Centre Theatre
10 E. North Avenue,
Baltimore,
MD
21218
10 E. North Avenue,
Baltimore,
MD
21218
5 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Architects: Armand de Cortieux Carroll
Functions: Performing Arts
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Previous Names: Film Centre
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Feb 6, 2012 — Former theater seen as a centerpiece for Baltimore arts district
- Oct 13, 2010 — Happy 55th, Todd-AO & "Oklahoma!"
The Centre Theatre opened on February 2, 1939 with Loretta Young in “Kentucky”. This was a really amazing theatre which was part of a complex that included a studio theatre in addition to the main hall and the broadcasting center of WFBR radio. It was the first theatre in the city equipped for radio broadcasting in-house (other theatres had broadcast via remote before) and the first with the ability to project live television on the screen.
It was renamed Film Centre on August 18, 1954 and closed in 1959. Although the main auditorium was long ago converted to office space for the Equitable Bank (Itself now long swallowed by mergers), the beautiful lobby with “heroic nudes” (according to opening night literature) is more or less still there. The studio theatre is still there, although WFBR moved out a few years ago, and is being used as a storefront church (this section opens onto 20th Street). The exterior is in fine shape, the Moderne styling has not been changed at all and the marquee is still there.
In the 1930’s and 1940’s, North Avenue was considered the northernmost boundary of Baltimore, and development was spread along both sides of the street. Across the street from the Centre Theatre, is the Aurora Theatre, and a little to the west of the Aurora Theatre is the Parkway Theatre. The Centre Theatre was a Art Moderne style treat, and opened to great fanfare.
After closing the building remained in excellent condition, and while lettering had been removed, the old vertical tower still stands. In 2015 it reopened as a performing arts centre
Contributed by
Charles Van Bibber
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Recent comments (view all 13 comments)
Here are some photos:
http://www.kilduffs.com/CCA.html
Looking at the Google photo, it doesn’t appear that there is any effort being made to re-use this theater. There is a nice looking church next door, so that neighborhood can’t be that bad. Someone owns the building and is content to let it sit unused, I suppose.
Lost Memory, Thank you so much for posting that excellent photograph of the Centre Theatre surrounded by great memories of the landscape, such as; the No. 13 streetcar (I remember so well). At this theater, I remember seeing “Around The World In 80 Days”, “Oklahoma” and one or two other great movies. I remember “The Shrike” (I missed it) was also screened there. One of my biggest fantasies is to travel back in time with a high-end camera and take multiple shots of each Baltimore theater (and it’s architectural surroundings).
Does anyone know who owns it now? I am going to school right down the street and i am interested in reactivating the space. Does the city own it?
Theres nothing inside. Its all offices now and is in terrible shape. The roof is collapsing and the whole place is full of mold. If it werent for Cinema Treasures you wouldnt even have known it used to be a theater.
The Centre is nearing renovation and will be reopened as a performing arts center, with the help of the Maryland Institute College of Art (among others). Article from three years ago:
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-02-06/news/bs-md-ci-theater-20120206_1_arts-district-central-baltimore-partnership-film-screenings
More info: http://www.jubileebaltimore.org/projects/project-10-east-north-avenue/
6 images added, 1939, 1954 and current courtesy of Irving Vnay.
Also a March 2015 article about the reopening.
http://hub.jhu.edu/2015/03/04/centre-theater-marquee-lighting
February 2nd, 1939 grand opening ad in the photo section
This reopened as Film Centre on August 18th, 1954. Grand opening ad in the photo section.