Royal Theatre (Baltimore) facts for kids
The Royal Theatre was a very famous theater in Baltimore, Maryland. It first opened in 1922 as the Douglass Theatre. This theater was a special place for Black entertainers. It was one of the most important theaters on Pennsylvania Avenue in West Baltimore.
A Stage for Stars
The Royal Theatre was part of a group of five important theaters for Black entertainment. These included the Apollo in Harlem, the Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C., the Regal Theatre in Chicago, and the Earl Theater in Philadelphia.
Many of the biggest stars in jazz and blues performed at the Royal. Famous artists like Cab Calloway graced its stage. Ethel Waters and Pearl Bailey started their careers there. Pearl Bailey even sang in the chorus line. Louis Armstrong and Fats Waller played music for other performers.
Other amazing artists who performed at the Royal include Louis Jordan, Duke Ellington, The Tympany Five, Etta James, Nat King Cole, The Platters, The Temptations, and The Supremes. A special all-female band called the Sweethearts of Rhythm also performed there with Count Basie.
Historic Moments at the Royal
The Royal Theatre was also a place for new things. In 1929, Baltimore's first talking motion picture was shown there. It was a movie called Scar of Shame, which had an all-Black cast.
In November 1963, a special event happened at the Royal. Singer Solomon Burke was given the title "King of Rock 'n' Soul" right on its stage.
The End of an Era
During the 1960s and 1970s, many families moved away from Old West Baltimore. This led to a decline in the community. Pennsylvania Avenue was also damaged during the civil rights riots. These events caused the area to change a lot.
At that time, the Royal Theatre was owned by the JF Theatres chain. Sadly, in 1971, the Royal Theater was torn down.
Remembering the Royal
Even though the theater is gone, people wanted to remember its importance. The Royal Theater Marquee Monument was planned as a way to honor the theater. Groups like the Pennsylvania Avenue Redevelopment Collaborative (PARC) worked for seven years to make this happen.
In 2004, the Royal Theater Monument was built. However, much of the Pennsylvania Avenue area has changed. The old theaters are no longer there. Today, where the Royal Theatre once stood, there is a sign. It says "Royal Theatre Memorial Park," but it is mostly a fenced-in empty space.
