Another sad victim of the megaplex. This wasn’t the most spectacular theater; its interior had no decorative appointments and was essentially just a boxy (but large) auditorium. But what Branford lost was a family-run, downtown theater that appealed to families and gave patrons a sense of community. Contrast and compare to the warehouse-looking, garish, overpriced megaplex just east of Branford that put this place out of business. By the way, that will be $5.00 for your small bag of popcorn, and another $5.00 for that small soda. Enjoy the show!
ZARDOZ
commented about
Cine-4on
Jan 1, 2005 at 4:06 pm
It’s been at least 15 years since I visited this theater. The reason I stopped going there, even though I lived nearby for many years, was that the theater experience was absolutely awful. The theater was originally designed for two separate auditoriums, but each was split AGAIN. Result was that seats faced toward the wall, rather than the screen. Further, this theater was a small one to begin with. When the auditoriums were split, the new screens were ridiculously small. It was like watching TV!
Now, all of this was 15 years ago. Has anything changed, here? I doubt it!
A tip of the hat to Mr. Gorlick and this wonderful little art house cinema. In 1998, I went to the Madison Art Cinemas with a friend whom I was dating at the time. We went to a 9 pm show in the dead of winter. When I dropped off my date at her house in New Haven, she was shocked to find that she left her pocketbook and keys at the theater. (How a woman can forget her pocketbook is beyond me, but this is what happened.) So, here it is nearly midnight, and we called the theater in the odd chance that there might be somebody there. As I recall, Mr. Gorlick was staying late doing some bookkeeping and he answered the phone. He said the pocketbook was safe and sound, that he lived in the New Haven area, and would be happy to drop it off for her on Whalley Avenue, saving us a 40-mile round trip. I have been a steady customer of the Madison Art Cinemas ever since. Great guy. Great little theater. Now, if only they would offer real butter on the popcorn…
This would be very, very easy to research. The Meriden Library has a terrific and complete collection of back newspapers, either in paper or microfiche. Some records go back to colonial times. Fascinating stuff.
I grew up in Meriden, but I don’t recall ever hearing about the “Crystal Theater.” I’ve been by this particular building thousands of times; it has been largely vacant since the mid-1960s.
I live not far from this theater, or shall I say, set of theaters. What a horrible shame these gems require millions to restore. Sad but true that downtown Bridgeport may never see a true renaissance. Its glory days lie some 60 years past. Suburbanization, failed urban policies of the 1960s, inner-city crime, etc. have taken their toll on what remains the most populated city in CT. And yet, in our midst are these great movie palaces, a fabulous reminder of what was. And what CAN BE again if the political will exists to make it happen. BTW, the marquee has been torn away.
The name of this theater, as listed in Cinema Treasures, should be CHANGED to read simply, “Meriden Theater.” The “twin” feature came in its latter days, as the owner attempted to compete with the mega-movieplexes by cutting the wonderful auditorium in half. It was a cheap, crass move. The “wall” between the two separate theaters was little more than painted cinderblock, and there wasn’t the slightest effort to soundproof it. Seating was unchanged and, as it was originally designed to focus on the single stage/screen, resulted in many of seats facing AWAY from the two separate auditorium screens. The result was a horrible moviegoing experience.
Well, if I may add a bit more, perhaps this will spur some additional memories from others. There was a balcony here, but in the 1960s and 70s, it was closed to the public. That didn’t seem to matter much, because people (like me) would always sneak up there with the hopes that the projectionist wouldn’t kick us out! There were persistent rumors that the balcony had been closed because of structural problems, but that rumor was never substantiated by anyone I met. My paternal grandmother, who lived to the ripe age of 101, used to tell me that the Capitol used to be called the “Life Theater” when she was a kid in the early 1920s. I never bothered to look that up. Some fellow with the last name of “Ricci” owned the Capitol, and also later owned the Meriden Theater on Broad Street in Meriden, CT. In fact, Ricci put his name on the Capitol’s neon marquee: “Ricci’s Capitol.”
Fabulous place. I was fortunate enough to have traveled through Ogden in the early 1990s, before the restoration was begun. I was able to get a personal tour of the theater from one of the folks responsible for the restoration project. At that time the place was terribly run down, there was trash everywhere, most of the lighting didn’t work, etc. But, one could tell the Egyptian would be spectacular with a full restoration. Even though the restoration is a bit too contemporary for my tastes, the result is worth a special visit.
The only thing sorely missing from this place is availability of REAL BUTTER on the popcorn. Might I suggest making this available, for a fee, of course, at ALL movie theaters?? Not every one of us wants that “buttery flavor” Mazola on our popcorn!
What a shame this place is gone. It was fabulous! Wasn’t art deco, though. Art moderne is a more appropriate description. Prior to its conversion to a “twin,” the screen was enormous. It was on this huge screen I saw 2001 A Space Oddysey, the Blue Max, the Ten Commandments, Ben Hur, and other such wide-screen epics. The theater’s ceiling featured recessed neon red lighting behind a scalloped effect, cove lighting in the inner lobby, hidden red lighting on the walkway behind the auditoriam, and a “cry room” on the 2nd floor. Meriden lost its most beautiful theater when it allowed this to be demolished.
One of the most spectacular, intact art-deco theaters left. Worth a special visit to Anaconda, MT! I go every year. Talk about a time warp! When you enter this palace, you won’t believe how original the whole place is. Frosted glass, murals, wall sconces, etc. See it!
