The post-War Loews Poli would be the replacement for its aged Broadway Theatre in 1949. The project was announced in 1948 and would be built to the architectural plans of New London’s Creighton and McGuire. The Loew’s Poli Theatre was opened on July 13, 1949 with Esther Williams in “Neptune’s Daughter”. Loews would sell its Broadway Theatre to auto dealer Charles R. Simon.
With television impacting operations and the Paramount decree impacting the entire industry, Loews sublet the venue to independent Edward P. Lord in October of 1955. He changed the name to the Midtown Theatre (no dash) resuming operations. Lord bought the local Palace Theatre moving out of his subleasing agreement in early 1966.
On April 27, 1966, John E. Hoddy, who operated the Jewett City theater and Mansfield drive-in, assumed the remaining term of the Midtown Theatre’s 20-year lease and retained its name. The Midtown ran to the end of its lease on April 26, 1969 with Hoddy buying the theatre building previously owned by the Berkman Brothers (who owned the adjoining Sears retail store building).
After a refresh, the venue resumed operations at Cinema Midtown (no dash) with the film, “The Odd Couple,” on June 18, 1968. Cinema Midtown ceased after July 8, 1972 showings of “Oh! Calcutta!” with downtown’s fortunes fading compared to suburban centers. Edward P Lord bought the venue performing upgrades.
Under Lord’s tenure, it became the Lord Cinema at some point- very likely on January 20th, 1978 - operating until October 23, 1988 closing with “Kansas” and “Eight Men Out.“ Finally, on its last leasing agreement cinematically, it became Chubby’s Pub Cinema and Restaurant. Chubbys came in on June 30, 1989 with “No Holds Barred” boasting of an entertainment center under one roof concept. It opened just in time to celebrate its 40th Anniversary in July of 1989. Bar, dancing, and movies with food was its attraction. That worked until January 1, 1991. The building was slated for demolition which was postponed indefinitely.
The Davis Theatre was built for live plays. It scored with movies and became the Broadway Theatre on August 17, 1922 with B.F. Keith vaudeville performers and the film “John Smith” with Eugene O'Brien. It received sound equipment to remain commercially viable.
As it approached its 20-year leasing expiry, Loew’s spent $75,000 to upgrade it to the more moderne Loew’s Poli Broadway Theatre relaunching on February 19, 1942 with Katharine Hepburn as “Woman of the Year” supported by “Mr. And Mrs. North” on a continuous, grind policy. As their opening ad said, the only original elements were the four walls with the venue. After the War, the venue mixed in Polish films for the strong Polish community of Norwich that had begun at the outset of World War I.
Loews decided in post-War times to replace the building with its streamline moderne Loews Poli Theatre opening in 1949. And that’s just what they did. They then sold the building outright to auto dealer Charles R. Simon.
Very technically, there should be a Waterford Drive-in (#1) and a Waterford Drive-In (#2). They are close-by but they are on different tracts and had different addresses. And there’s an operational gap caused by numerous issues.
Waterford Drive-In #1 closed December 28, 1969 “Strange Affair” and “Sterile Cuckoo” supported by a cartoon. The City of Waterford approved of a plan in 1970 for a shopping center to be built on top of the drive-in which would include a new spot for a new Waterford Drive-in. All the land was owned by drive-in operator Waterford Drive-In Theatre, Inc. The Drive-In’s plan was to reopen next door to the east of the proposed center in time for the end of the 1970 season. The old drive-in was demolished in May of 1970.
Due to zoning issues, code enforcement, road access issues, sewage and water connectivity issues, and more they just missed the 1970 opening… by three years. Waterford Drive-In Theatre (#2) opened on August 29, 1973 with “Dillinger” and “Little Cigars.” It closed November 1, 1981 with “Friday The 13th” parts one and two supported by “Cocaine Fiends.” The venue didn’t open for its next season. Operator Carl D. Sherman decided to market the land.
This project in production was the Poquonnock Bridge Drive-In and broke ground on March 2, 1954. It opened June 23, 1954 as the Bridge Drive-In Theatre with “Silver Lodge” supported by “Devil’s Canyon” and two cartoons. Brandt Theatres Circuit took it on for its third season as Brandt’s Bridge Drive-In Theatre through its 1958 season. In 1959, it was AMCO’s Bridge Drive-In Theatre. Under new operators in 1965, it was just the Bridge Drive-In.
The Bridge finished its 20-year leasing agreement and the City came for the property. The final showtimes were on Labor Day, Sept. 3, 1973 with “The Magnificent Seven Ride Again” and “Tom Sawyer.” The ozoners was demolished in June of 1976 in favor of a library.
Closed permanently and appropriately on December 15, 1985 with an Annette Haven double feature with “Ladies Night” and “Brief Affair.” The Groton Square Shopping Center developers had the drive-in vanquished in April of 1986 to put up a Bradlee’s discount store.
In June of 1965, United Artists Theatre Circuit (UATC) announced that it would soon become a near neighbor to the Stop & Shop Store in the Groton’s Shoppers Mart. The “Big G” plaza had been announced in 1956 and would be anchored theatre-less at its opening in the 1960s by A&P / Stop & Shop, Liggett’s Rexall Drugs, and W.T. Grant’s. At a second iteration, the $500,000 cinema was added during the luxury suburban era of cinema exhibition.
The UA Groton was designed as a Dimension 150 venue to display widescreen 70mm films. It was likely on a 25-year lease. New Hampshire-based William Mileto was the architect chosen for the single screen venue. Wide-aisle,“magic seat” seating reduced capacity from 1,000 in the first iteration of the theater to 706 at launch. After a press screening the previous night, it opened on April 19, 1967 wioth “Dr. Zhivago.”
