Nad news. The development deal with Exact Capital collapsed in 2021 and Bridgeport is looking to apply to the state Community Investments fund for grants to help support a possible future development deal with private interests, but it looks like a long shot - they felt that a purely privately funded redevelopment was not feasible at this time.
July 2023: The new newsletter has some color photos of the auditorium restoration - they’ve restored a lot of the ornamental details in the front of the auditorium with those around sidewalls and balcony starting later in the summer. Nice progress being made! Go to this link (https://carolinatheatreclt.org/) and scroll down to the newsletter button.
Don’t know how that happened! Tried again and there it is. I hope at some point it can be restored. Perhaps MassMOCA could restore it as an auxiliary event space.
The funereal parlor was demolished in March 2021 and they are continuing fundraising before starting the renovation which would take 18 months to 2 years.
New official webpage link: https://www.mifafestival.org/victorytheatre
In October 2021 the big murals were taken by Evergreene Architectural Arts for restoration.
In July, nearly 500,000 in SBA Grants were awarded to the ZVictory theatre.
This address is part of a sprawling shopping center, looks to be about the same vintage. The cinema may have been at this end and then converted later into retail spaces. Hard to tell.
From their virtual tour photos it looks like the theatre has been recently restored. Looks in geeat shape and new seating as well.
Currently (2022) they have restricted seating of 400 due to COVID restrictions. They are doing limited engagements (one-day performances 3-5 times per week of classics and recent favorites.)
I’m glad the Byrd is still open and showing movies! The Byrd is the largest old movie palace in the country (outside of the Chinese and El Capitan theatres in Hollywood) still showing movies on a full time basis.
This was very close to the large Fitchburg Theatre at 717 Main Street to the East. Sadly the massive ornate hotel just west of the Saxon is vacant grassy land now. At least it’s not a parking lot…
The Fitchburg Theatre has opened as the Fitchburg IdeaLab! Parts of the building have been opened as creative and innivative lab space, and the auditorium will be renovated as a performing arts center.
2022 update:
https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Development-deal-dead-Bridgeport-seeks-100M-for-17391746.php
Nad news. The development deal with Exact Capital collapsed in 2021 and Bridgeport is looking to apply to the state Community Investments fund for grants to help support a possible future development deal with private interests, but it looks like a long shot - they felt that a purely privately funded redevelopment was not feasible at this time.
Let’s hope this works…
July 2023: The new newsletter has some color photos of the auditorium restoration - they’ve restored a lot of the ornamental details in the front of the auditorium with those around sidewalls and balcony starting later in the summer. Nice progress being made! Go to this link (https://carolinatheatreclt.org/) and scroll down to the newsletter button.
There is an error on the link to their official page. The correct link is https://www.globetheatre-la.com/
Don’t know how that happened! Tried again and there it is. I hope at some point it can be restored. Perhaps MassMOCA could restore it as an auxiliary event space.
Some updates!
The funereal parlor was demolished in March 2021 and they are continuing fundraising before starting the renovation which would take 18 months to 2 years.
New official webpage link: https://www.mifafestival.org/victorytheatre
In October 2021 the big murals were taken by Evergreene Architectural Arts for restoration.
In July, nearly 500,000 in SBA Grants were awarded to the ZVictory theatre.
Links to more updates!
https://www.mifafestival.org/post/project-updates
2019 street view: Still closed, same sign
A 2021 Google street view shows that the theatre building is now home to “Someone’s Brilliant Performing Arts LLC”.
New website!
https://philadelphiauptowntheater.org/
The renovation effort stalled following some recent staff losses and COVID-19 disruptions but is hack under way again. Latest article (2022):
https://billypenn.com/2022/02/19/uptown-theater-philadelphia-renovation-north-broad-monifa-young/
Other recent articles:
(2019) https://whyy.org/articles/why-marquee-lights-are-back-on-at-n-phillys-uptown-theater/
(2020): https://temple-news.com/uptown-theater-to-enter-final-phase-of-renovations-this-year/?fbclid=IwAR1QA0Ept40FR6Z9PMPDmG_mFvwB5TK1z-dfh87yK9qDN5gYs1_qj82BcZo
(2019): https://www.phillytrib.com/entertainment/historic-uptown-theater-to-light-up-marquee-for-th-anniversary/article_d967bb52-4579-5052-b6dd-cf8f402fdbe5.html
This space is now occupied by a Planet Fitness.
Converted to offices.
This is now a Family Dollar store.
This is now known as The Beacham, billed as Orlando’s #1 nightclub. Their official website is at https://www.beachamorlando.com/home
Gaming Books International is low located at this site.
Atomic Safe is now in this space.
99 Ranch Food Store now at that location. It looks like this nmight be a new building though.
This address is part of a sprawling shopping center, looks to be about the same vintage. The cinema may have been at this end and then converted later into retail spaces. Hard to tell.
According to the Google aerial photo in 2022, the theatre is demolished - the entire block is now the Neonopolis shopping center.
As of May 2022, the Oriental has re-opened. Lots of great movies showing!
Another 2021 article about possible renovation:
https://wtop.com/entertainment/2021/10/is-the-uptown-theater-returning-to-dc-heres-what-we-know-so-far-folks/
Their website is gone. Don’t know if they are still going on with their renovation plans.
From 2022 Google street and aerial views it looks like the theatre was demolished and replaced by a Holiday Inn.
The renovations are underway! The Jersey closed at the end of 2021 for a two year restoration!
From their virtual tour photos it looks like the theatre has been recently restored. Looks in geeat shape and new seating as well.
Currently (2022) they have restricted seating of 400 due to COVID restrictions. They are doing limited engagements (one-day performances 3-5 times per week of classics and recent favorites.)
I’m glad the Byrd is still open and showing movies! The Byrd is the largest old movie palace in the country (outside of the Chinese and El Capitan theatres in Hollywood) still showing movies on a full time basis.
This was very close to the large Fitchburg Theatre at 717 Main Street to the East. Sadly the massive ornate hotel just west of the Saxon is vacant grassy land now. At least it’s not a parking lot…
The Fitchburg Theatre has opened as the Fitchburg IdeaLab! Parts of the building have been opened as creative and innivative lab space, and the auditorium will be renovated as a performing arts center.
Some info here:
https://schooldesigns.com/Projects/fitchburg-state-university-game-design-studio-idealab/