[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 168 (Wednesday, October 10, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S6768]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LOEW'S THEATER BUILDING

  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I join the city of Providence and the State 
of Rhode Island in celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Loew's 
Theatre Building, home of the Providence Center for the Performing 
Arts. From silent films to the Mighty Wurlitzer to live concerts and 
Broadway productions, the Loew's Theatre Building has delighted, 
educated, and entertained generations of Rhode Islanders.
  On October 6, 1928, the theater opened its doors to more than 14,000 
people who came to see its splendor and the silent film ``Excess 
Baggage.'' Designed by the renowned theater architects George and C.W. 
Rapp, the Loew's Theatre featured marble columns, gilded plasterwork, 
and crystal chandeliers.
  After early years of success, the theater saw a decline in its 
economic fortunes as movie attendance waned. The theater sustained 
damage during the hurricanes of 1938 and 1954 and barely escaped 
demolition in the 1970s. Fortunately, local leaders stepped in to save 
this landmark. In 1977, the Loew's Theatre Building was officially 
listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the following 
year, a nonprofit organization was founded to restore its luster and 
establish a performing arts center for the community to enjoy.
  Today the Providence Performing Arts Center is a hub of cultural 
activity. It not only brings top-flight productions to town but also 
offers a broad selection of community outreach programs, fulfilling its 
mission of serving ``the entertainment needs of the State's various 
populations by presenting the widest possible variety of arts and 
cultural events.'' The center presents free, community concerts 
featuring the Mighty Wurlitzer, the rare 1927 pipe organ, one of only 
three ever made. There is a seats for servicemembers initiative that 
offers preferred orchestra seating to our military families. There are 
arts scholarships, summer theater programs, and special opportunities 
for students to experience live theater productions.
  Ninety years ago, Rhode Islanders flocked to the Loew's Theatre 
Building to share in something grand. We are grateful for the steady 
leadership and many contributions of the board of directors, dedicated 
staff, and generous benefactors who have made this historic landmark a 
living institution that continues to enrich the cultural life of our 
community. The Providence Performing Arts Center is still grand. May it 
continue to be so for generations to come.

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