On December 26, 1975, the venue was twinned becoming the UA Groton Cinema 1 & 2. UA closed on July 18, 1991 with “Robin Hood” and “Dying Young.” Assuming it was at the end of a 25-year lease and willing to move onward with the multiplex era, UA likely renewed its lease if the center would assist in some way with the creation of a multiplex there. UA and the center demolished the original auditorium and created a new 6-plex perhaps using some elements from the original building’s face. The new ‘plex relaunched as the all new UA Groton Cinema 6 a year later on June 19, 1992 with “Lethal Weapon 3,” “Encino Man,” “Batman Returns,” “Patriot Games,” and “Aces” Iron Eagle 3."
In June 1993, Hoyts Cinemas Corp. bought the Groton and 56 other theaters from UATC with this venue becoming Hoyts Groton Cinemas 6 effective on June 24, 1993. Hoyt’s moved on in March of 2004. Northeast Cinemas took on the venue on March 19, 2004 operating it for a year with new operators on board in March of 2005. Ten years later, Belmont Capital Theatres LLC / Neighborhood Theatres closed here permanently on August 23, 2015. The theater’s signage on the plaza’s outer attractor remained in place nine more years.
Grand opening ad from April 16, 1949 in photos with “Walk a Crooked Mile” and “I Surrender Dear.”
The final showing at the Norwich-New London Drive-In was October 5, 1996 with the West Screen featuring Rodney Dangerfield in “Back to School” and Arnold Schwarzenegger in “The Terminator” and on the East Screen it was Tom Cruise in “Top Gun” and Daniel Greene had “Hands of Steel.” The drive-in closed permanently with the property deteriorating for almost 30 years until crews were brought in to make the property more attractive for future uses.
The Strand opened on April 29, 1922 booked by Morris Pouzzner and managed by George Grinnell. State Senator C.C. Costello addressed the sold out audience. Sound was added to keep the venue viable. Boys shooting coins and hard candy during a March 14, 1960 matinee of “Sink the Mismarck” mentioned abov led to the manager of the venue, James R. Fox, admonishing the behavior and ended the long-standing weekend matinee policy.
On December 12, 1960, the theatre burned down taking nine downtown businesses with it. Pictures of the fire are impressive for the catastrophic damage that erased much of downtown. Reports said that flying theater debris landed in the Mystic River. The final date is December 11, 1960 with Elvis in “G.I. Blues.”
Bullock & Davis had operated over at the New London Opera House with movies. They changed the name there to the Nickel Theatre. They decided to move to more modern and larger digs here as the New Orpheum opening on May 16, 1909. Moran Bros. decided it would operate in the former opera house location retaining the “Nickel” moniker leading to a contentious lawsuit. It was settled out of court with Bullock & Davis retaining the Nickel name and the Moran Bros. changing the Opera House / Nickel to a new name that was the Empire Theatre. On October 9, 1916, the Orpheum had a brief run as the Play House with legit stage plays for the Turner-Hammond troupe.
After several seasons, the Play House returned to its Orpheum name effective January 18, 1917. That lasted about 18 months. Under new operators, this venue was rebooted from the Orpheum to the Rialto Theatre on May 30, 1918. It was equipped with a Hope-Jones Orchestra Pipe Organ with William Desmond in “Honest Man.” Operated by A. Schwartz (later Schwartz & O'Connell, Inc.) through showtimes of April 5, 1925 with Marie Provost as “The Dark Swan.”
Hours later the building was gutted by a large fire ending its run. The organ was destroyed and the only thing apparently salvaged was “The Dark Swan” film print. Rialto Wurlitzer Organist Anna Graham lost her personal sheet music in that April 6th blaze that ended the building. That same night where organist Graham was housed - the Crocker House - she lost all of her personal belongings when it, too, burned down. Anna Graham was only able to save her canary.
The Lyceum was New London’s premium live event, legit house. In the 1920s, the Capitol would become its finest vaudeville house and the Garde becoming its “A” movie palace thereafter. The Lyceum stage hosted Mae West, Sarah Bernhardt, Lionel and Ethel Barrymore, and Helen Hayes. The 1,050 seat venue cost $65,000 to build in 1889 - and that was a lot for that era. Architect Francis H. Kimball fell in love with the French Gothic project and supervised its construction. The stage was 70' side to side and 40' deep with four entrances and give traps. 17 backstage dressing rooms suggested the scale of shows the investors sought.
On Easter Monday, 1890, it began with the David Belasco play, “The Wife.” The New London’s stage was one of three tryouts for potential Broadway fare along with Stamford and Atlantic City. Walter T. Murphy programmed its last really notable live shows in the 1920s. But when the Capitol and Garde (and others) got sound, the ability to hear actors on film proved to be good enough and less expensive than live fare. That said, live stage plays continued continuously into 1930.
In the 1930s, the Lyceum hosted boxing matches and sporadic events. With no regular revenue coming, the maintenance of the building clearly suffered with a minor fire in the balcony and inspections citing numerous safety issues. A foreclosure occurred in 1936 along with a flood and, in 1937, $15,000 in safety measures were conducted to reopen the venue as a film theater and save it from condemnation. A more major flood threatened the building in 1938 and the film theater plans were scuttled.
In 1941. the Lyceum was sold to Edison Holding which, again, had designs on reopening. They decided against that. The Victory Theatre Operating Company took on the venue with designs to create the Victory Theater for films there in 1943. Homeless folks lived in the venue causing two fires in 1943 to keep warm. This was cited as the reason those plans didn’t go forward so the same company took on The Crown creating the Victory Theatre there.
In 1951, the Lyceum was scheduled for gutting and for use as a commercial building. The Huntington Street Baptist Church salvaged all the usable elements of the theater for their new church prior to the commercial gutting. Those plans also didn’t materialize. In September through November of 1954, the Lyceum was finally put out of her misery. Although the venue’s back wall served as a wall for the Huntington Street Baptist Church.
The Crown was built in 1914 to the plans of theatre architect E.W. Maynard of Boston - his 65th such set of plans. 350 bulbs gave off the effect of lighting the studs in the crown logo. This one could have been called the Jester or the Defeat as weekly controversies found deconstruction as common as construction over protests in the building’s design. During the long construction period New England Amusement passed the leased off to Walter T. Murphy. The programmatic mission shifted in construction to movie house which was probably economically sound.
