Cinema City 4

Hartford is lucky to have this place, plus Cinestudio, Real Art Ways, and the Wadsworth Atheneum for alternative film programming.
I've been here, though not that often, having driven out from Providence. I remember seeing The Music Teacher here in October of 1989 and the Moroder-scored version of Metropolis another time. I had heard that the place was becoming a bit tattered with time and am wondering if it has been refurbished at all.

It has not been refurbished since it opened many years ago. When Crown took over from Hoyts last year they did nothing other than paint the walls of the lobby.

This is pathtic, the worst theatre in the area. Hartford deserves an Angelika or a Criterion Cinemas, Real Art Ways and Cinestudio are much better than this moldly theatre that probably hasn't been upgrade since the 60's, the place smells moldly.

I'm guessing prior to the muliplex boom that took place in Hartford County they got away with this horrable theatre because a.- they were the only theatre showing major art movies (verses Cinestudio which shows art, alternative and some cultrually significant Hollywood films and Real Art Ways which shows art, alternative films and documentaries) and b.- because its compition was the Showcase East Hartford, which is only in slightly better condition. Why upgrade the lobby? I'm there for the theatres, to see a movie, thats where I'll spend more time.

I'm looking foward to the day it goes dark and Criterion Cinemas comes to West Hartford. I don't have anything against old constructions but they have to be upgraded and at the very least they should have put in new seats.

I remember seeing Snow White a long time ago at this theater.

This theatre, along with all Crown Theatres in Connecticut, was just sold to Bow Tie Partners.

Bow Tie Cinemas assumed operation of the Cinema City (note name restored to its original) on 11/17. With our new Criterion Cinemas at Blue Back Square opening this fall, we have not yet finalized our plans for the future of Cinema City. Should we countinue to operate it, look forward to a decent renovation (seats, projection & sound, concessions, etc.).

My wife and I have patronized Cinema City throughout our almost 2 decades in Connecticut because, unlike its multiplex competition, it consistently shows films worth seeing, films that are thought-provoking and artful.

The visual appearance of the theater is not particularly important -- there are very few attractive multiplexes. Nor is the sound system a problem. The films this theater shows are not of a type that rely on special effects for their impact. The key is to maintain a safe parking lot and clean, comfortable seats.

While it is likely that the new Criterion complex at Blue Back will siphon off some of Cinema City's clientèle, it is likely to be expensive. Perhaps Cinema City, with its free parking and relatively low overhead, could best compete by featuring quality at a lower price.

Bow Tie Cinemas will keep Cinema City open and operating! Our new Criterion Cinemas at Blue Back Square is set to open on 11/2/07. Look for some improvements at Cinema City in the near future.

Will you finally upgrade the seats? I believe the ones in there are still original from when the cinema was first constructed!

Yes, that's part of the plan. The are really comfortable, though...

Was there two nights ago to see Interview. Really loved the theater and the location. The whole place just had a really nice feeling to it. Not to mention very unique programming for the area.

The owner back in 1987 planned to expand to 8 cinemas, according to http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DEFDC123AF932A25753C1A961948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2

Oops. 6.

This cinema should just be known as Cinema City as Bow Tie changed the name back (removing the Art @ part) when they bought it.

Bow tie has owned this theater for more than a year now. What improvements have they done so far? Have the put in new seatss?
tom

I went there for In Bruges last week. Nope, same old seats.

I was priveledged to have managed this theatre in 1979 under SBC.This was before the conversion to art and independent films. SBC was searching for an identity for this out-of-the-way house, and I was brought in after having converted the Providence Cinerama to art.

Sadly, I was promoted on to the company's flagship before the conversion was complete. But we did enjoy many years of sucess before Hoyts purchase in the mid 80's.

BTW, the seats in that house, American Rocker Recliners, cost about $100 each when that house was built in '73. Quite the investment in todays dollars!

Nick

The primary name should be Cinema City 4. The chain is Bow Tie Cinemas.

I noticed on movie tickets .com that at this theater the price list for evening shows are this, for adult $10, senior $7.50. child $7.00 and this -- Directors Hall $8.00?? When did they get a directors hall? Why wasn't I told? I hope they removed some of those nasty smelly seats and put in ones like the leather rockers at Showcase deluxe directors hall. Why are the seats $2 less than adults? I'll bet this is an error. Well we can dream can't we? I just hope they didn't raise prices again without making any improvements, because in this economy that would be just lame.
tom

Please indicate that this theater was also once owned and operated by Hoyts. It does not come up as one of theirs in the 'search by chain' feature.

http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/5844.html

Very happy that this theater is still around. Yes, the seats are the same, but they are quite comfy. Cupholders would be nice, but ah well. The 'no advertisement' policy before the movie starts is refreshing, though I'd be fine with ads if they were needed to keep the theater afloat. Concession prices are reasonable...we took advantage of the $10.00 large popcorn and soda combo (free refills at least on the popcorn). Free parking also makes it preferable to the West Hartford Blue Back Square location.

Went there this Friday to see "Milk", as they were the only Hartford area theater showing it. Although the 10pm showing had 'only' 30-40 people, the 7:30pm showing looked like it was sold out! :)

When Blue Back was to open we were told it was going to be an art cinema and we would never have to go to Cinema City again. Comfy chairs or not, they are unsanitary and need to be replaced. And with cupholders.

