Abandoned America

The Incredible Rebirth of the Lansdowne Theater Jan 16, 2024

All too often, the stories of abandoned places end in tragedy. In this episode, however, we're going to discuss an amazing success story: after nearly 30 years vacant, the gorgeous Lansdowne Theater is being rebuilt! My guest, Matt Schultz, the Executive Director of the Historic Lansdowne Theater Corporation, shares with us how this miraculous turnaround is taking place and his experience on how to save a local landmark.

Photos/history of The Lansdowne: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/historic-lansdowne-theater

Support the Lansdowne Theater Restoration efforts: https://www.lansdownetheater.org/

Support the podcast on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/AbandonedAmerica⁠⁠⁠

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The Strange But True Story of Abandoned America Nov 28, 2023

Did you ever wonder how someone could become so obsessed with abandoned buildings that it engulfs their whole life? This is my story: the strange tale of of how and why I began photographing abandoned buildings across the world and started the Abandoned America project - an origin story for the podcast and website, if you will.

Support the podcast on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/AbandonedAmerica⁠⁠

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The Dominion of Sleep Oct 24, 2023

There's an odd overlap between dreams, abandoned spaces, and photographs - they all present distortions of the reality we are familiar with. Why is it that we find all three so compelling?

Support the podcast on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/AbandonedAmerica⁠

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Scrap Jul 31, 2023

In this episode Matthew interviews Stacey Tenenbaum, a Canadian filmmaker who produced and directed a beautiful documentary called Scrap. Scrap takes a poetic and meditative look at what becomes of the objects we use after they've ceased to fulfill the function they were originally intended for. The documentary shares the story of some incredible people and spaces, including a photographer who documents e-waste processing facilities in India, an architect who is repurposing parts of ships into buildings, families living in decommissioned aircraft, and an artist who makes amazing sculptures out of old machinery. Perhaps our favorite segment is a thoughtful feature on Ed Metka, the gentle owner of the trolley graveyard featured on Abandoned America. Stacey explores the challenges of filming in the early days of Covid, the behind-the-scenes stories of her production, and much more.

You can watch the trailer (or rent/buy Scrap) at the following links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3rUcpvU

Apple TV: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/scrap/umc.cmc.6zorr6gt9htb4lat36rm6kjaf

Show Notes: ⁠⁠https://www.abandonedamerica.us/scrap-abandoned-america-podcast

Support the podcast on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/AbandonedAmerica⁠

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Saying Goodbye to Gould Street Jun 30, 2023

Gould Street Power Station in Baltimore was once the most impressive power plant in the city and considered a technological marvel, but now its demolition seems inevitable. In this episode, we'll trace the wild history of the site through the bitter public utility wars that led to its construction to its eventual closure and abandonment - a trip that includes a forgotten inventor, a brutal murder, and a look at what might be in store for the area in the years to come.

Show Notes: ⁠https://www.abandonedamerica.us/saying-goodbye-to-gould-street

Forest Haven photo gallery/podcast text on Abandoned America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.abandonedamerica.us/gould-street-power-station

Support the podcast on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/AbandonedAmerica⁠

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Forest Haven: A Fatal Legacy of Neglect May 31, 2023

Forest Haven was a developmental center in Laurel, Maryland for children and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities and chronic illnesses that was the site of what was described as "the deadliest known example of institutional abuse in recent American history." Today Forest Haven lies abandoned and mostly forgotten, but in this episode we'll explore how profound and often fatal neglect shattered lives of residents for decades, and why it was allowed to continue for years after some of the facility's most horrific injustices were brought to light.

Show Notes: ⁠https://www.abandonedamerica.us/forest-haven-a-fatal-history⁠

Forest Haven photo gallery/podcast text on Abandoned America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.abandonedamerica.us/forest-haven-developmental-center⁠

Support the podcast on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/AbandonedAmerica⁠

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The Lost Neighborhood of Lincoln Way May 15, 2023

Rumors of why the small neighborhood of Lincoln Way wound up abandoned abound: did some monstrous beast scare away the residents? Or was it for some more realistic and relatable reason? In this episode we'll explore the mystery of how roughly 40 homes on a quiet Western Pennsylvania street were left vacant for years, still littered with the former residents' belongings, and uncover the true story of what became of the community.

