Historic Senator Theatre may close its doors
Sara Carr
Issue date: 3/24/09 Section: Arts & Society
After a long and hard fight to stay alive, the historic Senator may be forced to close its doors due to $1.2 million in accrued debt and operational costs.
A Baltimore gem since their first film showing of Stanley and Livingstone on Oct. 5, 1939, The Senator was the last of the one-theater set up to survive the dawn of the multiplexes. The most recent first-run feature at the theatre was their March 15 showing of Watchmen.
"This was a very difficult decision made after a great deal of soul-searching and deliberation with our key management staff and my family. The economic realities are such that the show simply cannot go on at The Senator," owner Tom Kiefaber said. "The rising expressions of support from the extended community and beyond for The Senator and its future are encouraging. However, the revenue from first-run films in this economy has regrettably made it impossible for me to meet payroll for our loyal staff beyond this point."
The end may not be too imminent as a "Reorganization and Transitional Operations Plan" outlines four potential ways to save the Senator including "1. Buy time to delay the foreclosure and auction process. 2. Reorganize interim operations. 3. Structure a viable acquisition model. 4. Transition The Senator to new ownership and operation," according to the theatre's website.
Thus the theater would remain in operation as a non-profit center for arts education. However, First Mariner Bank's rapid-fire foreclosures might render this plan impossible.
Unless a miracle stops the inevitable, a Chapter 11 filing may be the best option left, and it would put The Senator on the auction block. A new owner may choose to continue running films, or a new owner may not emerge from the public auction. This would then leave the Senator a vacant building; a shadow of its former glory days.
Classic and cult films, as well as concert videos, will screen at the Senator in order to mark what is truly the end of an era.
A Baltimore gem since their first film showing of Stanley and Livingstone on Oct. 5, 1939, The Senator was the last of the one-theater set up to survive the dawn of the multiplexes. The most recent first-run feature at the theatre was their March 15 showing of Watchmen.
"This was a very difficult decision made after a great deal of soul-searching and deliberation with our key management staff and my family. The economic realities are such that the show simply cannot go on at The Senator," owner Tom Kiefaber said. "The rising expressions of support from the extended community and beyond for The Senator and its future are encouraging. However, the revenue from first-run films in this economy has regrettably made it impossible for me to meet payroll for our loyal staff beyond this point."
The end may not be too imminent as a "Reorganization and Transitional Operations Plan" outlines four potential ways to save the Senator including "1. Buy time to delay the foreclosure and auction process. 2. Reorganize interim operations. 3. Structure a viable acquisition model. 4. Transition The Senator to new ownership and operation," according to the theatre's website.
Thus the theater would remain in operation as a non-profit center for arts education. However, First Mariner Bank's rapid-fire foreclosures might render this plan impossible.
Unless a miracle stops the inevitable, a Chapter 11 filing may be the best option left, and it would put The Senator on the auction block. A new owner may choose to continue running films, or a new owner may not emerge from the public auction. This would then leave the Senator a vacant building; a shadow of its former glory days.
Classic and cult films, as well as concert videos, will screen at the Senator in order to mark what is truly the end of an era.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Jessica
posted 3/24/09 @ 10:32 PM EST
How fitting the final movie shown is the overhyped failure "Watchmen". Just like the movie, this theater is oversold by the artsy fartsy types as some form of classic we can't do without. (Continued…)
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