Booker T Theatre
930 West Baltimore Street,
Baltimore,
MD
21223
930 West Baltimore Street,
Baltimore,
MD
21223
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The Aladdin Theatre was a smaller house on the West side of Baltimore City. Opened in late-1909, it was remodeled in 1915 to the plans of Otto G. Simonson. It was known as the Aladdin Theatre through the 1920’s and in 1927 became an African-American movie theatre. It became the New Queen Theatre in 1930. It changed to the Booker T on October 19, 1933. It closed in 1938. The building was converted to offices and lasted until 1992 when it was demolished.
This may not map properly since the side of the street that the theatre was located on has been completely demolished.
Contributed by
Chuck Van Bibber
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
Chuck;
Details below from the book “Exit” by Robert Kirk Headley Jnr (1974)
The Aladdin Theatre opened in late 1909. It was known as the New Aladdin Theatre off and on in 1918-1920 and again in 1930. It was also named the New Queen Theatre in 1930 prior to it closing down that year.
It re-opened as the Booker T. Theatre around 1933 until it closed for good in about 1938.
Ken, the information that I submitted was from the Library, my cousin Milton and I collected as much data from the library that we could find. The last license of occupancy was dated February 1936 according to the info we could find in the Libarary. Maybe they are not quite up to date. It never showed the name New Queen at all. I know that when we went to take pictures the entire side of the street that the theatre was originally located on had been demolished.
Chuck;
The last licence could have run for a year after the Feb 1936 date, which means a closure of Feb 1937. But this is conjecture, basing my facts on what happens here in the UK when a licence is taken out in advance for a year. Does that happen in the USA?
The “Exit” book is a little vague on a few dates and facts like ‘opened late 1909’, when it has also stated ‘that a permit was granted for a cinema in September 1909’.
Little by little we build up a complete story Eh!
Ken,
Likewise in the USA, the license could be issued but not activated until later in the year. Same with construction permits, they can be issued on a certain date but the construction may not be started until much later.
I have family in both Balitmore and Annapolis so I get up that way about 5 or 6 times a year. Milton is my cousin and he does a lot of research for me also.
It is great that Cinema Treasurs is here so that the members can put together a comeplete history and picture of a certain theatre. Baltimore had a lot of neighborhood houses that I am still working on and hope to add them as I complete what I can to put them together.
I never rely on the Daily Film Journals with seating though because there are so many inaccuracies.
Charles;
Thanks for clarifying the licence/permit issue. I agree that seating capacities which are given in ‘any’ source must always be taken with a pinch of salt. Theater owners always exagerated capacities. We have the same problem here in the UK with our trade book The Kinematograph Yearbook.
Keep up the good work, it is always a pleasure reading input from you and many of the other ‘theatre-buffs’ on the site. If you are not sure about any info on your Baltimore research, send me an e-mail and I will consult with my sources here.
Was this a theater showing “black” films at one point?
Thanks for mentioning that Scott, I have just looked in my Film Daily Yearbooks 1941 and 1943 and the Booker T Theatre is listed in the Negro Theatres section, as well as the general listings for Baltimore. Which implies it was still open and operating? There is no mention of it in the 1950 edition
Yet the book “Exit” by Phillip Headly states its doors closed for good around 1938 and Chuck in his opening description states 1936 and later goes on to say the last licence of occupancy he could find in the library was dated February 1936.
I wonder, has the F.D.Y.B. just not been updated correctly since the 1930’s for this theatre?
A little more history on the Aladdin/New Queen/Booker T. When this theatre opened it was located in an all white neighborhood catering to the same. The demographics of the neighborhood changed and the Aladdin closed. It was later re-opened as the New Queen catering to the then African American neighborhood and shortly after renamed the Booker T. It was then owned and operated by African Americans. It operated as a African American theatre into the late 40’s.
Here is a link:
http://www.kilduffs.com/ALA.html
I have a Booker T Theatre listed in Annapolis as well. Does anyone know anything about that one?