Show Notes: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/lincoln-way-abandoned-america-podcast

SS United States photo gallery/podcast text on Abandoned America: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.abandonedamerica.us/lincoln-way

Support the podcast on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/AbandonedAmerica

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America's Ghost Ship: The SS United States May 01, 2023

The SS United States is about as unique and incredible as it gets: an entire ocean liner that's larger than the Titanic, out of use since 1969 and moored in Philadelphia since 1996. Both the fastest liner ever built and the largest constructed on US soil, it's one of only two surviving relics from the entire age of passenger liners, and yet its future has been imperiled for decades and it seems like its time might finally be running out. We'll explore why the SS United States is so significant and meaningful, the desperate efforts to save it, and what it's like touring a ghost ship that ceased operations long ago and on which only echoes remain.

Show Notes: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/the-ss-united-states-abandoned

SS United States photo gallery/podcast text on Abandoned America: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.abandonedamerica.us/ss-united-states

Support the podcast on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/AbandonedAmerica

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The Fall of the Fallside Hotel Apr 17, 2023

Located a short distance from one of the most popular tourist attractions in the United States, it's hard to imagine why the Fallside Hotel in Niagara Falls, NY would have been abruptly closed and left abandoned. To tell the story we need to look at the boom and subsequent implosion of the area's tourist economy, caused by industrial pollution and misguided urban renewal projects. We'll also talk about what the town's plans for the future are and how the fate of the Fallside Hotel may in fact be a symbol of rebirth for the area around it.

Show Notes: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/the-fall-of-the-fallside

Fallside Hotel photo gallery/podcast text on Abandoned America: ⁠⁠https://www.abandonedamerica.us/fallside-hotel

Support the podcast on Patreon: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/AbandonedAmerica

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The Story of Pleasure Beach and Long Beach: A Violation of the Contract Apr 03, 2023

What would you do if the only bridge to your community burned and the town refused to rebuild it? The residents of Long Beach, CT found out the hard way and it destroyed their entire neighborhood, leaving nearly 50 beachfront homes abandoned. In this episode of the Abandoned America podcast, we'll explore the tragic story of what went wrong, how the fate of Long Beach was tied to the defunct Pleasure Beach Amusement Park located next to them on the peninsula, and what happens when the towns around you turn their back on you in a time of crisis.

Show Notes: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/the-story-of-pleasure-beach

Long Beach/Pleasure Beach photo gallery/podcast text on Abandoned America: ⁠https://www.abandonedamerica.us/pleasure-and-long-beach

Support the podcast on Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/AbandonedAmerica

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Taunton State Hospital: Nothing Ever Dies Mar 20, 2023

The morning we snuck into Taunton State Hospital before dawn was like something out of a dream. It's one of those profound experiences that haunts you for the rest of your life, something you try to explain to others but can never quite find the words to express. Join Matthew Christopher of Abandoned America for a 22-minute exploration of what Taunton State Hospital's story was, why anyone would go to such great lengths to see it before it was destroyed, why it still matters today, and how even in the darkest places there still is beauty if you look for it.

Show Notes: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/taunton-state-hospital-nothing-ever

Taunton State Hospital photo gallery/podcast text on Abandoned America: ⁠https://www.abandonedamerica.us/taunton-state-hospital

Support the podcast on Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/AbandonedAmerica

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Randall Park Mall: Everything Must Go Mar 07, 2023

The Randall Park Mall in North Randall, Ohio was, for a brief moment, the largest mall in the world. Less than 40 years later it was in ruins. In this episode we'll cover the mall's extravagant opening, tumultuous lifespan, why it finally closed, and what it was like visiting it in the aftermath. For a shopping center, it has some pretty shocking crimes in its past, and its story is more haunting than you might think. Come join Matthew Christopher of Abandoned America for a quick primer on the life and death of a megamall, once a mighty symbol of both the dreams and nightmares of American consumerism that now is no more.

Show Notes: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/randall-park-mall-everything-must

Randall Park Mall photo gallery/podcast text on Abandoned America: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/randall-park-mall

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AbandonedAmerica

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City of the Century: Gary, Indiana Feb 21, 2023

Gary, Indiana was once a thriving metropolis, but now it's a city of ruins. In this episode we'll discuss Gary's founding as a steel town, its economic collapse, and what still remains - including the abandoned City Methodist Church, the Gary Public Schools Memorial Auditorium, and the Palace Theatre. How did a city go from being called the "City of the Century" to having roughly a third of its buildings vacant, and what is it like going there today?

