Allen-Cooley Cinemas
Allen Street and Cooley Street,
Springfield,
MA
01128
Allen Street and Cooley Street,
Springfield,
MA
01128
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Located at the intersection of Allen Street and Cooley Street in Southeastern Springfield, MA, the Allen-Cooley Cinemas was a standard 1960’s style second run suburban theatre. It was built and planned to be a Jerry Lewis twin theatre, but opened by C&F Theatres on May 25, 1973 with Charles Bronson in “The Family” (aka “Violent City”) in screen 1 and a Disney double bill: Fred MacMurray in “Charley and the Angel” & the animated feature “Cinderella” in screen 2. It consisted of two long narrow 300-seat auditoriums side by side.
During the late-1970’s and early-1980’s it was a popular site for midnight showings of movies such as “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “The Kids are Alright”.
It closed as a cinema on November 12, 1986 with Burt Lancaster in “Tough Guys” in screen 1 and Matthew Broderick in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” & Pat Morita in “The Karate Kid Part II” in screen 2.
Converted into Christopher’s, a nightclub, and later Mikara’s. Last known use was as a AAA auto club office. The building has since been demolished.
Contributed by
David Litterer
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Retailer W.T. Grant’s Grants Plaza launched in the fourth quarter of 1971. The plaza was to receive a Jerry Lewis automated twin theatre. However, as the venue was being built, the Lewis chain and its parent company were in free fall financial collapse. C&F Theatres took on the project as the Allen-Cooley Cinema Twin located in Grant’s Plaza. It launched May 25, 1973 with “The Family" and a Disney double feature of “Charley and the Angel” and “Cinderella.”
In 1975, the situation didn’t improve when W.T. Grant went into free fall and it closed its Grant City Allen-Cooley store in December and the remainder of its stores within a year’s time. But the theatre soldiered on likely to an opt out point at its lease. The Allen-Cooley Cinema Twin bolted after showtimes on November 12, 1986 showing “Tough Guys” and splitting a screen with “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “Karate Kid II.”