I can scan the articles in and post a link to them. One article mentions an artesian well- which was connected to natural springs and was used for ‘air conditioning’. Apparently the well and pump- doesn’t work but is still intact today. The area was known for spring water, with local beer breweries in the Stapleton area. Also, the opening day event was described with multiple article the day before and after. Originally there were two Wurlitzer organs on movable faux marble consoles- long gone… When the theatre opened, they turned away 2,000 people.
I am involved with the Preservation League and Coalition to Save the Si Castle- old SI Hospital- so give me a week and I will scan/post articles.
The theatre is being restored and the owner is doing a great job, considering years of neglect by Steckman’s Sporting goods- it takes a NON-Staten Island native to do the RIGHT THING. A fresh outlook helps!
A reporter from the Si Advance was kind enough to give us an assortment of early articles on the theatre which includes descriptions of the Art-Deco interior- Modernistic- Egyptian designs. There are many great details remaining- such as a mural on the ceiling greens and blues…The exterior terra cotta will be landmarked in the near future…
The proposed condos/coops across the street will now be apartments-former city parking lot- 75% market rate and 25% low income- it will be interesting to see the impact this will have. The Homeport is also expected to include more housing than originally proposed.There is lots of real estate speculation ever since the Navy homeport left, so lets see if it pays off for the vitality of the area….
HI. It’s Uncle Vinnie’s Comedy Club soon to open at the Lane Theatre- They are renovating. They have a existing business in Point Pleasant NJ. Check out their website in NJ.
The owner is getting a liquor license to make the space an entertainment venue- not to compete with the St. George Theatre. I just got to see the ceiling in full light- it was always partially lite. It has the original blue and green paint and art deco drawings. There are also 7 original light fixtures, more than I previous stated. They are doing a great restoration of the site.
Thanks. I will post lobby photos this week- original mirrors are gone, but plaster molding and staircase are intact. The decadence of theatre design was a national trend and having a Rapp and Rapp theatre shows that SI’s close proximity to Manhattan, brought style and affluence. The ART Deco style is a rare survivor, should have be protected years ago…but that ’s your forgotten borough.
The New Dorp Civic Assoc. reports there is interest in opening a comedy club at the location. Check out the New Dorp Civic’s website for updates. They are having a speaker on the project.
Hi. Leo also had a storefront built on Port Richmond Avenue, located at 112-114 Port Richmond Ave – now ZAZA’s Thrift shop. His mansion once stood on the same site. Perhaps SI’s James Whitford is the architect? He was known for these types of buildings. I am involved with efforts to landmark its exterior. Th neighboring church- the Dutch Reformed Church is on the NY state register and nominated to be a city landmark. For more updates visit www.sitreasure.com/Blog
As for the ‘for lease’ signs on the theater, there’s office space- renovated on the second and third floors.The main theatre is undergoing restoration and the owner is seeking a tenant that will utilize a restored theatre. The theatre is in poor shape, but the owner is committed to keeping as many orginal details as possible. Water damage and years of neglect have left the current owner with a lot of work.
If anyone is interested in joining a committee to restore the Paramount, email me at
The ornate plaster details are intact and are salvageable. The fixtures are gone, the projection room is bare. The seating is gone. Bathrooms are remodeled. Office spaces renovated. Staircase intact! Entry doors on bay street gone. This may sound grime, but the bones of the building are still good. No condos planned. The NYC landmarks Commission will be landmarking the facade. The facade needs restoration. It has beautiful terra cotta details.
Yes, restoration is the plan. The only retail space planned is the first floor-some occupied now. There are two not-for-profits already located on the second floor of the building. The third floor has office space for lease. The offices face Bay Street and are situated in front of the theatre, separated from the theatre by a wide cooridor and have various entryways.
The landmarking of the facade will be coming up after the new year. I will keep you posted.
The plasterwork will be repaired and reproduced where needed. The wood molding found in the theatre may be mahogany or walnut. The lighting is nonexistent, unless the crew working on the sprinkler system has their temporary lights on. There are some horrible temporary lighting in the lobby- which the owner promises is temporary. The fixtures all need to be recreated in keeping with the original style. The community has been left in the dark for so long. That’s not my style. I work part time with the St. George Theatre, so we many of us may have crossed paths…You may email me at
I only have good news- The owner is restoring the building – the new cement flooring project has started , as well as the sprinkler system throughout the theatre. He is planning the restoration of beautiful plaster ornamentation. The blue ceiling is still intact. The gold paint on the plaster ornamentation is peeling or damaged- but it is salvageable. The seats and fixtures are gone. The exterior has been nominated for NYC Landmarking and the owner will support the designation. I will keep you posted – cinema enthusiasts!
I realize the building is in bad shape, and understand everyone’s concern. We are so very lucky that the St. George has so much of its original fixtures, murals and character intact.Even with seats removed and the orchestra floor area destroyed at the Paramount, the place has a lot of plaster and wood detail. The issue is the water damage and how severe it is. Is there the will to restore and reuse or renovate and destroy??? I will keep you posted.
I can scan the articles in and post a link to them. One article mentions an artesian well- which was connected to natural springs and was used for ‘air conditioning’. Apparently the well and pump- doesn’t work but is still intact today. The area was known for spring water, with local beer breweries in the Stapleton area. Also, the opening day event was described with multiple article the day before and after. Originally there were two Wurlitzer organs on movable faux marble consoles- long gone… When the theatre opened, they turned away 2,000 people.
