A Movie Palace Is In Danger...

Andrew_Sch · 02-08-2007, 07:27 PM

Hey everyone, it's been quite a while since I've posted here, but my favorite movie theater is in danger. The Senator Theater, a true art deco palace and the only classic single-screen theater remaining in Baltimore, will be auctioned off on Feb. 21 unless the owner, Tom Kiefaber, can pay off $91,000 he owes on a loan by that date. The Senator (which I believe is still in my sig) is a true treasure that any movie lover should have an interest in saving. If any of you would like to make donations or make your voices heard, the Senator's site is www.senator.com.

Thanks for listening and Save Our Senator!

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Matt Fig · 02-08-2007, 08:14 PM

You would think that something like this would be a Historical Monument. Is there a way he can claim that and keep the theater? I am sure he has exhausted and explored all avenues, just curious.

Andrew_Sch · 02-08-2007, 08:53 PM

It's on the national register of historic places, but that only gives it tax breaks, no protection or anything. I stopped by today and picked $40 worth of gift certificates. I figure I'll pay in advance for my next five viewings and let them have the money for now. I was gonna just donate money, but I read about a guy buying $1000 worth of gift certificates and that made better sense to me. Kind of hedging my bet I guess.

JohnRice · 02-08-2007, 09:59 PM

And another theater possibly bites the dust.

Hey, maybe they'll build a Barnes & Noble...

Or a Starbuck's

Andrew_Sch · 02-08-2007, 10:09 PM

Funny you'd say that, there's already a Starbuck's in a shopping center across the street. A shopping center that has experienced a major revitalization over the last few years due in large part to the Senator's presence.

Sigh...it's times like these when being a billionaire would really come in handy.

Chris Dugger · 02-09-2007, 07:01 AM

The purchase of gift cert's is at best a 50/50% split....

Because it is used for tickets, the money is shared.....

So, the 40 bucks equals 20 for the Senator...

SteveJKo · 02-09-2007, 11:02 AM

I've heard wonderful things about The Senator. This is very sad. In my area, The Academy Of Music in Northampton, Massachusetts was the last classic single screen movie house to still show films. It was the last place around that still had and used the red velvet curtains covering the screen. The Academy went dark last month. It will probably continue on as a live events venue, but it looks like films are over for good there.

Hayes Preston · 02-10-2007, 05:46 PM

The loss of the Senator would truely be a loss to the filmgoing community, not just in Baltimore.

The Senator is one of the few theaters left that have the ability to project 70mm Film. Add to that a kick ass sound system, and huge screen, it is truley one of the best theaters I have ever seen (and heard)

Chris Dugger · 02-11-2007, 11:36 AM

It's simple....

Need 9 people to give 10 grand each

or

Need 90 people to give 1 grand each

or

need 900 people to give 100 bucks

or

need 9000 people to give 10 bucks

Saving this landmark, shouldn't be that difficult.

I wonder how much money he has raised.

Dugger

Holadem · 02-11-2007, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hayes Preston

The loss of the Seator would truely be a loss to the filmgoing community, not just in Baltimore.

The Senator is one of the few theaters left that have the ability to project 70mm Film.

According to this list, and noting that a good number of the entries are now closed, there are still more than a few left. I happen to live within 5 minutes of 2 such theaters, and watched a 70mm print Lawrence of Arabia in one of them a couple of years ago.

--
H

Hayes Preston · 02-11-2007, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holadem

According to this list, and noting that a good number of the entries are now closed, there are still more than a few left. I happen to live within 5 minutes of 2 such theaters, and watched a 70mm print Lawrence of Arabia in one of them a couple of years ago.

--
H

Taking a look at that list (at least for my region) it seems to be highly inaccurate, most of the theaters listed are closed, even ones that don't have a comment stating such.

Glad you can enjoy 70mm films near you, does that fact combined with the linked list make the Senator not worth saving?

TheLongshot · 02-12-2007, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hayes Preston

Glad you can enjoy 70mm films near you, does that fact combined with the linked list make the Senator not worth saving?

No, just stating how fortunate he is. (The two theaters in question are The Uptown and the AFI Silver, which is where Laurence was being shown.)

I can't do much living in NVA, but I'll definitely put it on my blog.

Jason