Anyone know what is going on with the Palace? I know it had financial problems and is not currently hosting any shows. I heard rumors that it was renovating and may reopen this spring. Anyone have the details?
The York Square opened in 1970. With a five screen art cinema scheduled to open downtown this fall and legal proceedings not being very successful against the film distributors, the York Square’s days are probably numbered
Sadly, all those old Danbury cinemas have closed since and the onlu theatre left in town is a Loews monsterplex. Most have been demolished. The Palace stands abandoned and the Empress next door has been carved into stores and a live music club, but all the rest are gone. The city tried to talk the group who has reopened the Avon in Stamford into rehabbing the Palace, but the theatre too far gone.
The movie was hilarious. It was filmed about a block from my house. I enjoyed seeing scenes from my hometown in the film. However, they used a tiny rented screen to show it on. I hope the Warner installs projection equipment and a full size screen to show movie events and host film festivals.
I agree it would be a great theatre to save, but if it is unused for 10 years it will be in no shape to run movies, and it just isn’t worth $10,000 per month to use as a cinema. The owner is right when he says that whoever buys it will probably demolish it. Economically it just isn’t feasible. As for first run movies, a Showcase Cinemas multiplex is only 4 miles away, so that is not doable. The film distributors won’t even permit the york Square 3 next to the Yale campus in downtown New Haven to have first run product (there is an ongoing lawsuit in that case) so the Forest wouldn’t stand a chance. As for art films, with 12 screens in New Haven showing art movies (York Square 3, Cine 1-2-3-4, and the Criterion 5 which opens this fall) there isn’t any chance of getting those either. Sub run split product on the single screen could possibly work, but twinning it would guarantee more success. Also, I’m not sure what seats you saw, but the ones I saw were dirty and many were missing their cushions. With renovations the theatre could be great again. Unfortunately, that isn’t going to happen.
This theatre was recently bought by National Amusements. It had previously been operated by Hoyts and was known as the Enfield Square 12. Hardly a cinema “treasure” it is a modern, boring mallplex.
That capacity for the (Loews Poli) Palace Theatre in Bridgeport is wrong. It was much closer to 3000 than 2500, and the Waterbury Palace was bigger, by a few hundred seats, than the Bridgeport one.
I was in touch with the real estate agent who is marketing it. It cannot be sold for ten years because of “tax problems.” For the theatre building which includes two storefronts, the lot to the left, the lot to the right, and the house next door they want $10,000 per month. That is WAY too pricey for anyone who hopes to keep it as a theatre. Ridiculous.
Excellent news! The State Theatre (change the listing to that name) will reopen next month after having been closed for about a year. The owner of the Jewett City Pharmacy next door has been renovating it since last May. Despite a 12-screen multiplex that is under construction just a few miles away he thinks the State can be successful. Let’s hope so!
Oh, and the current seating capacity is 1,500.
Anyone know what is going on with the Palace? I know it had financial problems and is not currently hosting any shows. I heard rumors that it was renovating and may reopen this spring. Anyone have the details?
The York Square opened in 1970. With a five screen art cinema scheduled to open downtown this fall and legal proceedings not being very successful against the film distributors, the York Square’s days are probably numbered
I heard it’s clothing optional. ;)
Sadly, all those old Danbury cinemas have closed since and the onlu theatre left in town is a Loews monsterplex. Most have been demolished. The Palace stands abandoned and the Empress next door has been carved into stores and a live music club, but all the rest are gone. The city tried to talk the group who has reopened the Avon in Stamford into rehabbing the Palace, but the theatre too far gone.
This marquee looks AMAZING when it is fully lit at night.
The movie was hilarious. It was filmed about a block from my house. I enjoyed seeing scenes from my hometown in the film. However, they used a tiny rented screen to show it on. I hope the Warner installs projection equipment and a full size screen to show movie events and host film festivals.
Stoughton Cinema Pub has a website at http://www.stoughtoncinema.com/
Meg,
I agree it would be a great theatre to save, but if it is unused for 10 years it will be in no shape to run movies, and it just isn’t worth $10,000 per month to use as a cinema. The owner is right when he says that whoever buys it will probably demolish it. Economically it just isn’t feasible. As for first run movies, a Showcase Cinemas multiplex is only 4 miles away, so that is not doable. The film distributors won’t even permit the york Square 3 next to the Yale campus in downtown New Haven to have first run product (there is an ongoing lawsuit in that case) so the Forest wouldn’t stand a chance. As for art films, with 12 screens in New Haven showing art movies (York Square 3, Cine 1-2-3-4, and the Criterion 5 which opens this fall) there isn’t any chance of getting those either. Sub run split product on the single screen could possibly work, but twinning it would guarantee more success. Also, I’m not sure what seats you saw, but the ones I saw were dirty and many were missing their cushions. With renovations the theatre could be great again. Unfortunately, that isn’t going to happen.
There is no Watertown Road in Wtby. It was Watertown Avenue.
The address for this theatre is incorrect. 595 Main St. is the address for the New Rochelle Theatre. Proctor’s Theatre is at 572-580 Main St.
WAS, not IS. There is no spot for 54 Watertown Avenue anymore with Route 8 running right through where the neighborhood used to be.
The Bijou’s website is http://www.bijoucinema.org/
The restoration to one auditorium cannot begin for another couple of years because the current movie operator’s lease runs through 2005 I believe.
It is the only one now? Has the Oceanwest Theatre at Champlin’s Marina closed down?
The date on here is wrong. The movie is on March 20. I will be attending the show.
This listing should be merged. It is a duplicate of the Bomes Theatre which is already listed at /theaters/6034/ .
This theatre should not be listed as demolished since it still stands there, forlorn and abandoned.
This theatre was recently bought by National Amusements. It had previously been operated by Hoyts and was known as the Enfield Square 12. Hardly a cinema “treasure” it is a modern, boring mallplex.
…and that address is 1 Hamilton Place and seating capacity is 2800.
The Bay Ridge was a Loews location at least during the 40’s and 50’s
er than should read much closer to 3000 than 3600
That capacity for the (Loews Poli) Palace Theatre in Bridgeport is wrong. It was much closer to 3000 than 2500, and the Waterbury Palace was bigger, by a few hundred seats, than the Bridgeport one.
Well, this theatre won’t reopen.
I was in touch with the real estate agent who is marketing it. It cannot be sold for ten years because of “tax problems.” For the theatre building which includes two storefronts, the lot to the left, the lot to the right, and the house next door they want $10,000 per month. That is WAY too pricey for anyone who hopes to keep it as a theatre. Ridiculous.
Excellent news! The State Theatre (change the listing to that name) will reopen next month after having been closed for about a year. The owner of the Jewett City Pharmacy next door has been renovating it since last May. Despite a 12-screen multiplex that is under construction just a few miles away he thinks the State can be successful. Let’s hope so!