Another sad victim of the megaplex. This wasn’t the most spectacular theater; its interior had no decorative appointments and was essentially just a boxy (but large) auditorium. But what Branford lost was a family-run, downtown theater that appealed to families and gave patrons a sense of community. Contrast and compare to the warehouse-looking, garish, overpriced megaplex just east of Branford that put this place out of business. By the way, that will be $5.00 for your small bag of popcorn, and another $5.00 for that small soda. Enjoy the show!
It’s been at least 15 years since I visited this theater. The reason I stopped going there, even though I lived nearby for many years, was that the theater experience was absolutely awful. The theater was originally designed for two separate auditoriums, but each was split AGAIN. Result was that seats faced toward the wall, rather than the screen. Further, this theater was a small one to begin with. When the auditoriums were split, the new screens were ridiculously small. It was like watching TV!
Now, all of this was 15 years ago. Has anything changed, here? I doubt it!
A tip of the hat to Mr. Gorlick and this wonderful little art house cinema. In 1998, I went to the Madison Art Cinemas with a friend whom I was dating at the time. We went to a 9 pm show in the dead of winter. When I dropped off my date at her house in New Haven, she was shocked to find that she left her pocketbook and keys at the theater. (How a woman can forget her pocketbook is beyond me, but this is what happened.) So, here it is nearly midnight, and we called the theater in the odd chance that there might be somebody there. As I recall, Mr. Gorlick was staying late doing some bookkeeping and he answered the phone. He said the pocketbook was safe and sound, that he lived in the New Haven area, and would be happy to drop it off for her on Whalley Avenue, saving us a 40-mile round trip. I have been a steady customer of the Madison Art Cinemas ever since. Great guy. Great little theater. Now, if only they would offer real butter on the popcorn…
This would be very, very easy to research. The Meriden Library has a terrific and complete collection of back newspapers, either in paper or microfiche. Some records go back to colonial times. Fascinating stuff.
I grew up in Meriden, but I don’t recall ever hearing about the “Crystal Theater.” I’ve been by this particular building thousands of times; it has been largely vacant since the mid-1960s.
As amazing as this thing is, it can get even BETTER the more scholarship we all put into it. I will attempt to do my part.
I live not far from this theater, or shall I say, set of theaters. What a horrible shame these gems require millions to restore. Sad but true that downtown Bridgeport may never see a true renaissance. Its glory days lie some 60 years past. Suburbanization, failed urban policies of the 1960s, inner-city crime, etc. have taken their toll on what remains the most populated city in CT. And yet, in our midst are these great movie palaces, a fabulous reminder of what was. And what CAN BE again if the political will exists to make it happen. BTW, the marquee has been torn away.
The name of this theater, as listed in Cinema Treasures, should be CHANGED to read simply, “Meriden Theater.” The “twin” feature came in its latter days, as the owner attempted to compete with the mega-movieplexes by cutting the wonderful auditorium in half. It was a cheap, crass move. The “wall” between the two separate theaters was little more than painted cinderblock, and there wasn’t the slightest effort to soundproof it. Seating was unchanged and, as it was originally designed to focus on the single stage/screen, resulted in many of seats facing AWAY from the two separate auditorium screens. The result was a horrible moviegoing experience.
Well, if I may add a bit more, perhaps this will spur some additional memories from others. There was a balcony here, but in the 1960s and 70s, it was closed to the public. That didn’t seem to matter much, because people (like me) would always sneak up there with the hopes that the projectionist wouldn’t kick us out! There were persistent rumors that the balcony had been closed because of structural problems, but that rumor was never substantiated by anyone I met. My paternal grandmother, who lived to the ripe age of 101, used to tell me that the Capitol used to be called the “Life Theater” when she was a kid in the early 1920s. I never bothered to look that up. Some fellow with the last name of “Ricci” owned the Capitol, and also later owned the Meriden Theater on Broad Street in Meriden, CT. In fact, Ricci put his name on the Capitol’s neon marquee: “Ricci’s Capitol.”
Fabulous place. I was fortunate enough to have traveled through Ogden in the early 1990s, before the restoration was begun. I was able to get a personal tour of the theater from one of the folks responsible for the restoration project. At that time the place was terribly run down, there was trash everywhere, most of the lighting didn’t work, etc. But, one could tell the Egyptian would be spectacular with a full restoration. Even though the restoration is a bit too contemporary for my tastes, the result is worth a special visit.
The newly-restored Palace is STUNNING! Wow!!
The only thing sorely missing from this place is availability of REAL BUTTER on the popcorn. Might I suggest making this available, for a fee, of course, at ALL movie theaters?? Not every one of us wants that “buttery flavor” Mazola on our popcorn!
What a shame this place is gone. It was fabulous! Wasn’t art deco, though. Art moderne is a more appropriate description. Prior to its conversion to a “twin,” the screen was enormous. It was on this huge screen I saw 2001 A Space Oddysey, the Blue Max, the Ten Commandments, Ben Hur, and other such wide-screen epics. The theater’s ceiling featured recessed neon red lighting behind a scalloped effect, cove lighting in the inner lobby, hidden red lighting on the walkway behind the auditoriam, and a “cry room” on the 2nd floor. Meriden lost its most beautiful theater when it allowed this to be demolished.
One of the most spectacular, intact art-deco theaters left. Worth a special visit to Anaconda, MT! I go every year. Talk about a time warp! When you enter this palace, you won’t believe how original the whole place is. Frosted glass, murals, wall sconces, etc. See it!