View the photo gallery/show text on Abandoned America: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/gary-indiana
Show Notes: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/gary-indiana-city-of-the
Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AbandonedAmerica

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Abandoned Amusement Parks: Six Flags New Orleans Feb 08, 2023

Amusement parks are a happy part of many people's family memories - so it's hard to imagine a theme park of over 200 acres sitting abandoned for nearly 20 years. That is just what happened with the massive Six Flags New Orleans, however: left to rot after Hurricane Katrina submerged it for weeks, it has been vacant for over three times as long as it was open. Why wasn't the park reopened or redeveloped? Today I'm joined by Jake Williams, writer and director of the recent documentary about Six Flags New Orleans Closed For Storm, and we'll discuss the story of what happened, what the impact of the park's closure and abandonment has been, and what it's like exploring the remains, which are now inhabited primarily by alligators and snakes.

Check out Closed For Storm and Bright Sun Films

View the Six Flags gallery on Abandoned America: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/six-flags-new-orleans

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AbandonedAmerica

Show Notes: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/abandoned-amusement-parks-six-flags

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The Destruction of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Jan 25, 2023

In this episode we cover the demolition of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament in West Philadelphia, a beautiful and historic church that could have easily been saved and repurposed but like so many others was torn down under questionable circumstances. We'll talk with Christopher Daniels, a teacher who found himself thrust into the role of a community activist trying to save a building whose fate seemed already sealed to find out what he did and what can be learned from the community's efforts to prevent the shocking destruction of a building many in the area knew and loved.

View the photo gallery of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament on Abandoned America: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/our-lady-of-the-rosary

Chris Daniels' Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phillyreligiousarts

Donate to Chris' GoFundMe for classroom supplies: https://gofund.me/ee96de6a

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AbandonedAmerica

Show Notes: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/the-destruction-of-our-lady

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The Lost Garden of Beatrix Farrand Jan 04, 2023

Today's episode is about an abandoned garden - but not just any garden, this one was created by America's first female landscape architect, Beatrix Farrand. Farrand is remarkable for many reasons - she designed the innovative and revolutionary landscapes for some of America's wealthiest families and most prominent universities and even landscaped the White House. However, much of her work today is lost. I'm joined by Karen Waltuch, Horticulturist at the Beatrix Farrand Garden Association, and David Hayes, Natural Resource Program Manager at Roosevelt Vanderbilt Van Buren National Historic Sites in Hyde Park, NY and we're going to discuss Farrand's legacy, her forgotten Wild Garden at Bellefield Mansion in Hyde Park, NY, and the amazing efforts of a dedicated group of volunteers to restore it and share it with the public.

Support the Beatrix Farrand Garden Association: https://www.beatrixfarrandgardenhydepark.org/

Show Notes and Links: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/the-lost-garden-of-beatrix

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AbandonedAmerica

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The Skin Experiments at Holmesburg Prison Dec 15, 2022

In this episode we talk with Dr. Cristina Visperas about her new book "Skin Theory: Visual Culture and the Postwar Prison Laboratory", which explores the shocking past of the now-abandoned Holmesburg Prison in Philadelphia. For decades Dr. Albert Kligman conducted unethical and harrowing medical experiments on Holmesburg's inmates - in this episode we explore what those experiments were, how they formed the basis of the modern dermatology industry, and what happened in their aftermath.

Read Cristina's New Book "Skin Theory: Visual Culture and the Postwar Prison Laboratory": https://amzn.to/3VOaMZX

Show Notes and Links: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/the-skin-experiments-at-holmesburg

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AbandonedAmerica

View the photo gallery on Abandoned America: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/holmesburg-prison

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The History of Urban Exploration: The Story of Urban Exploration Resource, or UER.ca Nov 29, 2022

The documentation and exploration of ruins may have existed for centuries, but the history of the subject in the internet age is still a relatively short one. In the last episode we talked about the legacy of Ninjalicious, who helped turn people on to the subject, and in this episode we're going to take a look at the best known and most popular website on the subject before the advent of social media: Urban Exploration Resource, or UER.ca. I'm joined by Avatar X, the founder of UER, and we'll take a look at the cultural impact of the website, which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. We'll also talk about the ethical debates, the challenges of creating a community for explorers in the shadow of Ninjalicious' death, how UER was founded, and much more. If you don't know much about the subject of urban exploration, this is the episode that will give you the context for how it grew to such a prominent subculture today.

