Paradise Palase

Is it possible for a building to whisper secrets of bygone eras? Here at the Paradise Palace, formerly Loew’s Paradise Theatre, the walls seem to do just that. The Paradise Palace opened its doors in 1929, a time when the Grand Concourse was envisioned as a Bronx Park Avenue. Loew’s Paradise was a movie palace, one of the five “Wonder Theatres.” These theatres boasted Robert Morton “Wonder” organs, hence the name. The Paradise Palace was meant to be an experience. Architect John Eberson, known for his atmospheric theatre designs, created a space that transported moviegoers to a 16th-century Italian Baroque garden. Imagine sitting beneath a simulated Mediterranean night sky, complete with twinkling stars and drifting clouds. The vast auditorium, second in size only to Radio City Music Hall in New York, was adorned with marble pillars, cypress trees, and plaster replicas of Michelangelo’s sculptures. Even stuffed birds and a goldfish pond added to the immersive environment. The Paradise Palace’s opening was bittersweet. Just six weeks after its grand debut, with the film “The Mysterious Dr. Fu-Manchu,” the stock market crashed. Despite this, the Paradise Palace continued to offer a mix of film and live entertainment, including vaudeville acts and performances by stars like Cab Calloway and Eddie Cantor. The theatre’s exterior, a cream-colored terracotta and marble facade, still bears the original “Loew’s Paradise Theatre” sign, although a mechanical clock featuring St. George slaying a dragon is missing pieces. The lobby’s murals, depicting figures floating among clouds, and the massive chandelier hint at the opulence within. The Paradise Palace adapted over the years. During World War II, newsreels and speeches filled the theatre. In the 1960s, high school and college graduations echoed within its walls. Sadly, the Paradise Palace eventually closed in 1994, a victim of changing times and urban decline. Yet, like a phoenix, the Paradise Palace rose again in 2005, reborn as a community and event venue. Though it no longer operates as a movie theatre, the Paradise Palace’s history continues to resonate within its magnificent walls. This building is more than just bricks and mortar. It is a testament to the enduring power of dreams and a reminder of the Bronx’s rich cultural heritage.