Comments from John Bennaman.

Showing 1 - 25 of 47 comments

John Bennaman.
John Bennaman. commented about Wizard Theatre, 1118, Light Street, Baltimore, Maryland circa 1910 on Jun 23, 2014 at 8:07 am

www.kilduffs.com/WJA_WizardTheatre_Baltimore.html

This is the link above from Kilduff’s Theatre Website. It will provide you with the correct information about the Wizard Theatre on North Eutaw Street

John Bennaman.
John Bennaman. commented about Wizard Theatre, 1118, Light Street, Baltimore, Maryland circa 1910 on Jun 23, 2014 at 8:05 am

Ms.Charmaine Im sorry but this is not the Wizard Theatre on Light Street, it may yes have the same name, but different address, this picture above is located on 215 North Eutaw Street. It’s okay if you were mistaken, names can be confusing at times. If you like I can provide you the link to this above picture.

John Bennaman.
John Bennaman. commented about Boyd Theatre demolition begins on Mar 21, 2014 at 6:54 pm

How sadly terrible, the Boyd Theatre was my favorite destination as a young lad I spent a lot of time at that Theatre I saw lots of great movies there with my girlfriend who is now my wife for 30 years now, its sad to see it go, the building may be demolished but the memories still remain in my life.

John Bennaman.
John Bennaman. commented about Mayfair Theatre on Mar 4, 2014 at 4:24 pm

I recently heard that the Maryland Historical Society informed that it became a Maryland Historic Landmark, but still no talk of restoration planned yet

John Bennaman.
John Bennaman. commented about Mayfair Theatre on Feb 28, 2014 at 8:36 pm

The Auditorium Theatre in the 1930s gave cooking lectures as a regular basis until the 1940s

John Bennaman.
John Bennaman. commented about Mayfair Theatre on Dec 15, 2013 at 8:10 pm

Today is the day of silence as we mourn the tragic loss of Peter O'Toole the famous actor who portrayed Lawrence in Lawrence Of Arabia in 1963 along with Alec Guinness and Anthony Quinn. It was on May 28th 1963 that The Maryland Film Premier Of Lawrence Of Arabia made its showing at the Mayfair Theatre on 508 North Howard St,rewired and redecorated for the premier the Mayfair had upgraded features like new tangerine red curtains,new deep red carpeting was laid and new seats were installed. R.I.P Peter O.Toole August 2nd 1932-December 15th 2013.

John Bennaman.
John Bennaman. commented about Stanley Theatre on Nov 14, 2013 at 10:20 pm

Stanley Theatre Ad Baltimore Douglas Fairbanks in The Iron Mask circa 1930s.

John Bennaman.
John Bennaman. commented about Stanley Theatre on Nov 14, 2013 at 10:18 pm

April 20th 1963 Double bill goes crazy at the Mayfair and Stanton as two birds are killed with one stone, The Mayfair shows The beloved stories ever written in literature history Harper Lee’s most cherished novel To Kill A Mockingbird 1962 Gregory Peck and next door The Scariest movie made since Psycho Is Alfred Hitchcocks most scariest movie The Birds Rod Taylor 1963.

John Bennaman.
John Bennaman. commented about Stanley Theatre on Nov 14, 2013 at 10:14 pm

A sad gap is the only sad reminder of the once great Stanley/Stanton Theatre on Howard St Baltimore 1927-1965

John Bennaman.
John Bennaman. commented about Stanley Theatre on Nov 14, 2013 at 10:13 pm

A sad gap is the only sad reminder of The Stanley/Stanton Theatre on Howard St 1927-1965

John Bennaman.
John Bennaman. commented about Stanley Theatre on Nov 14, 2013 at 10:12 pm

Leonard MacClain Stands in front of the Stanton Theatre to pose for his album cover making it the rarest item any Baltimore Theatre collector would be interested in.

John Bennaman.
John Bennaman. commented about Stanley Theatre on Nov 14, 2013 at 10:10 pm

The Stanton Theatre Marquee Advertising Melody Mac Leonard MacClain at the Kimball organ 1963.

John Bennaman.
John Bennaman. commented about Stanley Theatre on Nov 14, 2013 at 10:09 pm

Lovely Bright Red Neon Lights Shows STANTON Theatre Baltimore 1963

John Bennaman.
John Bennaman. commented about Stanley Theatre on Nov 14, 2013 at 10:07 pm

Program for Dear Me The Sky Is Falling with Gertrude Berg March 22nd 1965 Stanton Theatre Baltimore.

John Bennaman.
John Bennaman. commented about Stanley Theatre on Nov 14, 2013 at 10:06 pm

March 22nd 1965 program from the Stanton Theatre Baltimore showing the Comedy play Dear Me The Sky Is Falling Starring Gertrude Berg. This Program is considered to be the final program of the final play at the Stanton before demolition began.

