Loew's Poli Theatre

fairytalefun on July 24, 2009 at 1:47 am

a great theatre—they don’t make em like that anymore..

Brad Smith on May 5, 2012 at 11:43 pm

Click here for an exterior view of the Fox Poli Theatre in 1929.

Joyclyn on August 31, 2013 at 5:37 am

My great grandfather, John J. Gentile managed this theater back in 1917 according to my family history. Also, his daughter, Madeline-Gentile Ortello, who is my grandmother played the piano for the silent movies. I believe the theater was originally called Comique.

Joe Vogel on March 12, 2015 at 4:55 am

The June 10, 1916, issue of The American Contractor had this item about the Poli Theatre in New Haven:

“Theater (alts. & add.): $100,000. 3 sty. 150x125. Church St., New Haven, Conn. Archt. Thomas W. Lamb, 644 8th av., New York City, & 112 Water st.,. Boston. Owner Sylvester Z. Poli, 23 Church St., New Haven. Plans to be revised. Brick (fireproof constr.), struct. & orn. iron, gravel rfg.”

The alterations and additions were to a theater that had been built in 1905. This notice appeared in the February 18, 1905, issue of The American Architect and Building News:

“NEW HAVEN, CONN.—J. O. Loughlin, Hartford, has received the contract for the erection of new theater at 23 Church St. New Haven. E. W. Maynard, Arch., 226 Tremont St., Boston. Cost, $90,000.”

Another item in another issue of the same magazine said that the theater was being built behind 23 Church Street, so the office building probably predated the theater. Page 94 of Legendary Locals of New Haven, by Colin M. Caplan, has a c.1905 photo of Poli’s Theatre (Google Books preview.) The house was advertised as Poli’s New Theatre to differentiate it from an earlier Poli’s Theatre in New Haven.

The theater was virtually gutted for Thomas Lamb’s rebuilding in 1917. The only photo I can find depicting any of E. W. Maynard’s original 1905 design is on a postcard that is displayed on this page of a stamp collecting web site. As the card is for sale I don’t know how long the link will last.

Jason Vanderhill on May 21, 2016 at 10:23 pm

I have added the photo that ‘inspired’ the postcard image seen here. The ‘1905’ photo that Joe Vogel references is actually the same photo, and as it appears to feature a Model T Ford, it is probably closer to 1910 after all.

I am curious about Poli’s earlier theatre across the street, known as Poli’s Wonderland Theatre, a vaudeville venue and wax museum which he started in 1893. I’ve gleaned from the web that the structure was previously St. Mary’s Hall, and had apparently been used as a church up until 1878. If anyone finds out anything further, please post it!