The theatre closed in the early 1990s and was restored in 2003. It is now used for movies and performing arts. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. The Greenbelt Theatre opened in 1938 in the Roosevelt Shopping Center. The town of Greenbelt was a planned community incorporated in 1937 as part of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal. The theatre closed in 1976 and reopened as a community arts center from 1980-1987. It was reopened as a movie theatre in 1990 with a 40' Cinemascope screen and Dolby digital sound system. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. For more about Greenbelt and its Streamline Moderne buildings, see this page. |
| Silver Theatre Silver Spring, MD |
former Bethesda Theatre Bethesda, MD |
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The Silver Theatre was designed in 1938 by John Eberson. It was done in a combination Art Deco and Art Moderne styles. There is a nautical theme with murals of exotic birds and flowers. It has the standard Eberson atmospheric ceiling with clouds and stars.
The theatre closed in the mid-1980s. It was purchased and restored by the American Film Institute and reopened in 2003. It features classic, foreign and independent films, film festivals and concerts. The original theatre had seating for 1,110. The space has now been split up into 3 auditoriums which seat 400, 200 and 75 people. The marquee is now electronic. For more info, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. The Bethesda Theatre was designed by John Eberson and opened in 1938 as the Boro Theatre. It changed its name to the Bethesda in 1939. The theatre closed in the early 1980s. In 1983, it was renovated and reopened as the Bethesda Cinema 'N Drafthouse. In the early 1990s, it became the Bethesda Theatre Café. This business closed in 2001. In 2003, an 11-story, 253-unit luxury apartment building (the Whitney) was built above the theater. Currently, the theatre is being renovated for off-Broadway productions. It is expected to open in 2004. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. |
| Senator Theatre Baltimore, MD |
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| Walk of Fame | lobby balcony | lobby floor |
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The Senator Theatre was built in 1939 – the oldest remaining theater in Baltimore. It was designed by John Zink. The Art Deco theater seats 900 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The exterior features a huge rotunda and a façade of glass block and stucco. It has been in the same family since it opened. The single-screen Senator is in danger due to competing multiplexes. The owner, however, is committed to not dividing up the auditorium.
The Senator has hosted the world premieres of several John Waters’ movies and other films produced in Maryland. The “Walk of Fame” commemorative sidewalk in front of the theater features concrete squares with signatures (a la Grauman’s Chinese Theatre) of guests of honor (mayors/governors, actors/actresses, etc.). For more info, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. |
| Publick Playhouse Cheverly, MD |
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| The Publick Playhouse, originally the Cheverly Theatre, was built in 1947. It was designed by John Eberson. The theatre closed in the 1960s and reopened as a performing arts center in 1977. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
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More MD Theatres:
Embassy Theatre (Cumberland) |
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