St. George Theatre

St. George Theatre is a historic performing-arts venue at 35 Hyatt Street in the St. George neighborhood of Staten Island, New York City. Built during the final years of the vaudeville and cinema-palace era, it opened on December 4, 1929, as a large entertainment house intended to bring Manhattan-caliber spectacle to Staten Island. The building was commissioned by Solomon Brill, a Staten Island theater operator who controlled several local venues and approximately fifteen theaters in the wider New York area. Brill envisioned the venue as a major show house, with high-quality vaudeville and a ticket price designed to make live entertainment accessible to local audiences. Construction began in 1928. The theater originally contained approximately 2,800 to 2,876 seats and cost approximately $2 million as part of a larger development, with about $500,000 attributed to the theater itself. Eugene De Rosa served as the principal architect, assisted by Staten Island architect James Whitford. Nestor Castro designed the ornate interior for the Libman-Spanjer Corporation. The result combined Spanish and Italian Baroque revival elements, including gilded ornament, stained glass, ironwork, velvet seating, grand staircases, balconies, and a six-story proscenium. The auditorium was also recognized for strong sightlines and unusually clear acoustics. A large Wurlitzer organ and advanced heating and cooling systems were among its original technical and architectural features. Although conceived in connection with the RKO vaudeville circuit, the building was adapted late in construction to include a projection booth and spotlight position. Its first reported film presentation was the 1929 MGM production So This Is College. The venue subsequently functioned as both a movie house and a stage for performers including Al Jolson, Kate Smith, and Guy Lombardo. Within several years of opening, Brill sold the theater to William Fox. Fabian Theatres later operated it as its Staten Island flagship through much of the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. After the Fabian chain was dismantled in the late 1960s, the building continued under other operators. A short-lived 1976–1977 period under Victoria Theatres attempted to restore the stage as a central attraction, combining concerts and live presentations with film. Artists associated with that period included Sly Stone, Chaka Khan, and Lester Flatt. The theater ended its regular life as a movie house in 1978. Subsequent attempts to use the building as a dinner theater, nightclub, or antiques showroom did not establish a lasting business. During the 1990s and early 2000s, local dance schools used it for recitals while preservation and revival efforts continued. In 2004, Rosemary Cappozalo, known locally as Mrs. Rosemary, and her daughters Luanne Sorrentino and Doreen Cugno established a nonprofit effort to preserve and reactivate the historic venue. The St. George Theatre reopened in June 2004 and returned to use as a multipurpose cultural venue. Its program now encompasses concerts, comedy, Broadway touring productions, children's programming, educational activities, architectural tours, television and film production, and community events. More than 1,000 events had reportedly taken place there since the reopening by the time of the referenced account. The venue closed temporarily in mid-2017 for a several-month renovation reported at approximately $5.2 million. Work included improvements to mezzanine seating and installation of a large LED marquee. In its current role, the St. George Theatre is less a conventional commercial brand than a landmark cultural institution whose identity rests on historic architecture, live entertainment, preservation, and Staten Island community access. Its use as a filming location has further extended its public profile, with appearances or productions connected to School of Rock, Gossip Girl, Smash, and VH1's Super Bowl Blitz concert series.

The St. George Theatre was constructed in 1928–1929 for Staten Island theater operator Solomon Brill and opened on December 4, 1929. Its original design pursued the scale and ornament associated with major American cinema palaces while retaining a strong connection to vaudeville. Eugene De Rosa was the main architect, with assistance from James Whitford; Nestor Castro designed the Spanish and Italian Baroque revival interior. The original auditorium held roughly 2,800 seats and featured a large balcony, grand stairways, decorative plasterwork, stained glass, ironwork, a Wurlitzer organ, and extensive stage facilities. A projection booth and spotlight stand were added late in construction so the building could accommodate motion pictures as well as live entertainment. The theater's first reported film was So This Is College, released by MGM in 1929. Live performers also appeared, including Al Jolson, Kate Smith, and Guy Lombardo. Brill sold the venue within several years to William Fox. Fabian Theatres operated it as a Staten Island flagship through the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. After Fabian's corporate breakup, the building passed through other operating arrangements. Victoria Theatres leased it from April 1976 to February 1977 and attempted to revive its stage-centered identity through concerts and live shows, presenting artists such as Sly Stone, Chaka Khan, and Lester Flatt. The St. George stopped operating as a movie theater in 1978. Attempts to convert it into a dinner theater, nightclub, and antiques showroom did not succeed. For a period in the 1990s and early 2000s, dance studios used the auditorium for annual recitals. A preservation campaign led by Rosemary Cappozalo and her daughters Luanne Sorrentino and Doreen Cugno formed a nonprofit organization in 2004. The theater reopened in June of that year as a live-entertainment and community venue. Since the reopening, the building has hosted concerts, comedy, Broadway touring productions, children's programming, educational activities, architectural tours, and film and television shoots. Its stage has been used by musicians, comedians, actors, and touring productions across multiple genres. The venue also became a screen-production location, including the finale of School of Rock, scenes for Gossip Girl and Smash, and a VH1 Super Bowl concert program. In mid-2017, it underwent a reported several-month, $5.2 million renovation involving the mezzanine seating and a new LED marquee. The theater remains an active cultural landmark with approximately 1,903 seats in its current configuration.