The Crown finally opened after an open house the night before with Paul McAllister in “Scales of Justice” on August 24, 1914 supported by the shorts, “Who Seeks Revenge?” Love, the Clairvoyant,“ and “Money Talks.” The venue added new projection and a new $20,000 Marr & Colton pipe organ in 1926. He hired the founder of the Society of Theatre Organists, John Hammond, formerly of the Eastman Theatre and the Mark Strand, to play at Murphy’s Crown and Capitol - in which Murphy was also installing a new $25,000 Marr & Colton organ. For the period that Hammond was in town, he would rotate venues with an associate organists also rotating between the two venues. Murphy would then add sound in 1929 to remain viable.
Murphy stayed active all the way to 1943 by which time M&P Picture Corp. was running the Crown but sold it to the Victory Operating Company in June of 1943 which changed its name to the Victory Theatre. Its refresh cost the Crown Lunch its spot at 83 State (they moved to 73 State) and the arcade was extended as the Victory commanded a larger footprint. The former Crown organ was taken on by the Second Congregational Church locally.
The refresh was as bogged down as the original Crown and months of opening ads came and went. Joseph Klein was announced as the Victory’s first manager in June of 1943. He resigned the post on December 11, 1943… with the theater months behind and failing to open by Klein’s departure. The venue finally opened December 31, 1943 with “Where Are Your Children?” supported by “Taxi, Mister.” Despite the delay, the statement that this theater was named for the victory following World War II - simply not factual.
The theatre soldiered on to its ultimate defeat on May 23, 1955 closing permanently with “Yellow Mountain” and “Young at Heart.” The building was offered for sale and was split by the Salvation Army upstairs and Katz’s retail store downstairs after a major 1957 remodeling. They were told to vamoose in 1962 as the Winthrop Urban Renewal Project was coming right down Main Street. The former Crown was dethroned in a loss for downtown.
The Capitol’s history is reach and steeped in both vaudeville and motion pictures. Crown operator Walter T. Murphy built the palace launching it in 1921 to the plans or architect W. H. Low. Gracie Allen’s roommate, vaudevillian Rena Arnold purportedly linked Allen with George Burns who would form Burns & Allen. Arnold would then link herself with Murphy becoming husband and wife. Murphy installed a new $25,000 Marr & Colton pipe organ in 1926 and a $20,000 unit at his Crown Theatre. He cajoled John Hammond - formerly of the Mark Strand and Eastman theaters - to rotate with an associate organist between the two venues in 1926.
Murphy added sound to the Capitol to remain viable. He then sold out to essentially Paramount in the 1940s through the Connecticut Theatres Operating Company and Mullins & Pinanski. The theatre soldiered through the TV era by installing widescreen projection to present CinemaScope. Paramount
The Capitol closed the way many a 50-year old downtown movie palace would. Here on April 22, 1974 with Eduardo Cemano in the X-rated adult film, “Fongaluli,” playing on a continuous grind policy with the theatre already having lost its license to operate concurrently with unheeded safety issues just past action deadlines with union projectionists angry about non-union projectionists presenting the films by an out-of-town big city operator (from Boston), non-functioning toilets more prevalent than working ones, and standing water reported in its basement. That’s how you do it - with a Capitol “X”. And you close by putting the age tested “Closed for Repairs” to give folks hope for a renaissance for your cherry on top. Well played, Theatre Management Services of Boston and the Capitol!
Offered for sale for $60k in 1977, the City of New London bought it for $55,000 in 1978, sold it in 1991 on spec and re-acquired it when those plans didn’t take hold. Industrial Renaissance bought the property in 2016 for $68,000 for a potential mixed-use apartment redevelopment. U.S. Properties Real Estate Services LLC. had it listed for $375,000 in 2024.
The Music Hall became the New London Opera House on December 3, 1885. The New London Opera House began mixing in motion pictures in 1905.
It made a wise decision to lean toward film programming becoming the Nickel Theatre for Bullock & Davis on December 18, 1906. Bullock & Davis were so successful with the concept that they built the larger Orpheum Theatre nearby. They left and a dispute over the resumption of the Nickel Theatre took place by a new operator, Moran Bros. They settled the lawsuit leading to a name change there on October 11, 1909 resuming after the reboot with films and live vaudeville as the Empire Theatre.
The Empire added sound to remain commercially viable. It would last until 1950 when it bit hard. The Empire Theatre was cited for 13 safety violations in August 31, 1950 that had to be addressed or it would be shut down. Now operated Schwartz & O'Connell, Inc., they chose the later walking away. The Empire ended with “Sarong Girl” and “I Married a Savage Girl.” The Opera House turned Empire Theatre was devastated by a February 14, 1957 fire and the Empire was toppled by demolitionists. The building had been converted for the Wholesale Grocery Co.
Breed’s Hall opened by former Mayor Breed on February 15, 1860. In 1909, it became a movie house called the Breed Theatre. On September 22, 1913, the Breed became the Colonial Theatre with a major interior change to Colonial (possibly by architect John McGown but possibly not) with six films including “The Water Rat.”
Murray J. Zucker bought the building and switched the venue back to the Breed Theatre nameplate on July 24, 1916 with “Great Divide.” It was taken on by the Nejime Brothers - Paul and Joseph. They made the decision to wire the theatre belatedly on May 23, 1930 with Photophone sound. They got the attention of the competitors, Warner Bros. Circuit. Note that the Breed Theatre’s final showing was one month later on June 22, 1930 with the film, “White Cargo” and the fight films of Jack Sharkey versus Max Schmelling.
Warner Bros. Circuit sent a telegram to the Nejimes that they had purchased the Breed - of course, knowing the pair had installed Photophone sound. Not wanting the competition, they told the boys to lock up. Then in February of 1931, they sent another note, maybe via normal mail, saying that the lease was expiring on September 16, 1931 and to let the locals and the lease holder know that they wouldn’t be reopening the theatre… ever. The equipment was removed and that was that.
