Aurora Theatre

MichaelKilgore on August 10, 2023 at 3:33 am

Boxoffice, Nov. 23, 1964: “Howard Wagonheim, vice-president of Schwaber Theatres, which recently purchased the Aurora and renamed it the Seven East, in the next block from the Five West, also a Schwaber house, reported that the theatre will be opened in the next ten days. Seating has been reduced from 369 to 303, a new sound system installed and the marquee is undergoing changes.”

Joe Vogel on May 28, 2014 at 5:14 am

A paper about theaters on North Avenue (PDF here) says that the Aurora Theatre was opened by the Paradise Amusement Company in the fall of 1910. That means it must be the house referred to by this item from The Moving Picture World of April 2, 1910:

“Baltimore, Md. — Architect Francis E. Tormey has completed plans for a moving picture theater to be erected on the south side of North avenue, near Charles street, by the Paradise Amusement Co.”

Tormey designed a number of churches during his career, and now two of his theaters- this house and the New Horn Theatre- have also become churches.

kencmcintyre on December 3, 2009 at 3:05 am

Here is a contemporary view:
http://tinyurl.com/yjrvx77

randytheicon on May 31, 2009 at 7:38 pm

The Aurora was known for some years as the 7 East, art-house sister to the Parkway/5 West across Charles St. The Aurora did reopen in 1981, under its original name, as a “repertory” theatre similar to the nearby Charles. This policy failed, and for its final years the house was called the “Aurora X.”

The address should be 7 East North Ave., NOT “72.” The Center Stage arson fire was in 1974.