Patterson Performing Arts Center

Built on the site of an earlier Patterson Theatre(1910-1929). The 1,200-seat Patterson Theater is one of Balitmore’s last remaining historic movie houses. Opened on September 26, 1930, the John Zink-designed theater was built for the Durkee chain. It was nearly destroyed by fire in November 1958, but was saved and continued to show movies until it closed in late-1995. It was the last movie theatre to be operated by the Durkee circuit.

In 1998, the Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded Creative Alliance, a non-profit performing arts group, with a $7.5-million grant to transform the old movie house into the Patterson Center for the Arts. The interior was gutted and rebuilt, containing a 200-seat theatre, several art galleries and artists studios. The original blade sign was too far gone to be repaired and it was taken down and replaced by an exact replica, constructed by the original firm that designed it back in 1936.

The renovation/restoration was completed in 2003, and the Patterson Performing Arts Center is now open.

The building now houses the 200-seat auditorium, a 2,000-square-foot gallery, studios, classrooms, meeting halls, and a cafe.

Recent comments (view all 12 comments)

MagicLantern on April 16, 2005 at 9:22 pm

This theatre’s marquee can be seen with other Baltimore cinemas in John Waters' “Cecil B. Demented” – the marquee advertises “Karate Marathon: All Action All The Time Admission One Dollar”.

teecee on September 20, 2005 at 10:14 am

Marquee:
View link

kencmcintyre on December 22, 2008 at 10:23 am

Here is a 1949 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/8e5oqj

kencmcintyre on March 16, 2009 at 9:08 am

Here is a March 2009 article from the Baltimore Sun:
http://tinyurl.com/c82jna

WHITEFIELD on October 24, 2009 at 2:24 pm

Here is a photo from the 1987 movie “TIN MEN”, The Patterson Theatre was used in this movie, set in 1963.
View link

kencmcintyre on April 6, 2010 at 6:45 pm

Here is a 1987 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/yftcyl8

spectrum on October 4, 2010 at 9:18 am

Another article. The renovation was completed in 2003 and Creative Alliance has been hosting events there ever since. Here’s an article about the renovation.

http://www.armarani.com/proj_pattersontheatre.html

Their official websaite is:

http://www.creativealliance.org/

RickB on September 3, 2014 at 3:37 pm

If you ever go to the Patterson and find yourself needing to take a bus home, it’s easy to figure out where to wait for one.

DavidZornig on November 23, 2018 at 8:00 am

Article about the Patterson & others.

https://wamu.org/story/18/11/19/new-exhibition-offers-glimpse-inside-historic-movie-theaters/?fbclid=IwAR0leCU1q7ow-5y25Fu4udGZWKJnD3TwRP3vGENNopBNi09b2nRPxJDuzLs

rivest266 on June 9, 2025 at 6:58 am

Two screens on April 20th, 1975. Ad posted.