A couple of weeks ago, I had the rare opportunity--well, sort of--to go back in time. One of the last surviving movie palaces in downtown Baltimore was open for tours, right before it gets destroyed.
Not destroyed entirely, of course. The city and the destructive organization are very proud of themselves for "saving" the place. Unfortunately, what they consider saving is pretty much the outside walls and nothing else.
The Town Theatre has had a long and rather beleaguered existence. It opened in 1911 as the Empire Theatre, supposedly a vaudeville house, but one that tended to the burlesque instead. It became the Palace in 1913 and was mostly a movie theatre. In this capacity, it was supposedly a rather beautiful place; it abounded in marble and mahogany and bronze fixtures. Unfortunately, it was always sort of in the wrong place at the wrong time: in 1914 the much larger and more beautiful Hippodrome opened around the corner, and in the '10s the best movie houses were several blocks away. The Hipp, despite an also-unfortunate location, managed to draw business; the Empire/Palace just never really did. By the late '20s it was showing crappy movies and extremely questionable burlesque, which finally killed it--the shows were just too sketchy for a big downtown theatre. It was gutted and became a parking garage. Finally, its glory days came in 1946--for a theatre already 35 years old! It was refurbished with spacy late Moderne interiors, extremely bizarre metal sculptures, black lights--the whole nine yards. Its reopening night feature was the Maryland premiere of "It's a Wonderful Life!" with Jimmy Stewart himself in the audience.
If there's one thing I hate about live theatre types, it's that they're live theatre types. Sorry, guys, admit that your art form should have died in 1915. There's a reason why God made movies.
Reason for that mini-rant? The Town is being taken over by the local Everyman Theatre. This organization is currently in my neighborhood, but is outgrowing its Charles street digs, and has been more or less given the Town to do with what they will. What they will is to completely destroy the 1946 theatre interior, create a "space" (Oh, JESUS, why do live theatre people always talk about a "space?") in which to perform, and of course acres of "support space."
While the '46 interior certainly isn't as pretty as the 1911 original must have been, it's undeniably a major part of theatrical Baltimore. The Town was one of the city's premiere movie venues for years. It finally died a day or two before the Hippodrome, in 1990. And, that interior, bizarre as it is, also represents an era of theatre design that is largely gone AND overlooked. Preserved, it could be the standout of its era in the entire country. Oops--it's in the hands of people who have NO use for movies or their theatres, and are willing to do anything to further their own "art"--that is, the clomping about onstage of an amateur theatrical. (Admittedly, Everyman isn't amateur at all; and I *have* enjoyed a few of their offerings, but damnit, I like movies and movie palaces.)
And of course, very few of those involved seem to be from Baltimore. This city is suffering from a vast influx of people who have lately moved in and then congratulate themselves for having "discovered" it. Look, assholes, this town's been here since 1729. It didn't take YOU to discover it. The Everyman folk are quite pleased that they "discovered" a big "E" at the top of the theatre's facade. Hell, I've known that was there for at least thirty-five years, although it wasn't until about twenty-five years ago that I knew the "E" stood for "Empire."
Rant over, I suppose. They're going to do whatever the hell they want to, actual history be damned. And, if they can pump some life back into that block of Fayette street (good goddamned luck), more power to 'em.
It was nice to see the old place again, though; it wasn't markedly more filthy than it had been the last time I was inside it for a movie. What was particularly odd was the realization that it had now been TWENTY YEARS since the last time I was inside the Town Theatre--and that I would never see it again.
Not destroyed entirely, of course. The city and the destructive organization are very proud of themselves for "saving" the place. Unfortunately, what they consider saving is pretty much the outside walls and nothing else.
