Colonial Theater

The Colonial Theatre was located at 492 Farmington Ave. and it seated 1200 people.

A new building has been constructed behind the Colonial's facade. A Brazilian restaurant is expected to open inside that new building very soon.

It's a done deal. The restaurant is now open, as of 7/11/04.

Paul Michaud

The Colonial Tehatre ran 3 strip Cinerama from 9/20/61 thru 12/19/65. From 10/25/64 both 70MM and 3 strip were used in parallel. I have some great color pics of the Colonial during its Cinerama days when the add a picture returns.

Charles,

I would love to add the pictures to my Cinerama web site -http://cinerama.topcities.com of the Colonial when it was a Cinerama Theatre. I have pictures before it was a Cinerama and after - http://cinerama.topcities.com/ctcolonial.htm Please contact me at roland.lataille@sbcglobal.net

Thanks!

Roland

An article on Hartford theaters lists the architect of the Colonial Theater as James A. Tuck.

This photo is somewhat indistinct, but the caption places the theater on the left on West Farmington in Hartford. The date is 1933. The films on the marquee are "Beloved" and "Convention City":
http://tinyurl.com/zsj9h

The people who knocked this beauty down (and an historic Hartford home behind it) had the nerve to call themselves "Colonial Theater Renaissance Corporation". What a joke! Renaissance my a**!

When this was a Cinerama house it was run by Lockwood and Gordon (sometimes referred to as Gordon and Lockwood or L&G). L&G ran several Cinerama ventures around the country, eventually selling many of its assetts to SBC (an arm of Sonderling Broadcasting Corp) and Pacific Theatres.

Doug Amos, eventually president of SBC, ran this house in the late 50's early 60's to the best of my recollection.

SBC eventually built the Cinema City in Hartford, which was uniquely constructed unlike the other SBC modern (early 70's) multiplexes.

Does anyone have pictures of when it was a Cinerama theatre?

Some pics and history at:

http://cinerama.topcities.com/ctcolonial.htm
http://cinerama.topcities.com/ctcolonial.htm

That theatre looks like it was a beautiful theatre--both inside and out, with a classic curved screen and curtains, to boot. What a shame that it had to be closed and demolished like that. Why it couldn't have just been restored is beyond me. It's disheartening to hear of yet another venerable old movie palace gone the way of cinema heaven to make way for these antiseptic-looking multiplex cinemas that mainly show today's schlockier movies.

Another poster on here had an excellent idea, which could've/should've been applied to this theatre and elsewhere; Leave the venerable old movie palaces for the over-40 crowd, with the older films, at 3-5 dollar admissions, and let today's young kids have the multiplexes so they can have the schlockier films and destroy the movie-going experience there.

If it were that simple. I worked in the business for 20 years and there are problems with that model. Older theatres were likely in cities where parking, and adventuring downtown at night were both dubious. The megaplexes tend to play out todays films so that there is not enough run after they are complete.

Plus, the old buildings are expensive to keep up, with 80 year old roofs, outdated HVAC systems and a lot of space to heat and cool for a minimal return on tickets sold.

Unless there is a grass roots organization to place the house under non-profit status, raise funds and apply for tax breaks, a private owner doesn't stand much of a chance.

It's like opening a harware store between a Lowes and Home Depot; nice thought, but not practical in todays climate of business efficiency.

Chuck1231

If your still around, please let us know where we can see pictures of the Colonial when it was a Cinerama theatre. I have pictures before it was a Cinerama and after - http://cineramahistory.com/ctcolonial.htm Please contact me at roland.lataille@sbcglobal.net

Thanks!

Roland

Mentioned here http://www.hogriver.org/issues/v01n03/palaces.htm

Roalnd, I sent you an email with the info that I think you requested. If not let me know.

Here's a photo described as being taken in 1983: http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=hartford&catpagesize=25&ProductID=25412