Robecraft, Inc. bought the building in 1945 and converted it to a factory. On October 19, 1963, fire decimated the building. It was razed ten days later after the search for a missing man proved futile. During the demolition, the body of that missing man was found on November 1, 1963.
Edward P. Lord had worked at this theater at age 16. He bought the dead Strand in 1945 creating the Lord Theatre. Lord then purchased this venue for around $50k in 1965 when the Lord Theatre and Auditorium Hotel were dispatched for urban renewal.
After a summer break in 1969, he created The Palace Twin on August 20, 1969 at relaunch with “Funny Girl” on Screen 1 but not debuting screen two until… “Easy Rider” on Screen 1 and “Funny Girl” moving to Screen 2 on October 15, 1968 when the second screen opened.
The Palace Twin Theatre ceased operations on Jan 31, 1987 with “Assassin” and “Wisdom.” The City eminent domained the property for a parking garage off of Main Street with demolition happening in 1988.
Michael R Sheedy’s New Auditorium Theatre opened at what appears to be a present-day parking lot at 125 Water Street on September 16, 1908. (The Auditorium may well date previously without Sheedy but records aren’t too solid and a 1946 report on the venue’s demolition also states a 1908 opening.) Sheedy’s main programming was live theater and vaudeville but he played a heavy dose of motion pictures beginning in 1909 forward. In December of 1909, plans for a neighboring and spectacular Auditorium Hotel were released opening after more than two years of construction on July 18, 1912.
In October of 1919, the Auditorium was retrofitted to better play motion pictures beginning November 15, 1919 with Nazimova in “The Red Lantern” supported by Larry Semon in “The Head Waiter.” The Strand was updated with sound to remain viable but its proximity to the temperamental Yantic River proved to be its downfall.
A horrific and unrelated fatal fire in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1944 led to inspections that would end the Strand Theatre. During a fire safety inspection not long after yet another flood had closed the Strand in 1944, a local inspector stripped both the Strand and Mystic of their licenses to operate on July 24, 1944. Both were due to two major floods that had compromised the buildings' support and foundation with rotted piers. The local Empire Theatre would face similar inspections on August 3, 1944 and it, too, was closed but this time for fire egress issues. The Strand’s foundation was deemed too far gone to attempt a repair -especially given Wartime material shortages - and it was demolished.
The new building for operator Edward P. Lord, the Lord Theatre, was started in 1946 with all but the rear brick wall of the Strand demolished. Architect Charles Abramowitz of New Haven build a very safe venue that included not wood but ten ton steel and concrete beams. The new Lord Theater appears to have opened October 22, 1946.
A question might occur to one - had they fixed the rotted piers and foundation, could the Strand Theatre / Auditorium have survived into modern times? The answer is a definitive “no” as the replacement theater, Lord’s Theatre, Lord Bowling Alleys, and the Auditorium Hotel were no match for urban renewal. In 1965, an Urban Renewal plan - one leading to Thames Plaza that took the place of the Auditorium Hotel - would have assuredly taken the place of a fortified Strand… as it did the Lord Theater. The Water-Commerce Street Redevelopment Project took out the Lord Theatre. Edward Lord would buy the Palace Theatre - operated by Stanley Warner from 1926 to 1964 - while additionally building the Plainfield Indoor-Outdoor Theatre to offset the loss of this venue.
The former Strand’s spot served as a parking area for the octagonal Harftord National Bank & Trust Building. A 1965 plaque more or less was a tribute to the former commercial district that housed the Auditorium Hotel and its neighboring Auditorium turned Strand Theatre.
This cinema was located in Barkers Shopping Center with Barkers Supermarket the original tenant back in 1959. More than 15 years later, the architectural plans were approved in January of 1976 for this automated twin-cinema to be located in what was Barkers Shopping Center between Barkers and the Consumer Food Outlet store. The Norwich Cinema 1 & 2 opened August 18, 1976 with “Murder By Death” and “Silent Movie" likely on a 25-year leasing agreement.
On May 18, 1980, Hoyts Cinemas took on the venue renaming it as Hoyt’s Norwich Cinemas 2 with “Bird on a Wire” and “Pretty Woman.” Barkers must have checked out because in 1991, the center was renamed as the East Great Plains Plaza. Hoyts closed at the end of its lease on January 4, 2001 with “Cast Away” and “…Grinch….”
Raymond Welch - operator of Welch’s Jawett City Cinema, remodeled the venue reducing seat count with new seats and cupholders. That reopening occurred as the Welch Norwich Cinemas on April 20, 2001 and.- after benefit screenings of “Pokemon 3” and “"See Spot Run,” it launched that night with “Crocodile Dundee in L.A.” and “Heartbreakers” with a late show of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.”
Welch had added Willimantic and Dayville cinemas but declared bankruptcy in 2003. In that reorganization, he closed the Welch Norwich Cinemas on March 20, 2003 with “Dreamcatcher” and, of course, “Bringing Down The House.” Welch also closed the Jewett City cinema days later in reoganization. The Cinema’s floors were leveled and the space was converted for use for an outpatient, blood center. I’m thinking the entry should be the Norwich Cinemas.
Opened in the existing Schmidt Building - also known as the Opera House - as the new Cole Theatre for G.A. Cole as a holiday gift to the city in 1940. But it delivered a lump of coal burning prior to showtimes on January 21, 1941 when flames engulfed the aged building. It was replaced by the far superior Brauntex Theatre opening a year later in January 1942.
Launched July 2, 1953 by T. and J. Markoff’s chain. It closed for the season on September 14, 1985 with “Summer Rental” and “Beverly Hills Cop.”
