Mentos Theater at Paier College in Bridgeport, CT

Like a missing chapter from “War of the Worlds”, an alien ovoid in the shape of a popular candy has been in our midst since the 1970’s at the University of Bridgeport! Could it be a NASA project gone awry, or a CIA plot to reincarnate P.T. Barnam? Beware, for this is a dangerous matter to even ponder, let alone ask such provocative questions!

Matthew Christopher traveled with me to Bridgeport in July of 2021 to explore and take photos.  He coined the phrase “Mentos Theater” which had us both laughing at the ridiculous similarity to the shape of the “experimental” theater from the 1970’s and the candy that had yet to gain worldwide popularity at the time the theater was built.

The University of Bridgeport – now Paier College has gone through many changes since it began in Seaside Park in 1927, the year after Route 1 was designated to run through the middle of town.  For a period it was taken over by the “Moonies” (Unification Church), but eventually it returned to non-denominational governance. The theater was one of the first theater-in-the-round types in Connecticut, designed by a local firm.  It was closed for renovations when we visited, so all we got was the mentos-like exterior view.  Okay, if you really have to know… it’s real name is the Mertens Theater.