By Alan Z. Forman
Baltimore’s historic Senator Theatre is set to become the new home of Towson University’s public FM-radio station — or be run as a single-screen movie theater by the operator of the Station North Arts and Entertainment District’s five-screen Charles Theatre, with a restaurant and crepe shop attached.
The Baltimore Development Corpora- tion, the quasi-public city agency charged with deciding the fate of the Art Deco palace, has reportedly eliminated two of the four proposals presented earlier this month to keep the Senator going as a first-run movie theater, but has so far not settled on which of the two remaining prospective operators to endorse.
Meeting as the Senator Theatre Advisory Panel, composed of neighborhood and business organizations in the area, and including representatives from the BDC and its board, the panel is expected to make a final recommendation to the BDC and mayor within the next two months.
DEFAULTED ON HIS MORTGAGE
In the interim the facility continues to be operated by its former owner, Tom Kiefaber, whose family established the theater more than 70 years ago before he ran it from 1989 until it was confiscated by the city in mid-2009 when he defaulted on his mortgage.
For weeks, according to Kiefaber, "everyone has known" that public radio station 89.7/WTMD, which is owned and operated by Towson University, and James “Buzz” Cusack, owner-operator of the Charles Theatre, are the two finalists in the running to take over the Senator. An email was sent out by the Advisory Panel to that effect.
The theater has been considered by some to be a cornerstone of the adjacent Belvedere Square commercial district east and west of York Road along East Belvedere Avenue. However, others have noted that despite the Senator’s longtime presence, until the recent incarnation of Belvedere Square the area’s businesses foundered for decades, many ending up in bankruptcy.
Still, the Senator has been one of a handful of businesses in the area that has remained through good times and bad.
Just after the first of the year the BDC entertained proposals at a public meeting held in the theater, at which a nearly full house of observers was permitted to ask questions of the four prospective operators.
Rejected proposals came from J R Owens Corp., which recommended using the theater as a façade for 20-24 apartments to be newly constructed, and Noch-Noch Productions, a company owned by Enoch Cook 3rd, a theater management professor at Coppin State University who said he envisioned an eclectic variety of theme-based film offerings mixed with all types of entertainment including Sunday gospel services.
A RANGE OF ANCILLARY USAGES
Both the WTMD and Charles Theatre proposals would allow the Senator to continue operating as a movie theater, albeit with a range of ancillary usages.
Cusack’s proposal would involve adding a restaurant and crepe shop similar to those operated in conjunction with the Charles Theatre, and may include, at some unspecified time in the future, the addition of a second screen.
The WTMD proposal would move the university’s radio station, its studio and offices, from their current location at the school’s Towson campus to the Senator facility, and would transform the Senator into a “multi-use film and concert theater,” according to Stephen Yasko, WTMD’s general manager.
Themed movie festivals, premieres and film retrospectives also would be presented, along with community fundraisers and programs for children.
Both proposals have been criticized for a lack of specifics involving funding, and some have noted that the Towson station already spends a significant amount of airtime — as do most public radio and tv stations — asking for donations from listeners.
Others in the Belvedere Square neighborhood have criticized the presence, especially on the weekends, of drunken college students, believed to be from Loyola University Maryland as well as Towson University, and are concerned that number could multiply exponentially should there be a Towson University presence in the area.
Also, some have pointed out that WTMD has no movie-theater experience whatsoever, and that the whole point is to enable the Senator to continue as a first-run movie venue.
The operators of the Charles, the critics note, have the only theater management experience of any of the proposals that were offered.
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
I think the WTMD proposal will be the best for the Senator not just now, but going forward. Laura's point about a single screen theater running first-run movies is correct and its unavoidable. I think we all fondly remember the glory days of The Senator, but in order for it to survive, the planners must view it with an eye toward the present and future realities of media and entertainment. I do like the ideas of the restaurants, and I'm hopeful that they could still be a part of the resurgence of the area, on the form of redevelopment of the "underwhelming" Belvedere Square across the street.
I have indeed, "weighed in heavily in favor of the WTMD/Towson University proposal". That's a fact. Where I take issue with you Al is when you go on to irresponsibly speculate about me that "it is generally believed, would play a major role in operating the Senator should WTMD win the contract." Who generally believes that about my motivations Mr. Forman? Are they unnamed sources or can you specify and quote them?
I can confirm to you Al that I don't believe what you assert. Nor does anyone involved who has bothered to inquire and check out the facts. Had you inquired about this matter at the recent RFP meeting, or subsequently, using the contact information I provided you that night, then you would have new and accurate information to report.
