Sunday, January 03, 2010

Mae West: Staten Island

An Art Deco confection, where comedienne MAE WEST had inspired the thunderous applause that makes paint flake from the walls, is about to emerge from its Miss Havisham-like decay. The building had closed as a movie theater in 1977.
• • According to Staten Island Live's reportage, the once glorious Paramount Theater is set to reopen later this month on the North Shore — — the area closest to the ferry dock, which overlooks Manhattan — — as an entertainment hotspot, sparking hope that this historic building will pump new life into Stapleton’s commercial heart. Mae West, who was under contract to Paramount Pictures for several years, appeared in several of their theatres coast to coast.
• • Local reporter Jodi Lee Reifer writes: The Art Deco theater, with its figurative wall sculptures and Egyptian-style ceiling paintings, opened in 1930 at 560 Bay St. with 2,500 seats. In its 1940s heyday, the venue was the site of beauty and jitterbug contests and war bond auctions. Movie stars such as Mae West, Gary Cooper, Mary Pickford, etc. appeared on stage there, and it was one of only 10 theaters in the country that possessed two giant organs.
• • Jodi Lee Reifer adds: The venue will serve as a catering hall, restaurant and performance center, with bands, comics and plays potentially appearing on stage, said Hsiu Sung (David) Yang, who is opening the Paramount with partners Charley Zerrilli and Peter Lisi as part of SI Paramount Inc.
• • “It’s going to revitalize the neighborhood by bringing in some good acts,” Peter Lisi predicted. ...
• • If you enjoy learning about second acts and historic playhouses, you might find the article interesting. Follow the link to read on.
— — Excerpt: — —
• • Article: "Historic Paramount set to reopen"
• • BY: Jodi Lee Reifer
• • Published by: SILive.com — — www.silive.com
• • Published on: 2 January 2010

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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