FORDHAM, The Bronx — The iconic Loews Paradise Theatre has been reborn as the Paradise Performing Arts Center, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the historic venue and expanding cultural programming for the Bronx community.
Executive director Scott Perrin announced the organization’s $50 million fundraising goal, emphasizing the theater’s potential to host everything from local performances to major concerts. “Just like Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, City Center, The Apollo in Harlem, the Bronx needs more performing arts centers,” Perrin said.
Preserving a piece of Bronx history
The 4,000‑seat theater opened five weeks before the Great Depression, making it one of the city’s oldest atmospheric venues. Its original design featured a star‑filled ceiling and projection clouds, elements that the center plans to restore. “It’s an atmospheric theater. The ceiling would light up with the stars and there would be projection clouds, and that’s part of our plan to restore all that,” managing director Peter Martin explained.
Longtime Bronx residents recall the theater’s role in community life, from movie screenings to graduations. “I love how every corner, every bit is a photo moment,” said special events coordinator Hannah Celeste.
Community‑focused programming
Beyond restoration, the center aims to become a hub for diverse programming. Managing director Charles Piazza highlighted plans to revive historic shows, noting that in the 1930s the theater featured events like “Harlem Comes to the Bronx” with Cab Calloway. “Our idea to bring that here is an idea that was almost 100 years ago,” he said.
Caretaker Darion Lewis added that the theater’s legacy will guide its future: “Everything that came before. And everything that’s going to come after.” The venue already hosts private events and will continue to serve the neighborhood while renovations are underway.
Funding the revival
The nonprofit is reaching out to donors, businesses, and community members to meet its $50 million target. Supporters see the project as a long‑awaited investment in the Bronx’s cultural landscape, promising jobs, tourism, and a vibrant gathering place for families.
With the restoration plan moving forward, the Paradise Performing Arts Center hopes to honor the theater’s storied past while creating a modern space for generations to enjoy.
Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.
