Sylvester Z. Poli

Sylvester Zefferino Poli (December 31, 1858 – May 31, 1937) was an Italian immigrant and theatre magnate during the late 1800s and early decades of the 20th century. By 1916, he was heralded as the largest individual theatre owner in the world,^[1] establishing himself throughout the regional Northeastern United States. Starting with a career in wax sculpting, he quickly moved on to dime museums, curios, variety shows, and ultimately vaudeville theatres and movie palaces.

Photograph of S.Z. Poli

Early years

Born in the village of Piano di Coreglia, a suburb of Lucca, Tuscany, Italy on New Year's Eve, 1858,^[2] his father was a church organist, and his mother made cakes and candies to sell. He began to show a talent for sketching and modeling at a young age, which his mother encouraged. During the Franco-Prussian War, the Poli's gave refuge to the family of noted French sculptor, and intimate friend of Napoleon, M. Dublex. Sylvester left his home at the young age of 13 to accompany Dublex back to Paris, where he would take on an apprenticeship to learn the art of modeling in clay and wax.^[3] S.Z. returned to Italy for 32 months to complete his military obligation,^[4] then went back to France to resume his studies and accept employment with the Musee Grevin in Paris. He worked with the gallery's historical wax collection becoming skilled at modeling from sketches and photographs. He modeled kings, queens, presidents, and also constructed groups like the Chambor of Horrors, "Fulton's Invention of the Steamboat", and Life of Christ.

Coming to America

After several years of service with the Musee Grevin in Paris, Sylvester came to America in September 1881, and entered the employ of the Eden Musee^[5] in New York. This is where he met his lifelong partner and wife, Rosa Leverone. They were married on August 25, 1885.^[6] In 1886, S.Z. went to work for the Egyptian Museum in Philadelphia as chief modeler. While seven anarchists were under sentence of death for participation in the Haymarket Riots in Chicago, Poli secured permission from authorities, and families of the prisoners, to reproduce them in wax using their real clothes. He opened a store show with these figures, and then took to the road giving exhibitions in various cities. In 1888, he made the decision to open a permanent museum.^[7]

Building an empire

In 1888, Poli formed a partnership, opened a combination of museums and theatres in Toronto, Canada, Rochester NY, and Staten Island. Eventually, he went solo in Troy, New York. In 1892, he settled in New Haven, Connecticut, and opened the Poli Eden Musee. Deciding he needed a bona fide theatre where he could stage continuous "high class vaudeville" shows, he built Poli's Wonderland Theatre in 1893.^[7] From 1897 through 1926, S. Z. Poli would continue to build theatres, in Waterbury, Bridgeport, Meriden and Hartford Connecticut, in Springfield and Worcester, Massachusetts, in Jersey City, NJ, in Wilkes-Barre and Scranton, PA, and Washington, DC. The growing success of his business seemed to parallel the industrial expansion in Northeastern cities.^[8] Some cities had as many as three theatres, and Poli would often rebuild the same theatre two to three times, to stay competitive. Poli went through a period without rivals until B.F. Keith gained a powerful circuit. Wherever one began to advertise, the other would soon follow suit. After much wasted energy, the two agreed to stay out of each other's way.^[9] Poli sold all properties pertaining to the Keith feud except Jersey City.

Family

Sylvester Poli married Rosa Leverone (1/17/1869-1/5/1960) from Genoa, Italy in 1885. He taught her the meticulous art of needling into the wax figures the hairs of head and beard. In later years, while Sylvester was busy with his theatres, Rosa kept busy as well, supporting important community and philanthropic causes. She was a prominent figure with the Veterans of Foreign War, and also received the Italian Cross of Honor from Queen Elena of Italy. Sylvester and Rosa had five children together; Edward (10/12/1891-11/11/1922), Adelina (7/19/1889-11/13/1966), Juliette (6/21/1897-4/1/1976), Laurina (10/1/1899-1/26/1978), and Lillian (4/3/1903-12/16/1976). Keeping family first, Poli went on to build the Villa Rosa Terrace^[10](named after his wife) in Woodmont, Milford, Connecticut. This consisted of the main house, and ten (10) waterfront cottages, which he deeded to all of his children. The family would spend their summers together at the Villa Rosa enjoying many a lavish party. He also purchased winter homes for each of the girls, with the exception of Lillian (Lily), who would go on to marry Marquis Lippi Gerini,^[11][12] and move back to Italy with her new husband. S.Z. spent much time grooming his son, Edward, in preparation to take over the business. He had made plans for Edward to assume control the next year (1923). However, in November 1922, his son was stricken with appendicitis. Although the surgery was performed successfully, an embolism occurred and, tragically, Edward died on Armistice Day. Overwhelmed with grief, Poli erected a marble mausoleum^[13] memorializing his son in St. Lawrence Cemetery, West Haven, CT.

