Eastern Avenue becomes Eastern Boulevard at the bridge over the Back River (a few blocks to the west). A mile or so east Old Eastern Ave. branches off from the main road; even further out Eastern Blvd. becomes Eastern Ave. Extended (in the Bengies Drive-In area).
This theatre has a large stage and a nice lighting rig. Its capacity was reduced when the entire Stamp Union building was renovated starting in 1999; the last few rows were replaced by a concession stand and spotlight niche. It is equipped for digital projection and sound.
Most Hoff events are open to current UMCP students only. Notable exceptions include performances by Satanic Mechanics, the school’s “Rocky Horror” cast.
The Hoff used to advertise in the local papers. The ads were forced to stop when management of another theatre in the area accused the Hoff of putting them out of business.
The theatre also made the news last year when a student group attempted to screen an adult film, prompting a considerable amount of outrage.
The Hoff is NOT closing altogether…it will still be used for special events and some film screenings (including Satanic Mechanics shows). That’s great as this is a really nice theatre.
The Crest had two incarnations as a bargain house: first around 1976-77, then from 1981 to about 1983 or 1984. The 1980s run was under the so-called “Smart Bros.” chain, and had such a poor reputation for rowdy audiences, that it was known in its last days as the “New Family Crest.”
Sadly, no one even showed up for this auction. I live less than a mile from the Ambassador…while the surrounding neighborhood isn’t bad, the immediate area of the theatre is rather shabby. The former building of the Gwynn, across the street, has a collapsed roof. There’s also a long-closed Super Pride market.
The North Point DI’s lot was an open-air flea market for many years, even while it was still open. The market has since moved to a shopping center a few miles north. (The Wal-Mart in that shopping center sits on ground once occupied by a 4-screen theatre.)
LM, I walked by the Keith’s site this morning…all those times I’ve passed by there and never realized it was a theatre lobby!
Odd thing is, 112 W. Lexington looks more like a theatre entrance than 114. That building has a huge curved wall of translucent glass blocks on the upper floors, similar to the Senator.
Belated reply to dave-bronx: Any damage to the plaza outside Eastside was most certainly NOT caused by “Rocky Horror” fans. The following is a quote from one of the major leaders of the RHPS scene:
“No, this was not the real reason at all. When the 8th Street theater closed, the search was on for another theater in Greenwich Village. The print and cast were moved to mid-town on a temporary basis, and the plan all along was to eventually get back downtown where the show belonged.
“In fact, we toned down a lot of our behavior because of the new
location: it was in mid-town, it was NOT a ‘Greenwich Village
neighborhood’ type atmosphere, and the last thing the cast wanted to
do was lose another theater/endanger the one we had at the moment.”
UA deserves a TON of criticism for its management practices, but not in this instance. The NYC “Rocky” fans tend to be very well behaved; any vandalism at 919 Third came from elsewhere.
The garage that replaced Keith’s was unusual: it had large hydraulic car elevators that moved from side-to-side as well as up-and-down! As a kid I spent many hours just watching those lifts. By the 1980s all but the ground level of the garage was closed; later it shut down altogether. Two teenagers died when they were chasing birds inside and fell down the hoistway for the lifts; after that the building was declared unsafe and was razed. (Apologies for the somewhat off-topic post…)
Belated reply to Seth Lewis: The Orleans was open by April 1969, when it was one of two NYC houses to host that year’s Vanessa Redgrave picture (the Sutton was the other location).
The Edmondson D/I also made a cameo in John Waters' “Polyester,” showing an art-film festival to customers in formal attire. It was adjacent to the old Westview Cinemas, and (I think) run by the same people.
As the sign in Ken’s first picture indicates, the lot was also used as a commuter terminal for Maryland MTA buses (the #12-W, and later the #150).
Belated reply to KingBiscuits and M. Kuecker: “Rocky Horror” ran at the 8th St. Playhouse from July 1978 to late summer 1989. It then moved to the Eastside Cinema (3rd Ave. & 55th St.) from 1989 to spring 1991, and next to UA Movieland 8th St. (formerly the Art) from 1991 to November 1996. The Waverly run was from April 1976 to early 1978.
Checkerphil: Steve Hirsch died in July 1986. The subsequent order of operation was BS Moss (1986-88), UA (1988-89), then City Cinemas (1989-closing).
