Peter Laudati
Encyclopedia
Peter A. Laudati was a sports promoter and a part-owner of the Providence Steam Roller
of the National Football League
. He was also responsible for the construction of the team's stadium, the Cyclodome
. Prior to this, he was a prominent Providence
real estate developer.
Laudati was an ardent promoter of sports ventures; in addition to the Cycledrome he built Providence’s Kinsley Park
, home of the Providence Grays
baseball team in the 1930s. He was instrumental in bringing the New York Yankees
, featuring Babe Ruth
and Lou Gehrig
, to play an exhibition game at that park. He then established the Steam Roller football team in 1916 with James Dooley
and Charles Coppen
.
The Steam Roller became a member of the NFL in 1925. In 1928, they became the first team in New England
to win an NFL Championship. According to a Steam Roller cash book, kept by Laudati in 1927, that was donated to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
by Ray Monaco
, who also played with the Washington Redskins
and the Cleveland Rams
, after a November 8th game against the New York Giants
, brought a total intake of $9,911.51. Added to a $1,000 loan received from Laudati a day earlier, that gave the team a balance of nearly $11,000, more than enough to cover the game’s expenses of $5,840.64. The NFL took 1 percent of the gate receipts from each game and the Cycledrome took 15 percent; players’ salaries ($1,972) and the visiting team’s share ($2,475) accounted for most of the other expenses.
However by 1931 financial issues forced the team to go on a hiatus and fold in 1933. Laudati turned this his advantage. In 1934 he leveled the Cycledrome and built on the site an E.M. Lowe drive-in movie theater. When it opened in 1937, it was only the second drive-in theater in the nation, the first being in Jersey City
. Although his name was not used in connection with the Cycledrome in any of the contemporary newspaper accounts, the chief financier and owner of the building was Laudati.
He died in September 1977.
Providence Steam Roller
The Providence Steam Roller was a professional American football team based in Providence, Rhode Island in the National Football League from 1925 to 1931. Providence was the first New England team to win an NFL championship...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was also responsible for the construction of the team's stadium, the Cyclodome
Cyclodome
Cyclodome is a former American football stadium located in Providence, Rhode Island.1 It derives its name from its intended use as a bicycle racing stadium when it was built in 1925 by sports promoter Pete Laudati.2 The stadium was home to the Providence Steam Roller of the National Football...
. Prior to this, he was a prominent Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
real estate developer.
Laudati was an ardent promoter of sports ventures; in addition to the Cycledrome he built Providence’s Kinsley Park
Kinsley Park
Kinsley Park was an athletic field, used for professional football, minor league baseball and pro soccer, located in Providence, Rhode Island at the corner of Kinsley and Acorn streets. The field was used primarily by Providence Steam Roller, Providence Grays and the Providence Gold Bugs...
, home of the Providence Grays
Providence Grays
The Providence Grays were a Major League Baseball team based in Providence, Rhode Island who played in the National League from until . The Grays played at Messer Field in the Olneyville neighborhood. The team won the National League title twice, in and...
baseball team in the 1930s. He was instrumental in bringing the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, featuring Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
and Lou Gehrig
Lou Gehrig
Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig , nicknamed "The Iron Horse" for his durability, was an American Major League Baseball first baseman. He played his entire 17-year baseball career for the New York Yankees . Gehrig set several major league records. He holds the record for most career grand slams...
, to play an exhibition game at that park. He then established the Steam Roller football team in 1916 with James Dooley
James Dooley (judge)
Judge James E. Dooley was a leading sports figure in Rhode Island. He was a graduate of Georgetown Law School and became part owner of the Providence Steam Roller of the National Football League from 1916 until 1933 when the team folded. He was also a founder of the Providence Reds of the...
and Charles Coppen
Charles Coppen
Charles B. Coppen was a sports editor for the Providence Journal. However he is best remember for being a part owner of the Providence Steam Roller of the National Football League. He not only shared ownership of the team with Peter Laudati and James Dooley, but was also a co-founder of the team...
.
The Steam Roller became a member of the NFL in 1925. In 1928, they became the first team in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
to win an NFL Championship. According to a Steam Roller cash book, kept by Laudati in 1927, that was donated to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
by Ray Monaco
Ray Monaco
Raymond William Monaco was an American football guard in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and the Cleveland Rams. He attended Holy Cross....
, who also played with the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
and the Cleveland Rams
Cleveland Rams
The Cleveland Rams were a professional American football team based in Cleveland, Ohio.The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland, Ohio. The NFL considers the franchise as a second incarnation of the previous Cleveland Rams team that was a charter member of the second American Football League...
, after a November 8th game against the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, brought a total intake of $9,911.51. Added to a $1,000 loan received from Laudati a day earlier, that gave the team a balance of nearly $11,000, more than enough to cover the game’s expenses of $5,840.64. The NFL took 1 percent of the gate receipts from each game and the Cycledrome took 15 percent; players’ salaries ($1,972) and the visiting team’s share ($2,475) accounted for most of the other expenses.
However by 1931 financial issues forced the team to go on a hiatus and fold in 1933. Laudati turned this his advantage. In 1934 he leveled the Cycledrome and built on the site an E.M. Lowe drive-in movie theater. When it opened in 1937, it was only the second drive-in theater in the nation, the first being in Jersey City
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
. Although his name was not used in connection with the Cycledrome in any of the contemporary newspaper accounts, the chief financier and owner of the building was Laudati.
He died in September 1977.