The Beatles’ debut tune “Love Me Do” helped to ignite a worldwide obsession for the four-man British rock band celebrates its 50th anniversary on October 5, 2012. Though it only peaked at no. 17 on the British charts, the single “Love Me Do” was the rock group’s first hit record when released in October 1962. In the United States the song was a number one hit in 1964. The song released again in 1982 reached number four on the charts.
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Old Town Mall in East Baltimore is a centuries-old commercial district that has lived through periods of booming growth, recession and renewal. Once a shining example of urban revitalization, it has since largely fallen into disrepair, with more than half of the buildings standing vacant. We delve into the history of the neighborhood, and what may come in its next chapter.
This is Part 2 in a two-part series about Old Town Mall. See Part 1.
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Baltimore-based photographer James Singewald has been documenting the city’s deterioration one block at a time. Most recently his graduate work at the Maryland Institute College of Art focused on the failed urban renewal project known as Old Town Mall. His current project “Baltimore: A History, Block by Block” takes a similar approach. Below, Singewald talks about how his projects coincide and the need to revitalize Baltimore’s communities. He also shares with The Darkroom, photos from “Old Town, East Baltimore.”
This is Part 1 in a two-part series about Old Town Mall. Click to read Part 2.
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One of the most iconic photos taken of the Orioles was snapped back in 1966 after the team had just swept the World Series in four straight games. It features pitcher Dave McNally, catcher Andy Etchebarren and an airborne third baseman Brooks Robinson.
“Brooks made the picture,” said Baltimore Sun photographer Paul Hutchins, who took the photo with a large-format, 21/4 -inch Praktisix camera, using a 600 mm lens. “When the last ball was hit to the outfield, I thought, ‘This is gonna be a big deal.’ So I watched the pitcher [McNally] and, as he came off the mound, I snapped his grin.”
For a musical to resonate on an international level more than 50 years after its original Broadway debut demonstrates the brilliance of its creators.
With a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and choreography by Jerome Robbins, West Side Story battled its way onto Broadway from a vision of updating Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet for a beatnik and ballet proficient generation. Many Tony nominations followed in 1957, resulting in a win for Robbins’ choreography, but it lost the “Best Musical” award to the wholesome River City, Iowa spectacle The Music Man. The film adaptation fared much better earning ten Academy Awards including “Best Picture” in 1961.
All of this happened long before our two subjects jetéd into their parent’s lives. Courtney Ortiz and Nicholas Sipes joined the international touring cast earlier this year bringing the original magic of West Side Story to the European stage. The following interview was conducted in August, just before a short break brought them home to the States. They head back to Germany in October and finish out 2012 in Paris.
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We recently caught up with Baltimore-based photographer Rob Brulinski, who shared this Baltimore retrospective photo essay with the Darkroom. Over the next four months, he and partner Rachel Younghans will hit the road documenting eccentric people who make up the more unique side of America. What follows is Brulinski’s account of his experiences in Baltimore.
It wouldn’t be Baltimore Comic-Con without the costumes. Characters from Sue Storm and Poison Ivy to a 10-year-old Quarian from “Mass Effect” invaded the halls of the Baltimore Convention Center over the weekend. Photographer J.M. Giordano captured his favorite superheroes, villains and otherwise otherworldly denizens.
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Addicted to photographing severe weather, Richmond photographer Jamie Betts lets us in on this high-risk, and often dangerous hobby, that results in stunning images of Mother Nature at her angriest. He shares photographs from storms in Maryland, Virginia, Kansas and Switzerland. “My popular ‘McDonald’s strike’ photo documents one of my many close calls,” Betts said. “That strike was only a couple hundred yards away and it was so bright I was temporarily blinded.”
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Paralympians with Maryland ties have proven their mettle during the 1st week of the 2012 games in London. Jessica Long of Middle River, Tatyana McFadden of Columbia, Becca Meyers of Timonium, Ian Jaryd Silverman of Towson and Brad Snyder of Baltimore are among Maryland’s medal winners.
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Sun photographer Algerina Perna shares her fascination for jellyfish — otherworldly creatures, she says — that have intrigued her ever since childhood.
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The art of glass making
Great Baltimore Fire of 1904
120 Pearls to film: Q&A with Kaitlin Newman
Time lapse video: Ravens fans in Federal Hill
Rough Cut: Ravens Super Bowl win over 49ers
Left behind at Sparrows Point
Matt ‘Fan Man’ Andrews: The Godfather of Ravens fans
The Silent Guardians: Cemeteries of Baltimore City
Remembering former Orioles manager Earl Weaver
Instagrammer feature with @rockinbrock
Courage and strength: Living with stage IV breast cancer
Baltimore, City of Murals
Ray Lewis retrospective: 1996-2013
Year in review: Official White House photos from 2012
Bare Hills, A Contrast in Time
Double Exposure series