John Bennaman.
John Bennaman. commented about Stanley Theatre on Nov 14, 2013 at 10:04 pm

A decorative plaque or statue on the very tip top of the Stanley Theatre Baltimore. Circa 1930

John Bennaman.
John Bennaman. commented about Stanley Theatre on Nov 14, 2013 at 10:02 pm

A very rare record album that lets the listener feel the vibrant colors and power of the Kimball organ as played by none the less then Leonard MacClain who wad a very good and talented organist. Dubbed Melody Mac by his fans as he had a very uncanny ability to play a song he did not know, he was scheduled to play 4 organs in 4 cities in 4 theaters that were scheduled for demolition including Baltimore Pennsylvania new york and Washington. This album is the only known recording of the Stanton Kimball and the only known recording inside the Stanton Theatre.

John Bennaman.
John Bennaman. commented about Stanley Theatre on Nov 14, 2013 at 9:55 pm

The Beautiful Console Kimball Triple Console organ was installed in Baltimores Stanley Theatre Baltimore in 1927 at a expansive cost of $50.000 dollars. The organ was able to rise out of the orchestra pit with a push of a button controlled by the organist and was capable of playing a Kimball upright piano from the console and featured a series of off pitch couplers which allowed the organist to play chords with one finger. It also featured Crysoglotts, Glockenspiels chimes and of course cymbols and over 300 stops and tabs. Today the console of the Stanton Theatre lives on in the John Dickerson High School in Wilmington Delaware where it is being used for a duplicate Kimball Organ that was saved from the Boyd Theatre in Pennsylvania. But the 15HP Spencer Blower remains under the parking lot of where the Stanley once stood next to the Mayfair Theatre as a special reminder.

John Bennaman.
John Bennaman. commented about Stanley Theatre on Nov 14, 2013 at 9:45 pm

A side view of the Stanley Theatre Baltimore showing the box ares and above the box areas are what contains the pipes for the organ.

John Bennaman.
John Bennaman. commented about Stanley Theatre on Nov 14, 2013 at 9:43 pm

The Beautiful AuditoriumOf The Stanton Theatre seating roughly over 4.000 people and furnished in Italian Marble and Plaster with boxes and loges it wad patented ad being the most luxurious Theatre ever in Baltimore. The biggest of the chandeliers were in the center of the Auditorium. On both sides of the Auditorium were the Iron grills that contained the Organ Chambers that contain 31 sets of Organ Pipes needed to create melodious sound from the Kimball organ.

John Bennaman.
John Bennaman. commented about Stanley Theatre on Nov 14, 2013 at 9:37 pm

The Baltimore Film Premier of The Music Man with Robert Preston And Shirley Jones. Following a Organ Recital by Richard F Klein Jr on the Restored Gold And White Kimball Console the presentation started promptly at 8:00pm on July 31st 1963. Audience and staff were so pleased with the organ recital that they gave the organ and organist Richard Klein a standing Ovation and applause and decided to include the Kimball as a regular selection on the Stanton program every week.

John Bennaman.
John Bennaman. commented about Stanley Theatre on Nov 14, 2013 at 9:32 pm

Baltimore Thanksgiving Day Parade Of 1963. The Mayfair showing James Stewart in Take Her She’s Mine And The Stanton showing James Garner In Wheeler Dealers. Reads drug store remained on Howard st until 1980 when KFC took over and later on went outta business due to Howard Streets decline in 1990.

John Bennaman.
John Bennaman. commented about Stanley Theatre on Nov 14, 2013 at 9:29 pm

Its opening day on September 23rd 1927 for Baltimores largest Theatre the Fabulous Stanley Theatre. With Inaugural presentations of Warings Pennsylvanians Musical Marvels, Carlos And Valerie Dance Trio and The Premier of Billie Dove in the Stolen Bride. And a musical Interlude by Organist Ernie Cooper at the Fabulous Stanley Kimball Triple Console Organ.

John Bennaman.
John Bennaman. commented about Stanley Theatre on Nov 14, 2013 at 9:24 pm

The Once Beautiful Lobby of the Stanley Theatre Baltimore. Marble staircases on either side of the lobby would lead to either the Mezzanine levels or lounges on the second floor. The ceiling sored 100 feet above the Brass Inlaid Floor with Crystal Cut chandeliers and Beautiful paintings on the walls of the lobby. Its sad to see how all of this beauty was destroyed by the monster Morris A Mechanic.

John Bennaman.
John Bennaman. commented about Stanley Theatre on Nov 14, 2013 at 9:20 pm

The Once Magnificent Stage Of The Stanley Theatre Baltimore. Beautiful Proscenium and Curtains plus enough seating for over 4.000 patrons.