Leroy Theatre, Pawtucket, RI

The heart and soul of the Leroy Theatre of Pawtucket, Rhode Island is being given another chance to capture the public's spirit and imagination. Although resurging interest in the historic preservation of the art deco movie theatres that inspired grand palaces around the country continues to generate public support, in 1997 the Leroy fell victim to corporate America's greed for a shopping center. Rather than lose the theatre forever, New England Architectural Center spent 5 months meticulously reclaiming the ceiling, walls, lighting, and other antique fixtures. The architectural elements that gave the theater it's vitality, character, and it's place in art deco history can be reapplied to create a theme in a new public place and release the energy and spirit absorbed in the timeless walls of the Leroy.