I biked by here the other day and noticed it too. It didn’t look to grand. I find it hard to believe that it sat more than 1,000 but the facade is very nice. Upon close inspection of one of the friezes, (the one in the picture didn’t show what I saw), there was a date of “March 19, 1921”. Was this the date of the decorative piece?
I can help y'all on this one! I was biking by yesterday and noticed the very large stagehouse at the bottom of the hill at Brook and 137th. (There’s a small 3-story building on ground level behind it). It also looks larger because it is – the stagehouse is at the bottom of a hill. The entrance to the theater is up and to the right at the corner of 138th and Brown and it’s the Pare de Sufrir church.
I was lucky enough to go inside and park my bike inside the lobby. The marquee is intact, it’s a triangularish shape. The ticket booth is fully intact and there are 6 poster holders in great condition (3 on each side). There is brand new white paint on the walls and ceilings, brand new red carpet throughout the lobby, hallways and auditorium and all the ornaments are intact, but they aren’t stunning, but they are decorative. There are a few chandeliers lining the front of the lobby.
I met the head parishioners who told me it was closed and I told them I love old theaters and about this site and I wanted to check out the auditorium. They obliged. They said in their newsletter and flyers to parishioners, they also call the church, “The former Puerto Rican Theatre” to honor the past. They said when they took it over, it was horribly dilapidated and they put tons of money into the place. You would never know, honestly. It’s all air conditioned now. The stage is nice and is obviously the pulpit.
The auditorium is spacious with the original seats, very comfortable. They pointed out they removed a few rows for handicap accessibility and showed the old row remnants/rivets still noticeable on the floor, painted over. They said they wanted to get rid of the seats and throw them away. I told them if they allowed me to post on here (on the front page) that they wanted to sell them, they could make some money and use it for their church and for upkeep. They agreed. The balcony wasn’t air conditioned but it was spacious. Very nice people.
I finally went there in person last week. For a 12-plex, you wouldn’t know it. The height of the building is not too high and it’s more wider with trees in front and it’s very pedestrianized. It’s right behind the main drag a few blocks (Fairfield Ave) and behind it is the river. There’s substantial parking across the street and a parking garage attached to the theater, about 2 stories tall. Around the building behind the garage is a small crushed stone trail around to the other end, with benches, grass, etc. The marquee is at the end on the side. It’s not something you’d expect from a 12-plex. Very spaced out and there was thought in its existence in a residential neighborhood.
Yes, thanx! I’m glad I found it in LA, because I also wrote down location shots from the credits in Detroit, DC and New Mexico.
They showed the marquee in the battle scene at least 5 times and there were two movies on the marquee. “A Place in the Sun” (1951) and “Rose Tattoo” (1955).
Went there to see Transformers yesterday. I go to a megaplex on average, 1-2 times a year. Good seats in the stadium section, but damn, there were too many commercials, about 20 minutes worth, before the previews started. 3 Coke commercials, Marines, etc. Never again.
Everytime I travel someplace new instate (CT) or elsewhere on my weeklong bicycle excursions, I make sure to find out which theaters from here are on or near my route. I make sure they are “closed” or “open” ones and not megaplexes. Sometimes I visit museums, but when I take notes on the theaters, I feel like I’m contributing something in this living history.
It’s open. Was there a few weeks ago passing through to give an update. People were on line for tickets, and 3 of the current blockbusters were playing.
So I scoped out this area in depth the other day. This section of old buildings and the nearby church represent what’s left of an otherwise-once thriving beach front (per the owner of the convenience store who’s up there in age). She told me the theater can be found in a book available at the Milford Library, “Sand’s in My Shoes”.
The theatre can be one of two buildings. The first one with the beach on your left is the red brick building on the corner near the store. It’s a rooming house on all floors. There seems to be an old entrance but it’s a giant street-level window. Just under the roof is an eave with vertical siding.
Across the street to the left the number is 2 Broadway, but this one really looks like a maritime theater. There’s apartments on the 2nd floor and stores and a restaurant named “Lazy Lobster” on the ground floor. There’s a roof that juts out above the first floor at a 23 degree angle upwards (like a HoJo) with shingles on top of it and 9 white panels underneath with 6 lights. The second floor has a marine aqua blue, large paneling and its roof is like a large 75 degree “Vee”. On the sides is a sunken in roof above the ground floor so you can stand under it with the same tiles underneath and 11 lights. In back it seems like an exit to a theater.
Westport resident and documentary filmmaker Larry Locke announces plans to relocate his TV production and editing company from NYC to downtown Bridgeport’s Bijou Theatre this fall. Locke is producing a documentary about Beepo as seen through the eyes of the mayor’s office, which can only get more bizarrely Babylonic by the time it’s released in 2008.
This excerpt was from the June 10 issue of the News-Times “Do You Remember?” feature.
25 Years Ago (June 5, 1982)
Over the weekend 6.3 inches of rain fell in Danbury, which resulted in flooded roads and parking lots throughout the area. About 280 people were evacuated from the Trans-Lux Cine theater on Eagle Road in Danbury by Fire Department officials after a portion of the rain-soaked tile ceiling fell on a young boy during a showing of “Star Trek II.”
I biked by here the other day and noticed it too. It didn’t look to grand. I find it hard to believe that it sat more than 1,000 but the facade is very nice. Upon close inspection of one of the friezes, (the one in the picture didn’t show what I saw), there was a date of “March 19, 1921”. Was this the date of the decorative piece?
I can help y'all on this one! I was biking by yesterday and noticed the very large stagehouse at the bottom of the hill at Brook and 137th. (There’s a small 3-story building on ground level behind it). It also looks larger because it is – the stagehouse is at the bottom of a hill. The entrance to the theater is up and to the right at the corner of 138th and Brown and it’s the Pare de Sufrir church.
