He called the Senator "enormously important as a cultural venue," but said multiplexes are capturing the big movies and the big concession profits.
"Small theaters start looking at the economy and realize they can't break even, so they go nonprofit," he said. "They can leverage a lot of things: donors, naming rights, tax advantages, grants. But this economy complicates things. I can't think of a worse time to look for money."
For their part, many members of the community say they want more details. But they also would like to see the Senator stay in business.
Mary Garson said she was unsure about the city's offer, but said if it keeps the Senator from shutting down, she supports it.
"A lot of people say it already is a nonprofit," said Garson, who lives in Roland Park and was sitting in a bar near the Senator yesterday. "But it's an institution around here. I'd hate to see it go under."
At a City Hall news conference yesterday, Mayor Sheila Dixon called plans to turn the theater's operation into a nonprofit a "creative" solution which would help the neighborhood.
"To see that building abandoned and vacant will deter from what we are trying to do in that area," Dixon said. "We would hate to see it vacant in the midst of a real vibrant area."
Neighborhood residents share a "deep loyalty" to the Senator, said Catherine Evans, president of the Belvedere Improvement Association. It helps anchor the area, and its loss would hurt local businesses.
"The Senator has been a hub of entertainment and community in North Baltimore," Evans said. "I know the community will be waiting to see what happens and what we can put together."
Baltimore Sun reporters Chris Kaltenbach and Annie Linskey contributed to this article.
KEY DATES
* 1939: The Durkee Theater chain, founded by Tom Kiefaber's maternal grandfather, opens the Senator Theatre and shows its first feature, Stanley and Livingston, starring Spencer Tracy.
* 1982: Director and Baltimore native Barry Levinson premieres his film Diner at the Senator, which is followed by many other film openings, including Cecil B. Demented, Ladder 49, and Primal Fea.r
* 1988: Tom Kiefaber takes over ownership of the Senator when the Durkee chains sells its remaining holdings.
* 1989: The Senator is added to the National Register of Historic Places.
* 1993: 2,000 private investors step in to provide last-minute cash infusions to stave off foreclosure.
* 2005: Entertainment Weekly ranks the Senator 4th on a list of 10 theatres "doing it right ... movie houses that make watching films a dream."
* 2007: 1st Mariner schedules a foreclosure auction, but Kiefaber, who begins exploring nonprofit status, raises $110,000 to keep it operating.
* 2009: Baltimore offers help and a plan for nonprofit status.