Rather than contact me at home late at night in a misguided effort to "scoop" other news outlets on what you believed to be news regarding the present advisory panel focus on two of the four original RFP proposals, I suggest that you focus instead on reporting more significant aspects of the Senator Theatre story. Those who were attentive at the recent RFP meeting at The Senator, which you attended, knew full well before they exited the auditorium that there were clearly only two RFP contenders. I believe that's called a "duh" moment.
It is simply wrong of you to interject your uniformed speculation and undermine my credibility regarding my overt stance on the Senator RFP proposals. It's worse to cite what you assert "is generally believed" by others about my motivations in supporting the TU /WTMD RFP.
That's not objective reporting sir, it's unprofessional, biased speculation and it's highly improper to interject it in this forum as the writer of the article. If advocacy for your beliefs is warrented, despite your failure to pose this question to me with ample opportunity, then perhaps you should take a cue from Astrogirl and make your advocacy position known to your readers.
Since you have chosen to mischaracterize my motivations in supporting what is known so far regarding the specifics of the TU /WTMD / RFP, let me take this opportunity to set the record straight.
I have no intention or desire whatsoever to continue to operate The Senator Theatre once the final transition is made to whatever new ownership entity has the privilege and the enormous responsibility of owning The Senator Theatre.
Hopefully the next ownership entity will fulfill the clear public mandate to enhance, protect and preserve "The People's Theatre" in perpetuity as it deserves. I may or may not be able to assist in The Senator's preservation in the future, but regardless, operating the facility after the complex logistical transition is complete, is out of the question.
Had you attended the numerous community forums and town meetings in the past few years, or contributed to the scores of ongoing round table discussions, you would know of my oft-stated position first-hand. Had you ever asked me for clarification of this issue I would have told you unequivocally that my ownership tenure and my family's 70 year stewardship of The Senator is essentially a few years overdue for the critical conversion to non-profit ownership status, and that once it occurs I will happily exit the theatre operations scene, stage right.
As Laura has stated already in her posts, The Senator's conversion to non-profit ownership is by far the single critical factor that will allow Baltimore's beloved national historic landmark to evolve as a multi-purpose entertainment and educational venue to join the many other successful iconic historic theatres nationwide that have successfully accomplished the key transition form for-profit to non-profit ownership status.
Let me also add specific clarification of this issue in the mode of the late President Johnson, that I will not seek, nor will I accept, the role of operator of The Senator Theatre once the new ownership entity has taken control of the facility.
Period.
Since this is the second occasion that you have publicly disseminated your speculative opinions, I would greatly appreciate it if you would cease spreading such inaccurate information and instead proactively assist in repairing the damage done to my credibility in the community from these assertions about my motivations and veracity.
Sincerely, Tom Kiefaber
The earlier post by Laura notes most of the glaring inaccuracies and off-base aspects of the story.
Suffice to say this site needs to reflect on its name and mission and step up its act . "Investigative Voice"? Don't think so. Not yet anyway. The Senator Theatre coverage so far is closer to "Derivative Mumble".
A recent PEW Foundation journalism study [ http://www.journalism.org/analysis_report/how_news_happens ] focused on Baltimore's current news "ecosystem" and the major news stories during a single week last summer, the very same week The Senator Theatre was auctioned .
The revealing and controversial PEW study notes that with regards to The Senator story, the ambitious start-up news sites like "Investigative Voice" the TV news and the local bloggers [except for "Astrogirl"] [ www.astrogirlguides.com ] all simply recycled the flawed information published in the Sun and Daily Record.
The study also noted an anomaly: unlike the other major stories that week, over 90% of the information contained in The Senator coverage came originally from the dailies and the majority of that information was supplied by government sources. The information from those government sources was apparently not challenged or corroborated and a great deal of it was recycled and inaccurate information.
Despite the Senator articles in the dailies that were not much more than government press releases posing as reporting, the study also notes that the public was extremely confused the week of The Senator's auction. If a single government source was controlling the story and the public was so confused, that may have been the intended result. It's not surprising that the PEW study is getting much more coverage elswhere, but very little in the Baltimore market.
"Astrogirl" not "Investigative Voice" or Baltimore Brew was the exception in this specific instance. http://stevebuttry.wordpress.com/2010/01/16/pew-doesnt-understand-news-ecosystem- well-enough-to-study-it/ .