Show Notes: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/the-story-of-urban-exploration

Support the Abandoned America podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AbandonedAmerica

Visit Urban Exploration Rescource: https://uer.ca/

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The History of Urban Exploration: Ninjalicious and Infiltration.org Nov 14, 2022

"Urban Exploration" is a term used by many to describe trespassing, primarily in abandoned places, and over the last 20 years it has developed into its own counterculture and art genre. Today we'll talk about Jeff Chapman, also known as Ninjalicious. A Canadian who found his love for going into restricted areas during his struggle with a terminal illness, Ninjalicious would spend the remaining years of his life sharing his passion for trespassing and building the bedrock of the urban exploration movement. My guest in the episode is Ninjalicious' friend Avatar X, a legend among urban explorers in his own right who created the website UER.ca, the origin point for the community that Ninjalicious advocated for. Together we discuss why Ninjalicious matters so much if you want to really get where the urban exploration started.

Visit Infiltration.org: http://infiltration.org/

Visit Urban Exploration Resource: https://uer.ca/

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AbandonedAmerica

Show Notes: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/the-history-of-urban-exploration-ninjalicious

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The Life & Death of the American Mall Oct 17, 2022

The Retail Apocalypse is upon us, or so we're told: the US has gone from 2,500 malls in the 1980s to about 700 today, and as anchors fold even more are expected to close in years to come. Today I'm joined by guest Alexandra Lange, architectural critic and author of the new book "Meet Me by the Fountain: An Inside History of the Mall", to discuss the amazing life and death of the shopping mall. We'll examine how the mall serves as a nostalgic touchstone for so many, their problematic reinforcement of structural inequality, the phenomenon of dead malls, and what might lie in store for shuttered malls in the future!

Buy Alexandra's new book, "Meet Me by the Fountain: An Inside History of the Mall": https://amzn.to/3eKViXc

Check out Abandoned America's photo gallery of dead malls: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/dead-malls

Support the Abandoned America podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AbandonedAmerica

Show Notes and Links: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/the-life-and-death-of

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What Happened to Brownsville? Oct 03, 2022

Brownsville, Pennsylvania used to be a prosperous town - what happened to turn it into a ghost town of dozens of rotting buildings that include the former train station, hotel, hospital, banks, churches, apartments and homes, and stores? The answer is a haunting mystery centering around how one man purchased scores of properties to build a dream, and why when it failed he left them to rot. In this episode I interview former mayor and lifelong resident Norma Marcolini-Ryan and we discuss Brownsville's glory days as a coal and steamship building city, what led to its decline, what it's like living in a city of ruins, and what the town's hopes for the future are.

Show Notes and Links: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/what-happened-to-brownsville-abandoned

Support the Abandoned America podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AbandonedAmerica

View the Brownsville Photo Gallery on Abandoned America: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/brownsville-pa

View the Brownsville General Hospital Photo Gallery on Abandoned America: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/brownsville-general-hospital

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The Myths and Realities of Chernobyl and Pripyat May 30, 2022

Chernobyl and its neighboring city Pripyat are two of the most haunting abandoned places on earth - but what is it really like in the exclusion zone today? In this season finale we'll hear from Mykhailo "Misha" Teslenko, a Ukrainian guide who has spend years exploring the remains of the worst nuclear disaster ever. We'll talk about what the real risks of radiation exposure are, the people who still live and work in the exclusion zone, and why so many things you may assume about Chernobyl are wrong. We'll also cover the dangerous and foolish actions of the Russian soldiers who recently invaded it, and why they posed such a danger to the rest of the world. Finally, we'll discuss Misha's return to his home in Bucha after the Russian massacres there, and what it is like living through one of the most horrifying genocides in modern history. Special thanks to musician Elizaveta, who allowed us to share her beautiful song "Home" at the end of the episode.

