Roll Credits

by Kelsey Handler

Part IV of IV

There are many things I’ll miss about Boston when I return to Texas, but in first place –  narrowly edging out a decent transit system and a climate that has seasons – is the Coolidge Corner Theatre.

A short T ride from my apartment in Brookline, this historic movie theatre shows feature films, new releases and old classics alike. Originally built as a church in 1906, the Coolidge was upgraded into an art deco movie palace in the early thirties and has existed as a non-profit foundation since 1989. It’s a place of great history and community, and for a film lover like myself, a mecca of cinematic magic.

In my audiovisual preservation class this semester, we learned from a guest lecturer that independent movie theatres are thriving while chains suffer in the post-pandemic economy. This is because indies have a broader understanding of what a movie-going experience can be; they offer a wider selection of films – old and new, conventional and cult – and hold special events like dance parties, lectures, and children’s programs. These bring patrons back again and again. Conversely, chains tend to only show new releases, and audiences will only go see the same new movie at the same theatre so many times.

The independent method of brand loyalty appears to be paying off for the Coolidge, as it is in the end stages of a $12.5 million capital campaign for a 14,000 sq ft expansion. This initiative will add two new screens and a new lobby, as well as support the preservation and restoration of the art deco features that make it such a special place.

Movies I saw at the Coolidge during my short time here: