Charles Theatre — Attraction in Baltimore

The Charles Theatre, often referred to as simply The Charles, or, even more simply, The Chuck, is the oldest movie theatre in Baltimore. The theatre is a Beaux-Arts building designed as a streetcar barn in 1892 by Jackson C. Gott, located in what is now the Station North arts and entertainment district. The theater was renamed the Charles (for its location on Charles Street) circa 1959 and became a calendar revival house in 1979. Many of John Waters's early films premiered at this theatre; this honor has since shifted to the Senator Theatre.

In 1999, it underwent a major expansion and is now a five-screen theater, though the original main theater has been left largely intact and is still the largest theater in the complex. The Charles now serves as an arthouse multiplex, showing a variety of independent films along with some major studio prestige pictures. The main theatre hosts revival series and special screenings several times a week, as well as the occasional live concert performance. The entire theater complex served as the host of the annual Maryland Film Festival from 1999 until 2013.

The expanded Charles includes the former location of the Famous Ballroom, where the Left Bank Jazz Society held events in the 1960s and 1970s. That incarnation of the space can be seen in portions of the documentary Sun Ra: A Joyful Noise. 5 screens...

Saw "Asteroid City" today at The Charles and was disgusted at how dim the movie was. Wes Anderson's colors were greyed and the normal visual punch he creates was gone. Huge disappointment. We have been going to The Charles since the 1980s, and never had this problem before. My guess is they are being stingy by lowering the brightness to prolong the projector bulb life, or not replacing the bulbs when they are past their useful life. When the previews were running, I went out and told the manager it was too dim, but nothing was done.

Hollywood used the last Oscars to insist that the only proper place to watch a film was in a theater. But if theaters are going the way The Charles is, then I will just stay at home with my large screen OLED TV and Dolby Atmos sound system for a much more enjoyable viewing experience. I will just wait for the film to come out on streaming. If film stars are going to get all worked up about where we watch films, they need to stop spouting off to the fans and instead go to theaters and tell the management to present...

No idea how this place gets so many good reviews?!? I have been coming here occasionally (maybe 2 times a year) for the last 8 years or so, mainly when I think a movie is unlikely to be in wider release. The seats are uncomfortable and spaced too close, most of the screening rooms are way too small, and the doors often don't close properly so light comes into the theater unless someone bothers to get up and yank them shut. Popcorn machine is often broken, and the staff serving food appear not to wash their hands more than once a day. Staff also seem to not really give damn, but maybe that's just their attempt at hipster-cool. After the last visit (to watch "The Favorite" -meh), I will not return. Better to wait and watch at home (or not). The Charles is a business model (art house cinema) I would happily support more often, but honestly its many faults detract too much from any film's worthiness. I can only assume it survives because its patrons have convinced themselves it's what you have to endure to watch non-mainstream movies....