Teatro Paradise

The restoration project for the Paradise has stalled, and the physical structure remains in the same condition it was in two or more years ago, although debris, weed growth, and unprotected access make it visually less appealing than when it was last cleaned in November 2005. The bare walls, raked cement floor, elevated screen/stage area, balcony that also covers what was the entrance-lobby-bathroom area, and the steel girders that supported the now absent roof appear to remain structurally intact. Thus, restoration work could probably begin with only minimal preparations on the site itself. Unfortunately, the funds once available through the Urban Train Development for restoration no longer exist or have been designated to other projects. The current issue revolves around how to restart the restoration process as a jointly sponsored Community-University of Puerto Rico project that benefits from both private and public funding. That new beginning is the current state of affairs of the Paradise. I have exterior photos of the Paradise, but I will send new exterior and interior photos within the next two or three days.

Historical Facts on the Paradise: Inagurated on December 12, 1945 it was a Cobian Theater marketed during the Inauguration as “The best in the Antilles” and also “As good as the Paramount”. Capacity was 1200 seats and it had a Mezzannine.

Inaugural show was “Rhapsody in Blue”
Antecedents: at the begining of the Century (1912) there was a Teatro Nuevo located at the same address which featured silent movies.

Last December 2005 Rio Piedras, (in conjunction with the 60th anniversary of its inauguration); the town where it is located celebrated a “Night for the Paradise”. There were several activities at the libraries around the area, conferences on the history of Rio Piedras Theaters, presentations of the rennovation plans, the street was closed and a genuine town party happened. Music, food, artisans. The theater was opened, cleaned and illuminated. There is no roof, but in the walls we played Cinema Paradiso as a great metephor. It wwas a beautiful, almost magic cativity. People did not want to leave!

It was a long narrow theater. I went a lot when I was at UPR and lived at the Darlington. Saw it in January and looks as awful as in the Jan. 19 pics. Well, they were taken a few days after I passed by the theater. What a shame!

If I remember correctly, in the 60s Rio Piedras had the Paradise (Cobian), Modelo (a Llamas theater) and Cobian’s New Victoria, the remodeled old Victoria which the interior was decorated as the newly remodeled Puerto Rico in Santurce nd played day-and-date with Santurce theaters. I don’t remember any other theaters in Rio Piedras. I don’t know what to tell you. If they destroyed the Paramount, except for the facade, then they can do the same with the Paradise. I really don’t know what to tell you. Sorry. Have a good night, Davsot.

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