When Investigative Voice was first launched there was an expectation that it would reflect its moniker and fill the growing void left behind by the declining dailies with their increasingly limited resources. While this has not yet occurred, there is certainly a pressing need for this publication and others to fulfill their respective mandates and become professional players in the emerging new media ecosystem. Regarding The Senator saga the Pew study concludes that the new media failed miserably last summer. Apparently that situation has not yet improved.
Two suggestions. "Investigative Voice needs to get in gear and raise the bar if this publication is to accomplish more than marketing logo merchandise and proceed to achieve its admirable goals.
1. Read the "Astrogirl" blog and tune into the compelling back story that's been generally ignored in favor of the myths that the mainstream media is replicating by default. As the PEW study indicates, Baltimore's dailies are increasingly shedding their forth estate role and unfortunately becoming house organs for the government's position, whatever it may be. Astrogirl's blog however, is the sole informative investigative voice so far that's reporting on The Senator saga and adding new, documented information from a self-described, advocacy position. Advocate or not, with The Senator story Astrogirl gets it and so far "Investigative Voice" has not.
2. Pull down the "Investigative Voice" "Should Mayor Sheila Dixon Resign?" online poll below. Like this latest irrelevant Senator Theatre story, it's old news and speculation that Mayor Dixon settled a few weeks ago.
["Thomas" is former Senator owner/operator Tom Kiefaber. —Ed.]
This is not only my opinion or Friends of The Senator's position, or Mr. Kiefaber's opinion. It is a reality that can be demonstrated by the preponderance of evidence based on non-profit historic theatres that are working all over the country, and based on the sad statistics of the thousands of historic theatres have been lost because they did not make it to this desirable non-profit ownership stage, and instead were run by for-profit owners who ultimately could not maintain them.
I recognize that many people feel nostalgic about the past and about The Senator's past in particular. That longing for a bygone era when everybody went to the movies at single screen theatres should not, however, fool us into thinking that those days can come back again. To attempt to bring them back is to fail to appreciate the realities of today's film industry and today's economy.
I find it ironic that Mr. Kiefaber, who has been criticized in the court of public opinion for supposedly trying to perpetuate this antiquated business model, is actually one of the people who is seeing clearly that a new model for The Senator is needed, while others try to recreate the past.
It should be noted that your speculation about a role I would play in operating the theatre if WTMD were to win the RFP is incorrect. I have not be approached by WTMD for any future role at The Senator, nor do I personally know anyone who is involved in that project, nor have I had any conversations with them about some potential future role. I am not pursuing any such thing, either.
It is true that I am a volunteer at the theatre, a leader in the Friends of The Senator organization, and a friend of Mr. Kiefaber's, who became my friend because of our mutual concern about the future of the theatre, our mutual conviction that it should be preserved in perpetuity, and our work together on that goal. I did not know him prior to my involvement with working to ensure that this architectural treasure, The Senator, would be preserved for future generations.
It should also be noted that "Laura," the writer of the Comment: "No, single screen movie theatre is not the whole point" is closely associated with Tom Kiefaber, who has weighed in heavily in favor of the WTMD/Towson University proposal, and who, it is generally believed, might play a major role in operating the Senator should WTMD win the contract.
The single screen movie theatre model is not going to work, and a couple of restaurants are not going to be enough to subsidize it. One more screen, which is an optional component of Mr. Cusack's plan, is not going to be enough to subsidize it, either. The movie business has been declining all over the country, even in multiplex chain businesses.
Moreover, Mr. Cusack's plan includes troubling physical modifications to the existing historic structure that cannot be reversed once it becomes more clear to Mr. Cusack and the general public that his plan is not going to work. We cannot allow this degradation of this significant historic structure, on the National Register of Historic Places for good reason, for an experiment that will fail.
Buildings like The Senator are very expensive to maintain, and for that reason, the ONLY solution that will preserve a building like The Senator for future generations is for it to be owned by a non-profit, which WTMD's proposal would do. Only a non-profit can raise the millions of dollars that will be needed to properly care fo this building for the next 70 years of its existence. People aren't going to just give this money to a for-profit business. WTMD has extensive fundraising experience.
The other fallacy to note here is that there is no movie experience associated with WTMD/Towson's proposal. Towson University has a film department, and they would undoubtedly be involved.
You're also incorrect about the procedure for the advisory panel making a recommendation. They do not make a recommedation directly to the Mayor's office. They make a recommendation to the BDC, which will then go through its own process and make its own recommendation to the Mayor's office, which may or may not be the same as the advisory panel's.