Escape the summer heat at one
of Baltimore’s classic movie theaters.
The Big Chill
In the dead heat of summer, there’s nothing better than stepping into the cool darkness of a theater and catching a flick.
Whether you’re a cinephile, interested in historic architecture, or just in the mood for a cool escape, Baltimore has a
host of interesting historic theaters to check out. Here are the can’t-miss spots to while away the afternoon heat.
ITINERARIES
The Parkway
1
Built in 1915, Station North’s Stavros Niarchos
2
Foundation Parkway Theatre (5 W. North Ave.)
was restored a few years ago in an $18-million
renovation that preserved the Italianate architecture—leaving
the original moulding, tile floors, ornate stage frame and
curving balcony intact—while updating the technology
and facilities for today’s audiences. Two smaller 85-seat
theaters join a new bar and cafe selling locally sourced beer
and snacks, plus a schedule of modern programming that
showcases a diverse selection of independent, international,
documentary, classic and cult-favorite films.
The Charles
Two blocks north of Penn Station, the Charles
Theater (1711 N. Charles St.) offers first-run
specialty films, plus foreign and classic cinema,
all in a historic building that began showing movies in 1939.
The theater has a rich history, including roots as a streetcar
barn, a reincarnation as a dance hall, and later, as one of the
first venues to screen early works by Baltimore native John
Waters. As a nod to the lengthy history, the Charles screens
a special series of repertory films each week, presented on
35mm prints and DCP in the original 362-seat theatre.
18 BALTIMORE.ORG