................................................................................... ......................................................................................903 West 36th Street .....................................................Baltimore, Maryland   ( Hampden , North Baltimore City ) ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ................................. .............................. ......................................................... .....................................................................When it was undergoing renovation .................................................................. ...................................... ........    How the Ideal Theatre looked for years, from around the 1950's  until it was renovated.    Thomas Paul / Kilduffs Photo - 1980's ........................................... ,,,,

........................ ............................................................................................................Baltimore's Ideal movie theatre-  : Kilduffs / Thomas Paul Photo

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The Ideal Theatre was one of two movie theaters on 36th Street , locally known as the  " Avenue ". The area has undergone a lotof change in the past 20 years,which has made the area more of a upper scale shopping area, which worked out well for the old Ideal Theatre, which has been renovated into a antiques shop. ..........................................................................

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The Ideal theatre has been well cared for over the years, and this exterior shot for the 1980's shows that. The building has been used for years as a thrift shop on a block that has seen recent changes, as restaurants and more upscale shops move in.  The Hampden Theatre just down the street as under many changes over the year and is currently used as a restaurant. ........... ...........................

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.....Both The Ideal and the Hampden had vertical marquees, and 36th street was quite a sight at night  when both were lit up. While both theatres have long since closed, the area has done quite well over the years. .........................................................................................../

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