Art Cinema
255 Franklin Avenue,
Hartford,
CT
06114
255 Franklin Avenue,
Hartford,
CT
06114
5 people
favorited this theater
The Rialto Theatre was built in 1919 and is Hartford’s last operating classic movie house. It was formerly part of a chain that included the Colonial Theatre, Lenox Theatre and Lyric Theatre in Hartford, and the Central Theatre in West Hartford. When business waned, it started showing art films in the 1950’s, hence the name Art Cinema.
Nowadays, however, it is the last remaining adult cinema in town and has been showing X-Rated features for decades. The theater seats 601 (350 on the main level, 251 on the balcony) and still has a 35mm projector, but it is not used at all because the adult films are on video.
The Art Cinema is now run by Ernest Grecula Jr., having previously been run by his father, and has been in the family for 40 years.
Contributed by
Roger Katz
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Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
A few months ago The Hartford Advocate wrote an article on this theatre citing that its missleading from the outside- it looks like it could be an art house cinema. Then again instead of being R.A.W. (Real Art Ways- Hartford’s alternative movie theatre), I’m sure it’s just raw in a gross way.
This is the article from the Hartford Advocate mentioned above.
On my way back from Cinestudio last night I decided to do a bit of exploring and stumbled upon this theater. Needless to say, I was surprised when I entered the lobby to inquire about the program. Still, a very cool find in an interesting neighborhood.
what are there hours of opereation?
One of the venues for this year’s Hartford International Film Festival. I’ll provide a few notes on the theater after my film Artery screens there, this Saturday at 12:15PM (not to put in a shameless plug or anything).
The year given for this photo is 1986.
Since this was in the same family as the Colonial does anyone know if it was a Lockwood & Gordon house?
This web page about the Lyric Theatre says that its architect, Edward T. Wiley, also designed the Art Cinema.
Their website (which is work safe) features some nice interior shots of the theater. The digital projector is located right off of the upper/center balcony.
Whose website? The Art Cinema does not have one AFAIK.