Retirement

When S.Z. Poli retired at the age of 70, he had amassed over 20 theatres, three hotels (including the Savoy in Miami), 500 offices and two building sites.^[14] In July 1928, Poli sold to Fox New England Theatres, retaining 3/4 interest and creating Fox-Poli's. With the stock market crash of 1929, Fox went into receivership in 1932.^[15] Poli regained control and in May 1934, Loew's Theatres purchased the remaining theatres, which became known as Loew's-Poli New England Theatres.^[16] Sylvester Poli spent his final years at his summer home, the Villa Rosa in Woodmont, CT. He died on Memorial Day in 1937 at the age of 79 due to pneumonia.^[17]

Anecdotes

George M. Cohan - Poli was bargaining with the Four Cohans for a return engagement. Young George M. Cohan felt that their act was worth more than S.Z. felt his theatre could pay. After much haggling, the Cohans agreed to go on for the old salary. During that performance, Cohan's parents were in the audience celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. The house lights were raised and ushers came down the aisle carrying an elaborate silver serving set. The service was presented to the elder Cohans, with congratulations from the Poli's. After the show, S.Z. and Rosa gave a reception for them. George asked S.Z. why he had made such a fuss over their salary, as the anniversary gift and party cost far more than the increase he had wanted. S.Z. replied, "George, the salary was business, the gift is friendship."^[18]

Al Jolson first appeared for Poli in New Haven, CT as part of a trio, "Jolson, Palmer and Jolson". S.Z. suggested that Jolson might do better as a single act in blackface. Jolson went out on his own to stardom.^[19]

Quotes

Sylvester Z. Poli a.k.a. The Grand Old Monarch

About being born at 10:00PM on New Year's Eve: "I was a year old, two hours after I was born."^[20]

About his shows: "Always, and at all times, I have been a strong believer in morality. I have insisted always on clean shows, and have never tolerated anything that could be fairly regarded as unfit for public presentation."^[20]

Some of the reasons for his remarkable success: "And like the shoemaker, who sticks to his task, I have never run to strange channels; I have remained always a showman. My attention, my resources, my investments, my capacities have been kept always in the theatrical groove. I have sought neither diversion nor profit outside the theatrical field. Possibly to that fact of concentration I owe, as much as to anything, what success has come to me in the theatrical profession.^[20]

From the New Haven Civic Improvement Committee representing the Italian-American voice: "Our race has found a sure refuge behind the Stars and Stripes, and we feel that among all her sons who are striving to carry this banner to victory, none will bring enthusiasm and more steadfast loyalty than her sons of Italian blood."^[21]

Chronology

(Completion Dates and Names May Vary)

• 1892 - Poli's Eden Musee - New Haven, CT
• 1893 - Poli's Wonderland Theatre - New Haven, CT Vaudeville
• 1897 - Poli's - Waterbury, CT
• 1901 - Poli's Plaza - Bridgeport, CT
• 1903 - Poli's - Hartford, CT
• 1904 - Poli's - Springfield, MA^[22]
• 1905 - Palace Theatre - New Haven, CT (first from the ground up)
  • Poli's - Worcester, MA (1912 renamed Plaza)
  • Poli's - Jersey City, NJ
• 1906 - Poli's - Meriden, CT
• 1907 - Poli's - Scranton, PA^[23][24]
  • Bijou Theatre - New Haven, CT
• 1908 - Poli's - Wilkes-Barre, PA
• 1909 - Garden Theatre - Waterbury, CT
  • The Grand - Worcester, MA Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts
• 1912 - Poli's - Worcester, MA
  • Poli's - Washington, DC
  • Poli's - Bridgeport, CT
• 1913 - The Strand - Waterbury, CT
  • Poli's Palace - Springfield, MA
  • The Palace - Hartford, CT
• 1914 - Poli's (Hyperion) - New Haven, CT^[25]
• 1918 - The Lyric - Bridgeport, CT
• 1920 - Capitol Theatre - Hartford, CT
• 1922 - Poli's Palace - Waterbury, CT Thomas W. Lamb, Architect^[26]
  • Poli's Majestic - Bridgeport, CT Thomas W. Lamb, Architect
  • Poli's Palace - Bridgeport, CT Thomas W. Lamb, Architect^[27]
• 1924 - Poli's Palace - Meriden, CT
• 1926 - Poli's Palace - Worcester, MA

The players

Harry Houdini, Shirley Booth, Bert Lahr, Jimmie Durante and Eddie Jackson, Mae West, Georgie Jessel, George Burns and Gracie Allen, Jack Benny, Edgar Bergen, Ray Bolger, Bill "Bo Jangles" Robinson, Will Rogers, Sophie Tucker, Eva Tanguay, Theda Bara, Fred Allen, Baby Rose Marie, and the list goes on. Poli also had his own summer stock company, The Poli Players,^[28][29][30] with performers like Clara Blandick and Izetta Jewel.

Recognition & associations

Chevalier of the Crown of Italy by King Victor Emmanuel of Italy^[17]

The New Haven Civic Improvement Committee^[31]

Poli Theatrical Enterprises, President

General Central Committee, N.V.A. Benefit Fund Campaign^[32]

References

King, Donald C. S.Z. Poli From Wax to Riches, Marquee Magazine, NYC, 1979

Cullen, Frank, Florence Hackman, and Donald McNeily, Vaudeville, Old and New: An Encyclopedia of Variety Performers In America. New York: Routeledge, 2007

Osterweis, Rollin G. Three Centuries of New Haven, 1638-1938. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1953.

Rae, Douglas W..City: Urbanism and Its End (The Institution for Social and Policy St.). New Haven: Yale University Press, 2005.

Thatcher, James Thatcher Publishing Company, Washington, DC, Welcome, Mr. Poli

Ancestry.com

Family Archives Courtesy of Allison M. Poli Sheahan

External links

Palace Theater, Waterbury, CT

Poli's Theatre, Scranton PA

Connecticut History