Flickering Treasures: Rediscovering Baltimore's Forgotten Movie Theaters

by Amy Davis, Barry Levinson (Foreword)

The riveting story of Baltimore’s movie theaters over the past century, eloquently told through extraordinary photographs and poignant reminiscences. 2018 Winner of the Preservation Award of the Baltimore Heritage Baltimore has been home to hundreds of theaters since the first moving pictures flickered across muslin sheets. These monuments to popular culture, adorned with grandiose architectural flourishes, seemed an everlasting part of Baltimore’s landscape. By 1950, when the city’s population peaked, Baltimore’s movie fans could choose from among 119 theaters. But by 2016, the number of cinemas had dwindled to only three. Today, many of the city’s theaters are boarded up, even burned out, while others hang on with varying degrees of dignity as churches or stores. In Flickering Treasures , Amy Davis, an award-winning photojournalist for the Baltimore Sun , pairs vintage black-and-white images of opulent downtown movie palaces and modest neighborhood theaters with her own contemporary full-color photographs, inviting us to imagine Charm City’s past as we confront today’s neglected urban landscape. Punctuated by engaging stories and interviews with local moviegoers, theater owners, ushers, and cashiers, plus commentary from celebrated Baltimore filmmakers Barry Levinson and John Waters, the book brings each theater and decade vividly to life. From Electric Park, the Century, and the Hippodrome to the Royal, the Parkway, the Senator, and scores of other beloved venues, the book delves into Baltimore’s history, including its troubling legacy of racial segregation. The descriptions of the technological and cultural changes that have shaped both American cities and the business of movie exhibition will trigger affectionate memories for many readers. A map and timeline reveal the one-time presence of movie houses in every corner of the city, and fact boxes include the years of operation, address, architect, and seating capacity for each of the 72 theaters profiled, along with a brief description of each theater’s distinct character. Highlighting the emotional resonance of film and the loyalty of Baltimoreans to their neighborhoods, Flickering Treasures is a profound story of change, loss, and rebirth.

Genres: Film

302 pages, Hardcover

Published September 19, 2017

Reviews

[Angie Boyter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brings back WONDERFUL memories of growing up in Baltimore!

[Meghannf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flickering Treasures is a gorgeous book! I loved the structure of the book which was ordered by years. The author chose to put a before and after picture accompanied by remarks from locals or old clientele. It was a good idea to add the latter because they complete the atmosphere. It is filled with memories and feelings.
The old photographs are stunning and the memories provide the reader a sense of authenticity, as if we were there.
In a nutshell, it was an interesting project with a strong research, congrats Amy Davis!

I received a copy from Edelweiss in exchange of an honest review.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a treasure. There should be one for the movie theaters throughout the country. It's full of gorgeous pictures, in-depth history and little known facts about each theater and photos and info about what that spot looks like now. It brought back memories of going to the movies growing up in Northern Indiana. At times sad to see how these theaters have been neglected or forced to close, but a wonderful way to capture the grandeur and memories.

[Tom M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book detailing the Baltimore's movie theater history.

Working decade by decade, Davis presents archival photographs of the theaters at their finest, a brief history of the theater, and a follow-up image of the site of the theater today. Each theater then gets a section of personal remembrances from people who attended/owned/worked at the theater.

These movie houses were more than just businesses and buildings. Most were vital parts of their neighborhoods and the became important parts of the lives of those who lived nearby and attended regularly. Childhood Saturdays, weeknights with parents, and weekends with dates, the people interviewed loved their theaters.

A must-read for any movie theater fan, regardless of where they grew up or live today.

There's an undercurrent of Baltimore's theaters as a central point in the city's desegregation during the 1950s and 60s. Several theaters were part of this history directly, while others closed due to the fall of segregation. I hope Davis takes a closer look at this aspect in a future book.

[Julie Failla Earhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up in a smallish town in southern Arkansas. We had one of those grand old movie palaces, The Saenger, that made going to the movies an event. The sheer beauty of that old theater always took my breath away when I entered its lobby. When I was a kid, I swore I could feel the ghosts of those who sat in the seats before. The old girl is shuttered now, empty and a declining nod to a different way of life.

That’s what Davis’ book is about, the old movie theaters that still dot Baltimore’s landscape. Modern movie theaters are so cold and sterile. They don’t have that lavishness and gracefulness that was so common in the past.

Davis explores Baltimore’s rich movie history from 1896 to 2017. I can sit and look at the photos and read the captions time and time and time again. Part picture book, part Baltimore history, and totally fascinating, Flickering Treasures: Rediscovering Baltimore’s Forgotten Movie Theaters receives 6 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad book. I was hoping there would be more photos of the theaters from their heyday, instead there were too many that showed either their current usage as theater churches, we have them here in Cleveland, Ohio, too, or completely falling down! I could cry every time I think back to the glorious theaters that used to be, that were allowed to go to ruin and then razed. I feel very fortunate to have been old enough to have visited some of them before they were demolished. If you city or town has any of these treasures, learn from our mistake and save them! Worth a read, but theater and architecture lovers will enjoy this book. Mind you, it is an oversize, coffee table book.
I received an advance copy in exchange for a fair review.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you grew up in Baltimore or not, if you're a history buff and a cinephile, you will be charmed by Amy Davis's tribute to the bygone movie theaters and palaces of that city.

Ms. Davis goes beyond architecture to the sociological significance of those sanctuaries of yore. Without resorting to the typical then-and-now treatment, she explores the rich history of old Baltimore's movie culture with a photojournalist's eye -- and a keen ear for stories from those who remember the days before Netflix and streaming video -- and even television.

Elegant graphics supplement the text in this beautifully produced book, published by the Johns Hopkins University Press.