Maryland Theater (Baltimore)
Encyclopedia
The Maryland Theater was a music venue in Baltimore, Maryland, home to that city's first jazz
band, led by John Ridgely. It was originally built by James L. Kernan, as a vaudeville
house, in 1903, and included a rathskeller
in the basement. Kernan also owned a large hotel, in the same building as the theater, which was one of the fanciest hotels in the city at the time. He was also park commissioner and member of the Jail Board.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
band, led by John Ridgely. It was originally built by James L. Kernan, as a vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
house, in 1903, and included a rathskeller
Rathskeller
Ratskeller is a name in German-speaking countries for a bar or restaurant located in the basement of a city hall or nearby...
in the basement. Kernan also owned a large hotel, in the same building as the theater, which was one of the fanciest hotels in the city at the time. He was also park commissioner and member of the Jail Board.