THE MAYFAIR THEATER I, BALT.

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Pt. 1 of 3

This site has been burning in Mark & I's exploring hearts for quite some time now, so it was good to finally find ourselves within its midst. Exploring the Mayfair is unlike exploring anywhere else and its unique situation unleashes a new and oddly positive experience. You see, typically we are amongst old hospitals or psychiatric hospitals and the energy is extremely negative, whereas the Mayfair offers up the remnants of of live theater, the backstage rooms where people were bubbling-over with excitement, etc. Sure, it's a great shame that it's come to this state of condition but, for what it's worth – we were glad to be there once.

Notes: The photos above display the now open-air theater's seating and stage while the archival images below show Kernan's Row on Howard Street around the turn of the 20th century and an ad from 1940 for a showing of The Road To Singapore, starring William "At The Glamorous Height Of His Most Dramatic Power" Powell at the Auditorium.

THE HISTORY (in brief): Originally a natatorium, a gym and indoor pool (circa 1870), the site was built up to become Kernan's Howard Street Auditorium at 508 N. Howard St. in Baltimore. James Kernan bought the property around 1890 and remodeled over the next decade as it became a live theater. For nearly 40 years it was known as the Auditorium, which was primarily a live theatre with some stints into showing movies. In 1941, the name changed to the Mayfair and the property was given a thorough remodeling. Finally, the theater closed in 1980 and thanks to more of the classic "demolition by neglect" techniques of city and state governments, the building has been ignored entirely over the past 20 years and sits in utter distress, especially after the roof collapsed in on the building in early 2000. (ID# 05.10.2009 Mayfair Theater)

MONTEBELLO STATE HOSPITAL III, BALT.

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Pt. 3 of 3

And finally, as we wrap up the living quarters, there's also a morgue on-site and, although I essentially never shoot with a flash, I simply had to use one in the pitch-black basement morgue. Naturally, it was just a wee-bit creepy shooting that autopsy table in the dark. For more information on the site and its history, see Pt. 1 of 3. (ID# 05.10.2009 Montebello Hospital)

MONTEBELLO STATE HOSPITAL II, BALT.

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Pt. 2 of 3

The images in this section include details of patient living quarters, remnants of a small fire and the only sign of (former) squatting in the building. For more information on the site and its history, see Pt. 1 of 3. (ID# 05.10.2009 Montebello Hospital)

MONTEBELLO STATE HOSPITAL I, BALT.

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Pt. 1 of 3

There's only one building on-site that's abandoned so it's a very surreal experience to be inside of it. I enjoyed the classic flaking paint, cascading light, hallways and remnants of day's gone by when the hospital was in full-swing. This building seems to have been, by all indications, a geriatric care wing for the hospital.

Notes: The images in Pt. 1 include living quarters, details of hospital beds, fabric swatches, elevators (complete with hospital bed), circuit breakers and office spaces.

THE HISTORY (in brief): Sydenham Hospital for Communicable Diseases, also known as Montebello State Hospital or Montebello State Chronic Disease Hospital, is a hospital and national historic district in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. It was originally constructed in 1922-1924, and the campus consists of seven Italian Renaissance Revival style buildings: the main hospital building, the administration building, the kitchen, the nurses’ home, the laundry with servants’ quarters above, the garage, and the power house. A residence for the Director of Medical Research was added in 1939. The campus was designed by noted Baltimore architect Edward Hughes Glidden. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. (ID# 05.10.2009 Montebello Hospital)

ST. JAMES THE LESS, PHILA.

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Upon exploring Laurel Hill, we stumbled upon this ridiculously beautiful, small plot of land featuring the St. James the Less church. It's not currently a parish but is, however, in the midst of making its way back to being a functioning place of worship. The groundskeeper was there that day and kindly allowed me in for (literally) two minutes, so the interior shot shown here is courtesy of good timing and kindness. The inside is every bit as quaint and impressive as the outside, I can assure you. It's worth noting that the Wanamaker family, as in Wanamaker's Store in Philly, have a small monument for their family built here. Actually, scratch the world "small" and bold the word "monument." I mean, wow...

THE HISTORY (in brief): "Built between 1846 and 1848, St. James the Less is the first pure example of a Medieval Parish Church in the United States. It is also the first church be inspired by, and constructed under the supervision of, the English Ecclesiological Soceit, a highly influential group dedicated to reviving Medieval ritual and church design. An intimate and exquisitely beautiful church, St. James the Less is a superb reproduction of St. Michael's Longstanton in Cambridgeshire, built ca. 1230." (ID# 05.01.2009 St. James the Less)


(left photo by Jennifer Martin)

LAUREL HILL CEMETERY, PHILA.

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Founded in 1836 by John Jay Smith, a Quaker and librarian, the 78-acre Laurel Hill Cemetery offers a beautiful setting in which to quietly and respectfully explore.

THE HISTORY (in brief): "In an era when the city suffered from crowding, disease and scarcity of public space, Laurel Hill offered an “alternative environment.” Previously, churchyards were the only places available to bury the dead, and they were often as crowded and unsanitary as the streets that bordered them. Worse yet, rapid industrialization and population growth commonly led to the disinterment of burial grounds to make way for roads and buildings. Laurel Hill’s founding is deeply rooted in the cultural history of Philadelphia’s urbanization, and in the simultaneous development of crafted, suburban sanctuaries of nature and retreat just beyond the city’s limits. Laurel Hill was not only established as a permanent, non-sectarian burial place for the dead, but also as a scenic, riverside sanctuary for the living.

"Laurel Hill is one of the few cemeteries in the nation to be honored with the designation of National Historic Landmark, a title received in 1998. Numerous prominent people are buried at the Cemetery, including many of Philadelphia’s leading industrial magnates. Names such as Rittenhouse, Widener, Elkins and Strawbridge certainly pique local interests, but Laurel Hill also appeals to a national audience. General Meade and thirty-nine other Civil War-era generals reside here, in addition to six Titanic passengers." (ID# 05.01.2009 Laurel Hill Cemetery)

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, READING, PA

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While I handle creative direction for the band's fan club and have been friends with them since 2000, I shot them for the first time live last month. They were main support on the Music As A Weapon tour and playing the Sovereign Center in Reading, PA on April 25th. I shot over 425 images that day: hanging out backstage, during soundcheck and during their live set. I've included only a shot of the guys from the live set here because the rest are in hiding and will hopefully appear one day together for everyone to see. I'll keep you posted if anything comes of it, of course. (ID# n/a)