Latchis Theatre
6 Flat Street,
Brattleboro,
VT
05301
6 Flat Street,
Brattleboro,
VT
05301
10 people
favorited this theater
Although the Latchis Theatre is now a four screen cinema, the original, Atmospheric style auditorium has remained fully intact. Two additional theaters have been constructed in areas once occupied by the Latchis building and hotel. The Latchis' foyer and lobby are also in good shape. In 2008, a fourth auditorium was opened in what had previously been retail space, and this is used for live performances and presentations.
As the theatre prepares for a restoration effort, its movies continue on. The Latchis building, which contains a hotel, retail space and of course the Latchis Theatre, is one of only two Art Deco style buildings in the entire state of Vermont.
The Latchis Theatre is also the last of more than a dozen Latchis movie houses which once operated throughout New England. This one originally opened in September 1938.
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Recent comments (view all 45 comments)
Here’s a nice gallery of photos:
http://www.brattleboroarts.org/galleryext.html
On behalf of Brattleboro Arts Initiative, the non-profit organization which owns the Latchis, it is wonderful to read the inspiring comments on Cinema Treasures comments pages. Please allow me to bring you up to date with some of the Latchis' recent endeavors.
The Latchis Theatre is currently campaigning to raise funds for a new marquee and a fourth theater. One of the Cinema Treasures comments mentions the “unpretentious” facade. That is polite way of describing our marquee. A new marquee would relate the facade of the building much better to the wonderful interior art-greco style of the theater and add a real spark to bustling downtown Brattleboro. I also see a comment relating to our new performing arts room. BAI has designed a new, cutting edge, multi-use theater in this room. It has the original terrazzo floor and its own access to Main St. It is time to start building. We have raised money to begin but we need more for completion. If anyone knows of organizations or individuals who might be interested in helping, please let us know!
Recently, an interesting article was written in Northampton’s Valley Advocate. It also included several wonderful panoramic photos of the building. Check out http://www.valleyadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=9854 .
Thank you for you enthusiasm! Please feel free email () or drop by 50 Main St., Brattleboro, VT 05301 anytime! Thank you, Ben James, BAI President
Re: the Marquee and incorrect spelling of Theatre: The Latchis Theatre was always spelled ending “re” not “er”. When this marquee was ordered the sign printing company thought they were correcting a misspelling, and they changed it to Theater. A correct sign was never ordered and the wrong one remains. Be assured that any new Marquee will have the correct spelling.
This is another 1983 photo.
Update (November 2010): The fourth screen (in the adjacent storefront space) is now showing movies on a daily basis. It is located in an adjacent storefront with access from the main lobby – off to the left after the concession stand. Nice clean modern design inside – full capacity listed as 112 seats. Movable padded chairs, nice screen. You’re actually facing towards the front of the building, the front part of the store space is walled off, it looks like eventually that will be a separate lobby once its renovated. A great addition to the complex!
The Building is a fairly extensive complex – one of only two art-deco style commercial buildings in the state of Vermont. It includes the LatchisHotel (renovated), a large bar (space (I believe currently vacant), a restaurant and retail spaces along the side as well as the four screens. The auditorium section is a much older building with newer portions built around it (hence the long lobby). You can shop, eat, have a drink, see a movie and sleep over all in the same building! I look forward to the restoration of the main auditorium and refurbishment of the seats in the main aud and the upstairs theatre.
With the closing of the Kipling Cinemas on 3/27/11, the Lathis should start doing very good business, being the only cinemas left in town.
Some more details:
Each auditorium has it’s own name:
1: Main Stage. Seating: 519 orchestra, 243 (usable) Balcony
2. Ballroom. (upstairs) Seating: 108
3. Jewel Box. (the former back orchestra) Seating: 130
4. Lathis 4. (in adjacent storefront) Seating: 100
The proscenium is 31 feet wide, the stage 26 feet high, the stage is 18 feet deep from plaster line (proscenium?) to the back wall. is 18 feet deep
The Latchis is planning some renovations for summer of 2012. This will include replacing about 90% of the seats (and refurbishing the remaining 10%), restoring the ceiling of the main auditorium (and the signs of the Zodiac) and putting in new carpeting, and some removations to the walls in the Ballroom audotorium. This should be all done by the end of August.
I will never forget going to the Latchis in my early teens with my best friend to see “The Sound of Music” when it first came out. It was a beautiful theatre, even back then.
The Latchis Theatre is listed in the 1920 business directory at 6 Flat Street. 6 Flat Street is around the corer, but is still the same building. However, the description above says this theatre opened in 1938. Was the one in 1920 at 6 Flat Street a different theatre in the same spot? Was it located elsewhere in the same building?