Mikeoaklandpark: Theatre of the Living Arts is at 334 South Street. Now a concert venue, it’s also been known as the Fillmore. TLA Video was a subsidiary of the theatre. “Rocky Horror” (movie) played at TLA in the early-mid 1980s, and the play also ran there several times in the late-80s/early-90s.
Everyone else: 8th Street Playhouse was equipped with a Sensurround system – two massive subwoofers were placed in the back row. Sensurround was turned on for EVERYTHING, including “Rocky Horror”!!
Actually, Cineplex Odeon entered the the DC market in 1986, when it acquired the local NTI chain of suburban houses. A few years later CO took over the Pedas Circle/Showcase group. Wisc. Ave. was the first to be built directly by CO.
Belated reply to JodarMovieFan: the sound system was called Dolby Stereo Spectral Recording, not Dolby Spectrum. “Dolby SR” was an advanced noise-reduction system. I saw “Robocop” at the Embassy as well, specifically to experience Dolby SR; however, the sound quality didn’t seem to be anything special – in fact, it was a little on the muddy side.
My favorite memory of the Key is the final show of “Rocky Horror,” on October 11, 1996. The theatre staged a mock “funeral” commemorating the end of the movie’s nearly nine-year run, with the entire first floor decorated in black, and a “eulogy” read over the PA system. That time, the local media gave extensive coverage. (“Rocky” did return for one weekend in 1997, during the Key’s farewell celebrations.)
David Levy also owned the Charles in Baltimore, and the Key College Park.
Eastern Avenue becomes Eastern Boulevard at the bridge over the Back River (a few blocks to the west). A mile or so east Old Eastern Ave. branches off from the main road; even further out Eastern Blvd. becomes Eastern Ave. Extended (in the Bengies Drive-In area).
This theatre has a large stage and a nice lighting rig. Its capacity was reduced when the entire Stamp Union building was renovated starting in 1999; the last few rows were replaced by a concession stand and spotlight niche. It is equipped for digital projection and sound.
Most Hoff events are open to current UMCP students only. Notable exceptions include performances by Satanic Mechanics, the school’s “Rocky Horror” cast.
The Hoff used to advertise in the local papers. The ads were forced to stop when management of another theatre in the area accused the Hoff of putting them out of business.
The theatre also made the news last year when a student group attempted to screen an adult film, prompting a considerable amount of outrage.
The Hoff is NOT closing altogether…it will still be used for special events and some film screenings (including Satanic Mechanics shows). That’s great as this is a really nice theatre.
Closed circa 1998, it became a video store. The location should be Reisterstown MD, not Owings Mills.
The Crest had two incarnations as a bargain house: first around 1976-77, then from 1981 to about 1983 or 1984. The 1980s run was under the so-called “Smart Bros.” chain, and had such a poor reputation for rowdy audiences, that it was known in its last days as the “New Family Crest.”
The Boulevard wasn’t twinned until at least the early 1980s. The original house had a deeply curved screen…wonder if it was ever equipped for 70mm?
Naturally, this was one of F.H. Durkee’s properties.
Sadly, no one even showed up for this auction. I live less than a mile from the Ambassador…while the surrounding neighborhood isn’t bad, the immediate area of the theatre is rather shabby. The former building of the Gwynn, across the street, has a collapsed roof. There’s also a long-closed Super Pride market.
The bank building is currently occupied by Fitch Machine Repairs.
It was at one point (circa 1983), with two screens facing each other.
The North Point DI’s lot was an open-air flea market for many years, even while it was still open. The market has since moved to a shopping center a few miles north. (The Wal-Mart in that shopping center sits on ground once occupied by a 4-screen theatre.)
The building described in Kilduff’s is indeed 114, which I confirmed today. The exterior of 112 just strikes me as being a great theatre exterior.
It’s too bad the New’s Lex exterior is covered up by ugly panels…
Belated reply to ken mc: Middle River is east of Baltimore, and is considered a suburb.
Westwood was also the locale for the US premiere of “Rocky Horror,” September 1975.
LM, I walked by the Keith’s site this morning…all those times I’ve passed by there and never realized it was a theatre lobby!
