History
of The Maryland Theatre
The Maryland Theatre was built in 1915, partially destroyed
by fire in 1974 and reopened in 1978. The marvelous acoustics are
only surpassed by the wonderful ambiance of The Theatre.
The Theatre provides comfortable seating for 1300 at
performances of country artists, comedians, orchestra concerts, children's
shows, musicians, recitals, stage shows, and others. The Maryland
Theatre welcomes approximately 120,000 people through her doors annually.
Click Here
to View Vintage Photos of the Theatre
|
Quick
Facts |
-
Designed by renowned Architect Thomas W. Lamb
who also designed The Strand, The Rialto,
and The Hippodrome Theatres as well as Madison Square Garden Theatre
in NYC along with theatres
in England, Egypt, India and South Africa.
-
Built
in 1915 at a cost of about $200,000 by
the Potomac Realty Company
-
Theatre
Doors opened May 10, 1915 · First
sell-out audience was treated to music
by a live orchestra in the pit as well
as a five-reel feature film, “The Commuters”
-
General
seats cost 10 cents and Box seats were 35 cents
-
June
1928, Maryland Theatre patrons saw their
first talking picture, “The
Jazz Singer”
-
The
Maryland Theatre remained primarily a vaudeville
house until 1929 when sound came to the movies
-
1948,
The Maryland Theatre closed after a performance
of HMS Pinafore
-
1974
a fire severely damaged the front of the
theatre where the lobby
is now located and the theatre fell into disrepair
-
1976,
a local funeral director, Gerald N. Minnich purchased
The Maryland Theatre only one and one half
month’s before it
was due to be sold to a contractor for its 1,000,000
bricks
-
1978,
Led by the extraordinary efforts and enthusiasm
of local businessman, Jack
Garrott, and the dedication of community
members
who named themselves “Citizens
to Save The Maryland Theatre”, the historic, beautifully
restored neoclassical Maryland Theatre had its grand
re-opening and has
been delighting audiences
continually since
|
|
