Mayfair Theatre, Baltimore facts for kids
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The Mayfair Theatre is a historic building in Baltimore, United States. It was also known as the Auditorium Theatre or Auditorium Music Hall. It first opened in 1880 as a bathing house. Later, it was torn down and rebuilt in 1904 as a theatre. The theatre closed its doors in 1986. Today, only the front wall (facade) and the lobby remain. This part is a Baltimore City Landmark and there are plans to bring it back to life.
Contents
The Story of the Mayfair Theatre
From Bathing House to Theatre
The first building on this spot opened on June 17, 1880. It was called the Natatorium. It was a place where people could swim and learn to swim. After some changes, it became the Howard Auditorium in 1891. The name soon changed to just "Auditorium." In 1894, it even became an ice skating rink!
The building was changed again in 1895 and 1896. An architect named J. B. McElfatrick helped with these plans. A special "Palm Court" garden was added to the roof. The old Auditorium closed on April 4, 1903, and was then torn down.
A New Theatre Rises
A brand new building rose on the same spot. This was the Auditorium Theatre. It opened on September 12, 1904. It showed Keith's Vaudeville acts and early moving pictures. Vaudeville was a popular type of entertainment with many different acts. These included comedians, singers, dancers, and magicians.
The theatre was designed by J.D. Allen & Co. from Philadelphia. Different companies managed the theatre over the years. It was mostly a playhouse, showing live plays. But sometimes, movies were shown too.
The Mayfair Theatre Era
In the summer of 1940, the Auditorium Theatre got a big makeover. A local architect named E. Bernard Evander created a new theatre inside the old one. He changed the inside completely. He also added a new ceiling that hid the old, tall dome.
The outside of the building was also updated. It got a new triangular sign and a better ticket booth. The building reopened as the Mayfair Theatre on January 31, 1941. The first movie shown was A Night at Earl Carroll's.
By 1960, the Mayfair Theatre had modern projectors. These could show movies in a special 70mm format. The theatre closed its doors on April 22, 1986. There was hope it would reopen, but it didn't happen.
What Happened to the Mayfair?
For over 30 years, the Mayfair Theatre sat empty. Its roof fell in during February 1998. It was also damaged by a fire in a nearby building in 2014. Because the building was falling apart, engineers said it was unsafe. So, in November 2016, most of the building was torn down. Only the front wall and the lobby were saved.
Even though most of it is gone, the Mayfair Theatre is still a special Baltimore City Landmark. It is part of a historic area in downtown Baltimore.
Plans for the Future
Bringing Life Back to the Site
In 2016, the Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC) asked for ideas to reuse the Mayfair Theatre site. They wanted to give the old building a new purpose. At first, no one offered plans. But in 2018, they asked again.
In December 2018, a local company called Zahlco Development was chosen. They plan to turn the area into a new place called "Mayfair Place."
What Will Mayfair Place Be?
The plans for Mayfair Place are exciting! It will include:
- New apartments for people to live in.
- Shops and places to buy things.
- Office spaces.
- A restaurant.
- A gallery for art.
- An outdoor area for sitting and performances.
Zahlco Development also plans to keep the historic front wall of the Mayfair Theatre. They will also build a new six-story apartment building next door. This new building will have more shops, offices, and even a parking garage. The goal is to bring new life and activity to this historic part of Baltimore.