The post-War Loews Poli would be the replacement for its aged Broadway Theatre in 1949. The project was announced in 1948 and would be built to the architectural plans of New London’s Creighton and McGuire. The Loew’s Poli Theatre was opened on July 13, 1949 with Esther Williams in “Neptune’s Daughter”. Loews would sell its Broadway Theatre to auto dealer Charles R. Simon.
With television impacting operations and the Paramount decree impacting the entire industry, Loews sublet the venue to independent Edward P. Lord in October of 1955. He changed the name to the Midtown Theatre (no dash) resuming operations. Lord bought the local Palace Theatre moving out of his subleasing agreement in early 1966.
On April 27, 1966, John E. Hoddy, who operated the Jewett City theater and Mansfield drive-in, assumed the remaining term of the Midtown Theatre’s 20-year lease and retained its name. The Midtown ran to the end of its lease on April 26, 1969 with Hoddy buying the theatre building previously owned by the Berkman Brothers (who owned the adjoining Sears retail store building).
After a refresh, the venue resumed operations at Cinema Midtown (no dash) with the film, “The Odd Couple,” on June 18, 1968. Cinema Midtown ceased after July 8, 1972 showings of “Oh! Calcutta!” with downtown’s fortunes fading compared to suburban centers. Edward P Lord bought the venue performing upgrades.
Under Lord’s tenure, it became the Lord Cinema at some point- very likely on January 20th, 1978 - operating until October 23, 1988 closing with “Kansas” and “Eight Men Out.“ Finally, on its last leasing agreement cinematically, it became Chubby’s Pub Cinema and Restaurant. Chubbys came in on June 30, 1989 with “No Holds Barred” boasting of an entertainment center under one roof concept. It opened just in time to celebrate its 40th Anniversary in July of 1989. Bar, dancing, and movies with food was its attraction. That worked until January 1, 1991. The building was slated for demolition which was postponed indefinitely.
The Davis Theatre was built for live plays. It scored with movies and became the Broadway Theatre on August 17, 1922 with B.F. Keith vaudeville performers and the film “John Smith” with Eugene O'Brien. It received sound equipment to remain commercially viable.
As it approached its 20-year leasing expiry, Loew’s spent $75,000 to upgrade it to the more moderne Loew’s Poli Broadway Theatre relaunching on February 19, 1942 with Katharine Hepburn as “Woman of the Year” supported by “Mr. And Mrs. North” on a continuous, grind policy. As their opening ad said, the only original elements were the four walls with the venue. After the War, the venue mixed in Polish films for the strong Polish community of Norwich that had begun at the outset of World War I.
Loews decided in post-War times to replace the building with its streamline moderne Loews Poli Theatre opening in 1949. And that’s just what they did. They then sold the building outright to auto dealer Charles R. Simon.
Very technically, there should be a Waterford Drive-in (#1) and a Waterford Drive-In (#2). They are close-by but they are on different tracts and had different addresses. And there’s an operational gap caused by numerous issues.
Waterford Drive-In #1 closed December 28, 1969 “Strange Affair” and “Sterile Cuckoo” supported by a cartoon. The City of Waterford approved of a plan in 1970 for a shopping center to be built on top of the drive-in which would include a new spot for a new Waterford Drive-in. All the land was owned by drive-in operator Waterford Drive-In Theatre, Inc. The Drive-In’s plan was to reopen next door to the east of the proposed center in time for the end of the 1970 season. The old drive-in was demolished in May of 1970.
Due to zoning issues, code enforcement, road access issues, sewage and water connectivity issues, and more they just missed the 1970 opening… by three years. Waterford Drive-In Theatre (#2) opened on August 29, 1973 with “Dillinger” and “Little Cigars.” It closed November 1, 1981 with “Friday The 13th” parts one and two supported by “Cocaine Fiends.” The venue didn’t open for its next season. Operator Carl D. Sherman decided to market the land.
This project in production was the Poquonnock Bridge Drive-In and broke ground on March 2, 1954. It opened June 23, 1954 as the Bridge Drive-In Theatre with “Silver Lodge” supported by “Devil’s Canyon” and two cartoons. Brandt Theatres Circuit took it on for its third season as Brandt’s Bridge Drive-In Theatre through its 1958 season. In 1959, it was AMCO’s Bridge Drive-In Theatre. Under new operators in 1965, it was just the Bridge Drive-In.
The Bridge finished its 20-year leasing agreement and the City came for the property. The final showtimes were on Labor Day, Sept. 3, 1973 with “The Magnificent Seven Ride Again” and “Tom Sawyer.” The ozoners was demolished in June of 1976 in favor of a library.
The Cameo closed appropriately with Linda Lovelace in “Deep Throat” supported by Kay Parker in “Taboo” on October 7, 1985
Closed permanently and appropriately on December 15, 1985 with an Annette Haven double feature with “Ladies Night” and “Brief Affair.” The Groton Square Shopping Center developers had the drive-in vanquished in April of 1986 to put up a Bradlee’s discount store.
In June of 1965, United Artists Theatre Circuit (UATC) announced that it would soon become a near neighbor to the Stop & Shop Store in the Groton’s Shoppers Mart. The “Big G” plaza had been announced in 1956 and would be anchored theatre-less at its opening in the 1960s by A&P / Stop & Shop, Liggett’s Rexall Drugs, and W.T. Grant’s. At a second iteration, the $500,000 cinema was added during the luxury suburban era of cinema exhibition.
The UA Groton was designed as a Dimension 150 venue to display widescreen 70mm films. It was likely on a 25-year lease. New Hampshire-based William Mileto was the architect chosen for the single screen venue. Wide-aisle,“magic seat” seating reduced capacity from 1,000 in the first iteration of the theater to 706 at launch. After a press screening the previous night, it opened on April 19, 1967 wioth “Dr. Zhivago.”