Show Notes: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/the-myths-realities-of-chernobyl

Misha's links: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Elizaveta's links: Website | Twitch | Spotify | Twitter

Save the Children Ukraine

Donate to the Government of Ukraine: https://war.ukraine.ua/donate/

View Abandoned America's Chernobyl/Pripyat Photo Gallery: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/chernobyl-pripyat

Support the Abandoned America podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AbandonedAmerica

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Bonus Episode: Is Keeping Abandoned Locations Secret Important? May 23, 2022

One of the more controversial subjects in the exploration of abandoned buildings is whether or not to keep locations secret. Join host Matthew Christopher of Abandoned America, guest host Matt Lambros, creator of the After the Final Curtain podcast, book series, and website, and Drew Scavello, the photographer behind Truth and Destruction Photography, as we chat about the reasons behind our approaches, and when/why we choose to keep locations to ourselves when sharing our photography, and what some of the consequences can be when locations gain notoriety on the internet.

Show Notes

Support the Abandoned America podcast on Patreon

Truth In Destruction Website | Facebook | Twitter

Follow Matt Lambros' work on After the Final Curtain

Intro/Outro music credit: Odyssey by Rival Consoles

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The Catskill Game Farm: We Bought An (Abandoned) Zoo May 16, 2022

The Catskill Game Farm grew from one man's collection of animals into the largest privately owned zoo in the United States and an incredibly popular tourist attraction that hundreds of thousands of people visited over the course of several decades. In this episode of the Abandoned America podcast, we'll talk about how the Catskill Game Farm became such a legend in the area, what factors ultimately led to its closure, and the huge controversies that erupted in its final days. I'll also talk with Cathy Ballone who, along with her husband Ben, purchased the property after the zoo closed and worked for years to open a bed and breakfast that honored the fond memories so many people had from their visits there. I'm joined for the interview by Matt Lambros of the After the Final Curtain book series and podcast, and together we'll find out how they managed to beat the odds and succeed.

Show Notes: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/the-catskill-game-farm-abandoned

View The Catskill Game Farm Gallery on Abandoned America: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/catskill-game-farm

Hire Cathy Ballone as Your Wedding Planner: http://www.cathyselegantevents.com/

Support the Abandoned America podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AbandonedAmerica

Follow Matt Lambros' work on After the Final Curtain: https://linktr.ee/Mattlambros

Visit Route 1 Views: https://route1views.com/

Intro/Outro music credit: Odyssey by Rival Consoles

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The Abandoned Resorts of the Catskills May 09, 2022

The Catskills region of New York has had two different periods of incredible popularity among vacationers and two different periods of decline that saw many of its most popular resorts left in ruins. In this episode I'm joined by guest co-host Matt Lambros, creator of the After the Final Curtain podcast, website, and book series, and we'll explore what led to its establishment as the place to get away from the city in the late 1800s, and what led to many of the most popular hotels left being left vacant. We'll talk about its subsequent rise as the Borscht Belt and how so many huge resorts from this period like the Pines, the Concord, and Kutsher's that were so influential in American culture were abandoned and eventually destroyed. We'll also cover some wild stories from the area's heyday, like poet Oscar Wilde getting publicly beaten with a sunflower and a bitter, years-long war over fried chicken.

Show Notes: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/the-abandoned-resorts-of-the

Support the Abandoned America podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AbandonedAmerica

Follow Matt Lambros' work on After the Final Curtain: https://linktr.ee/Mattlambros

Intro/Outro music credit: Odyssey by Rival Consoles

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The Tragedy at Third Presbyterian Church May 02, 2022

The vacant Third Presbyterian Church in Chester, Pennsylvania was an endangered architectural treasure in a city that has already lost many. A team of dedicated preservationists were making strides toward rehabilitating it into a much-needed community art center, but a sudden and horrific turn of events resulted in the destruction of the church. Join host Matthew Christopher and guest host Matt Lambros of After the Final Curtain as they interview Dave Guleke, a member of the Chester Historical Preservation Committee, and discuss what made the church so special and important, and why things went tragically awry.

Show Notes

Support the Abandoned America podcast on Patreon

Learn more about and support the Chester Historical Preservation Committee

Follow Matt Lambros' work on After the Final Curtain

Abandoned America Photo Gallery of the Third Presbyterian Church

Intro/Outro music credit: Odyssey by Rival Consoles

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Losing Our Religion: Abandoned Churches Apr 25, 2022

Aside from homes, abandoned churches may be the most prevalent type of abandoned building in the United States - but why is that? In this episode I'm joined by Matt Lambros, author/photographer of the After the Final Curtain book series, and we'll discuss why churches are closing in such staggering numbers. The answers may surprise you! We'll also look at the history of the Ascension of Our Lord Church in Philadelphia, which was the third largest parish in the city and is now a stripped out husk in a once prosperous area now known for being an open air drug market. What happened to the church and the neighborhood around it, and how does that reflect on other urban churches that are struggling? Finally, we'll explore some of the challenges reuse projects face and some of the outlandish new lives closed churches have found.

