Garden Cinemas

26 Isaac Street,
Norwalk, CT 06850

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: CinemaNational, GH Cinemas, Loews Theatres, Nutmeg Theater Circuit, USA Cinemas

Architects: Burton S. Yolen

Functions: Movies (First Run)

Previous Names: Cinema Norwalk

Nearby Theaters

Garden Cinemas

Originally built as the Norwalk Cinema by Samson & Spodick, later Nutmeg Theaters, in the 1960’s. Located behind the Norwalk Theater (now Wall Street Theater) on Isaacs St., the theater originally was a single. Taken over by Cinema National who twinned it in the 70’s. Closed in early 90’s to be taken over by a local operator, split again into 4 screens, and operated as an art house until it closed after business on January 3, 2020. The Garden was finally demolished in November of 2022.

Contributed by Dave Bonan

Recent comments (view all 8 comments)

Roger Katz
Roger Katz on July 26, 2006 at 4:17 pm

They also own the State Cinema in Stamford and the Empire Cinemas in Brewster, New York. Their website is http://www.ghcinemas.com/ .

shoeshoe14
shoeshoe14 on December 6, 2007 at 2:36 pm

First listed in the 1969 City Directory as Cinema Norwalk (Isaac Shopping Center). Last listed in 1990 because their directories switch and that’s all they have. Unlike most local history rooms, they do not allow visitor access, only staff with book carts.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on January 27, 2010 at 8:07 am

The July 31, 1967, issue of Boxoffice said that Nutmeg Theatres had opened their new Cinema Norwalk at Norwalk. The original seating capacity of the single-screen house was 875. Though the item about the opening didn’t repeat it, an earlier issue of Boxoffice had given the name of the architect on the project as Burton S. Yolen, who had designed the chain’s Wilton Cinema at Wilton, Connecticut, two years earlier.

fred1
fred1 on January 27, 2010 at 9:59 am

I beleive that Lowes operated this theater in the ‘80s

Roger James Smith
Roger James Smith on June 25, 2013 at 1:06 pm

The Globe/Roxy was located in the former Norwalk Theatre, on Wall Street.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on June 25, 2013 at 2:17 pm

The introductory line of our description for this theater is a bit misleading. The Garden Cinemas was across Isaac Street from the corner of the parking lot behind the Globe/Roxy Theatre. Saying “…by the former Globe/Roxy” makes it sound like they were in neighboring buildings, when actually the back of one is a couple of hundred feet from the front of the other.

Google Maps camera car didn’t go down Isaac Street, but if you look south on Isaac from Wall Street, I believe the Cinema Norwalk/Garden Cinemas was in the building at the end of the block, with the red and white vertical stripes.

JosephMasher
JosephMasher on November 10, 2022 at 5:29 pm

This theater was demolished in November, 2022.

JosephMasher
JosephMasher on November 10, 2022 at 5:31 pm

Newspaper article with photos: https://www.thehour.com/news/article/Norwalk-Garden-Cinemas-demolished-17550017.php

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