Cinema City 4

235 Brainard Road,
Hartford, CT 06114

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Bow-Tie Cinemas, Crown Theatres LLC, Hoyts Theatres

Previous Names: Art at Cinema City

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 860.549.0030

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News About This Theater

Cinema City 4

This four-screen art house has been around since opening on July 18, 1973. It showed good programs of foreign and independent films. The location is south of the city and a bit out of the way but with plenty of free parking.

The Cinema City 4 was closed by Bow-Tie Cinemas on July 22, 2010. It was demolished in the later-summer of 2013.

Contributed by Gerald A. DeLuca

Recent comments (view all 31 comments)

nritota
nritota on April 2, 2008 at 6:20 pm

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

tmbggirl
tmbggirl on December 15, 2008 at 12:05 am

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

tmbggirl
tmbggirl on December 15, 2008 at 12:13 am

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! :)

jlabelle
jlabelle on July 27, 2009 at 3:06 pm

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?

fred1
fred1 on July 27, 2009 at 5:06 pm

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

Roger Katz
Roger Katz on June 3, 2010 at 6:31 pm

Sadly, this theatre will be closing on July 22.

View link

Yes it says its “moving”, but in reality its going to take up 5 of the 17 screens at the Bow Tie complex across town. How long do you think it will be until those screens get converted back to mainstream fare?

John Fink
John Fink on June 3, 2010 at 6:47 pm

I hope they do convert an auxiliary snack bar (that are never used) into a coffee bar, tables and pleasant atmosphere. Part of the charm of Cinema City was the patron review board, so adding those touches will give it a sense of community. Ironic that a certain type of patron you wouldn’t mind loitering – whereas others…..well let’s not go there.

I haven’t been to either theater in about two years since I lived in CT but the rare art film that played at the Palace rarely was met with success – I think we were the only ones in the theater when we saw Bee Season there. I think the issue is the perception of the Palace, which attracts a certain kind of rowdy crowd no matter what Joe Masher might believe (it did last I was there). Upscaling part of it and making it into a unique art house would probably help them sell the idea of art pictures at the Palace – or better yet – show them at Blue Back Square. It makes sense since I think that end of town/West Hartford is a little over screened (although the Palace’s 7PM shows on Saturdays did too well – in fact we’d have to budget in a half hour just to buy tickets, other times it was less crazy).

I’m sad to see Cinema City go, it was out of date and really it just needed new seats and masking in the two smaller theaters (it didn’t under Crown, anyway). I have many a good memory from my undergrad years at Cinema City (many times virtually alone at the late show on a weekday night under Hoyts/Northeastern and Crown).

John Fink
John Fink on July 25, 2010 at 12:30 am

Now closed – but excellent news for fans of the seats – they might have a new life at another Bow Tie Cinema: View link

BrianTalbot
BrianTalbot on October 7, 2013 at 12:48 pm

Drove by here over the weekend and the right half of the building has been razed.

rivest266
rivest266 on February 24, 2017 at 12:22 am

This opened on July 18th, 1973. Grand opening ad in the photo section.

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