Print

Cinema City Closes Its Doors

Jenna Carlesso

July 22, 2010

Cinema City, a beloved theater in Hartford's South End known for its art films, will close its doors for good tonight.

The theater will reopen tomorrow in a wing of the Bow Tie Palace 17 and Odyssey Theater at 330 New Park Ave. under the name "Cinema City at the Palace." The new digs will feature five screens, stadium seating, a new cafe, digital stereo sound and more parking. The current theater -- on Brainard Road across from the Metropolitan District Commission water pollution control facility -- has four screens and a smaller parking lot.

When I spoke to Joseph Masher, Bow Tie Cinema's chief operating officer, last month he said it is because of the theater's steadfastly loyal following that it will reopen at a new location with more perks. The new place will even include memorabilia from the old theater in its lobby area, he said.

The MDC has purchased Cinema City's Brainard Road property for $2 million. Officials said the land will be used for an expansion of the water pollution control facility.

By 3 p.m. today, the theater's parking lot was filling up with guests -- many of whom called themselves "regulars."

"We hate to see it go. They have such great films," said Betsy Lundy, who has been traveling from Longmeadow, Mass., to see films at Cinema City for the last three years. She said she has enjoyed the theater for its spaciousness and lack of crowds.

Disappointed, too, was Marc Longenecker of Cromwell, who said he and his friends "have a real addiction" to movies, particularly art films.

"When Hollywood releases are as terrible as they've been all summer, this is where you see the good movies," he said. Longenecker said he plans to bring his business over to the new location.

Movies, popcorn and sodas are on the house today as Cinema City shows films for the last time at its current location. Free admission is on a first-come, first-serve basis, due to limited seating in the auditoriums. The theater will be showing "The Queen" and "Life is Beautiful." Both films start at 7:30 p.m.