I was lucky enough to go inside and park my bike inside the lobby. The marquee is intact, it’s a triangularish shape. The ticket booth is fully intact and there are 6 poster holders in great condition (3 on each side). There is brand new white paint on the walls and ceilings, brand new red carpet throughout the lobby, hallways and auditorium and all the ornaments are intact, but they aren’t stunning, but they are decorative. There are a few chandeliers lining the front of the lobby.
I met the head parishioners who told me it was closed and I told them I love old theaters and about this site and I wanted to check out the auditorium. They obliged. They said in their newsletter and flyers to parishioners, they also call the church, “The former Puerto Rican Theatre” to honor the past. They said when they took it over, it was horribly dilapidated and they put tons of money into the place. You would never know, honestly. It’s all air conditioned now. The stage is nice and is obviously the pulpit.
The auditorium is spacious with the original seats, very comfortable. They pointed out they removed a few rows for handicap accessibility and showed the old row remnants/rivets still noticeable on the floor, painted over. They said they wanted to get rid of the seats and throw them away. I told them if they allowed me to post on here (on the front page) that they wanted to sell them, they could make some money and use it for their church and for upkeep. They agreed. The balcony wasn’t air conditioned but it was spacious. Very nice people.
Showed Spanish movies for a time.
I finally went there in person last week. For a 12-plex, you wouldn’t know it. The height of the building is not too high and it’s more wider with trees in front and it’s very pedestrianized. It’s right behind the main drag a few blocks (Fairfield Ave) and behind it is the river. There’s substantial parking across the street and a parking garage attached to the theater, about 2 stories tall. Around the building behind the garage is a small crushed stone trail around to the other end, with benches, grass, etc. The marquee is at the end on the side. It’s not something you’d expect from a 12-plex. Very spaced out and there was thought in its existence in a residential neighborhood.
Yes, thanx! I’m glad I found it in LA, because I also wrote down location shots from the credits in Detroit, DC and New Mexico.
They showed the marquee in the battle scene at least 5 times and there were two movies on the marquee. “A Place in the Sun” (1951) and “Rose Tattoo” (1955).
Was mentioned by Bob Hope on the Dick Cavett Show DVD.
This was mentioned by Bob Hope on the Dick Cavett Show DVD.
This was mentioned by Bob Hope on the Dick Cavett Show DVD.
This was mentioned by Woody Allen and Groucho Marx on the DVD of the Dick Cavett Show along with many other theatres.
This theatre was mentioned on a DVD of the Dick Cavett Show. Lots of theatres were named in the golden age of theatres.
Where’s the link?
Went there to see Transformers yesterday. I go to a megaplex on average, 1-2 times a year. Good seats in the stadium section, but damn, there were too many commercials, about 20 minutes worth, before the previews started. 3 Coke commercials, Marines, etc. Never again.
The blue and gold seats are also the colors of the University’s mascot.
Everytime I travel someplace new instate (CT) or elsewhere on my weeklong bicycle excursions, I make sure to find out which theaters from here are on or near my route. I make sure they are “closed” or “open” ones and not megaplexes. Sometimes I visit museums, but when I take notes on the theaters, I feel like I’m contributing something in this living history.
Last news was from 2 years ago in this comments section re: $200,000 to rehab it. I passed it a few weeks ago and it’s still dormant.
There is a picture of this drive-in marquee with looming screen in the new issue of Weird NJ.
Since a few weeks ago there are now brown paper bag coverings on the inside of the lobby doors. Not much of an update.
It’s open. Was there a few weeks ago passing through to give an update. People were on line for tickets, and 3 of the current blockbusters were playing.
So I scoped out this area in depth the other day. This section of old buildings and the nearby church represent what’s left of an otherwise-once thriving beach front (per the owner of the convenience store who’s up there in age). She told me the theater can be found in a book available at the Milford Library, “Sand’s in My Shoes”.
The theatre can be one of two buildings. The first one with the beach on your left is the red brick building on the corner near the store. It’s a rooming house on all floors. There seems to be an old entrance but it’s a giant street-level window. Just under the roof is an eave with vertical siding.
Across the street to the left the number is 2 Broadway, but this one really looks like a maritime theater. There’s apartments on the 2nd floor and stores and a restaurant named “Lazy Lobster” on the ground floor. There’s a roof that juts out above the first floor at a 23 degree angle upwards (like a HoJo) with shingles on top of it and 9 white panels underneath with 6 lights. The second floor has a marine aqua blue, large paneling and its roof is like a large 75 degree “Vee”. On the sides is a sunken in roof above the ground floor so you can stand under it with the same tiles underneath and 11 lights. In back it seems like an exit to a theater.
From the Fairfield Weekly last week.
Westport resident and documentary filmmaker Larry Locke announces plans to relocate his TV production and editing company from NYC to downtown Bridgeport’s Bijou Theatre this fall. Locke is producing a documentary about Beepo as seen through the eyes of the mayor’s office, which can only get more bizarrely Babylonic by the time it’s released in 2008.
This excerpt was from the June 10 issue of the News-Times “Do You Remember?” feature.
25 Years Ago (June 5, 1982)
Over the weekend 6.3 inches of rain fell in Danbury, which resulted in flooded roads and parking lots throughout the area. About 280 people were evacuated from the Trans-Lux Cine theater on Eagle Road in Danbury by Fire Department officials after a portion of the rain-soaked tile ceiling fell on a young boy during a showing of “Star Trek II.”
View link
Third from the bottom. View link
In the middle of the page. View link
View link