• 2017

  Renovation and marquee upgrade

  [1]St. George Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The theater closed temporarily for renovation work focused on mezzanine seating and a new LED marquee.

• 2004

  Historic reopening

  [1]St. George Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  A nonprofit preservation effort led by Rosemary Cappozalo and her daughters reopened the theater in June.

• 1978

  Movie-house era ends

  [1]St. George Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The theater ended its regular operation as a cinema.

• 1976

  Live-stage revival under Victoria Theatres

  [1]St. George Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Victoria Theatres leased the venue and restored concert and live-stage activity between April 1976 and February 1977.

• 1940

  Fabian Theatres flagship period

  [1]St. George Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Fabian Theatres operated the St. George as its Staten Island flagship during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.

• 1930

  Ownership passes to William Fox

  [1]St. George Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Solomon Brill sold the theater within three years of its opening to William Fox.

• 1929

  Theater opens

  [1]St. George Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The St. George Theatre opened on December 4 with an auditorium of approximately 2,800 seats.

• 1929

  First film presentation

  [1]St. George Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The first reported movie shown at the theater was MGM's So This Is College.

• 1928

  Construction begins

  [1]St. George Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Construction started on a large theater commissioned by Solomon Brill in St. George, Staten Island.

A restored Staten Island landmark positioned as a historic, acoustically distinctive, community-oriented performing-arts venue with programming spanning concerts, comedy, theater, family entertainment, education, and screen production.

• Music performance · 1929

  Live concerts

  The St. George Theatre presents touring and special-event concerts across rock, pop, jazz, classical, adult contemporary, and other popular-music formats. Its historic auditorium, large stage, distinctive proscenium, and noted acoustics support both established touring artists and regional programs.

• Comedy performance · 2004

  Comedy and spoken-word events

  Comedy programming forms a recurring part of the theater's contemporary calendar. The venue has presented stand-up comedians and comedic performers alongside concerts and theatrical events, using its large auditorium for both touring acts and special appearances.

• Performing arts · 2004

  Theatrical and Broadway touring productions

  The restored theater accommodates touring theater and Broadway-related productions, as well as community and regional performances. Its stage-centered layout reflects the building's original vaudeville ambitions and enables theatrical presentations beyond its former cinema role.

• Cultural education · 2004

  Family and educational programming

  Programs for children, families, students, and visitors include children's shows, educational activities, and architectural tours. These offerings connect the theater's entertainment schedule with preservation education and local cultural participation.

• Production venue · 2003

  Film and television location services

  The theater's ornate interior and historic auditorium provide a location for film and television production. Screen projects associated with the building include School of Rock, Gossip Girl, Smash, and VH1's Super Bowl Blitz concert series.

• 2004St. George Theatre preservation and reopening effort

  Staten Island · New York City

  Rosemary Cappozalo and her daughters Luanne Sorrentino and Doreen Cugno formed a nonprofit initiative to save and reactivate the deteriorating historic theater.

  Outcome. The venue reopened in June 2004 and returned to regular use for performances, education, tours, and community events.

  Source

• 2017

  Major building renovationOther

  Background

  The historic theater required upgrades to support contemporary audiences and maintain its restored venue infrastructure.

  Action taken

  The theater closed for several months for work on mezzanine seating and installation of an LED marquee.

  Aftermath

  The renovation modernized visitor facilities while retaining the building's historic performance identity.

  Reported renovation cost. $5.2 million (2017 renovation)

  Source

• 2004

  Repositioning as a nonprofit cultural venueStrategy

  Background

  Several commercial reuse concepts had failed after the end of the cinema era, while preservationists sought to protect the building.

  Action taken

  A nonprofit initiative reopened the theater for concerts, comedy, theater, children's events, education, tours, and production rentals.

  Aftermath

  The St. George became an active multipurpose arts institution and reported more than 1,000 events after reopening.

  Source

• 1976

  Attempted return to live-stage programmingStrategy

  Background

  After years centered on cinema, Victoria Theatres sought to revive the theater's original live-entertainment character.

  Action taken

  The operator presented concerts and live shows alongside film during a lease lasting approximately one year.

  Aftermath

  The effort was temporary, but it demonstrated the venue's continuing potential as a concert and stage facility.

  Source

• 1929

  Combine vaudeville, live stage entertainment, and cinemaStrategy

  Background

  The theater was planned in the tradition of the RKO vaudeville circuit, but its design was adapted before completion to include motion-picture projection facilities.

  Action taken

  A projection booth and spotlight stand were added so the venue could operate as both a live-performance house and a movie theater.

  Aftermath

  The building opened with a dual identity and subsequently became known as both a movie palace and a stage for major performers.

  Source

1. 1St. George Theatreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2St. George Theatre official websitestgeorgetheatre.com