Did you know that the Loew’s Paradise Theater was once slated to be named the Venetian? Designed by John Eberson the Paradise Theater stands as a testament to a bygone era of grand movie palaces. It is located at 2403 Grand Concourse in the Bronx.
Loew’s Paradise Theater opened its doors on September 7 1929. It was one of five Loew’s Wonder Theatres in the New York City area. These theaters were known for their identical Robert Morton pipe organs called Wonder Mortons. The Paradise Theater and the Valencia Theatre are the only atmospheric theaters in New York City designed by John Eberson.
Imagine stepping into a world of architectural brilliance. The Paradise Theater is designed in a Spanish style. The theater’s facade boasts ornate terracotta with a multicolored Baroque style frontispiece. Originally a mechanical Seth Thomas clock and a sculpture of Saint George fighting a dragon adorned the main facade.
Inside the Loew’s Paradise Theater awaits an Italian Baroque style interior. It is richly decorated with murals and sculptures. The auditorium has 3855 seats. A Wonder Morton theater pipe organ once filled the space with music.
The Paradise Theater originally showcased films and live shows. Live shows were discontinued within five years of opening. After World War II the theater’s popularity declined. The auditorium was divided into a multiplex with four screening rooms in the 1970s and 1980s.
The Loew’s Paradise Theater closed in 1994 and remained shuttered for over a decade. After an unsuccessful renovation attempt the theater was sold in 2003. It reopened in 2005 as an event venue. In 2012 the Paradise was leased to the World Changers Church International New York. The church vacated the space in 2020.
The Grand Concourse elevation is relatively restrained. Zoning restrictions prohibited Loew’s from adding a vertical sign. The lobby section features a wide doorway flanked by storefronts. Above the doorway is a Baroque style frontispiece made of cream colored terracotta with blue and salmon pink accents.
The Paradise Theater’s interior spaces cover roughly 45000 square feet. The interiors are designed in an Italian Baroque style. The auditorium evokes the feeling of an Italian courtyard or piazza. Decorations include arches columns and statues. The dark blue coved ceiling depicts constellations.
The Loew’s Paradise Theatre featured a Wonder Morton theater pipe organ. The organ was moved to the Loew’s Jersey Theatre in 1997. It is the only Wonder Morton still being used at a Wonder Theatre.
Movie palaces became common in the 1920s. Loew’s Inc. developed the five Wonder Theatres. Loew’s president Nicholas Schenck agreed to take over five sites from Paramount Publix.
The Loew’s Paradise Theatre opened on September 7 1929. The opening day featured a performance of the Star Spangled Banner musical shows short films a live show and the film The Mysterious Dr Fu Manchu.
Visitors initially paid between 25 cents and one dollar per ticket. The Paradise was a frequent hangout for couples. A New York Times writer said the theater was an indelible part of the mythic Bronx childhood.
The Loew’s Paradise presented first runs of films and stage shows. The theater was often filled to capacity. In 1930 Loew’s installed a Trans tone wide screen. Stage shows at the Paradise featured performers like Cab Calloway Eddie Cantor and George Burns.
In 1932 nearly two dozen sticks of dynamite were discovered in the projection booth. Disgruntled film operators were accused of planning the attempted bombing. The Paradise reduced ticket prices in 1934 due to the Great Depression.
Loew’s stopped hosting vaudeville shows at the Paradise in 1935. The theater began hosting live music each Tuesday in 1939. The theater screened newsreel films during World War II.
The Paradise continued to show first runs of films. No other Loew’s theater in the Bronx could showcase new films until after the Paradise had finished screening them. In 1953 the theater was retrofitted with a panoramic screen and a stereophonic sound system.
By the 1960s the theater started screening multiple first run films. The fish pond in the lobby had been drained after customers poisoned the fish. In 1970 the orchestra level was damaged in a pipe bombing.
The Paradise Theater was more than just a movie house. It was a cultural icon. Today the Loew’s Paradise Theater stands as a reminder of the golden age of cinema. Its ornate facade and grand interior are a testament to the power of dreams and the enduring appeal of movie magic.