On December 26, 1975, the venue was twinned becoming the UA Groton Cinema 1 & 2. UA closed on July 18, 1991 with “Robin Hood” and “Dying Young.” Assuming it was at the end of a 25-year lease and willing to move onward with the multiplex era, UA likely renewed its lease if the center would assist in some way with the creation of a multiplex there. UA and the center demolished the original auditorium and created a new 6-plex perhaps using some elements from the original building’s face. The new ‘plex relaunched as the all new UA Groton Cinema 6 a year later on June 19, 1992 with “Lethal Weapon 3,” “Encino Man,” “Batman Returns,” “Patriot Games,” and “Aces” Iron Eagle 3."
In June 1993, Hoyts Cinemas Corp. bought the Groton and 56 other theaters from UATC with this venue becoming Hoyts Groton Cinemas 6 effective on June 24, 1993. Hoyt’s moved on in March of 2004. Northeast Cinemas took on the venue on March 19, 2004 operating it for a year with new operators on board in March of 2005. Ten years later, Belmont Capital Theatres LLC / Neighborhood Theatres closed here permanently on August 23, 2015. The theater’s signage on the plaza’s outer attractor remained in place nine more years.
Grand opening ad from April 16, 1949 in photos with “Walk a Crooked Mile” and “I Surrender Dear.”
The final showing at the Norwich-New London Drive-In was October 5, 1996 with the West Screen featuring Rodney Dangerfield in “Back to School” and Arnold Schwarzenegger in “The Terminator” and on the East Screen it was Tom Cruise in “Top Gun” and Daniel Greene had “Hands of Steel.” The drive-in closed permanently with the property deteriorating for almost 30 years until crews were brought in to make the property more attractive for future uses.
The Strand opened on April 29, 1922 booked by Morris Pouzzner and managed by George Grinnell. State Senator C.C. Costello addressed the sold out audience. Sound was added to keep the venue viable. Boys shooting coins and hard candy during a March 14, 1960 matinee of “Sink the Mismarck” mentioned abov led to the manager of the venue, James R. Fox, admonishing the behavior and ended the long-standing weekend matinee policy.
On December 12, 1960, the theatre burned down taking nine downtown businesses with it. Pictures of the fire are impressive for the catastrophic damage that erased much of downtown. Reports said that flying theater debris landed in the Mystic River. The final date is December 11, 1960 with Elvis in “G.I. Blues.”
Bullock & Davis had operated over at the New London Opera House with movies. They changed the name there to the Nickel Theatre. They decided to move to more modern and larger digs here as the New Orpheum opening on May 16, 1909. Moran Bros. decided it would operate in the former opera house location retaining the “Nickel” moniker leading to a contentious lawsuit. It was settled out of court with Bullock & Davis retaining the Nickel name and the Moran Bros. changing the Opera House / Nickel to a new name that was the Empire Theatre. On October 9, 1916, the Orpheum had a brief run as the Play House with legit stage plays for the Turner-Hammond troupe.
After several seasons, the Play House returned to its Orpheum name effective January 18, 1917. That lasted about 18 months. Under new operators, this venue was rebooted from the Orpheum to the Rialto Theatre on May 30, 1918. It was equipped with a Hope-Jones Orchestra Pipe Organ with William Desmond in “Honest Man.” Operated by A. Schwartz (later Schwartz & O'Connell, Inc.) through showtimes of April 5, 1925 with Marie Provost as “The Dark Swan.”
Hours later the building was gutted by a large fire ending its run. The organ was destroyed and the only thing apparently salvaged was “The Dark Swan” film print. Rialto Wurlitzer Organist Anna Graham lost her personal sheet music in that April 6th blaze that ended the building. That same night where organist Graham was housed - the Crocker House - she lost all of her personal belongings when it, too, burned down. Anna Graham was only able to save her canary.
Opening film - “The Marriage Clause” with Billy Dove on September 22, 1926
The Lyceum was New London’s premium live event, legit house. In the 1920s, the Capitol would become its finest vaudeville house and the Garde becoming its “A” movie palace thereafter. The Lyceum stage hosted Mae West, Sarah Bernhardt, Lionel and Ethel Barrymore, and Helen Hayes. The 1,050 seat venue cost $65,000 to build in 1889 - and that was a lot for that era. Architect Francis H. Kimball fell in love with the French Gothic project and supervised its construction. The stage was 70' side to side and 40' deep with four entrances and give traps. 17 backstage dressing rooms suggested the scale of shows the investors sought.
On Easter Monday, 1890, it began with the David Belasco play, “The Wife.” The New London’s stage was one of three tryouts for potential Broadway fare along with Stamford and Atlantic City. Walter T. Murphy programmed its last really notable live shows in the 1920s. But when the Capitol and Garde (and others) got sound, the ability to hear actors on film proved to be good enough and less expensive than live fare. That said, live stage plays continued continuously into 1930.
In the 1930s, the Lyceum hosted boxing matches and sporadic events. With no regular revenue coming, the maintenance of the building clearly suffered with a minor fire in the balcony and inspections citing numerous safety issues. A foreclosure occurred in 1936 along with a flood and, in 1937, $15,000 in safety measures were conducted to reopen the venue as a film theater and save it from condemnation. A more major flood threatened the building in 1938 and the film theater plans were scuttled.
In 1941. the Lyceum was sold to Edison Holding which, again, had designs on reopening. They decided against that. The Victory Theatre Operating Company took on the venue with designs to create the Victory Theater for films there in 1943. Homeless folks lived in the venue causing two fires in 1943 to keep warm. This was cited as the reason those plans didn’t go forward so the same company took on The Crown creating the Victory Theatre there.
In 1951, the Lyceum was scheduled for gutting and for use as a commercial building. The Huntington Street Baptist Church salvaged all the usable elements of the theater for their new church prior to the commercial gutting. Those plans also didn’t materialize. In September through November of 1954, the Lyceum was finally put out of her misery. Although the venue’s back wall served as a wall for the Huntington Street Baptist Church.
