Astor Theatre
445 East Main Street,
Bridgeport,
CT
06608
445 East Main Street,
Bridgeport,
CT
06608
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Strand Amusement Co.
Architects: William C. Riseman
Previous Names: Capitol Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Capitol Theatre was on East Main Street and opened around 1923. It was closed in July 1947 and was completely remodelled to the plans of architect William Riseman, reopening December 2, 1947 as the Astor Theatre. It was destroyed by fire in 1976
Contributed by
Roger Katz
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
Though I believe it had “a prior life under another name”, until its demise, the ASTOR always showed Spanish-language films, and was part of a neighborhood few would dare to tread at night.
An ad in the Bridgeport Telegram in November 1947 shows the Astor with the addendum “Formerly Capitol”. The feature was “Desert Fury” with Burt Lancaster, Lizabeth Scott and Mary Astor. The co-feature was “Seven Keys to Baldpate”. I have no clue what that film was about.
The Astor Theatre opened as the Capitol Theatre around 1923. It was acquired by the Strand Amusement Company of Bridgeport in 1946. It was closed in July 1947 to be completely renovated and reopened as the Astor, December 2, 1947. In its last years it featured Spanish language films. It was destroyed by fire in 1976.
This was in the Bridgeport Post, dated 1/27/63:
A hit-and-run driver crashed into the Astor theater building East Main street shortly after midnight today, shattering of the doors. A description of the vehicle was obtained by a passerby and search was under way. Police said the driver backed up the auto and then drove away at high speed on the snow-covered road.
Grand opening for the Capitol Theatre was February 22, 1922 with all 1,000 seats filled for the feature, “Molly O.” Also featured was Buster Keaton in “The Play House.” The theatre closed in 1923 for almost a year and was offered for sale reopening in 1924. The Capitol Theater was rebooted as the Astor Theatre launching Dec. 2, 1947. William Riseman, architect from Boston, totally re-imagined the theater stripping out the floor and everything but the walls in creating the post-Capitol Astor.