Loew's Palace Theater

I live not far from this theater, or shall I say, set of theaters. What a horrible shame these gems require millions to restore. Sad but true that downtown Bridgeport may never see a true renaissance. Its glory days lie some 60 years past. Suburbanization, failed urban policies of the 1960s, inner-city crime, etc. have taken their toll on what remains the most populated city in CT. And yet, in our midst are these great movie palaces, a fabulous reminder of what was. And what CAN BE again if the political will exists to make it happen. BTW, the marquee has been torn away.

This may be one of the most beautiful theatres, especially the interior, to ever vanish to the wrecking ball. As a youth I went there often. I would love to see pictures of the interior or exterior again. Does anyone know where I might look?

I was in both the Majestic and the Palace last year on a visit for folks interested in Bridgeport preservation. I was surprised to see amidt the damage, the theatres are in near original condition ... don't get me wrong, they are in rough shape. However, when the last owners bought the theatres, nearly nothing was ripped out. Even the original carpets are still in place. Organ consoles, the boxes, carpets, proscenium, dressing rooms, orchestra pits, faded wall paintings, ornamentation, seats ... nearly everything is in tact. There was even an old painted show curtain still hanging in one theatre.

The bigger theatre is in better shape. The seats have been removed in the smaller theatre, and some drywall partitions have been punched into the rear orchestra of the smaller one. It is currently being used as a storage warehouse for a local theatre group ... wood and big pieces of scenery leaning against the wall paintings and plaster ornamentation ... yikes!

I gotta tell you - looking down on a crumbling Thomas Lamb theatre from the balcony was a combination of amazing and heartbreaking. Anyhow. The theatres are amazing, the lobby is breathtaking, and I was fascinated by the arrangment of dressing rooms in-between and shared by the two theatres.

There was a lot of water damage several years ago, but the roof was completely replaced thanks to a grant from the state. The building also housed a traveling salesman type hotel that is in good shape - of the several small interconnection rooms variety. We went from the basements to the roof and the structure is in good shape. Because the interiors are basically untouched, with lots of money, these theatres could look like they originally did without much replication.

I have a collage of several pictures of the interiors of both theatres that I would be happy to email to anyone interested. I am at BrooklynTheatre@aol.com

I wonder if anyone in the Bridgeport area remembers: In the early fifties, a local politician who often ran for, but never was elected to, the office of mayor by the name of Sandula used to open the PALACE (POLI) around Christmas time. It was referred to as "Sandula's Christmas Party" and everyone would get in free and there would be free movies and cartoons, candy, and gifts.

I was there the other day and walked around it. It's huge. The very faded sign says it doubled as a hotel upstairs and rooms were $1.50 apiece! Was the hotel originally part of the theater or was it added later? That would mean the lobby upstairs/offices was a small hotel. So I'm guessing it wasn't such a grandiose lobby then?

Added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1979

Palace and Majestic Theaters (added 1979 - Building - #79002626)
1315-1357 Main St., Bridgeport
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event
Architect, builder, or engineer: Lamb,Thomas W.
Architectural Style: Beaux Arts
Area of Significance: Architecture, Entertainment/Recreation
Period of Significance: 1900-1924
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Commerce/Trade, Domestic, Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Business, Hotel, Theater
Current Function: Vacant/Not In Use

A Hall theater organ size 3/48 was installed in the Poli Palace Theater in 1921.

Interior photo that I found on flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22723721@N05/2249515365/

AMAZING! These theatres should be restored!

This is interesting and was mentioned in the NewsTimes a few weeks ago. It was about a Bridgeport cop who investigated breakins here and at the Colonial and Savoy and brought his camera with him. He has documented orbs and apparitions of moviegoers in the seats and hooked up with famed CT ghosthunters, The Warrens. http://www.photoshow.com/watch/JE9DF6BY/ Pic 40o-64 with 44 of note.

Here is a whole series of interior photos (267 in the set) of the Loew's Poli and Magestic Theatres. Some are from 2008.

http://flickr.com/photos/nespirit/sets/72157606904212150/

One of the photos in the above series shows that the organ console is still in place - a little worse for the wear but possibly restorable.

When was this theatre closed? There were plans to convert it into a Cinerama theatre in 1961 - http://content.cdlib.org/view?docId=kt796nb406&chunk.id=c01-1.3.8.6&brand=oac

That is so sad. This looks like it was once a beautiful theatre. What a shame that it had to go like that!

Here's a photo of the interior of the palace:

http://reliques.online.fr/theaters/theaters02.html

I'm a little confused by the photos posted by spectrum on 12/23/08. Some of the photos show the theater in deplorable condition where others dated 9/08 show the theater being in remarkably good condition. What is the reference to a movie set? Was the old theater used to film a movie of some sort? This theater appears to be remarkable and much has been made of Bridgeport's attempt to reinvigorate itself. What beter way to do it than through a performing Arts Center created from one of the country's most beautiful remaining Movie Palaces?

I didn't actually post the pictures that I linked to on 12/23/08. They were posted by a man whose handle is "826 PARANORMAL" - he has quite a few interesting photostreams there. Some were posted 6/5/07 and some 10/2/08. If a movie shoot had been held there they may have repainted a few small sections for the filming. (at the Loews Jersey, they actually built a few sets - candy counters, etc, nice faux black marble with white streaks - the theatre still uses those counters). I think also a lot of the plaster damage is localized, some areas are definitely in worse shape than others. It's still salvageable though. Looks a lot like the Waterbury Palace. The Palace and Majestic would look great restored - I hope they can pull it off. At least the roofs have been replaced - they look brand new from the Google arial photos.

I lived in a suburb of Shelton and would take the train from Bridgeport. Once the new Rt. 8 opened up, we drove right by these theaters in the 70's. A neighbor told me that the Palace was the place to see a show. He had seen the Andrew Sisters there and the place was always packed. Once drugs hit Bridgeport, people started to avoid the Park City and the whole downtown area began to fade. I happened upon the Palace one day when it was showing a film. In its final days, porn was what flickered off that big screen. The ticket taker let me take a look inside and believe me it was like going back in time. The Waterbury Palace shows the potential of this complex.

1983 Photo

Hopefully both the Palace and the Majestic can be restored. If not, I hope someone attempts to rescue the pipe organ.

is this theater still vacant?

The Palace and Majestic can be seen in these 1983 photos:

Photo1

Photo2

Some pictures inside the Palace from July 2009 - still looking magnificent, but the old girl is certainly on the decline.

http://www.urbexforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4904

Really awesome pictures. She needs to rescued soon or it may be too late. Looks to be heading down the same road as Loews Kings in Brooklyn N.Y. Hopefully someday she can see a rebirth.

THANKS! That is truely impressive. You are right, it's in a similar parallel to the Loews Kings in Brooklyn, also a diamond in the rough, and totally restorable. Hopefully it gets done before it's too late.

This building in a NATIONAL TREASURE, there are a few movie palaces
left in America, today most cities realize the value of these historic places and are restoring them (most recent the beautiful LOWES KINGS in Brooklyn) However, no place else in this country is there such a treasure as in Bridgeport Ct. TWO spectacular movie palaces sit and wait, for decades for rebirth, no place else is there such a building in America, let us form the groups, collect the donations, and get to work restoring this amazing treasure! Easy to reach from I-95 and from rail service, this building has it all!