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Comments from the Artist
Robert W. Kramer
Watercolor Paintings of HISTORIC BALTIMORE THEATRES

The first time my parents took me to the movies was in 1937. It was an overwhelming experience for me at the age of eight and has continued to be throughout my life. Most of the movie theatres in Baltimore are gone now and I don't go to the movies much any more. In my senior year of high school, I was an usher at the magnificent Stanley Theatre, now a parking lot on Howard Street. I have been painting for many years, but it wasn't until a few years ago that I decided that there should be a record of those wonderful old palaces I remember, as they were in their prime. Since the Hippodrome was then about to be restored, it became my first subject. It was so gratifying for me, I have kept on that same path.

After painting most of the downtown theatres, I then branched into the neighborhoods. Even some nickelodeons (before my time, of course) were included. At one time there were several hundred theatres in Baltimore with at least 2 or 3 in every neighborhood! Since I have been working from black and white photos and photocopies and sometimes newspaper clippings, a little artistic license was in order. As a member of the Theatre Historical Society of America, I have enjoyed visiting theatres across the country. Some have been beautifully restored. Many have been demolished or reused as churches or stores. I find it very sad, knowing that most of these popular gathering places no longer exist, particularly in Baltimore.

I feel that I am on a mission now to paint as many theatres as I can so that other generations will know that such great venues were oncetreasured in our city. I will continue to work on this project as long as the photographs and I hold out.

, January 2007

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