The Crown was built in 1914 to the plans of theatre architect E.W. Maynard of Boston - his 65th such set of plans. 350 bulbs gave off the effect of lighting the studs in the crown logo. This one could have been called the Jester or the Defeat as weekly controversies found deconstruction as common as construction over protests in the building’s design. During the long construction period New England Amusement passed the leased off to Walter T. Murphy. The programmatic mission shifted in construction to movie house which was probably economically sound.
The Crown finally opened after an open house the night before with Paul McAllister in “Scales of Justice” on August 24, 1914 supported by the shorts, “Who Seeks Revenge?” Love, the Clairvoyant,“ and “Money Talks.” The venue added new projection and a new $20,000 Marr & Colton pipe organ in 1926. He hired the founder of the Society of Theatre Organists, John Hammond, formerly of the Eastman Theatre and the Mark Strand, to play at Murphy’s Crown and Capitol - in which Murphy was also installing a new $25,000 Marr & Colton organ. For the period that Hammond was in town, he would rotate venues with an associate organists also rotating between the two venues. Murphy would then add sound in 1929 to remain viable.
Murphy stayed active all the way to 1943 by which time M&P Picture Corp. was running the Crown but sold it to the Victory Operating Company in June of 1943 which changed its name to the Victory Theatre. Its refresh cost the Crown Lunch its spot at 83 State (they moved to 73 State) and the arcade was extended as the Victory commanded a larger footprint. The former Crown organ was taken on by the Second Congregational Church locally.
The refresh was as bogged down as the original Crown and months of opening ads came and went. Joseph Klein was announced as the Victory’s first manager in June of 1943. He resigned the post on December 11, 1943… with the theater months behind and failing to open by Klein’s departure. The venue finally opened December 31, 1943 with “Where Are Your Children?” supported by “Taxi, Mister.” Despite the delay, the statement that this theater was named for the victory following World War II - simply not factual.
The theatre soldiered on to its ultimate defeat on May 23, 1955 closing permanently with “Yellow Mountain” and “Young at Heart.” The building was offered for sale and was split by the Salvation Army upstairs and Katz’s retail store downstairs after a major 1957 remodeling. They were told to vamoose in 1962 as the Winthrop Urban Renewal Project was coming right down Main Street. The former Crown was dethroned in a loss for downtown.
The Capitol’s history is reach and steeped in both vaudeville and motion pictures. Crown operator Walter T. Murphy built the palace launching it in 1921 to the plans or architect W. H. Low. Gracie Allen’s roommate, vaudevillian Rena Arnold purportedly linked Allen with George Burns who would form Burns & Allen. Arnold would then link herself with Murphy becoming husband and wife. Murphy installed a new $25,000 Marr & Colton pipe organ in 1926 and a $20,000 unit at his Crown Theatre. He cajoled John Hammond - formerly of the Mark Strand and Eastman theaters - to rotate with an associate organist between the two venues in 1926.
Murphy added sound to the Capitol to remain viable. He then sold out to essentially Paramount in the 1940s through the Connecticut Theatres Operating Company and Mullins & Pinanski. The theatre soldiered through the TV era by installing widescreen projection to present CinemaScope. Paramount
The Capitol closed the way many a 50-year old downtown movie palace would. Here on April 22, 1974 with Eduardo Cemano in the X-rated adult film, “Fongaluli,” playing on a continuous grind policy with the theatre already having lost its license to operate concurrently with unheeded safety issues just past action deadlines with union projectionists angry about non-union projectionists presenting the films by an out-of-town big city operator (from Boston), non-functioning toilets more prevalent than working ones, and standing water reported in its basement. That’s how you do it - with a Capitol “X”. And you close by putting the age tested “Closed for Repairs” to give folks hope for a renaissance for your cherry on top. Well played, Theatre Management Services of Boston and the Capitol!
Offered for sale for $60k in 1977, the City of New London bought it for $55,000 in 1978, sold it in 1991 on spec and re-acquired it when those plans didn’t take hold. Industrial Renaissance bought the property in 2016 for $68,000 for a potential mixed-use apartment redevelopment. U.S. Properties Real Estate Services LLC. had it listed for $375,000 in 2024.
The Music Hall became the New London Opera House on December 3, 1885. The New London Opera House began mixing in motion pictures in 1905.
It made a wise decision to lean toward film programming becoming the Nickel Theatre for Bullock & Davis on December 18, 1906. Bullock & Davis were so successful with the concept that they built the larger Orpheum Theatre nearby. They left and a dispute over the resumption of the Nickel Theatre took place by a new operator, Moran Bros. They settled the lawsuit leading to a name change there on October 11, 1909 resuming after the reboot with films and live vaudeville as the Empire Theatre.
The Empire added sound to remain commercially viable. It would last until 1950 when it bit hard. The Empire Theatre was cited for 13 safety violations in August 31, 1950 that had to be addressed or it would be shut down. Now operated Schwartz & O'Connell, Inc., they chose the later walking away. The Empire ended with “Sarong Girl” and “I Married a Savage Girl.” The Opera House turned Empire Theatre was devastated by a February 14, 1957 fire and the Empire was toppled by demolitionists. The building had been converted for the Wholesale Grocery Co.
It’s only $60,000 in 1977.
Breed’s Hall opened by former Mayor Breed on February 15, 1860. In 1909, it became a movie house called the Breed Theatre. On September 22, 1913, the Breed became the Colonial Theatre with a major interior change to Colonial (possibly by architect John McGown but possibly not) with six films including “The Water Rat.”
Murray J. Zucker bought the building and switched the venue back to the Breed Theatre nameplate on July 24, 1916 with “Great Divide.” It was taken on by the Nejime Brothers - Paul and Joseph. They made the decision to wire the theatre belatedly on May 23, 1930 with Photophone sound. They got the attention of the competitors, Warner Bros. Circuit. Note that the Breed Theatre’s final showing was one month later on June 22, 1930 with the film, “White Cargo” and the fight films of Jack Sharkey versus Max Schmelling.
