Recently there was a massive change in the Bronx, one that many are looking forward to keeping the changes coming. The landmarked Loews Paradise Theatre in the Bronx was officially renamed and has now become the Paradise Performing Arts Center. This change has come as a nonprofit organization is seeking to raise $50 million to restore the historic venue and keep it in use during all these expensive renovations.
The organization has to restore the theater to its original appearance. This is to be done without destroying any of the history that was already made there; as while making needed updates. Many of the non-profit’s leaders have said their $50 million goal has been set to insure the Paradise Performing Arts Center can be a venue that can accommodate a wide range of events such as, local community performances to major productions and concerts.
The theatre opened five weeks before the Great Depression hit and opened the same day as its sister venue, The Kings in Brooklyn. This is still the second-largest theater in New York City after Radio City holding 4.000 seats in total, and is one of five original Loews Wonder Theaters and was designed to present both stage and screen entertainment. The interior per officials and non-profit leaders remains in a great condition and remains a great memory for several residents of the Bronx.
Many supporters and several of the leaders of this cause spoke about the importance and the marvelous feeling being inside this theatre has, “It’s an atmospheric theater. So, the ceiling would light up with the stars. And there would be projection clouds, and that’s part of our plan to restore all that to the theater,” said Peter Martin, managing director of the Paradise Performing Arts Center. Supporters of this cause have also stated that the years of preservation efforts may now be paying off as plans for restoration move forward.
