Bing Arts Center
716 Sumner Avenue,
Springfield,
MA
01108
716 Sumner Avenue,
Springfield,
MA
01108
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Announced closure in January of 2021 after being closed since March of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The front of the building was originally a service station from the 1920s through the 1940s. In 1950 it was expanded with an autiditorium in the back and opened as the Bing Theatre which showed first-run movies and then later second-run movies before closing in 1999. All seats on the main floor; I remember the auditorium being completely draped in red curtains.
i will be there for a show on Friday evening…
I’ve seen elsewhere that it opened on Christmas Day 1950.
This opened on August 1st, 1951. Grand opening ad in the photo section of this theatre.
The Bing, in my opinion, is an EXCELLENT renovated theater — personally, it is one of my favorite theaters anywhere.
When I first saw the marquee and then decided to enter it for the first time — personally, I got a feeling like I was entering a very special place. The faces, although not familiar to me, were all smiling and nice — and the film presented was thought-provoking.
The Bing’s current owner deserves commendation on commendation, in my opinion. This would not have happened without a genuine love for Springfield, for theaters, and a sincere sense of community (team) spirit.
The Bing, I believe, is catalyzing the new coffeeshop culture/hip restaurant scene near The X, which is totally homegrown, (e.g. Three Cafe.) Suddenly, it’s an arts neighborhood!
The Bing, in my opinion, is yet another example of Springfield’s recent resurgence.
If they can run a string of $25 per head events successfully, like the one listed on their web site, my ballpark thinking says they should do OK.
Looks like it has reopened – they currently have an art exhibit which opened June 12.
Here is a 1979 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/cgj57s
According to their website, a fair amount of renovation has already been completed. The exterior has been completely repainted, building secured and roof replaced on the front portion. Restrooms gutted, prep work completed for insulation, new HVAC unit installed, with ductwork underway. No date on their description, but it’s good to see this much is already done. They indicated a “june” opening date but didn’t say which year.
Hi Merrilee,
http://www.bingartscenter.org/ is the actual website (the link above doesn’t work). At http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=5197 you can see pre-renovation photos I took in 2003. Has any work been done yet? I’d love to photograph any renovations that are taking place along with the finished product. Contact me by clicking my name to get to my profile and let me know if anything worth photographing has been done.
The Bing Theater was in fact purchased by chosen developers to create a community arts center in 2002 from the City of Springfield. Contrary to popular belief, the theater is in fact much larger than one may expect just from driving by. If anyone has any interest in the new developments at hand in this project, which is still moving forward, please feel free to visit www.bingartscenter.org, the website is in current development. We appreciate any and all feedback, and welcome interested parties and volunteers to contact us.
The Springfield Republican featured the Bing in an article today. The Bing opened on Christmas Day, 1950. Work is progressing by volunteers. Neighbors are hoping that its revival will do the same for the neighborhood. I can recall a time when attending a movie at the Bing was a real treat because it was Springfield’s newest theater in 18 years. It held that status until 1965 when the Showcase Cinemas were constructed.
I feel that the Bing is too small for the uses presented above. I recommend that those involved in the redevelopment of the Amherst Cinema, Victory Theater and the Bing look into what the future use is for the former Loew’s Palace in West Springfield. This theater is large enough to accommodate live theater presentations plus ancillary functions. Even the giant lobby could be divided and used for rehearsal halls, community functions, etc. Every time that I drive by there I can’t help think what a waste of a building.
GTFT is a Springfield Non-profit with the primary missoin to provide technical training to young people interested in a career in the entertainment industry. we are housed with 2 audio recording studios, a dance/rehearsal room and a 5 Mac computer lab. We train in web page design, animation, audio engineering, video production and are looking to train in stage and theater lighting.
With all of the budget cuts a program like ours is the first to suffer (along with any arts and youth oriented activities). We would love a situation that could financially assist both the Bing and GTFT. We are skilled at putting on various performances and would love to link up with the Bing. If you have any suggestions please respond. By the way my name is Arianna Wilson and I am co-founder and VP of GTFT which stands for Generating Tomorrow’s Future Today, Inc.
Thank you for your time.
Sorry Roger, You are of course right. I apologise. Those words are indeed yours and I am now giving you full credit.
Michael, do you know what plagarism is? Please do not use my words without my permission or at least giving me credit for them rather than passing them off as your own. As you can see from the website where you “borrowed” the above description of this theatre from, they are copyrighted.
The Bing Theatre (now known as the Bing Arts Center), named in honor of Bing Crosby, opened in 1951. The building that houses the lobby and two storefronts was formerly a garage while the auditorium was constructed for the theatre.
The “X” Main Street Corporation expects to soon receive the title to the building and has already begun cleaning it up and repainting the outside. Formerly owned by the Western Massachusetts Theatre chain until it closed 5 years ago, the theatre has been vandalized in the last couple of years. A new screen and repairs to the projector will be needed. The Bing’s current seating capacity of 900 will be reduced to 400. This will be done by narrowing the auditorium by walling off the sides to use as classroom or art gallery space. When the Bing Arts Center opens it will show art, foreign, and classic movies, have some live performances, and a cinema academy.
Lets hope the people of Springfield can help re-open this theatre. The city really needs a good arts center!
The Bing Arts Center, as it is now called, is being renovated by the X Main Street Corporation.
The Bing Theatre seated 900 people.
If anyone has any info on this theater, can you make a comment about anything you know!!!!
Thanks