Coolidge Corner Theatre
290 Harvard Street,
Brookline,
MA
02446
290 Harvard Street,
Brookline,
MA
02446
26 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Coolidge Corner Theatre Home Page (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Strand Theaters
Functions: Movies (Classic), Movies (Independent), Movies (Second Run)
Styles: Art Deco
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
617.734.2500
Manager:
617.734.2501
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Aug 22, 2011 — Mass. theater's science film series goes national
- Sep 21, 2009 — New season of "Science on Screen" at Coolidge
- Aug 27, 2009 — Memories of a former repertory theater owner
- Apr 24, 2009 — Science on Screen finale
- Mar 20, 2009 — Science on Screen at the Coolidge Corner Theatre Presents "Night of the Living Dead"
- Feb 27, 2009 — Science on Screen at the Coolidge Corner Theatre
- Dec 2, 2008 — Big Screen Classics at Coolidge 75th
- Aug 28, 2008 — Big Screen Classics at the Coolidge Corner
- Jul 9, 2008 — An era ends at the Coolidge
Converted in 1933 as an Art Deco style movie house from a 1906-built Universalist church in the Boston suburb of Brookline, the 1,200-seat Coolidge Corner Theatre has been showing movies for over ninety years.
New management shifted the Coolidge Corner’s schedule from first run films in 1977 as the theatre became a showcase for art house and foreign films.
In an effort to increase profits, the balcony was closed off and converted into a second screen. Despite the renovation, the theatre could no longer turn an adequate profit and was put up for sale and nearly demolished.
In 1989, the Coolidge Corner Theatre Foundation bought the theatre and now houses a steady stream of art house, second run films and classic movies. A 45-seat video screening room was added in 2000. One more small video screening room has since been added bringing the total screen count to four.
In June 2021, an expansion was announced, designed by architects Howeler + Yoon, a 14,000-square foot addition that complements the four existing auditoriums, including two new screens (150 and 57 seats), an expanded glass-walled lobby, and a new community education and engagement center with a 60-seat classroom. The theatre’s main entrance will be moved to the Centre Street parking lot at the back of the building, giving moviegoers more space to socialize inside before screenings. The two new screens opened on March 27, 2024.
The Coolidge Corner Theatre is the only currently operating Art Deco style theatre in the Boston area.
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Recent comments (view all 64 comments)
I recently renewed my membership. Seeing The Hateful Eight in its brief Ultra Panavision 70MM RSE New Year’s Day was a wonderfully old fashioned, I mean that as a compliment, experience, especially with a packed house. At the risk of sounding corny, it felt special. From what I heard, the “experiment” wasn’t a success so it’s unlikely we’ll be seeing more of them in the future. Joyously telling the audience what to expect prior to show time with infectious enthusiasm, the projectionist did a fantastic job framing and masking the picture on the screen. He also stated we were in for a treat and I don’t think anyone was disappointed.
I grew up going to see double features at the Coolidge and then landed my first job there in high school under the ownership of Justin Freed. He had hated to twin the place, but did a great job preserving the original screen and converting the balcony into a nice 290 seat theater. After the Foundation took over, they sold the original street front lobby space to retail and moved the theatre entrance to the side. I have many good stories about the Coolidge.
Along with the Capitol Theatre in Arlington, the Somerville Theatre, the Lexington Venue, and the IMAX screens at the Aquarium and Jordan’s Furniture, this is one of the very few theatres that continue to advertise in the Boston Globe Movie Directory.
So very sorry to hear of David Kleiler’s passing. Boston’s reputation as a haven for movie fans owes much to his efforts with the Coolidge.
Link to obit of film professor who saved this theater! https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/obituaries/2019/04/23/david-kleiler-independent-film-impresario-who-saved-coolidge-corner-theatre-dies/zYx9xUw7GcO7NfQn0TsfVN/story.html
1936 photo added courtesy Anne Continelli, via the Dirty Old Boston facebook page.
Brookline Historical Society link with a photo of the Coolidge Corner Universalist Church circa 1906.
http://www.brooklinehistoricalsociety.org/archives/slideShowStreets.asp?move=next&ID=HarvardSt-063&fbclid=IwAR3M2dNcto_fpMTVcrt45HP_QBDJvXXpDTX-cpeBVl7OKYUwiG3R5fl9mXs
For years, the home of the Boston Scifi Marathon - till they were thrown out!
Oh, and last time I looked, The Somerville Theater’s main house was STILL art-deco, and had it’s balcony still part of the main house - 900+ seats!
OK so w1hen do cinemas 5 and 6 open?
As of Wed March 27 you can mark it as 6 screens