I am involved with the Preservation League and Coalition to Save the Si Castle- old SI Hospital- so give me a week and I will scan/post articles.
The theatre is being restored and the owner is doing a great job, considering years of neglect by Steckman’s Sporting goods- it takes a NON-Staten Island native to do the RIGHT THING. A fresh outlook helps!
A reporter from the Si Advance was kind enough to give us an assortment of early articles on the theatre which includes descriptions of the Art-Deco interior- Modernistic- Egyptian designs. There are many great details remaining- such as a mural on the ceiling greens and blues…The exterior terra cotta will be landmarked in the near future…
The proposed condos/coops across the street will now be apartments-former city parking lot- 75% market rate and 25% low income- it will be interesting to see the impact this will have. The Homeport is also expected to include more housing than originally proposed.There is lots of real estate speculation ever since the Navy homeport left, so lets see if it pays off for the vitality of the area….
HI. It’s Uncle Vinnie’s Comedy Club soon to open at the Lane Theatre- They are renovating. They have a existing business in Point Pleasant NJ. Check out their website in NJ.
View link
The owner is getting a liquor license to make the space an entertainment venue- not to compete with the St. George Theatre. I just got to see the ceiling in full light- it was always partially lite. It has the original blue and green paint and art deco drawings. There are also 7 original light fixtures, more than I previous stated. They are doing a great restoration of the site.
Hi. The buyers for the Lane Theatre are really planning a comedy club…I will keep you posted…They also spoke at a Community Board Meeting.
The owner is seeking interior photos for restoration efforts- email me if you have any please…
Hi. NYC Landmarking should happen within the next 6 months. The owner supports landmarking of the exterior.
Thanks. I will post lobby photos this week- original mirrors are gone, but plaster molding and staircase are intact. The decadence of theatre design was a national trend and having a Rapp and Rapp theatre shows that SI’s close proximity to Manhattan, brought style and affluence. The ART Deco style is a rare survivor, should have be protected years ago…but that ’s your forgotten borough.
The New Dorp Civic Assoc. reports there is interest in opening a comedy club at the location. Check out the New Dorp Civic’s website for updates. They are having a speaker on the project.
http://www.ndcca.com/
Hi. Leo also had a storefront built on Port Richmond Avenue, located at 112-114 Port Richmond Ave – now ZAZA’s Thrift shop. His mansion once stood on the same site. Perhaps SI’s James Whitford is the architect? He was known for these types of buildings. I am involved with efforts to landmark its exterior. Th neighboring church- the Dutch Reformed Church is on the NY state register and nominated to be a city landmark. For more updates visit www.sitreasure.com/Blog
As for the ‘for lease’ signs on the theater, there’s office space- renovated on the second and third floors.The main theatre is undergoing restoration and the owner is seeking a tenant that will utilize a restored theatre. The theatre is in poor shape, but the owner is committed to keeping as many orginal details as possible. Water damage and years of neglect have left the current owner with a lot of work.
Hi. Check out my blog for updates on the Paramount Theatre. It is being considered for exterior landmarking. www.sitreasure.com/Blog
If anyone is interested in joining a committee to restore the Paramount, email me at
The ornate plaster details are intact and are salvageable. The fixtures are gone, the projection room is bare. The seating is gone. Bathrooms are remodeled. Office spaces renovated. Staircase intact! Entry doors on bay street gone. This may sound grime, but the bones of the building are still good. No condos planned. The NYC landmarks Commission will be landmarking the facade. The facade needs restoration. It has beautiful terra cotta details.
Yes, restoration is the plan. The only retail space planned is the first floor-some occupied now. There are two not-for-profits already located on the second floor of the building. The third floor has office space for lease. The offices face Bay Street and are situated in front of the theatre, separated from the theatre by a wide cooridor and have various entryways.
The landmarking of the facade will be coming up after the new year. I will keep you posted.
The plasterwork will be repaired and reproduced where needed. The wood molding found in the theatre may be mahogany or walnut. The lighting is nonexistent, unless the crew working on the sprinkler system has their temporary lights on. There are some horrible temporary lighting in the lobby- which the owner promises is temporary. The fixtures all need to be recreated in keeping with the original style. The community has been left in the dark for so long. That’s not my style. I work part time with the St. George Theatre, so we many of us may have crossed paths…You may email me at
I only have good news- The owner is restoring the building – the new cement flooring project has started , as well as the sprinkler system throughout the theatre. He is planning the restoration of beautiful plaster ornamentation. The blue ceiling is still intact. The gold paint on the plaster ornamentation is peeling or damaged- but it is salvageable. The seats and fixtures are gone. The exterior has been nominated for NYC Landmarking and the owner will support the designation. I will keep you posted – cinema enthusiasts!
I realize the building is in bad shape, and understand everyone’s concern. We are so very lucky that the St. George has so much of its original fixtures, murals and character intact.Even with seats removed and the orchestra floor area destroyed at the Paramount, the place has a lot of plaster and wood detail. The issue is the water damage and how severe it is. Is there the will to restore and reuse or renovate and destroy??? I will keep you posted.
1.8 million for sale $10,000 a month to lease
Does anyone have interior photos? I wonder if the wood trim work is mahogany? The owners are installing a sprinkler system. There is still hope.