Warner Bros. Circuit sent a telegram to the Nejimes that they had purchased the Breed - of course, knowing the pair had installed Photophone sound. Not wanting the competition, they told the boys to lock up. Then in February of 1931, they sent another note, maybe via normal mail, saying that the lease was expiring on September 16, 1931 and to let the locals and the lease holder know that they wouldn’t be reopening the theatre… ever. The equipment was removed and that was that.
Robecraft, Inc. bought the building in 1945 and converted it to a factory. On October 19, 1963, fire decimated the building. It was razed ten days later after the search for a missing man proved futile. During the demolition, the body of that missing man was found on November 1, 1963.
– make that the Lord Theatre is at the right of the shot –
The Breed Building at left - formerly Breed Theatre and Breed Hall at almost its 100th Birthday. Spoiler: It would not make it to Birthday 104.
1969 on the years - sorry
Edward P. Lord had worked at this theater at age 16. He bought the dead Strand in 1945 creating the Lord Theatre. Lord then purchased this venue for around $50k in 1965 when the Lord Theatre and Auditorium Hotel were dispatched for urban renewal.
After a summer break in 1969, he created The Palace Twin on August 20, 1969 at relaunch with “Funny Girl” on Screen 1 but not debuting screen two until… “Easy Rider” on Screen 1 and “Funny Girl” moving to Screen 2 on October 15, 1968 when the second screen opened.
The Palace Twin Theatre ceased operations on Jan 31, 1987 with “Assassin” and “Wisdom.” The City eminent domained the property for a parking garage off of Main Street with demolition happening in 1988.
Michael R Sheedy’s New Auditorium Theatre opened at what appears to be a present-day parking lot at 125 Water Street on September 16, 1908. (The Auditorium may well date previously without Sheedy but records aren’t too solid and a 1946 report on the venue’s demolition also states a 1908 opening.) Sheedy’s main programming was live theater and vaudeville but he played a heavy dose of motion pictures beginning in 1909 forward. In December of 1909, plans for a neighboring and spectacular Auditorium Hotel were released opening after more than two years of construction on July 18, 1912.
In October of 1919, the Auditorium was retrofitted to better play motion pictures beginning November 15, 1919 with Nazimova in “The Red Lantern” supported by Larry Semon in “The Head Waiter.” The Strand was updated with sound to remain viable but its proximity to the temperamental Yantic River proved to be its downfall.
A horrific and unrelated fatal fire in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1944 led to inspections that would end the Strand Theatre. During a fire safety inspection not long after yet another flood had closed the Strand in 1944, a local inspector stripped both the Strand and Mystic of their licenses to operate on July 24, 1944. Both were due to two major floods that had compromised the buildings' support and foundation with rotted piers. The local Empire Theatre would face similar inspections on August 3, 1944 and it, too, was closed but this time for fire egress issues. The Strand’s foundation was deemed too far gone to attempt a repair -especially given Wartime material shortages - and it was demolished.
The new building for operator Edward P. Lord, the Lord Theatre, was started in 1946 with all but the rear brick wall of the Strand demolished. Architect Charles Abramowitz of New Haven build a very safe venue that included not wood but ten ton steel and concrete beams. The new Lord Theater appears to have opened October 22, 1946.
A question might occur to one - had they fixed the rotted piers and foundation, could the Strand Theatre / Auditorium have survived into modern times? The answer is a definitive “no” as the replacement theater, Lord’s Theatre, Lord Bowling Alleys, and the Auditorium Hotel were no match for urban renewal. In 1965, an Urban Renewal plan - one leading to Thames Plaza that took the place of the Auditorium Hotel - would have assuredly taken the place of a fortified Strand… as it did the Lord Theater. The Water-Commerce Street Redevelopment Project took out the Lord Theatre. Edward Lord would buy the Palace Theatre - operated by Stanley Warner from 1926 to 1964 - while additionally building the Plainfield Indoor-Outdoor Theatre to offset the loss of this venue.
The former Strand’s spot served as a parking area for the octagonal Harftord National Bank & Trust Building. A 1965 plaque more or less was a tribute to the former commercial district that housed the Auditorium Hotel and its neighboring Auditorium turned Strand Theatre.
This cinema was located in Barkers Shopping Center with Barkers Supermarket the original tenant back in 1959. More than 15 years later, the architectural plans were approved in January of 1976 for this automated twin-cinema to be located in what was Barkers Shopping Center between Barkers and the Consumer Food Outlet store. The Norwich Cinema 1 & 2 opened August 18, 1976 with “Murder By Death” and “Silent Movie" likely on a 25-year leasing agreement.
On May 18, 1980, Hoyts Cinemas took on the venue renaming it as Hoyt’s Norwich Cinemas 2 with “Bird on a Wire” and “Pretty Woman.” Barkers must have checked out because in 1991, the center was renamed as the East Great Plains Plaza. Hoyts closed at the end of its lease on January 4, 2001 with “Cast Away” and “…Grinch….”
Raymond Welch - operator of Welch’s Jawett City Cinema, remodeled the venue reducing seat count with new seats and cupholders. That reopening occurred as the Welch Norwich Cinemas on April 20, 2001 and.- after benefit screenings of “Pokemon 3” and “"See Spot Run,” it launched that night with “Crocodile Dundee in L.A.” and “Heartbreakers” with a late show of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.”
Welch had added Willimantic and Dayville cinemas but declared bankruptcy in 2003. In that reorganization, he closed the Welch Norwich Cinemas on March 20, 2003 with “Dreamcatcher” and, of course, “Bringing Down The House.” Welch also closed the Jewett City cinema days later in reoganization. The Cinema’s floors were leveled and the space was converted for use for an outpatient, blood center. I’m thinking the entry should be the Norwich Cinemas.
Opened in the existing Schmidt Building - also known as the Opera House - as the new Cole Theatre for G.A. Cole as a holiday gift to the city in 1940. But it delivered a lump of coal burning prior to showtimes on January 21, 1941 when flames engulfed the aged building. It was replaced by the far superior Brauntex Theatre opening a year later in January 1942.