On August 25, Cambridge City Commissioner Brett Summers made a surprise announcement at the council meeting, that there were plans to rehabilitate the old Tolley Theater on Race Street into an Arts center. If successful, it could help reinvigorate that part of town and expand the Arts community of Cambridge.
The building at 515 Race Street had been an Art Deco-style cinema since the 1920s. In the forties, it was the State Theatre, part of the Schine Circuit. It operated until at least 1950. Later, it was purchased by Gene and Shirley Tolley and given their name.
The 500 block of Race Street was listed as an Endangered Maryland site in 2014. This area is particularly significant because it reflects the evolution of decades of commercial development in Cambridge during the first part of the 20th century.
Gene was saddened when changing times forced the theater’s closure because it was “something for the young people to do.” In 2014, the Tolleys were operating a restaurant supply and catering business out of the building. They considered reopening the theater but feared that the condition of some nearby vacant buildings might keep customers away.
Still, in August of that year, Gene told the press that he wanted to work with a developer. “We want to see it stay as a community theater and showplace. Somewhere for entertainment or activities. Whatever we do we want the developer to respect it and keep it as a theater basically.”
But Gene died in 2020.
This year, Shirley approached Summers about what could be done with the building.
He thought they could create a nonprofit called Friends of Dorset Performing Arts Center. Rob Collison of Cambridge Title Co. drew up a contract. The next step would be to form a planning committee.
Initially, $300,000 would be needed for the leaky roof, rust, and other repairs. But the overall renovation would cost millions. The floor, which is even now, would be dug up and converted back to its original slanted design. The old balcony had, at some point, been turned into a second movie screen, and that would be changed back, as well.
Summers is putting out the word to designers, builders, and others. However, there’s currently not a lot of money to put toward the project. The committee would want to acquire money from the state but also draw in a benefactor. This could be helped by the interest in the venue already shown by such entities as WHCP radio.
A South Carolina native who has lived in Cambridge since 2000, Summers has a passion for the town and believes strongly in improving the quality of life here. That would include creating an arts center to compete with Easton’s Avalon Theater. It is an ambitious but worthy endeavor.
Always wanted the theatre back. Hope benefactors will be located.
I would love to see it back I spent many times in the balcony watching movies and downstairs. It would be a great way for the older ones to refurbish their memories. I would come back from Ga to come there. Build it they will come!
Why not do what they did in Chestertown? The town gave a loan towards the renovation and collected interested also they owned the theatre if it wasn’t paid back by a certain time. Also they collect on a entertainment tax.
The other theatre Lyceum aka Prince Theatre in Chestertown found funding along with the Churchill Theatre . That’s 3 venues in a 10 mile radius.
Avalon was almost no more in Easton and it is now a destination on a weekly basis and does great at Christmas.
This is a great idea to bring back The Tolley. I use to go 1 time a month to it back in the 70s.
Cambridge needs something positive. It’s your time to shine .
would love to see this coming to life!
I think we should spend city funds in a way to go forward, not backwards. I was one who enjoyed going to the movies there as a kid, but there comes a time to move forward. The initial cost to bring it back to code is $300,000… Then renovations. I feel the cities money could be better used elsewhere. Let’s say, invest in the children.
Wonderful idea and what a great anchor for that area of town. But the vision must be larger because in order to be successful you’ll need people to be willing to come out at night to that part of town and plenty of parking nearby. Still “have a little faith -there’s magic in the night.”
We’ve been hoping for news like this for years! Best of luck for the worthy project!