Playhouse
89 Elm Street,
New Canaan,
CT
06840
89 Elm Street,
New Canaan,
CT
06840
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Associated Prudential Theaters Inc., Bow-Tie Cinemas, Crown Theatres LLC, Hoyts Cinemas, Northeast Cinemas, Playhouse Operating Co., United Artists Theater Circuit Inc.
Architects: Calvin E. Kiessling
Firms: Davis, McGrath, and Kiessling
Styles: Colonial Revival
Previous Names: Playhouse of New Canaan, New Canaan Playhouse
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Oct 15, 2007 — Connecticut Film Fest, Take 2
Dating from September 19, 1923 when it opened with Marguerite Courtot in “Down to the Sea in Ships”. The Playhouse of New Canaan Theatre was operated by Playhouse Operating Co. by 1929. The New Canaan Playhouse has somehow managed to retain its status as a first run theatre despite having only two screens and 460-seats. It is a former single screen theatre that was twinned on May 2, 1986. There is not a traditional marquee but a small wooden sign instead which is probably to conform with local zoning regulations. The theatre is yet another victim of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was announced on December 8, 2020 that the theatre would not reopen.
The town of New Canaan owns the building and have found a new operator Cinema Lab, who reopened the building as The Playhouse on June 28, 2024, with a reduced seating capacity of 196-seats.
Contributed by
Roger Katz
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Recent comments (view all 14 comments)
As of 11/17/06, Bow Tie Cinemas has assumed operation of the Playhouse.
I worked at the PlayHouse as an usher for two seasons in 1963 and 64. (summers). My aunt was the theater’s manager and my grandfather was the tickettaker for Tuesday matinees. The projectionist was an old guy whose name I can’t remember— he would sit in the lobby in one of the elegant upright chairs (pre-candy counter) and go upstairs as the theater was filling. His belt was way above the waistline.
I enjoyed my infrequent visits to the booth… it probably got me into my lifeline career of being on the AVSquad. It was run by Prudential Theaters
As per article in New Canan Advertiser the theatre is permanently closed.
This is the article from www.ncadvertisr.com
New Canaan movie theater to close By John Kovach Updated 8:00 pm EST, Tuesday, December 8, 2020
In March, marquee at the New Canaan Playhouse announces that the movie theater on Elm Street closed by order of the director of Health, one of many establishments closed to keep people apart in an effort to slow the spread of the Coronavirus. Tuesday, the operator announced they were closing. Photo: Grace Duffield / Hearst Connecticut Media / New Canaan Advertiser Photo: Grace Duffield / Hearst Connecticut Media In March, marquee at the New Canaan Playhouse announces that the movie theater on Elm Street closed by order of the director of Health, one of many establishments closed to keep people apart in an effort to slow the spread of the Coronavirus. Tuesday, the operator announced they were closing.
NEW CANAAN — The downtown movie theater will remain dark once the COVID-19 restrictions end. First Selectman Kevin Moynihan told the Board of Finance Tuesday night that representatives from Bow Tie Cinemas sent a letter to the town, saying they do not intend to resume operations and requested to be let out of their lease. Moynihan told the Board of Finance that the town is committed to having a movie theater in town. The New Canaan Playhouse at 59 Elm St. closed in mid-March when COVID shut down the state, reopened July 1, then announced another “temporary closing” two weeks later.
Read More A letter posted on the door in July read: “Our plan is to reopen when new Hollywood releases are ready to be shared again in theaters. When that time comes, the health and safety of our customers, staff members and the greater movie going community will continue to be our top priority.”
From the ncadveriser.com NEW CANAAN - As the town agrees to terminate its lease with Bow Tie LLC, town officials announced that there is $826,000 to held in a municipal account to the theater.
The building needs upgrades to be complaint with the American with Disabilities Act and general maintenance.
The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously on Tuesday, Jan. 5, to terminate the lease with Bow Tie LLC as of Dec. 31. The lease was originally due to end 2022, with two five-year extensions.
“We have a fund that has built up over the years, because we have not been taking the revenues that we had gotten from lease payments,” First Selectman Kevin Moynihan told his fellow selectmen.
Read More
The theater’s general fund balance is $826,063, according to CFO Lunda Asmani, which is not included in the town’s overall general fund.
“We can certainly use some of that money to have some of the basic ADA compliant and things like that done,” Administrative Officer Tucker Murphy said.
Funds are needed “for general maintenance and upgrades as the building has not had much attention over the years,” Murphy explained later.
“So we have a lot of money to work with for the building and also to stand up an operation if we want to be a part of it,” the first selectman said.
Moynihan said he is at peace with the deal. “It is what it is during COVID. You have to accept a lot of lumps along the way,” he said. The people at Bow Tie “have been very good to work with. I think it is unfortunate what happened with their business.”
“They did leave all the projector equipment, which is fairly new, which is four years old and all the equipment that would be needed to get it back up and running,” Building Superintendent Bill Oestmann said.
“The equipment they left is valuable and enables us to start running movies tomorrow if we wanted to,” Moynihan said.
“They also offered us one year to train anyone who wants to take over the business there, provided it isn’t competitors,” Oestmann added.
Moynihan said he is “optimistic” moving forward. “There is interest in operating the theater. We have to figure out what the structure we put in place for an operator, which could be a nonprofit,” the first selectman said.
“We feel we are in the driver’s seat to the extent that that people are reaching out to us. So that’s a good thing. So it is an opportunity in many ways. The next steps will be to gather all that information and see what rises to the top,” Murphy said.
“My sense is that most people want the movie theater to function as a movie theater before we have to turn to alternatives, Moynihan said. “On the one hand no immediate rush because people aren’t rushing to the movies.”
“There has been a lot of interest from residents who have done some research for us and who have sent me information over the last couple of weeks on theaters that they are aware of over,” Murphy said.
Asked if whether the lost revenue from the movie theater could be reimbursed to the town, from either state of national COVID-19 relief that is being distributed to towns.
Oestmann said it would not be since it is revenue.
Written By
Grace Duffield
Please update, became a twin on May 2, 1986
Cinema lab. They have entered into an agreement with the town that they will revitalize and reopen this theater sometime in 2023. They have successfully redone other theaters in New Jersey South Orange New Jersey and the Bradley Beach Cinema in Bradley Beach
Please update new The Playhouse open June 28, Grand opening in photos section
and the new name of the theatre is The Playhouse
1923 grand opening ad posted.
Please update, total seats 196