Senator Theatre

5904 York Road,
Baltimore, MD 21212

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Senator Theatre (Official)

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Durkee, F.H., Enterprises

Architects: John J. Zink

Functions: Movies (First Run)

Styles: Art Deco, Streamline Moderne

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 410.323.4424

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News About This Theater

Jul 2, 2014 — Stefanie Klavens' Celluloid Dreams
Aug 20, 2013 — Senator to reopen October 10
Mar 2, 2013 — Senator Theatre restoration update
Feb 7, 2012 — Tax credit to speed Senator Theatre renovations
Dec 15, 2010 — New owners of the Senator Theatre get preliminary approval for second screen, other changes
Oct 7, 2010 — Baltimore's Senator Theatre set to re-open Oct. 15
Jul 16, 2010 — City says Senator Theatre must go dark, Wed. July 21
Jun 18, 2010 — "Jaws"... Happy 35th!
Jun 11, 2010 — Fritz Lang's 1927 masterpiece w/25mins of lost footage at the Senator
May 14, 2010 — Please Post Today, May 14 --- "Jaws," Happy 35th
Mar 25, 2010 — Senator Theatre update
Feb 3, 2010 — Options narrowed for Baltimore's Senator Theater
Dec 1, 2009 — Four proposals for Senator Theatre
Nov 18, 2009 — Requesting Intervention on behalf of The SENATOR Theatre
Sep 25, 2009 — Balto Development Corp (BDC) Issues Senator Theatre RFP
Jul 31, 2009 — Theatre Historical Society 2009 Awards announced!
Jul 15, 2009 — Please sign the Senator Theatre petition
Jun 26, 2009 — Senator Theater auction
May 26, 2009 — Baltimore Senator Theatre owner Tom Kiefaber deserves our respect
May 18, 2009 — Senator calls for meeting at the Senator
Apr 15, 2009 — Senator Theatre auction cancelled
Apr 7, 2009 — Baltimore city's "Strategy Group" decides non-profit will not work
Mar 20, 2009 — The Senator Community Trust announces MISSION DEBT FREE
Mar 17, 2009 — Bidders emerge for Senator
Mar 12, 2009 — Baltimore's Historic Senator Theatre expected to close
Mar 3, 2009 — Announcing The Senator Community Trust, LLC
Feb 5, 2009 — Music to save the Senator this weekend
Jan 30, 2009 — Baltimore offers $320,000 to keep Senator open as a nonprofit
Jan 21, 2009 — Senator Theatre future planning meeting
Dec 22, 2008 — The Senator Theatre in transition
Jul 9, 2008 — Senator faces pressure from city events
Jun 6, 2008 — A Summer Senator
Mar 9, 2007 — Senator Theatre slated for city Landmark Status
Feb 20, 2007 — Less than $5K left to save the Senator!
Feb 19, 2007 — Less than 2 days to decide Senator's fate
Feb 18, 2007 — Just over $30K left to Save Our Senator
Feb 17, 2007 — Senator goal raised - donate now!
Feb 7, 2007 — Senator Theater to be sold at a foreclosure auction on Feb. 21st
Nov 16, 2004 — "Cinema Treasures" in Newsweek and Budget Travel
Jan 24, 2004 — UPDATE: The Grand's Last Stand

The Senator Theatre opened October 5, 1939, with 1,024 seats all on a single level. Its opening attraction was “Stanley and Livingstone” starring Spencer Tracy. It was designed in the Art Deco style by theatre architect John J. Zink, whose other theatre designs include the Uptown Theatre in Washington DC. Interior decorations were carried out by the Paramount Decorating Co. On one side of the projection booth was a sound-proof party room and on the other side there was a sound-proof nursery.

During its operation, the theatre has been used to raise millions of dollars for local and national charitable organizations. It has also hosted world premieres and has been featured in numerous films and commercials, including “Avalon”, “12 Monkeys”, “Cecil B. Demented”, and others.

As the Senator Theatre was running in the red, ownership fell in the hands of the City of Baltimore. The City closed the theatre in July 2010, the only time it had been closed since it opened. The City selected the operator of the Charles Theatre to take over, and it reopened on October 15, 2010 with the Bruce Willis thriller “Red”. With “The Hunger Games”, the Senator Theatre closed on April 26, 2012 for renovations that added to the original auditorium, three additional auditoriums adjoining the foyer.

Reopening occured with an October 10, 2013 benefit screening of “Hairspray” (1988) with John Waters appearing as he did at the original premiere of the movie at the Senator Theatre. The theatre reopened to the public with regular features on October 11, 2013.

The theatre is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Contributed by David Frier, Colin P. Varga, Gayle Grove

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Recent comments (view all 190 comments)

JodarMovieFan on July 22, 2013 at 10:10 am

I just read that, Tinsel. A possible August opening? If you read further back on the facebook page, they had hoped for a late May opening. I’m optimistic the place will at least look good if it is at least 2/3 as good as the AFI Silver. Now those little itty bitty screening room-sized auditoriums make me wonder how much sound bleed there is going to be either going in or out from the other rooms.

It reminds me of when DC’s MacArthur was triplexed. They made two smaller theaters out of the bowed out parts of the original and even had little balconies! What was decent about that remodel, too, was the dropping and rising curtains between the shows.

JodarMovieFan on August 20, 2013 at 8:12 pm

Grand reopening on Oct 10! Hooray!

Mikeoaklandpark on August 22, 2013 at 7:40 am

Looking at the pictures from the paper I hope they are not removing the marquee.

Giles on October 15, 2013 at 6:48 pm

reopened on October 10 with a 35mm screening of ‘Hairspray’ with director John Waters in attendance.

Mikeoaklandpark on October 27, 2013 at 8:30 am

Any new photos of the theater and inside? Did they keep the screen, curtains and marquee?

moviebuff82 on April 28, 2015 at 12:06 pm

http://www.wbaltv.com/news/vandal-smashes-senator-theater-window/32590714 what a shame….

Mikeoaklandpark on April 28, 2015 at 3:28 pm

Oh no

Life's Too Short on January 19, 2016 at 5:01 am

Seems like there was considerable drama going on a few years ago, regarding the theater’s future. I’m glad to see it survived to write another chapter.