Baltimore Type
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Whether quickly scribbled or carefully crafted, it was made by someone to tell us something. But if done correctly, type can say more than just the words that it spells out. This collection is a tribute to the letterforms displayed throughout Baltimore that communicate something beyond words. "Every city finds expression and identity in its lettering." - Tobias Frere-Jones
All photos for Baltimore Type are taken and curated by John Adsit.
01/04/2022
161. Pyle
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Had to get a shot of some snow-capped dimensional letters on this first snow day of the year. Pyle Fence Co. has been serving the Baltimore area since 1939 and it looks like this sign has been doing its job for just as long. This is a new favorite of mine, especially that ‘Y.’ Swipe for some great additional handpainted signs on their building.
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01/01/2022
Happy New Year! Here are my top posts from the past year. After a bit of a hiatus at the end of 2021, I’m looking forward to posting some more great type finds from around the city.
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Posts from top left to bottom right:
40. Vote Against Prohibition (Reshoot)
249. The National Brewing Co.
247. “Oh Boy, what a Beer”
244. 29th Street Tavern
248. Domino Sugars (Part 2)
248. Domino Sugars (Part 1)
42. Balto. Marine Repair Shops (Reshoot)
254. OLES
260. J. Rothstein & Co.
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07/02/2021
256. Patterson
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The Patterson Theater was built in 1930 and designed by John J. Zink, the same architect behind and many of the other great local movie houses of the era. Though the building itself wasn’t quite as ornate as some of Zink’s other designs, the simple brick exterior allowed the theater’s large vertical sign to stand out all the more. The sign has been an icon of southeast Baltimore ever since.
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The theater, which once held up to 1,500 people, split the auditorium into two 500 seat spaces in the ‘70s. By the time it closed in 1995, management had made the move to showing old releases for discounted prices.
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In 2000, acquired the building and began renovations to turn the Patterson into the multi-purpose arts center it is today—complete with artist studios, galleries, a classroom, a lounge and a 200-seat theater. The original sign, unfortunately, could not be salvaged during renovations due to extensive deterioration. Creative Alliance had the sign you see today made just before the Theater’s reopening in 2003. The new sign is a great duplicate of the original and remains an icon of Eastern Ave. to this day.
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Be sure to check out my stories for some photos of the theater and the original sign from over the years.
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Address
3508 Eastern Ave
Baltimore, MD
21224
