In the heart of Bridgeport stands an abandoned 13-acre building complex that includes the Poli Palace, the Majestic Theater. The Loew’s Poli Theater was built by theater impresario Sylvester Poli as a vaudeville house, and opened for business on Sept. 4, 1922. Designed by Thomas W. Lamb in the Beaux Arts style, it featured vaulted ceilings, gilded hand-carved moldings, seating for over 3,600 and a giant Hall theater organ. When it was erected, it was the largest theater in the state of Connecticut and hosted a string of renowned entertainers, including Mae West in 1927. Eventually renamed the Loew’s Palace Theater, it hosted live shows, concerts and events for decades before it officially closed in 1975 (after a brief stint as an adult movie house), and has been shuttered for almost 40 years. Since its closing, the interior of the Palace has been used as a set in movies, including the recent “All Good Things”, a 2010 film starring Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, along with the Majestic Theater, the city of Bridgeport hopes to one day restore the theater to its former glory.
Sources: damnedct.com and afterthefinalcurtain.net
I had the pleasure to pay a visit to this very impressive building a couple of months ago together with Matt Lambros of afterthefinalcurtain.net. Specialized in such theater treasures he made the visit possible, without breaking any law – not counting ignoring the speed limit that is;-). Enjoy the show!
