i saw this the other day on bike. if you really notice it, behind each billboard you can see the facades underneath of the theaters, esp near the roxy liquor store. what a shame all that bs commercialism and fake sunlight has to hide some beautiful architecture.
Also, according to the 1923 Directory, the Capitol was known as the Taylor Theater at the same address, 2-4 Elm Street which showed motion pictures). The owner was most likely the operator of the Taylor Opera House in Danbury. World famous opera singer Marian Anderson was from Danbury and lived in Danbury until her death in the late 1950s.)
I am writing a book, and was doing research at WCSU’s University Archives. Anyway, i was looking at the old city directories, and found additional info on the Empress. From the 1916 Directory, it lists the Empress as a Vaudeville theatre at 157 Main Street. The 1923 Directory lists the Empress as Vaudeville and Motion Pictures at the same address. I am up to the early 1940s and will update again on Tuesday.
I am writing a book, and was doing research at WCSU’s University Archives. Anyway, i was looking at the old city directories, and found info on the Capitol Theater. From the 1924 Directory (publishers, Price and Lee, New Haven), The Capitol Theatre first appeared in the 1924 Directory and showed motion pictures and was located at 2-4 Elm, now a parking lot across the street from Cousin Larry’s Cafe (my stomping ground) at 1 Elm Street. The directory makes note that motion pictures were shown at this time. In the 1925 directory the address is changed to 2 Elm. I am up to the early 1940s and will update again on Tuesday.
The Emerald City Cafe adjoining the cinema closed down 3 months ago. Paul Schulyer, owner of Bethel Cinema has just bought the cafe and they are doing renovations. My friend just told me this info and that he’s the new cafe manager. it should be open soon. the marquee was supposed to be a brand new one a few weeks ago but it’s still down.
i just found out my friend from hackettstown just started working at the new one. i’ve emailed her about previous info and history of the previous one before it was torn down and made into a loews.
so i believe the Fine Arts was a small, regional chain? there was a westport fine arts 1 and 2 and the brookfield fine arts which closed down many years back. check the post i made from a few weeks ago about what we found.
i just want to thank folks who post since i joined a few weeks ago and contributed theater info to where i grew up, visited, and currently live near. if i can’t produce info, give it a few hours and all you folks help out.
thanx for the info. i was going to call the theater and inquire myself. i remember the upstairs theaters were small and the ceilings were low. btw, that blockbuster was Atlantic Stationers until the mid-90s when it became blockbuster. if they are going to add an addition, it will be tough since there are wetlands behind it and parking in front. the only way to increase the square footage is to eliminate parking towards the front of the theater. to the left of it is impossible as that’s one of the main roads through the complex. i remember when the whole complex here was just the shop-rite and carters, jamesway, etc with the carnival originally held here before it moved to horseshoe lake. give it up for the sprawlmarts, not!
thanx for that info. i forgot to add it was inner and outer. i can’t believe they replaced the inner with stores. it was always packed. the outer closed in 2001? that sucks, it was a great place to see a movie. unfortunately, there’s always a sprawlmart popping up in communities and even within a mall complex to make room for something we don’t need. thanx for posting that info.
According to the site, it was built in 1950. “As you can see, little remains of the Danbury Drive-In. The field is overgrown with bushes taller than my head, though the entrance driveway remains and goes through the field as well. You can also see the concrete blocks that used to line the driveway but are now piled up, and the pine trees planted to separate the drive-in from the road.”
I ride down Federal Road everyday and haven’t noticed an empty plot of land in many years due to the sprawl marts everywhere.
This is weird. I sent in Bethel Cinema last week, and a few days ago it wasn’t there and i emailed the site for help and they had no recollection of it recently. Now it’s back on here by someone else. Anyway, i have frequented this place for a long time and can give the more than exact lowdowns of this gem as i’m friends with the owner and general manager.
It opened in the 1960s and first started as a Jerry Lewis Theater, then became a regular theater, then a Bright Clouds Ministry Church for 1 year, then a porn theater and in the late 80s/early 90s became its present incarnation. It’s now independently-owned by Paul Schuyler.
It’s not really a multiplex in that sense of the word. One theater has 100 seats, the remaining 3 have 80-90 seats and no center aisles in either of them. Sound quality is great. The snack stand is yuppified but has great selection. Next door used to be the Emerald City Cafe which offered 2 tickets with each entree, but 2 months ago they just closed down. Bethel Cinema has acquired it and will be making a cafe out of it for moviegoers.
Not only do they show independent films, but also foreign and mainstream movies (usually 1 of the 4 theatres). They also host weekly birthday parties. Usually on the sign from the road next detailing movies, there’s a happy birthday shoutout. They sign is not there as has been for the month of January as they are getting a newer one.
The greatest thing about them is they are known in the state as being the most successful independently-run theatres in close proximity to a megaplex (Loews in Danbury). This place is always packed.
