If you want it updated feel free to go right ahead and do the research required. I don’t have the time right now to put together another listing. Many of the theatres above still appear to be for sale. The Madison in Albany is only asking $399,000 now.
I drove by this building after I went to the Danbury Trashers game on Sunday. It really does not look like a theatre. if there was a theatre in here it must’ve been of the storerfront variety.
Why are cities still knocking down these movie houses? Haven’t they learned the lessons from all those towns who knocked them down decades ago and wish they had them back? Or the cities who DIDN’T knock them down and are so glad that they didn’t?
Frequently in that era a theatre that you find was only around for a year or two was one of those old storefront movie theatres. Maybe that was it. I don’t know. I’ll check out the building when I’m in Danbury this coming Sunday.
Did you find any evidence that the Lyceum was a movie theatre? Perhaps it was just a live theatre. In the old city directories movie theatres often were designated as having moving pictures, but not always.
The mall had a three screen cinema (maybe four at a later time). The ten screen cinema behind the mall still exists as the Holiday Cinemas 10 which are, in my opinion, the best kept cinemas in Connecticut.
Regarding recent comments, I would like the a way to see the list of theatres with recent comments along with their location as is done for new and updated theatres. For example, when I see Palace Theatre, I don’t know if it is one in Connecticut (which I’d care to read about), California (which I wouldn’t care to read about), or somewhere in between. It would make it easier than having to click on the theatre link to see which one it is.
As I said above, it closed in the 1930’s, so unless you are quite elderly you wouldn’t have heard about it. I’m not sure if it was a storefront theatre or if an auditorium was carved out of space inside this building or what.
Here are the hellos, goodbyes, and welcome backs in 2004 in Connecticut. (Cinemas opening, closing, oe reopening).
Hello:
The 5-screen Criterion Cinemas opens in downtown New Haven.
Goodbye:
Milford Quad Cinemas in Milford close due to new Cinema de Lux slated to open in 2006.
The Palace Theatre (formerly the Roger Sherman, when it showed movies) in New Haven closes.
The single screen Forest Theatre in West Haven closes down.
Welcome back:
The State Theatre in Jewett City remodels and reopens with new ownership.
The Avon Theatre in Stamford reopens after an extensive (and expensive) restoration.
The Thomas Lamb designed Palace Theater in Waterbury reopens as a live venue after being dark for 18 years. Close to $20 million is spent to restore and renovate the theatre.
Changes:
Loews Danbury 10 adds four screens and converts all auditoriums to stadium seating.
Darien Playhouse converts the lobby and part of the auditoriums to retail reopening with two much smaller auditoriums.
The former Hoyts Enfield Cinemas 12 is sold to National Amusements.
Former Hoyts theatres in Hartford, Wilton, and New Canaan are all sold to Crown Theatres.
A Brazilian restaurant opens behind the facade of the former Colonial Theatre in Hartford.
The Bank Street Theatre in New Milford in purchased by Garden Homes Management.
GHM also adds a second screen in the former stage area to the State Cinema in Stamford.
The Bijou Theatre (aka Downtown Cinema) in Bridgeport and Colonial Theatre in Canaan begin restorations.
The Southington Drive-In is sold to the town for park land. One screen is demolished. The other will begin showing “movies in the park” in 2006.
The Straford Stadium 14 is sold to Regal by Entertainment Cinemas.
The lobby of the Ville Theatre in Waterbury is demolished.
The Watertown Drive-In’s two remaining screens are torn down.
The Elm Theatre in West Hartford is gutten despite efforts from local residents to save it.
Things slated to occur in 2005:
Cinema North opens an 8 screen multiplex in Storrs.
Holiday Cinemas opens a 10-screen cinema in Wallingford.
O'Neil Theatres opens a 12-screen cinema in Lisbon.
Cine 1-2-3-4 in New Haven closes down.
Forestville Theatres in Bristol closes down.
I’d love to hear about changes that occured in other states as well!
Over a year after renovations have begun the building’s exterior looks no different. Even the marquee lettering advertising movies and their admission prices has not changed.
If you want it updated feel free to go right ahead and do the research required. I don’t have the time right now to put together another listing. Many of the theatres above still appear to be for sale. The Madison in Albany is only asking $399,000 now.
Back in 1909 ALL cinemas were one screen.
I drove by this building after I went to the Danbury Trashers game on Sunday. It really does not look like a theatre. if there was a theatre in here it must’ve been of the storerfront variety.
Isn’t the address for this actually 106 Federal Road?