Show Notes

Support the Abandoned America podcast on Patreon

Follow Matt Lambros' work on After the Final Curtain

View more abandoned churches on Abandoned America

Photo Gallery of the Ascension of Our Lord Church in Philadelphia

Intro/Outro music credit: Rival Consoles

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Exploring Danvers State Hospital Apr 18, 2022

In this episode I'm joined by my guest Matt Lambros, creator of the After the Final Curtain podcast and book series, and we'll discuss Danvers State Hospital, one of the most infamous of the abandoned American asylums. Starting with the fascinating history and lore surrounding the site and journeying to the hospital's closure and the impact that had on the surrounding community, we'll wrap up with the role it played in Matt's interest in abandoned buildings and what it's like to explore a massive, crumbling asylum while searching for fragments of its past.

Show Notes

(Episode Art Photo Credit: Matt Lambros)

Support the Abandoned America podcast on Patreon

Follow Matt Lambros' work on After the Final Curtain

View more abandoned state hospitals on Abandoned America

Intro/Outro music credit: Rival Consoles

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The Closure of the State Hospitals: Abandoned Asylums Part 2 Apr 18, 2022

In part 2 of our exploration of America's abandoned asylums, we'll discuss what led to the closure of so many state hospitals across the United States. Why was such an expensive, ambitious system dismantled and why is the word "asylum" now associated with such stigma and sadness? Together with my guest Matt Lambros, creator of the After The Final Curtain podcast and book series, we'll dive into what happened after the state hospitals were left to decay and why their closure may not have been as much of a victory for mental health care as we might assume.

Show Notes

Support the Abandoned America podcast on Patreon

Follow Matt Lambros' work on After the Final Curtain

View more abandoned state hospitals on Abandoned America

Intro/Outro music credit: Rival Consoles

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Why Were Asylums and State Hospitals Built?: Abandoned Asylums Part 1 Apr 18, 2022

Of all the American ruins, asylums are perhaps the most iconic - but how did so many come to be left to rot across the country? In this two part episode we'll cover the history of the American state hospital system with my guest, Matt Lambros, creator of the After the Final Curtain podcast and book series. How were individuals with mental illness treated before the asylums were built? What led to their foundation, which was so idealistic and progressive, and how did the ambitious plan to provide humane care go so wrong that the term asylum became synonymous with a house of horrors?

Show Notes

Support the Abandoned America podcast on Patreon

Follow Matt Lambros' work on After the Final Curtain

View more abandoned state hospitals on Abandoned America

Intro/Outro music credit: Rival Consoles

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/abandonedamerica/support

Abandoned Theaters: The Victory Theatre Apr 18, 2022

Now that we've discussed the history of theaters in America and why so many were lost or abandoned, let's take a closer look at a specific one: the Victory Theatre in Holyoke, MA, which has been abandoned since 1979. I'm joined by my guest Matt Lambros, one of the country's foremost experts on abandoned theaters and creator of the After the Final Curtain podcast and book series, as we ask how one of America's richest towns lost so many of its important buildings, what are the plans for the future of the Victory, and why does its revitalization matter so much to the town?

Show Notes

Support the Abandoned America podcast on Patreon

Follow Matt Lambros' work on After the Final Curtain

View more abandoned theaters on Abandoned America

Intro/Outro music credit: Rival Consoles

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/abandonedamerica/support

The Rise and Fall of American Theaters Apr 18, 2022

How did so many grand theaters and movie palaces come to be abandoned? In this episode we'll dive into the history of theaters in America with Matt Lambros, theater historian and creator of the After the Final Curtain book series and podcast. Together we'll chart the race to build increasingly ornate theaters across America and uncover why they eventually fell out of favor with the public, leading to hundreds closing and ultimately being abandoned or demolished. We'll also look at what the outlook for American theaters is, considering the current difficulties facing live productions during a pandemic.

Show Notes

Support the Abandoned America podcast on Patreon

Follow Matt Lambros' work on After the Final Curtain

View more abandoned theaters on Abandoned America

Intro/Outro music credit: Rival Consoles

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/abandonedamerica/support