Eastern Hills Cinema
4545 Transit Road,
Williamsville,
NY
14221
4545 Transit Road,
Williamsville,
NY
14221
2 people
favorited this theater
The Eastern Hills Cinema I & II opened in 1971 with the standard Riseman treatment – white candy stand, red carpet and the white and red Griggs seats and Alpro paneling and the front display (as GCC called it – the white walls and ceiling surrounding the screen). It was later triplexed.
It closed when the lease was voided with GCC’s bankruptcy in 2001, but is now operated by the Dipson chain showing a mix of independent and foreign films.
Contributed by
dave-bronx
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
Not true. It might have closed for a short time but was never converted to retail space. It’s been operating for quite some time now as part of the Dipson chain, showing mainly independant, foreign and art films.
Thanks for updating with the current information! I consider Eastern Hills a real diamond in the rough…always a great selection of films, good prices, good popcorn. We’re quite fortunate to have the Dipson chain in this area offering a wonderful alternative to the multiplexes!
I was wondering if this theater ever showed japanese animation movies, or older flicks, like classic sci-fi, horror, or maybe kung-fu movies. Is there any site i can go to that may have its now playing list? Thanks for any and all help.
www.dipsontheatres.com has showtime information for this theatre
I remember this theatre well having been part of the management for GCC in 1989. A very small space in which to open the first ‘Batman’. The biggest house had (and still has) what we called the “shadowbox”, a fixture in 70’s GCC large screens, that is like a large, beveled picture frame surronding the screen and looks great with a scope film. The booth was a trip to learn in; all Century projectors with two reel to reels in the largest house and the twinned opposite sides had a five tier Christie Autowind platter slapped between the two projectors. The managers shared time with the union which was a big deal back then. Dipson has put new seats in which are actually quite comfortable – I can’t imagine where you’d find parts for all metal Griggs pushbacks now but I’m sure someone reading this knows.
Since Dispon has a thing about only showing some films in specific theaters while the southtowns dipson shows common dribble, I am forced to go to the Eastern Hills cinema for certain films.
Projection and sound are average, comfort below average, all around a dated movie house that is being used the only way it can be – showing niche films and charging too much for what is offerd.
I go to this theater often as it features indie films not to be seen in most movie houses. The seats were uncomfortable, back in the 1990’s. Today they are fine. Also, I am over six foot tall and have no problem with legroom. Not sure where the above post is coming from. The Dipson chain offers a choice of movies that most metro areas the size of Buffalo do not have. They do a great job here.
The Shadowbox screen (#3) now has digital projection.