Friends of The Senator Theatre

I mention the movie in this article: http://www.examiner.com/x-24916-Baltimore-Musical-Theatre-Examiner~y2009m11d27-Baltimores-Got-Talent-contest-results

I could see a 2nd screen if there was space in the back or something but cutting out 120 seats of the existing theater doesn't make sense. It would screw up the dynamics of the room. What would he do, cut out the last rows? Cut off the sides? It would look like shit.

If I could have bought the theatre, I'd have only made 1 change....stripper poles.

@Scott- During one of the last community meetings, Kim Clarke from the BDC "mentioned" there was talk of putting a wall in the auditorium, "which could come out later"... of course booing, hissing and sounds of horror filled the room after she said this. Too, in a recent article she stated that all the theatre needed was... "a little hairspray and... See More lipstick" OY!! It's like saying all SHE needs is a lil hairspray and lipstick and somehow it would improve her.... One of the driving forces as to why Tom dove in head first and paid through the nose to buy The Senator from his family when it came up for sale was b/c he was deathly afraid someone would try and do this to The Senator as it had been done to The Boulevard...
@ Keith- Ha!!!! I already know the spots for the poles! In the auditorium, down in the front on either end there are semi circular "platforms" I envisioned a cages there with poles a while back!!!

I posted something on here last night I'd come across re: comments from JR Owens tennants. They weren't very happy.. His plan to "save the facade" jumped out at me. we've heard this sooooo many times and have learned that folks will say this to keep the public thinking that they actually intend to keep the facade. Then once construction-or ... See Moredeconstruction begins, they usually find that the facade simply has to come down. I can't imagine someone who really wants to build that many apts. along with a garage actually wants to keep the theatre and run the theatre... It will be interesting to see what everyone's drawings look like.

I like the Charles owners' proposal best, however, I'd hate to see the auditorium chopped up to add another screen. I remember when the old Westview Cinemas cut their large auditorium into three and the result was disastrous. I don't think it would work much better at t he Senator, but maybe they can make it work.

Twinning the auditorium has never worked well for any historic theatre that we're aware of. The Senator is a significant historic building, on the National Register of Historic Places. Dividing the auditorium is unthinkable.

I know the outside of the building can't be altered, but I wasn't sure about the interior. If that's the case, then there's no way they can add an additional screen to the existing structure. I think a combination of film and performances would work well. Make the theater a real destination for revivals and restored films with the people ... See Moreinvolved in those films as the Senator has done in the past. I think something like the original Charles Theater had with a constantly rotating program of classic/foreign/obscure films and retrospectives would be awesome. But maybe that's just me?