Elm Theatre

924 Quaker Lane South,
West Hartford, CT 06110

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Additional Info

Architects: Edwin C.A. Bullock

Functions: Drugstore

Styles: Streamline Moderne

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News About This Theater

2001 Photo from the Roger Katz collection

The Elm Theatre was opened November 10, 1948 with Rita Hayworth in “Loves of Carmen”. It had seating in orchestra and balcony levels. It was twinned on April 7, 1978. After years of success, operated by the Perakos chain, the Elm Theatre was felled by competition from new megaplexes built in the 1990’s and finally closed in 2002.

Despite protests from local citizens, the theater was gutted and converted into a Walgreens in November and December of 2004.

Contributed by Roger Katz

Recent comments (view all 62 comments)

nancymc
nancymc on November 15, 2010 at 9:54 pm

I am looking for information on who might have owned the Elm Theatre around 1955-1960. When I was a kid during that period I had a friend (Maureen) whose family (an uncle perhaps) was connected with the theatre. She and I would go to the saturday mats. free. It was a huge treat for me since that was the only chance I got to go to the movies. I’m trying to reconnect with Maureen. Does anyone know who might have owned the Elm during this period.?

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on March 1, 2011 at 2:29 am

An ad for Anemostat air diffusers in Boxoffice of May 7, 1949, featured a picture of the Elm’s auditorium. The caption says the theater was designed by New York City architect E.C. Bullock.

DTG
DTG on September 2, 2011 at 3:48 am

I remember going to see Close Encounters of the Third Kind when it first came out in the 1970’s there. That was my first time there, unfortunately. While the movie was great, what I mainly think of is the theater. I’ve seen alot of films in theaters in the past 30 or so years, but this one sticks with me. I managed to see a few more films there in the subsequent years, but I didn’t live in the area so it was hard.

cablepuller
cablepuller on January 28, 2012 at 10:16 pm

I worked here as a teen in the early 1960s. Only one screen when I was there. We played Lawrence of Arabia in 70mm twice a day, every day for months.
The Perokas theater chain had 13 theaters and the chain was headquartered at the Palace theater in New Britain.

TZToronto
TZToronto on March 26, 2013 at 4:36 pm

I took my girlfriend there to see Sound of Music. We had reserved seats, as I recall. Liked the movie, the theater, and the girl.

Cinerama
Cinerama on October 27, 2015 at 7:28 pm

Saw Sound of Music at this theatre. I also use to live on Grove St. in 1980’s and could walk to the theatre. I think it was only 99 cents to see a movie after it was twinned.

rivest266
rivest266 on February 21, 2017 at 9:57 pm

This opened on November 10th, 1948. Its grand opening ad can be found in the photo section.

rivest266
rivest266 on February 25, 2017 at 5:44 pm

Grand opening ad for April 7th, 1978 as a twin cinema.

Roger Katz
Roger Katz on October 27, 2023 at 3:52 pm

This Walgreens is closing November 13, 2023. I wonder if there’s any chance this building could become a theatre again or if it was gutted too much.

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