Plaza Theatre
404 E. Baltimore Street,
Baltimore,
MD
21202
404 E. Baltimore Street,
Baltimore,
MD
21202
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Additional Info
Architects: Frederick E. Beall, Franz C. Koenig
Previous Names: Pearce & Scheck's Theatre, Lubin's Theatre, Collonade Theatre, Gayety Theatre
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Built in late-1904, the first floor was converted into a movie theatre (the first to operate in Baltimore) opening in late-1905, but half an hour after the first show had begun, the film caught fire and the building was wrecked. It was repaired and reopened by Pearce & Scheck as a 75-seat movie theatre in January 1906. In July 1906 the owner of the building converted the second & third floors into a 270-seat vaudeville theatre (making it the first twin theatre in Baltimore) which opened on September 10, 1906 as the Collonade Theatre. On April 1, 1907 it was given a new facade designed by architect Franz Koenig and was renamed Lubin’s Theatre after Sigmund Lubin of Philadelphia had taken over. In 1916 the building was remodeled to the plans of architect Frederick E. Beall. It was equipped with a Kimball 2 manual 7 ranks organ. The ornamental facade which had been installed in 1907 was removed in spring of 1917. In May 1921 it was leased to the Baltimore Theatre Company. In 1927 it was remodeled and renamed Plaza Theatre, screening movies with vaudeville acts.
Was still open circa 1965 screening splatter film “Color Me Blood Red” and Japanese film “Naked Island”, a few doors down from the Globe Theatre and Clover Theatre. In December 1969 the Gayety Theatre across the street burned down and its name and shows were transferred to the Plaza Theatre. The Gayety Theatre was still operating in 2001. The building was still standing as vacant retail as of November 2020.
Not to be confused with the other Plaza Theatre (later Kane Theatre) at 1105 N. Broadway which opened in 1910 (it has its own page on Cinema Treasures).
Contributed by
David Zornig
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Recent comments (view all 1 comments)
Not demolished. Looks like it suffered a fire around 2011, and sat for a few years before being gutted. It was given a very severe remodel around 2018-19, which removed most of the character of the building.