The Majestic is not renovating. It is falling apart. The marquees of the Majestic and the Palace next door were removed last year since they posed a danger to pedestrians.
Built in 1892, this theatre was originally known as the Middlesex Opera House. The auditorium of the theatre was demolished many years ago. However, the lobby building, complete with the marquee, still stands and houses the Tuscany Grill, a restaurant. The lobby has not been gutted either, from the moment you walk in it is readily apparent that this is the lobby to a movie palace. The poster frames, doors, grand stairway, and more all still exist.
If I won a $300 million lottery THIS would be the theatre I chose to refurbish. The Lyric has been closed for about 30+ years and the decrepit roof has allowed water to pour in and ruin much of the interior. The Lyric on Park Street which is known as New England’s Hispanic Main Street. It could be successful as a Hispanic cultural and performing arts center with some Spanish movies also shown. However, it will cost many tens of millions of dollars to restore, and that is what is keeping it from happening.
Vincent, there are three major reasons why no one is proposing to reopen this as a theatre again:
It’s in the Bronx.
It’s in the Bronx.
It’s in the Bronx.
No one wants to travel into the Bronx to attend a theatrical performance especially when Manhattan has the world’s most famous theatre district. It obviously can’t work as a movie theatre in the modern world either. It is a dinosaur and unless it is converted to retail it will probably sit there until it crumbles down into its own foundation.
You don’t give a time frame for this theatre. Back in the early 1900’s through late the late 19-teens there were many small storefront movie theatres in towns that opened and closed and a rapid rate. Usually these were just regular storefronts with temporary chairs set up and a sheet suspended from the ceiling. Even though most of these lasted for only a couple of years, many of these actually still stand, but are now converted back to retail or office space. Maybe the Victor was one of these?
On the other hand, I’m not sure about Victor, but Victory (with a -y) was a name that many theatres converted to in the mid-1940’s as a result of the USA’s victory in World War II. so maybe it was from that time frame?
I’m going to have to travel to Jewett City sometime to see if this theatre is for sale or lease or whatever. Can anyone save me the trip? Does anyone out there know if this theatre is available and what the asking price is? Run properly I think it could be successful.
I hate to criticize, but I would bet that this is probably the most poorly run movie theatre in the entire country. Here’s the story of tonight’s misfortunes:
I went to see the 9:00 showing of Kill Bill. The theatre owner was running the concession stand while his approximately 10-year-old grandson sold the tickets. When the movie starts the theatre owner is supposed to go up to the booth, turn on the projector, and then ensure everything is all set. Apparently he went into the booth, turned the projector on, and then went back to the concession stand. After a couple of minutes I went out to the lobby and told him that he needed to turn off the lights on the theatre, which were still shining brightly. He commented that he had forgotten and then turned them down. Now that it was dark enough to see the picture I went back in and soon realized it was way out of focus. I went out to the lobby, asked the 10-year-old who was the only one out there where the guy running the theatre was and he told me that HE was now the one running the theatre. Apparently the theatre owner had left to do something and for quite a while the theatre was staffed only by one 10-year-old boy (and yes he was 10, I’m not exaggerating). In addition to being out of focus, the picture was too wide for the screen so not only did it shine on the wall next to the screen, but also on the curtains on the side of the auditorium. Also they had it in the wrong place as the bottom of it was below the screen while the top part of the screen was dark. Finally after about 15 minutes the owner returned and focused the movie. Naturally, there was about 10 seconds of darkness when switching from one projector to the other in the middle of the film, and then of course also the picture ran off the opposite side of the screen from the one it was running off before.
I will not go back to this theatre again unless the movie I want to see is playing nowhere else. For $4 I was able to put up with the ratty screen and messed up seats, but such horrid presentation is unacceptable. I have never worked in the movie business, but I swear I could do a better job running a theatre than this guy. Hell, it would literally be impossible to do worse. If only it comes up for sale sometime…
Wow. If the Willimantic Digital Cinemas are really closed that leaves Northeastern Connecticut, with a population of about 250,000 with only one three screen indoor theatre and one three screen seasonal drive-in to serve the entire 250,000 people. The indoor triplex in Colchester is owned by the same man who owned the theatre in Willimantic and two other recently closed theatres, so it could be in danger too. That would leave 250,000 people with NO indoor cinema within a short drive. This could be a great opportunity for the right exhibitor.
The Canaan Colonial Community Theatre group was never in charge of the theatre. They did have a plan to purchase it and restore it, and they even had an agreement with the town of how to do this. However, last year the private owner of the theatre suddenly sold it out from under the noses of this group to Mr. David Ohler who is currently renovating it into a cinema cafe.
The State has long since been demolished. The UConn-Waterbury branch now stands on the site along with a parking lot. The State was previously known as the Bijou and the Rialto. It was right next door to the Poli’s and across the street from the Poli’s Palace.
It’s an independent owner. he has run the theatre for about a year so far, but wants to renovate it to reduce the size of the auditorium and add retail space.
The above “Status” is wrong. This theatre is closed, but still stands. The interior of the lower level has been gutted, but I hear the balcony may be intact.
Seating capacity is shortly going to be reduced to about 300 with the addition of retail space. More retail space is needed to ensure the financial viability of the building.
The status of this theatre should be OPEN as it is now the live Clockwork Repertory Theater.
The Majestic is not renovating. It is falling apart. The marquees of the Majestic and the Palace next door were removed last year since they posed a danger to pedestrians.
Built in 1892, this theatre was originally known as the Middlesex Opera House. The auditorium of the theatre was demolished many years ago. However, the lobby building, complete with the marquee, still stands and houses the Tuscany Grill, a restaurant. The lobby has not been gutted either, from the moment you walk in it is readily apparent that this is the lobby to a movie palace. The poster frames, doors, grand stairway, and more all still exist.