Not giving a free refill on a large soda, when they do on a large popcorn is another one of their bizarre practices. Anyone want to guess the profit margin on a large soda bought at the movies?

Another is that their website lists a higher price for seniors in the evening than in the afternoon. Don't most cinemas have one senior price? The children's price stays the same, why not seniors. Not a friendly policy to older folks, which we will all be one day. This recession has really hurt seniors on a fixed income.

They also offer a "not really a bargain Tuesday"! Why not such a bargain? Well first you are forced to join their club to get the discount, which in it's self isn't a big deal. What is strange is that you are not allowed to purchase no more than 2 tickets at he discounted price. This policy seems anti-family. Do the kids wait in the car or do they pay more than the adults? Do toddlers need to join their club? And this policy is at all their cinemas. Does anybody know of a similar policy at another theater or chain? I've heard of anything like it.

If they need to advertise on screen or put in an arcade or have the owner dance in a clown suit for nickels, to get the money to replace the seats, they should do it. They either don't have the money or just don't care. It's one or the other. Or they could go with the original plan, which I believe was to close cinema city and show art films in Blue Back Square. And could we get some kind of parking discount!

I say these comments after viewing their Cinema City webpage. It promotes plenty of free parking. Unless you hit a pothole, then it could get expensive. It still links to a website for tickets that you can buy directors hall tickets, but now only in the evening. It looks like they really need someone to handle promotions and their website better. It notes that a city cafe is coming. It must be open by now, because it's been on this webpage for years. Do they even still sell fresh brewed Green Mountain Coffee as they proudly say. Although as I remember, it wasn't bad at all and actually quite reasonable, around $2.00 for a good size cup. Maybe it's served in the cafe.

In the meanwhile the few art films I see a year will have to be at Buckland Hills, which gets the better ones or Netflix. Although I did hear of new art cinema in Amherst. Has anyone been there? Is it worth the drive?

tom

Again Mr. Kent, I will be happy to meet you and chat with you about our business and discuss our future plans for Cinema City. I would love for you to show it to me. Anytime - jmasher@bowtiecinemas.com I really wish you would stop your attacks against our company.

I have to agree with tom, I've been going to Cinema City for over 20 years. I love the movies they play, but it was dumpy then, it's dumpy now. There is definitly a funky smell in cinema number 1. I'll keep going because I really like these kind of movies.

Once again this Kent fellow is allowed to defame our theater without merit. He has not taken me up on my previous gentlemanly offers to meet with him to disprove his claims. It's an old theater that looks better than it has in years.
Thanks, Joe

Let me give my $.02 I have severe allergies. I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM HERE. I very rarely come here (I have to be really, really interested in an art film, since my tastes are mainstream), but when i do I always get the last theater on the right (one of the big theatres, i think #4) and I've never noticed anything that would give me a severe allergy attack. It's an old theater that is shabby because well....It's an old theater. I do think this place would be better if they upgraded the sound, screens, and seats. (at least add cupholders), but retained it's 70s/80s multiplex feel. (One of the things I enjoy about coming here, feels like i stepped in the time machine)

I had an allergic reaction and ended up getting sick a few years ago. I got there on a Saturday night just at the 7PM show of Junebug was starting and had to sit in the front of the theater. It was so musty I barely made it through what was a really great movie. Of coarse - that was Crown Theaters' problem. To be fair - Hoyts, Northeast Cinemas and Crown never really made any major improvements. I'm sure Bow Tie corrected the issue with a new air filter and a proper cleaning.

It's not a bad place to see a movie and Bow Tie to their credit has continued to offer the most talked about art pictures. I'm a little surprised to hear very little has been done to upgrade the theaters - after all this is the closest thing Hartford has to the Angelika (not like the NYC location is that nice either). You'd think given the upscale audience the films attract an upgrade would be in order, they could even turn it into another branch of Criterion Cinemas the way they did at the Plaza in Greenwich.

I'm glad they kept this theater open. I suspect if this theater had closed, like it did for a week a few years ago and Criterion at Blue Back avoided programing these films, the result would have been Real Art Ways becoming more mainstream. The shame in this is they wouldn't be able to play the smaller documentaries and art films they are known for, instead they'd be be showing Cheri and Whatever Works. An art theater of this caliber is essential in Hartford, but isn't it time to upgrade this place? Perhaps the problem isn't with Bow Tie, but the building's landlord.

No upgrades have been made to this location or to any of the other Crown locations Bowtie took over other then a little paint and removing Crown signage. Almost three years later most of them still have the Crown logo carpet on the floor.Hey Joe wanna meet me to discuss this post?

Sure--e-mail me at jmasher@bowtiecinemas.com!

The place is looking a little better these days in my opinion.The Lobby has been spruced up a bit.I agree with someones comment that the seats are comfortable although they do look a bit shabby.My wife complains about that every time we go.Cup holders would be nice but not crucial.I imagine the cost of replacing the seats is prohibitive given the amount of business they do.Perhaps a small center section in each auditorium could be replaced.That would handle the amount of people I generally see at each show.Maybe 100 seats in each theatre?

Ive been to every Bow Tie cinemas in CT. All theater are clean and pleasure to attend.The staff are friendly.They care about their theaters