Opened on the Grand Concourse in 1929 as one of five preposterously spectacular Wonder Theatres (whose ranks also include the 175th Street Theatre, a.k.a. Reverend Ike's Palace Cathedral) built by Loew's to "take people out of their humdrum existence and bring them into a world of unimagined wealth and luxury", the Paradise was resurrected in (almost) all its former glory as a live entertainment venue back in 2005. It's generally closed to the public unless there's a show going on and you've bought a ticket, but I did get lucky one day when I passed by. They were doing some work inside and left the front door open, so I was able to go wander around the interior, which was an otherworldly experience (scroll down for pictures).
Day 128
Loew’s Paradise Theatre
May 6th, 2012
Wow — I had no idea that they had redone that theatre!
OMG! What an incredible interior. And I bet back then everyone was dressed accordingly too. Not the way we do nowadays, that’s for sure.
Lucky, indeed, to have seen that amazing interior! Thanks for the link!
Wow. How breathtaking that detail work is! I am absolutely positive that in it’s heyday, this theatre was a place you experienced in your best clothes! What a gem in the middle of the city. The closest thing we have to that near my home is the Arlene Shnitzer Concert Hall. Beautiful venue and was probably quite the experience in the early days of Portland, OR.
The interior shot is very like the old Loew’s theatre (now the Carpenter Center/Center Stage) in Richmond, too. Fake clouds, doves, and even the seating configuration is quite similar.