If I won a $300 million lottery THIS would be the theatre I chose to refurbish. The Lyric has been closed for about 30+ years and the decrepit roof has allowed water to pour in and ruin much of the interior. The Lyric on Park Street which is known as New England’s Hispanic Main Street. It could be successful as a Hispanic cultural and performing arts center with some Spanish movies also shown. However, it will cost many tens of millions of dollars to restore, and that is what is keeping it from happening.
The Avon will officially reopen Friday January 23, 2004. It will be an art films venue with two auditoriums having a total seating capacity is 610.
There is a great article about the Hippodrome restoration at View link
Vincent, there are three major reasons why no one is proposing to reopen this as a theatre again:
No one wants to travel into the Bronx to attend a theatrical performance especially when Manhattan has the world’s most famous theatre district. It obviously can’t work as a movie theatre in the modern world either. It is a dinosaur and unless it is converted to retail it will probably sit there until it crumbles down into its own foundation.
I believe the Strand is currently open as a nightclub.
You don’t give a time frame for this theatre. Back in the early 1900’s through late the late 19-teens there were many small storefront movie theatres in towns that opened and closed and a rapid rate. Usually these were just regular storefronts with temporary chairs set up and a sheet suspended from the ceiling. Even though most of these lasted for only a couple of years, many of these actually still stand, but are now converted back to retail or office space. Maybe the Victor was one of these?
On the other hand, I’m not sure about Victor, but Victory (with a -y) was a name that many theatres converted to in the mid-1940’s as a result of the USA’s victory in World War II. so maybe it was from that time frame?
I’m going to have to travel to Jewett City sometime to see if this theatre is for sale or lease or whatever. Can anyone save me the trip? Does anyone out there know if this theatre is available and what the asking price is? Run properly I think it could be successful.
I hate to criticize, but I would bet that this is probably the most poorly run movie theatre in the entire country. Here’s the story of tonight’s misfortunes:
I went to see the 9:00 showing of Kill Bill. The theatre owner was running the concession stand while his approximately 10-year-old grandson sold the tickets. When the movie starts the theatre owner is supposed to go up to the booth, turn on the projector, and then ensure everything is all set. Apparently he went into the booth, turned the projector on, and then went back to the concession stand. After a couple of minutes I went out to the lobby and told him that he needed to turn off the lights on the theatre, which were still shining brightly. He commented that he had forgotten and then turned them down. Now that it was dark enough to see the picture I went back in and soon realized it was way out of focus. I went out to the lobby, asked the 10-year-old who was the only one out there where the guy running the theatre was and he told me that HE was now the one running the theatre. Apparently the theatre owner had left to do something and for quite a while the theatre was staffed only by one 10-year-old boy (and yes he was 10, I’m not exaggerating). In addition to being out of focus, the picture was too wide for the screen so not only did it shine on the wall next to the screen, but also on the curtains on the side of the auditorium. Also they had it in the wrong place as the bottom of it was below the screen while the top part of the screen was dark. Finally after about 15 minutes the owner returned and focused the movie. Naturally, there was about 10 seconds of darkness when switching from one projector to the other in the middle of the film, and then of course also the picture ran off the opposite side of the screen from the one it was running off before.
I will not go back to this theatre again unless the movie I want to see is playing nowhere else. For $4 I was able to put up with the ratty screen and messed up seats, but such horrid presentation is unacceptable. I have never worked in the movie business, but I swear I could do a better job running a theatre than this guy. Hell, it would literally be impossible to do worse. If only it comes up for sale sometime…
The Modern and the Trans-Lux were separate theatres in the theatre district on Washington Street.
Wow. If the Willimantic Digital Cinemas are really closed that leaves Northeastern Connecticut, with a population of about 250,000 with only one three screen indoor theatre and one three screen seasonal drive-in to serve the entire 250,000 people. The indoor triplex in Colchester is owned by the same man who owned the theatre in Willimantic and two other recently closed theatres, so it could be in danger too. That would leave 250,000 people with NO indoor cinema within a short drive. This could be a great opportunity for the right exhibitor.
The Canaan Colonial Community Theatre group was never in charge of the theatre. They did have a plan to purchase it and restore it, and they even had an agreement with the town of how to do this. However, last year the private owner of the theatre suddenly sold it out from under the noses of this group to Mr. David Ohler who is currently renovating it into a cinema cafe.
The garish Palace signage and the marquee have been removed. As a result the theatre entrance looks a lot less tacky.
The Madison Theater did reopen in 2002, but closed down again in 2003.
I’m not sure who runs the website listed above, but it is not the official one. The official one is at http://thecolonialtheatre.org/ .
The State has long since been demolished. The UConn-Waterbury branch now stands on the site along with a parking lot. The State was previously known as the Bijou and the Rialto. It was right next door to the Poli’s and across the street from the Poli’s Palace.
It’s an independent owner. he has run the theatre for about a year so far, but wants to renovate it to reduce the size of the auditorium and add retail space.
Contrary to what the status above says it isn’t demolished!
The auditorium was demolished, but the marquee remains along with the lobby building. It now houses a senior center.
The above “Status” is wrong. This theatre is closed, but still stands. The interior of the lower level has been gutted, but I hear the balcony may be intact.
The above information is wrong. It is not being turned into a performing arts space. It is currently in use as a sound stage.
The theatre has been gutted for retail space.
Seating capacity is shortly going to be reduced to about 300 with the addition of retail space. More retail space is needed to ensure the financial viability of the building.