Cleveland Cinematheque
11141 East Boulevard,
Cleveland,
OH
44106
11141 East Boulevard,
Cleveland,
OH
44106
2 people
favorited this theater
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Per John Ewing, director of the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque, in his “Cinema Talk” column in the Cinematheque’s November/December 2018 Film Schedule:
“The old Cleveland Institute of Art building, including Aitken Auditorium, our shabby but beloved home for 29 years, was completely leveled in August. The property, now jointly owned by Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Museum of Art, is currently being transformed into public green space that will be named East Bell Commons (since it’s at the corner of East Boulevard and Bellflower Road.)
I created the entry for this theater but it should now be changed from OPEN to CLOSED since it has moved down the street to a new building, and somebody has already created an entry for it. I’m not sure if I can manually change it or if an administrator from this website has to.
Description of the Cleveland Cinematheque from the Cleveland Institute of Art’s website:
“The Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque is one of the country’s best repertory movie theaters, proclaimed by The New York Times. Founded in 1986, the alternative film theater shows art, independent, and foreign films as well as revived classics. The Cinematheque offers discounted tickets to all CIA students and contributes to the richness of the college’s public programming in the arts.”
From the Cleveland Plain Dealer (local newspaper for the Cleveland Metro Area)
CLEVELAND, Ohio – How appropriate. “The Last Picture Show” will be the final film to screen when the Cinematheque says farewell to its home for the past 29 years.
Peter Bogdanovich’s black and white classic from 1971 was chosen by a fan vote spanning several months. So many classic films have screened at the Cleveland Institute of Art’s Aitken Auditorium on East Blvd., that it’s an honor to be chosen.
Cinematheque director John Ewing said Bogdanovich’s film was the audience’s “overwhelming choice” in his announcement today.
Clint O'Connor, The Plain Dealer. June 11, 2015.
after 29 years, the beloved Cinematheque will be moving out of its location on East Boulevard into the new Peter B. Lewis Theater inside the brand new 80,000 square foot Cleveland Institute of Art facility on Euclid Ave in the Uptown neighborhood, not too far from the old CIA building, which was sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art & Case Western University. Movies will start screening there on August 1st.
I agree Eric,that is a a great name.Thats what caught my attention to link on this page.
Let us leave the matter in the hands of the moderators 8-).
Personally I think the Cleveland Cinematheque is a good name for it since everyone calls it by that (and not by its Auditorium name,which I’ve never heard uttered). But after reading your comment I can see your point and on being technical, so I won’t be mad if you do change the actual name. BUT if you do, please include the name Cleveland Cinematheque clearly in the description or in the “also known as” above the title lol. Should we vote?
and here’s a link to the Cinematheque’s blog:
http://blog.cia.edu/cinematheque/
I agree, Trolleyguy; I was not suggesting it not be listed. It sure makes more sense than the entry someone recently made for a playground in Hong Kong where films were shown on one night. Geez.
However, since the practice here is to list structures (essentially either indoor theaters or drive-ins), it occurs to me that perhaps this situation might be handled by instead listing the Russell B. Aitken Auditorium and indicating in the description that it has been home to the Cleveland Cinematheque, a regular art and independent film series, since 1986, and that a smaller auditorium in the same building is also used.
This listing is no less appropriate than some others on this site. For example, there is a high school auditorium in Wisconsin that was listed because it occasionally screened a movie.
At least this venue seems to be more dedicated to frequent movie showings.
You are right on your observation. Since I frequent it so much I felt that it should have its own entry so I hastily created a page for it late last night. Perhaps I should have put more thought into its despription lol; and I realize I originally forgot about the other auditorium, so thanks for editing that. But there is no denying it shows GREAT films, many are rare prints, and from time to time they have the filmmakers themselves speak about their films. There is a bi-monthly catalog with all the screenings and showtimes that you can get mailed to you or pick up in select bookstores and coffee shops.
This is really not so much an art theater in the traditional sense, but a distinguished, long running film series at this college that uses the college’s auditoria as screening rooms. I would classify it more as an alternative venue for art and independent film, rather than comparable venue to the Cedar-Lee.