BNHA Charles Theater (Balt. Passenger Railway Power House/Car Barn)

The Charles Theater complex embodies the history and changing times of Baltimore. The building was originally built as a trolley car garage and adapted several times to other uses. In 1939, the garage was rehabbed into the Times Theater, Baltimore’s first newsreel theater, and the Famous Ballroom. The Famous Ballroom was used for many events during the 1940s to 1960s. By 1964, the Famous Ballroom became home to the Left Bank Jazz Society that produced 48 shows per year. All the premier giants in jazz played at the Famous Ballroom. Today, the Charles Theater is Baltimore’s premiere art house theater. The Charles Theater was designated a city landmark and listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

Site summary courtesy of the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation