St. George Theatre facts for kids
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Exterior
Interior
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| Full name | St. George Theatre Restoration Inc. |
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| Address | 35 Hyatt Street Staten Island, New York United States |
| Location | Staten Island, New York |
| Coordinates | 40°38′31.23″N 74°4′39.08″W / 40.6420083°N 74.0775222°W |
| Public transit | St. George Terminal |
| Owner | St. George Theatre Restoration Inc. |
| Operator | St. George Theatre Restoration Inc. |
| Genre(s) | All Genres |
| Seating type | Fixed seating |
| Capacity | 1,903 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | August 1928 |
| Opened | December 4, 1929 |
| Renovated | 2004 |
| Architect | Eugene DeRosa (Architect) and Nestor Castro (Interior Designer) |
The St. George Theatre is a cool place for shows and movies. It's located at 35 Hyatt Street in St. George, on the North Shore of Staten Island, New York City. This big theatre first opened on December 4, 1929. It used to have 2,800 seats, but now it has 1,903 seats.
A talented architect named Eugene De Rosa designed the theatre. He got help from James Whitford, who was known as a top architect on Staten Island. The beautiful inside of the theatre was created by Nestor Castro. It mixes Spanish and Italian Baroque styles. This theatre was even more amazing than many others back then.
The theatre was updated in 2004. Today, lots of different things happen there. You can find educational programs and tours. They also film TV shows and movies. Many concerts, comedy shows, and Broadway plays happen there too. Plus, they have special shows just for kids!
Contents
History of the St. George Theatre
Building the Theatre
Construction of the St. George Theatre began in 1928. It was built for Solomon Brill. He owned many theatres on Staten Island and around New York. Brill wanted the St. George to be a grand show house. He hoped it would be as famous as the big movie palaces in Manhattan. He promised to bring top vaudeville shows to the area. Tickets would cost only 75 cents.
The theatre officially opened on December 4, 1929. It cost $2 million to build. Brill sold the theatre within three years. It was bought by William Fox. He is famous for starting Fox Television Stations and 21st Century Fox.
Later Owners and Changes
Fabian Theatres, a movie theatre company, owned the St. George Theatre for many years. This was in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. It was their most important theatre on Staten Island. If you visit the men's room on the main level today, you are standing where Fabian Theatres had their main office in 1965! The Fabian company was split up in the late 1960s. After that, the theatre was run by Fabian's old manager until 1975.
Then, a group from Staten Island called Victoria Theatres took over. They wanted to bring back live shows and concerts. This was the first time since the 1950s that the stage was used for performances. It wasn't just for the movie screen anymore. Victoria Theatres only ran the St. George for about a year. But during that time, famous musicians like Sly Stone and Chaka Kahn performed there.
Saving the Theatre
In 1978, the St. George Theatre stopped showing movies. Several people tried to use it for other things. They tried a dinner theater, a nightclub, and an antiques shop. But none of these ideas worked out. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, local dance studios rented it for their yearly shows.
Finally, in 2004, a woman named Rosemary Cappozalo, known as “Mrs. Rosemary,” stepped in. With her daughters, Luanne Sorrentino and Doreen Cugno, she started a non-profit group. Their goal was to save the historic theatre. Since it reopened in June 2004, over 1000 events have been held there. In 2017, the theatre closed for a few months. It had a $5.2 million renovation. They updated the seating and added a new LED sign outside.
Theatre Design and Features
Architectural Style
The main architect for the theatre was Eugene De Rosa. He worked with James Whitford, a well-known Staten Island architect. Whitford also designed other theatres that no longer exist today. The fancy inside of the St. George Theatre was designed by Nestor Castro. He was an art director for a company that designed many theatres in the Times Square area.
The theatre's interior has a mix of Spanish and Italian Baroque styles. Nestor Castro created this beautiful look.
Special Features
The St. George Theatre has many special features. It has seats with a clear view of the stage. There's a $25,000 Wurlitzer organ. It also has a modern heating and cooling system. One of its most amazing features is a very large balcony. It's one of the biggest ever built without support columns underneath.
The theatre also has soft velvet seats and grand staircases. The balconies are decorated with gold. Even with all the fancy decorations, like gold plasterwork, stained glass, and ironwork, the theatre has amazing sound. Performers often say how great the theatre looks and sounds. You can stand on the stage and talk in a normal voice. Someone in the upper balcony, six stories away, can hear you clearly!
Many people on Staten Island remember the St. George as a movie palace. But it was first planned for vaudeville shows. Vaudeville was a type of entertainment with many different acts. A projection booth for movies was only added in 1929, when the theatre was almost finished.
What Happens at the Theatre
First Shows and Famous Performers
The very first movie shown at the St. George Theatre was So This Is College. It was a 1929 film from M-G-M. Famous performers like Al Jolson and Kate Smith also performed on the stage.
Many popular musicians and comedians have performed at the St. George Theatre. Some famous musicians include Ringo Starr, Tony Bennett, Cyndi Lauper, Air Supply, and the Jonas Brothers. Top comedians like Jerry Seinfeld, Kevin James, Rosie O'Donnell, and Chris Rock have also appeared there.
Filming Location
The St. George Theatre has been used for filming movies and TV shows. The ending of the 2003 movie School of Rock was filmed there. In 2008, the TV show Gossip Girl filmed scenes at the theatre. It was used to look like an opera house. Steven Spielberg's TV show Smash also filmed scenes there in 2012.
In 2014, the St. George Theatre was part of VH1's concert series. In 2015, a local theatre company performed the musical Gypsy there. In 2016, the famous actress Sophia Loren had a special event at the St. George Theatre.
Images for kids
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A poster from 1941 for an art show at the St. George Theatre.
