and vaudeville" that were displayed every night, as well as "country butcher shops" on Tuesdays and "safe and sane" Independence Day events every July 4. Over the years, the frequency of high-profile events at Prospect Hall, including political meetings, decreased. It continued to be used for events such as an October 1929 debate between mayor Jimmy Walker and ex-governor Al Smith, as well as Works Progress Administration productions during the 1930s. The main ballroom was used for vaudeville and movie screenings during the summer between 1936 and 1940. White Eagle ownership William L. Kolle, son of William D. Kolle, sold the building in 1940 to the White Eagle Society, a group formed by Polish immigrants. White Eagle converted it into a Polish-American community center. The organization repainted and repaired the building by 1949. Prospect Hall was used by fraternal societies and labor unions throughout this time. The immediate vicinity began to decline in the 1950s, following the construction of the Prospect Expressway immediately across the street. White Eagle started to sell off some decorations by the 1960s to pay for repairs. By then, Prospect Hall hosted occasional boxing matches. The building, at that point known as the Polish Community Center, was renovated in 1970. The United Polish Societies of South Brooklyn called it their headquarters as of 1971, meeting one evening a month. Dances and concerts were also hosted in Prospect Hall until the 1970s. It was completely shuttered by 1981, at which point it had deteriorated so much that there were barrels throughout the space to catch rain from the leaking roof. The ground-floor restaurant saw little business but continued to operate nevertheless. Halkias ownership Greek-American couple Michael and Alice Halkias bought the hall in 1981. Michael Halkias was born in Pittsburgh and grew up in Greece and Syria before coming back to the United States in 1966. He was a former real estate agent, travel agent, and employment agent who helped Greek people immigrate to the United States. He also worked in radio, advertising, and publishing before purchasing the hall. Under the Halkiases' ownership, Prospect Hall was renamed Grand Prospect Hall. The couple renovated the hall in a piecemeal fashion over the following 18 years, with a staff of 30 to 90 restorers. Michael Halkias chose to redesign the main ballroom in "happy colors" rather than the original paint scheme, with carvings of fruit in different colors based