Why are cities still knocking down these movie houses? Haven’t they learned the lessons from all those towns who knocked them down decades ago and wish they had them back? Or the cities who DIDN’T knock them down and are so glad that they didn’t?
Also, it opened in 1996, not 1999.
It is in the Wintonbury Mall (there’s a spelling mistake in the listing above.) Chain is entertainment Cinemas.
The chain should be listed as Entertainment Cinemas.
At 20 screens, this is the largest theatre in Connecticut.
Frequently in that era a theatre that you find was only around for a year or two was one of those old storefront movie theatres. Maybe that was it. I don’t know. I’ll check out the building when I’m in Danbury this coming Sunday.
Did you find any evidence that the Lyceum was a movie theatre? Perhaps it was just a live theatre. In the old city directories movie theatres often were designated as having moving pictures, but not always.
Was this previously a movie theatre under a different name?
This was known as the Norwalk Theatre in its early days.
This theatre is now a Restoration Hardware store.
The mall had a three screen cinema (maybe four at a later time). The ten screen cinema behind the mall still exists as the Holiday Cinemas 10 which are, in my opinion, the best kept cinemas in Connecticut.
http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=9449 is the correct link.
The comment quoted above is mine and remains my intellectual property.
http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=9449 is the correct link
Regarding recent comments, I would like the a way to see the list of theatres with recent comments along with their location as is done for new and updated theatres. For example, when I see Palace Theatre, I don’t know if it is one in Connecticut (which I’d care to read about), California (which I wouldn’t care to read about), or somewhere in between. It would make it easier than having to click on the theatre link to see which one it is.
The State Theatre once again closed down in late 2004.
Wow! I definitely need to go visit this place sometime!
As I said above, it closed in the 1930’s, so unless you are quite elderly you wouldn’t have heard about it. I’m not sure if it was a storefront theatre or if an auditorium was carved out of space inside this building or what.
er…spelling mistakes Straford should be Stratford and gutten should be gutted, sorry.
Here are the hellos, goodbyes, and welcome backs in 2004 in Connecticut. (Cinemas opening, closing, oe reopening).
Hello:
The 5-screen Criterion Cinemas opens in downtown New Haven.
Goodbye:
Milford Quad Cinemas in Milford close due to new Cinema de Lux slated to open in 2006.
The Palace Theatre (formerly the Roger Sherman, when it showed movies) in New Haven closes.
The single screen Forest Theatre in West Haven closes down.
Welcome back:
The State Theatre in Jewett City remodels and reopens with new ownership.
The Avon Theatre in Stamford reopens after an extensive (and expensive) restoration.
The Thomas Lamb designed Palace Theater in Waterbury reopens as a live venue after being dark for 18 years. Close to $20 million is spent to restore and renovate the theatre.
Changes:
Loews Danbury 10 adds four screens and converts all auditoriums to stadium seating.
Darien Playhouse converts the lobby and part of the auditoriums to retail reopening with two much smaller auditoriums.
The former Hoyts Enfield Cinemas 12 is sold to National Amusements.
Former Hoyts theatres in Hartford, Wilton, and New Canaan are all sold to Crown Theatres.
A Brazilian restaurant opens behind the facade of the former Colonial Theatre in Hartford.
The Bank Street Theatre in New Milford in purchased by Garden Homes Management.
GHM also adds a second screen in the former stage area to the State Cinema in Stamford.
The Bijou Theatre (aka Downtown Cinema) in Bridgeport and Colonial Theatre in Canaan begin restorations.
The Southington Drive-In is sold to the town for park land. One screen is demolished. The other will begin showing “movies in the park” in 2006.
The Straford Stadium 14 is sold to Regal by Entertainment Cinemas.
The lobby of the Ville Theatre in Waterbury is demolished.
The Watertown Drive-In’s two remaining screens are torn down.
The Elm Theatre in West Hartford is gutten despite efforts from local residents to save it.
Things slated to occur in 2005:
Cinema North opens an 8 screen multiplex in Storrs.
Holiday Cinemas opens a 10-screen cinema in Wallingford.
O'Neil Theatres opens a 12-screen cinema in Lisbon.
Cine 1-2-3-4 in New Haven closes down.
Forestville Theatres in Bristol closes down.
I’d love to hear about changes that occured in other states as well!
There’s a photo of the former theatre today at View link
Over a year after renovations have begun the building’s exterior looks no different. Even the marquee lettering advertising movies and their admission prices has not changed.