They have great specials like Monday, 2 for 1 ladies nights, a weekly commentary before the films on Tuesday by a local guy, forgot his name and many other great deals. They have no website but they have a yahoogroup at http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/bethelcinema/
Their address is 269 Greenwood Avenue (Route 302), Bethel, CT 06801
This was located on 2 Elm Street, across from what is now 1 Elm Street, Cousin Larry’s Cafe. This set of buildings is now a bunch of storefronts but was the original mall in the 50s and 60s before the present Danbury Mall took over the old fairgrounds. Info is found at http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=21440
The cameo is now a church, like so many theatres have become, probably for sound quality and acoustics, i presume? There was talk not too long ago about bringing it back in the Journal-News, but who knows. The marquee is still there.
well, how we visited was illegal. we pried open a semi-ajar door and then used bolt cutters to break the thin chain and when opening the door, two 2 x 4’s fell out. upon leaving, we took our own padlock and locked the chains together and closed the door. the other door had more barricades than that. we each took a reel of film, but what i have is old and was really heavy to bring in my backpack on my bike. it’s fwded to the end. there probably won’t be any new owners.
if you go visit this place roger, please email me so we can show you around as we now have the key. we’re thinking about bringing folks from the lost film festival (a diy outlet) and bringing others there to show it in an abandoned theater but we’ll videotape it. here’s my email:
yes, the curtain is still there. what an amazing theater. the ceiling is amazing. when the movie is ready and the previews are about to play, the curtains slowly rise up and a loony tunes intro starts playing. when the movie is done the same thing happens and the curtains close slowly.
i remember from old setlists of the ct band known as max creek, they played here regularly and everytime i’m there i try to figure out by the architecture. there’s a place further up on the left in the plaza whose facade looks like a marquee. this health food store is called Edge of the Woods.
i also remember a theater in new haven called the great american music hall, like the one in san francisco. i believe there was one in waterbury too.
the last movie i saw here was saving private ryan in 1997? the movie sign is still there and yes there is a hotel on its site. i remember it showing 2 films and it closed in 1999. it was spacious and comfortable.
i saw this the other day on bike. if you really notice it, behind each billboard you can see the facades underneath of the theaters, esp near the roxy liquor store. what a shame all that bs commercialism and fake sunlight has to hide some beautiful architecture.
From the 1932 Danbury City Directory, the Palace Theater is listed at 165 Main Street. The 1939 City Directory has it showing motion pictures.
Also, according to the 1923 Directory, the Capitol was known as the Taylor Theater at the same address, 2-4 Elm Street which showed motion pictures). The owner was most likely the operator of the Taylor Opera House in Danbury. World famous opera singer Marian Anderson was from Danbury and lived in Danbury until her death in the late 1950s.)
I am writing a book, and was doing research at WCSU’s University Archives. Anyway, i was looking at the old city directories, and found additional info on the Empress. From the 1916 Directory, it lists the Empress as a Vaudeville theatre at 157 Main Street. The 1923 Directory lists the Empress as Vaudeville and Motion Pictures at the same address. I am up to the early 1940s and will update again on Tuesday.
I am writing a book, and was doing research at WCSU’s University Archives. Anyway, i was looking at the old city directories, and found info on the Capitol Theater. From the 1924 Directory (publishers, Price and Lee, New Haven), The Capitol Theatre first appeared in the 1924 Directory and showed motion pictures and was located at 2-4 Elm, now a parking lot across the street from Cousin Larry’s Cafe (my stomping ground) at 1 Elm Street. The directory makes note that motion pictures were shown at this time. In the 1925 directory the address is changed to 2 Elm. I am up to the early 1940s and will update again on Tuesday.
The Emerald City Cafe adjoining the cinema closed down 3 months ago. Paul Schulyer, owner of Bethel Cinema has just bought the cafe and they are doing renovations. My friend just told me this info and that he’s the new cafe manager. it should be open soon. the marquee was supposed to be a brand new one a few weeks ago but it’s still down.
i just found out my friend from hackettstown just started working at the new one. i’ve emailed her about previous info and history of the previous one before it was torn down and made into a loews.
so i believe the Fine Arts was a small, regional chain? there was a westport fine arts 1 and 2 and the brookfield fine arts which closed down many years back. check the post i made from a few weeks ago about what we found.
i just want to thank folks who post since i joined a few weeks ago and contributed theater info to where i grew up, visited, and currently live near. if i can’t produce info, give it a few hours and all you folks help out.
