Loew's Palace Theatre
1325 Main Street,
Bridgeport,
CT
06604
1325 Main Street,
Bridgeport,
CT
06604
15 people
favorited this theater
Showing 51 - 60 of 60 comments
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.
Here is a whole series of interior photos (267 in the set) of the Loew’s Poli and Magestic Theatres. Some are from 2008.
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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.
AMAZING! These theatres should be restored!
Interior photo that I found on flickr:
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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?
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 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
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 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.