Colonial Theater

492 Farmington Avenue,
Hartford, CT 06105

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MSC77
MSC77 on December 30, 2021 at 3:54 pm

Here’s a new 4-page 50th anniversary FIDDLER ON THE ROOF retrospective featuring a roadshow playdate chronology and historian Q&A. The Cinerama’s lengthy run is mentioned in the piece.

vindanpar
vindanpar on September 27, 2020 at 4:56 am

Another classic roadshow cinema that turned overnight into a porn exploitation palace.

Cinerama
Cinerama on July 29, 2017 at 3:54 pm

Just updated Cinerama aka Colonial theatre with ads and articles from 1961 to 2000 – http://www.incinerama.com/ctcolonial.htm

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on June 26, 2017 at 12:41 pm

Mid `60’s photo as Cinerama added courtesy of Theo Tersteeg.

Cinerama
Cinerama on March 9, 2017 at 9:09 am

I will be updating my web site in the future with ads and articles on the Cinerama aka Colonial theatre.

http://incinerama.com/ctcolonial.htm

rivest266
rivest266 on February 22, 2017 at 3:51 am

This opened on September 20th, 1961. Grand opening ad in the photo section

Found on Newspapers.com powered by Newspapers.com

nritota
nritota on October 16, 2010 at 5:23 pm

Ed
When were you there? Was it during the Lockwood & Gordon years or later?

EdmundGlazer
EdmundGlazer on September 30, 2010 at 3:09 pm

If anyone wants more information on the Colonial/Cinerama theatre, email to I worked as a projectionst at the theatre for 15 years. ED Glazer

Harvey
Harvey on February 2, 2010 at 9:39 pm

Article on The Colonial as a kung-fu house circa 1983 here.

Cinerama
Cinerama on December 15, 2009 at 6:42 am

Hi Chuck,

I would love to see pictures of the Colonial when it was a Cinerama theatre.

Thanks!

Roland

Cinerama
Cinerama on February 16, 2009 at 5:07 am

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

Thanks!

Roland

nritota
nritota on January 11, 2009 at 3:38 pm

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Plus, the old buildings are expensive to keep up, with 80 year old roofs, outdated HVAC systems and a lot of space to heat and cool for a minimal return on tickets sold.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

MPol
MPol on January 11, 2009 at 12:30 pm

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.

Cinerama
Cinerama on January 11, 2009 at 4:38 am

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

nritota
nritota on December 30, 2008 at 4:03 pm

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.

fruitbag
fruitbag on November 9, 2006 at 4:15 am

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**!

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on September 7, 2006 at 3:28 pm

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

Cinerama
Cinerama on January 19, 2005 at 11:18 am

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

Thanks!

Roland

unclejohnny
unclejohnny on July 11, 2004 at 10:50 am

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

Paul Michaud

Roger Katz
Roger Katz on December 3, 2003 at 6:49 pm

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

William
William on November 19, 2003 at 4:21 pm

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