Odd thing is, 112 W. Lexington looks more like a theatre entrance than 114. That building has a huge curved wall of translucent glass blocks on the upper floors, similar to the Senator.
Belated reply to dave-bronx: Any damage to the plaza outside Eastside was most certainly NOT caused by “Rocky Horror” fans. The following is a quote from one of the major leaders of the RHPS scene:
“No, this was not the real reason at all. When the 8th Street theater closed, the search was on for another theater in Greenwich Village. The print and cast were moved to mid-town on a temporary basis, and the plan all along was to eventually get back downtown where the show belonged.
“In fact, we toned down a lot of our behavior because of the new
location: it was in mid-town, it was NOT a ‘Greenwich Village
neighborhood’ type atmosphere, and the last thing the cast wanted to
do was lose another theater/endanger the one we had at the moment.”
UA deserves a TON of criticism for its management practices, but not in this instance. The NYC “Rocky” fans tend to be very well behaved; any vandalism at 919 Third came from elsewhere.
The garage that replaced Keith’s was unusual: it had large hydraulic car elevators that moved from side-to-side as well as up-and-down! As a kid I spent many hours just watching those lifts. By the 1980s all but the ground level of the garage was closed; later it shut down altogether. Two teenagers died when they were chasing birds inside and fell down the hoistway for the lifts; after that the building was declared unsafe and was razed. (Apologies for the somewhat off-topic post…)
Belated reply to Seth Lewis: The Orleans was open by April 1969, when it was one of two NYC houses to host that year’s Vanessa Redgrave picture (the Sutton was the other location).
Ellwest also had a location in downtown Baltimore, on Guilford Ave. near that city’s infamous “Block.” The site is now occupied by a garage.
The Edmondson D/I also made a cameo in John Waters' “Polyester,” showing an art-film festival to customers in formal attire. It was adjacent to the old Westview Cinemas, and (I think) run by the same people.
As the sign in Ken’s first picture indicates, the lot was also used as a commuter terminal for Maryland MTA buses (the #12-W, and later the #150).
Showcase was Pedas' suburban division, while Circle was exclusively within the District. Soda & popcorn cups had logos for both.
Belated reply to KingBiscuits and M. Kuecker: “Rocky Horror” ran at the 8th St. Playhouse from July 1978 to late summer 1989. It then moved to the Eastside Cinema (3rd Ave. & 55th St.) from 1989 to spring 1991, and next to UA Movieland 8th St. (formerly the Art) from 1991 to November 1996. The Waverly run was from April 1976 to early 1978.
Checkerphil: Steve Hirsch died in July 1986. The subsequent order of operation was BS Moss (1986-88), UA (1988-89), then City Cinemas (1989-closing).
Mikeoaklandpark: Theatre of the Living Arts is at 334 South Street. Now a concert venue, it’s also been known as the Fillmore. TLA Video was a subsidiary of the theatre. “Rocky Horror” (movie) played at TLA in the early-mid 1980s, and the play also ran there several times in the late-80s/early-90s.
Everyone else: 8th Street Playhouse was equipped with a Sensurround system – two massive subwoofers were placed in the back row. Sensurround was turned on for EVERYTHING, including “Rocky Horror”!!
Actually, Cineplex Odeon entered the the DC market in 1986, when it acquired the local NTI chain of suburban houses. A few years later CO took over the Pedas Circle/Showcase group. Wisc. Ave. was the first to be built directly by CO.
Belated reply to JodarMovieFan: the sound system was called Dolby Stereo Spectral Recording, not Dolby Spectrum. “Dolby SR” was an advanced noise-reduction system. I saw “Robocop” at the Embassy as well, specifically to experience Dolby SR; however, the sound quality didn’t seem to be anything special – in fact, it was a little on the muddy side.
The date of that “Rocky” funeral should be 10/11/1986. Sorry…
My favorite memory of the Key is the final show of “Rocky Horror,” on October 11, 1996. The theatre staged a mock “funeral” commemorating the end of the movie’s nearly nine-year run, with the entire first floor decorated in black, and a “eulogy” read over the PA system. That time, the local media gave extensive coverage. (“Rocky” did return for one weekend in 1997, during the Key’s farewell celebrations.)
David Levy also owned the Charles in Baltimore, and the Key College Park.
“Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” played here in 70mm…fantastic!!