Yes, here’s a link to the daily record from april 2002 talking about the strand in the music store. View link
The store rebuilt the theater’s interior into its present business in 1987. their website is www.studio-46.com
Another link from the same newspaper date shows the old marquee still intact at View link (third picture down).
thanx for the info. i was going to call the theater and inquire myself. i remember the upstairs theaters were small and the ceilings were low. btw, that blockbuster was Atlantic Stationers until the mid-90s when it became blockbuster. if they are going to add an addition, it will be tough since there are wetlands behind it and parking in front. the only way to increase the square footage is to eliminate parking towards the front of the theater. to the left of it is impossible as that’s one of the main roads through the complex. i remember when the whole complex here was just the shop-rite and carters, jamesway, etc with the carnival originally held here before it moved to horseshoe lake. give it up for the sprawlmarts, not!
thanx for that info. i forgot to add it was inner and outer. i can’t believe they replaced the inner with stores. it was always packed. the outer closed in 2001? that sucks, it was a great place to see a movie. unfortunately, there’s always a sprawlmart popping up in communities and even within a mall complex to make room for something we don’t need. thanx for posting that info.
This is weird, again. I sent in the description a week ago and it was on here, now it’s not! Anyway, i saw this info for this drive-in on www.cinematour.com (or more exact: http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=9449))
According to the site, it was built in 1950. “As you can see, little remains of the Danbury Drive-In. The field is overgrown with bushes taller than my head, though the entrance driveway remains and goes through the field as well. You can also see the concrete blocks that used to line the driveway but are now piled up, and the pine trees planted to separate the drive-in from the road.”
I ride down Federal Road everyday and haven’t noticed an empty plot of land in many years due to the sprawl marts everywhere.
This is weird. I sent in Bethel Cinema last week, and a few days ago it wasn’t there and i emailed the site for help and they had no recollection of it recently. Now it’s back on here by someone else. Anyway, i have frequented this place for a long time and can give the more than exact lowdowns of this gem as i’m friends with the owner and general manager.
It opened in the 1960s and first started as a Jerry Lewis Theater, then became a regular theater, then a Bright Clouds Ministry Church for 1 year, then a porn theater and in the late 80s/early 90s became its present incarnation. It’s now independently-owned by Paul Schuyler.
It’s not really a multiplex in that sense of the word. One theater has 100 seats, the remaining 3 have 80-90 seats and no center aisles in either of them. Sound quality is great. The snack stand is yuppified but has great selection. Next door used to be the Emerald City Cafe which offered 2 tickets with each entree, but 2 months ago they just closed down. Bethel Cinema has acquired it and will be making a cafe out of it for moviegoers.
Not only do they show independent films, but also foreign and mainstream movies (usually 1 of the 4 theatres). They also host weekly birthday parties. Usually on the sign from the road next detailing movies, there’s a happy birthday shoutout. They sign is not there as has been for the month of January as they are getting a newer one.
The greatest thing about them is they are known in the state as being the most successful independently-run theatres in close proximity to a megaplex (Loews in Danbury). This place is always packed.
They have great specials like Monday, 2 for 1 ladies nights, a weekly commentary before the films on Tuesday by a local guy, forgot his name and many other great deals. They have no website but they have a yahoogroup at http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/bethelcinema/
Their address is 269 Greenwood Avenue (Route 302), Bethel, CT 06801
This theater has 360 seats.
This was located on 2 Elm Street, across from what is now 1 Elm Street, Cousin Larry’s Cafe. This set of buildings is now a bunch of storefronts but was the original mall in the 50s and 60s before the present Danbury Mall took over the old fairgrounds. Info is found at http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=21440
Is a Cry Room a baby changing room? i’ve never heard the term.
Forgot to add this was built in 1968 according to the previous comments website.
A photo of the facade from the News-Times is available at View link
A pic of the theatre sign is available at this website. View link
The cameo is now a church, like so many theatres have become, probably for sound quality and acoustics, i presume? There was talk not too long ago about bringing it back in the Journal-News, but who knows. The marquee is still there.
well, how we visited was illegal. we pried open a semi-ajar door and then used bolt cutters to break the thin chain and when opening the door, two 2 x 4’s fell out. upon leaving, we took our own padlock and locked the chains together and closed the door. the other door had more barricades than that. we each took a reel of film, but what i have is old and was really heavy to bring in my backpack on my bike. it’s fwded to the end. there probably won’t be any new owners.
if you go visit this place roger, please email me so we can show you around as we now have the key. we’re thinking about bringing folks from the lost film festival (a diy outlet) and bringing others there to show it in an abandoned theater but we’ll videotape it. here’s my email:
yes, the curtain is still there. what an amazing theater. the ceiling is amazing. when the movie is ready and the previews are about to play, the curtains slowly rise up and a loony tunes intro starts playing. when the movie is done the same thing happens and the curtains close slowly.
i remember from old setlists of the ct band known as max creek, they played here regularly and everytime i’m there i try to figure out by the architecture. there’s a place further up on the left in the plaza whose facade looks like a marquee. this health food store is called Edge of the Woods.
i also remember a theater in new haven called the great american music hall, like the one in san francisco. i believe there was one in waterbury too.
the last movie i saw here was saving private ryan in 1997? the movie sign is still there and yes there is a hotel on its site. i remember it showing 2 films and it closed in 1999. it was spacious and comfortable.