The Town Theatre has had a long and rather beleaguered existence. It opened in 1911 as the Empire Theatre, supposedly a vaudeville house, but one that tended to the burlesque instead. It became the Palace in 1913 and was mostly a movie theatre. In this capacity, it was supposedly a rather beautiful place; it abounded in marble and mahogany and bronze fixtures. Unfortunately, it was always sort of in the wrong place at the wrong time: in 1914 the much larger and more beautiful Hippodrome opened around the corner, and in the '10s the best movie houses were several blocks away. The Hipp, despite an also-unfortunate location, managed to draw business; the Empire/Palace just never really did. By the late '20s it was showing crappy movies and extremely questionable burlesque, which finally killed it--the shows were just too sketchy for a big downtown theatre. It was gutted and became a parking garage. Finally, its glory days came in 1946--for a theatre already 35 years old! It was refurbished with spacy late Moderne interiors, extremely bizarre metal sculptures, black lights--the whole nine yards. Its reopening night feature was the Maryland premiere of "It's a Wonderful Life!" with Jimmy Stewart himself in the audience.
If there's one thing I hate about live theatre types, it's that they're live theatre types. Sorry, guys, admit that your art form should have died in 1915. There's a reason why God made movies.
Reason for that mini-rant? The Town is being taken over by the local Everyman Theatre. This organization is currently in my neighborhood, but is outgrowing its Charles street digs, and has been more or less given the Town to do with what they will. What they will is to completely destroy the 1946 theatre interior, create a "space" (Oh, JESUS, why do live theatre people always talk about a "space?") in which to perform, and of course acres of "support space."
While the '46 interior certainly isn't as pretty as the 1911 original must have been, it's undeniably a major part of theatrical Baltimore. The Town was one of the city's premiere movie venues for years. It finally died a day or two before the Hippodrome, in 1990. And, that interior, bizarre as it is, also represents an era of theatre design that is largely gone AND overlooked. Preserved, it could be the standout of its era in the entire country. Oops--it's in the hands of people who have NO use for movies or their theatres, and are willing to do anything to further their own "art"--that is, the clomping about onstage of an amateur theatrical. (Admittedly, Everyman isn't amateur at all; and I *have* enjoyed a few of their offerings, but damnit, I like movies and movie palaces.)
And of course, very few of those involved seem to be from Baltimore. This city is suffering from a vast influx of people who have lately moved in and then congratulate themselves for having "discovered" it. Look, assholes, this town's been here since 1729. It didn't take YOU to discover it. The Everyman folk are quite pleased that they "discovered" a big "E" at the top of the theatre's facade. Hell, I've known that was there for at least thirty-five years, although it wasn't until about twenty-five years ago that I knew the "E" stood for "Empire."
Rant over, I suppose. They're going to do whatever the hell they want to, actual history be damned. And, if they can pump some life back into that block of Fayette street (good goddamned luck), more power to 'em.
It was nice to see the old place again, though; it wasn't markedly more filthy than it had been the last time I was inside it for a movie. What was particularly odd was the realization that it had now been TWENTY YEARS since the last time I was inside the Town Theatre--and that I would never see it again.
posted by Daniel | 12:15 AM
3 Comments:
Hello Daniel,
My name is David and I am the Marketing Manager at Everyman Theatre. I'm glad you enjoyed your tour of the Town Theatre.
Just for clarification purposes, as you are certainly entitled to your opinion, but Everyman Theatre is all about Baltimore. This next season will be our 20th Anniversary all in Baltimore. We employ a Resident Acting Company of local actors so that quality actors can afford to stay in Baltimore and work here. Also, most of the behind the scenes staff are Baltimore born and bred hon!
With respect to your opinion on live theatre aside we are all very excited to help with the development of the Westside. Theatre can bring changes. When we first moved to our Station North location our block was over 80% vacant and now it is a thriving arts community.
Our move will be during the 2011-2012 season and I hope you will come visit us again- if it would help we'll give you a pair of 3d glasses to wear during a performance- ha!
Classic Dan. Thanks, I needed this! WPK
David:
While I certainly believe that Everyman has made significant contributions to the arts in Baltimore, I simply can't wrap my head around the gutting of a significant movie venue. Even as one who doesn't care for the stage, I do understand its importance. I do, further, understand the Everyman's need for a more suitable home. I suppose that I simply wish the Town didn't have to be completely gutted in order to accomplish that mission.
Best wishes in your endeavours.
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