Mike Doyle, indomitable supporter of Bridgeport’s dormant Downtown twin theatrical jewels, likes to dream big. He’s trying to build viral momentum on Facebook in the cause of one of his passions, restoration of the theaters into a performing arts center. Now if we can only get it funded! From Doyle:
For all you who live in Bpt, Fairfield County, Connecticut, USA who don’t know what this is, it is the Downtown theaters Palace and Majestic theater complex that has been vacant for over 40 years. The unemployed tradesmen and woman of Bpt could restore this Majestic Palace with the assistance of apprenticeships from the local high/tech and regular schools and trade unions. The program will be called the Restore the Diamond in the Rough by the Sea “Bridgeport”!
The exterior and lobbies could be done for 15 million dollars! The hotel rooms for another $10,000,000 and would be used by the apprentices as a place to sleep during the program to limit labor cost and have the apprentices begin to develop camaraderie with their co workers and other trades! The vacant Ocean Sea Grill will become a Bullard Havens run restaurant with apprentices from the Food Service programs feeding the apprentices and their guides/Journeyman to ensure proper nutrition and we will hope a private developer will come by after the program is over and while it won’t be a “Planet Hollywood” it can be a “Bridgeport Meteorite” to take on the 5+ million people to downtown that it used to. Check the #s they are correct. If anyone knows Nel Newman from Newman’s own this could be the new hole in the wall she invests in with the label of Newman’s own over all food that is served. This type of program could be also used for the Pleasure Beach Bridge.
The two theaters could be a “Fame School” for preforming arts on one side for for theaters and one for live dramatic and musical plays the other side the larger for live theater and concerts! I want this to go viral and I want to see the next episode of Star Wars there on opening night in the smaller theater with spotlights on all the Bpt Stars coming to see the next galactic installment of that classic movie and if anybody knows how to reach Disney and George Lucas tell them we would be interested in sponsorship! If anyone has pictures, ideas and money please send this program idea across the country! This was installment one please feel free to add photos ideas etc. but let’s stop talking and get this done! Every election day I was in front of schools, Central mainly, trying to talk about this progressive idea, while everybody else was talking about town committee seats that I had no interest in! Rebuild Bpt now, with Bpt union Labor!
MIKE DOYLE, I share your dream. There are so many possibilities. We need a development director and a Mayor who see this as crucial to a revitalized downtown. We need tours going to Waterbury to show how it is done. BRIDGEPORT needs to be put back on the map as vibrant city that supports the arts. We need more people like yourself who have vision, not the same redundant do-nothing naysayers. We need to raise awareness of these theaters. There are plenty of people with money out there and we need to identify them from past projects in other areas. If Waterbury can do it and Torrington can do it then surely the largest city in the state in the wealthiest county can do it. Mayor Finch may want to look at the very department responsible for attracting this and do some house cleaning. MIKE DOYLE, I am thankful for people like you. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!! The city would also benefit by rehabilitating little Liberia the Freeman homes of the former slaves down by the Arena. THIS IS PART OF Bridgeport’s history. Proud part of our history and an important treasure in the African American Community. I think both projects can benefit the entire city and be a magnet for all future development. It just perplexes me on a daily basis individuals working for the City, getting a paycheck, cannot make the obvious a priority. These projects are key for the revitalization of a once-prosperous and exciting city.
Nonsense. It’s ALL pie-in-the-sky. Those theaters were ONCE magnificent, but it’s been over 50 years, not 40, since they’ve been in operation. The buildings are most likely structurally unsound, not to mention rat infested.
In the 1970s a similar structure on 96th St. and B’way in Manhattan housed two theaters called the Riverside and the Riviera. They had been built about the same time with the same materials as the Poli and Majestic theaters. One night the building collapsed into a pile of rubble. Fortunately no one was killed or harmed. The same probably holds true of Bridgeport’s theaters.
In the late 1970s 100 Fairfield Avenue was completely reconstructed, removing wooden beams and replacing them with steel. This was done so that no additional parking had to be provided. It was also the death knell for downtown Bridgeport. The cost of rehabilitating the theaters would far exceed the cost of replacing them with replicas as building codes would require updating all mechanicals and building materials (e.g. asbestos) to be safe and secure.
Bob, your enthusiasm is uplifting. Waterbury did a magnificent job rehabbing the sister theaters. I have seen the Russian Ballet and many shows there. The rehab was amazing. I even saw Bill Clinton there.
Steve, you may be right but the Waterbury theaters weren’t in the disrepair and rundown condition of the Bridgeport theaters. In the 50 years I’ve been associated with Bridgeport there have been several attempts to rehab these theaters, but either through neglect (Jasper McLevy) or corruption (Samuel Tedesco, Joe Ganim) or indifference (from Mandanici, Paoletta, Bucci and Moran) or general ineptness (John Fabrizi and Bill Finch). The only person who showed any true interest was Paul Newman and he ran into what I describe above.
And no one is coming to build downtown until the mechanicals under Main Street are completely replaced and brought up to code. I’m talking about sewer, gas, water and electric. If you don’t believe me ask any retailer how it is in a heavy rainstorm. You’ve already seen water main breaks and electric failures.
For years there has been talk to refurbish these treasures. I really hope someday I’m still alive to see it happen for I feel it will become the treasure it once was.
