Loew's Poli Theatre
591 Main Street,
Hartford,
CT
06103
591 Main Street,
Hartford,
CT
06103
3 people
favorited this theater
Originally opened on August 28, 1920 as the Capitol Theatre, designed by Thomas W. Lamb. It was later known as the Fox-Poli Theatre before finally becoming the Loew’s Poli Theatre. Located on Main Street, this was perhaps the most elegant of Hartford’s theaters.
The site is now occupied by office buildings.
Contributed by
Al Larkin
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Recent comments (view all 15 comments)
A 1960’s photo of the lobby can be seen here.
Here is a picture from the Online Archive of California:
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Was this place across the street from the Wadsworth? When I worked at Media Play, there was this man who used to come in and he would talk about how beautiful this place was. Wow, I remember picturing it.
I’ve been told that my great-grandfather was the stage manager of this theater, I think when the vaudeville circut was still passing through.
Here’s an ad from January 5, 1933 for the Poli Capitol. Fanchon & Marco’s stage adaptation of “The Desert Song” seemed more of a crowd-puller than the feature movie:
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On August 11th, 1939, Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland did a full day of stage appearances at Loew’s Poli, trying out songs and routines for their forthcoming engagement at the Capitol Theatre in New York City in conjunction with “The Wizard of Oz.” In Hartford, the young stars performed between showings of “Lady Of The Tropics” & “Miracles For Sale”:
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An interesting item in the November 8, 1913, issue of the trade journal The Moving Picture World says that construction of the foundations for a new Poli theater at Main and Gold streets in Hartford had begun. If that was not the exact location of the Loew’s Poli then it must have been very close. The item said that construction was being rushed on the project, in hope that the house could be opened in January, 1914. Architect for the project was Ferdinand Von Beren of the New Haven firm Brown & Von Beren, who did other work for the Poli chain.
I’ve found no later references to this project in the trade publications. I’m wondering if Loew’s Poli was later built on the foundations begun in 1913? Or did something else get built there, or nothing at all? Maybe the city decided it needed part of the site for a street widening project or something of that sort, and the theater project was halted? Perhaps Mr. Poli ran into financial difficulties and the project had to be delayed? A mystery, anyway. Does anybody know the answer?
Nice photo posted by ken mc,of the Loews Poli.
This photograph of the Fox-Poli Capitol Theatre was taken in 1929 by George Mann of the comedy dance team, Barto and Mann.
Thanks again for the photo Brad.