Senator Theatre, Art Deco movie theater in Govans, Baltimore, US
The Senator Theatre is an Art Deco movie house in Baltimore featuring a distinctive curved glass block and limestone exterior. Inside, the main auditorium seats 900 people beneath terrazzo floors and decorative murals, with the original 40-foot curved screen still in use today.
This movie house opened in 1939 after architect John Jacob Zink designed it as a significant cultural investment for the neighborhood. The first film shown was Stanley and Livingstone, marking the start of nearly a century of continuous operation.
The theater keeps Baltimore's cinema heritage alive by showing both current releases and classic films in a space that feels frozen in time. Walking through the doors today, visitors step into an era when going to the movies was a special occasion and the building itself was part of the experience.
The main auditorium holds 900 seats, while two private skyboxes can accommodate up to 40 guests each for special events. Plan to arrive early for screenings to explore the lobby and exterior details, especially the walk of fame that celebrates local film history.
The exterior features a walk of fame honoring local filmmakers and connecting Baltimore's broader cinema story to this single building. Few visitors realize that this recognition system was added later as a way to celebrate the city's creative talent and cement the theater's role as a cultural landmark.
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