Perhaps if Manny Moutinho bought the theaters, Finch would suddenly get motivated and get behind the refurbishing of these two properties. I can see the headlines now: “Bridgeport to give Moutinho 20 million dollars to renovate theaters.”
Hey Hesh, Manny wouldn’t put his hand in his pocket unless there were a gun to his head.
Well, why not have someone inspect the building and provide an estimate of the current condition of the building and what it would cost to rehab? I also bet if there were a call to arms and Bridgeport called upon three days of volunteers from all over the county to help out and to bring down costs to rehab this place, people would be lining up.
BptPorter … it’s more than just the condition of the building. It’s the mechanicals in the street. It’s the lack of parking immediate to the theaters (no one is going to walk from FFLD Ave). There has to be HAZMAT remediation and mechanical updates, not to mention the structural damage from years of neglect.
*** Yo, all you vatos locos need to wake up and smell the old leftover theater popcorn, no? They don’t have enough shows nor can they sell out at times the existing Klein Memorial and Playhouse On The Green venues to keep them from nearly shutting down every other year, let alone think about spending mad money to restore those two old “down memory lane” theaters! *** NICE DREAMING BUT IT’S TIME TO WAKE UP! ***
The Waterbury project was only possible because of a state commitment of over $20 million. IF (and it’s a big if) Bridgeport could obtain that kind of state commitment, would the theaters be best to spend that money? Given the age and condition of the theaters would that be enough to make the project work?
The answer to both questions is probably no.
Well, let’s start with the Playhouse on the Green. It was built to be a failure. Too small for any venue. The Playhouse could learn from neighboring towns like the clockwork theater in Watertown/Waterbury. Also check out the small venues in Hartford and Westport. There are plays constantly and they serve the purpose of cultural enhancement for the community. There are many successful artists who cannot fill an Arena, but would do very well at the Poli and Majestic. Traveling dance troupes, ballet and Broadway shows. The Klein does very well with the Symphony. The problem with this city as well as this blog is many are culturally challenged. Theaters and symphonies are foreign to them. For those who support the arts, we find it sad beyond comprehension the largest city doesn’t understand along with education, the arts are key to economic development. It is sad, very very sad. Thank G-d for New York, Stamford, Westport, New Haven and believe it or not Waterbury. It does get tiresome being a cheerleader for a city that just doesn’t get it. Mr. Doyle, keep fighting because sooner or later the leadership will change in all posts that can initiate a welcoming environment to attract the arts.
Steve, that’s off topic in regards to these theaters.
Bob, you should know me by now. I always go off topic, but ultimately I make my point. We all have an agenda. Mr. Doyle’s passion is in line with my vision.
Mr. Doyle’s passion is admirable, but not attainable under the current economic conditions. Nor is it attainable on a practical level. You, of all people, should know Bridgeport has a plethora of dormant, ill-used, and logically well-placed assets that have been ignored, misused, abandoned, and basically ripped off by those who have run this city into the ground through greed, power and ignorance. I can name numerous assets that fit into the above descriptions that would provide this once-great city economic engines to restore its place as a viable and productive environment.
*** Playhouse on the Green holds about 260, a nice number for small theater and plays, along with room for a variety of many local musicians from the tri-state area. The excuse the place is too small does not cut it. The Klein has been around forever and should be booking many more acts than they have, however the simple lack of interest, high rental cost, limited advertisements, etc. that turns off entertainment promoters seems to leave the place empty at least 6 months spread out through the year! And these two places are established names that have had good shows in the past, no? So when I hear talk about restoring the Majestic and Palace Theaters, it just sounds silly and a big waste of money that can be used for better things in this overtaxed city going nowhere! *** TIME TO WAKE UP, CHILDREN ***
The Playhouse on the Green had no parking within blocks. As far as filling a need, you just have to book hip-hop groups every week and you sell out the place. It fits the City.
*** How many great off-Broadway theaters in NYC have no parking but still attract great entertainment and fans from all over! How about making a deal with the Holiday Inn to use a percentage of their parking garage for sold-out shows? Business helping business, which helps the city and everyone involved in establishing better entertainment and sports venues in the downtown areas. And why hip-hop as a venue every weekend and not gospel, jazz, rock & roll, doo-wop, salsa, etc.? But to have these things and make them work takes money, patience and experience. Unfortunately, none of which is found nor willing to take the chance in the city of Bpt. ***
Sorry Ralph, the answer is none in NYC … and where there is parking can cost $50 for a few hours. The best way to get around NYC (I’m originally from Manhattan, born and raised) is by subway or cab.
Has ANYONE taken a 40-mile ride down I-95 to New Rochelle and see what they did to create New Roc City? It’s a perfect example of what can be done when giving a legitimate developer carte blanche. That same developer also developed the Brass City Mall in Waterbury.
I’ve been in the building within the past year, it’s completely falling apart. $15M wouldn’t come close to making this building viable. Sad truth is, it needs to be torn down.
The problem with Bridgeport is too many of its citizens are mired in the past. The days of these large theaters has come and gone. The buildings have been sitting at the gateway of downtown for the past 50 years as vacant eyesores. It’s time for them to be demolished and it’s time for the city to move into the future. Enough pie-in-the-sky predictions for this location.
AMEN. Thanks, Andy.