Comments about Preston Theatre in Baltimore, MD

Joe Vogel on November 29, 2011 at 4:01 am

Here’s the notice of this theater’s plans in the January 1, 1913, issue of The American Architect:

“Baltimore.—Another moving-picture and vaudeville theater will be built at 1108 East Preston St. for the Crescent Novelty Company. It will be a 1-story structure of ornamental brick. The plans have been prepared by F. E. Beall, 213 St. Paul St.”

Architect Frederick Beall is noted for the numerous row-house projects he designed during this period.

Chuck1231 on October 9, 2005 at 12:31 pm

Post away, no ill feelings on my part. That is the purpose of this forum, to make additions and corrections. Maybe also the name should be changed to New Preston Theatre since that was the last name of the theatre. I am sure that Tom will correct it on his site also.

lostmemory on October 9, 2005 at 9:36 am

I saw the ads for the Flaming Arrow Theater on Kilduffs website. I also found another site that had this theater listed as open after 1926. I concentrated on the address problem and let the other two items go for now. If I corrected too many items at once on this theater, I would become the “Evil One” for picking on this individuals theater submission. Thanks for catching the mistakes and notifying Bryan.

KenRoe on October 9, 2005 at 6:07 am

I have forwarded amendemts to the address on this theatre.

According to the book ‘Exit’ A History of Movies in Baltimore by Robert Kirk Headley Jr. (1974), the Preston Theatre opened as the Flaming Arrow Theatre in 1913. Between 1926 and 1930 it was known as the New Preston Theatre.

It received a complete re-modelling in October 1936 and closed in 1944. After closing it was used as a furniture warehouse for many years before change of use to a church.

lostmemory on October 8, 2005 at 6:40 pm

I Googled both addresses and the Canaan Missionary Baptist Church is located at:
1108 E Preston St.
Baltimore, MD. 21202
So 1108 should be the correct address.

lostmemory on October 8, 2005 at 3:31 pm

This website has some photos and ads for the Preston Theater. The address for this theater is given on both Cinematour and Kilduffs website as 1108 East Preston Street which would place it on the opposite side of the street from the 1109 address given above.

Preston Theatre

1108 E. Preston Street, Baltimore, MD 21202

1108 E. Preston Street,
Baltimore, MD 21202