Coolidge Corner Theatre facts for kids
Coolidge Corner Theatre marquee in 2023
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| Address | 290 Harvard Street Brookline, Massachusetts United States |
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| Coordinates | 42°20′33″N 71°07′21″W / 42.34250°N 71.12250°W |
| Operator | Coolidge Corner Theatre Foundation |
| Type | Non-profit |
| Current use | In Operation |
| Opened | 30 December 1933 |
The Coolidge Corner Theatre is a special movie theater in Brookline, Massachusetts. It's a non-profit organization, which means it uses its money to help the community, not just to make a profit. This theater shows all kinds of movies, like films from other countries, documentaries, cartoons, and independent films. They also have classes and talks about movies.
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History of the Coolidge Theatre
The Coolidge Corner Theatre building was first built as a church in 1906. Later, in 1933, it was changed into a fancy movie theater. This theater had a cool, old-fashioned style called Art Deco. It was the first movie theater in the community.
The theater opened on December 30, 1933. The very first film shown was a short movie by Disney. At first, the theater had only one screen. Over time, it was divided into two screens, and then into four.
By 1988, the theater faced tough times. More people were watching movies at home on VCRs. A builder named Jonathan Davis wanted to tear down the theater. He planned to build shops or offices there instead.
But a group of local people from Brookline wanted to save the theater. They started a movement called "Friends of the Coolidge." David Kleiler, a film professor, led this group. Later, the group became the Coolidge Corner Theatre Foundation. This foundation is a non-profit group that works to protect the theater. They helped the theater become a historic site. This stopped it from being torn down for a while.
In 1989, the foundation tried to raise money to buy the theater. They needed $2.6 million, but they couldn't raise enough. So, four hundred local people gathered to protest peacefully. They linked arms and formed a human chain around the theater.
Then, Harold Brown, a realtor and Brookline resident, stepped in. He loved the Coolidge when he was young. His Hamilton Charitable Foundation offered to buy the theater. They also offered a 99-year lease to the Coolidge Foundation. On November 8, 1989, the theater reopened. David Kleiler cut a celluloid ribbon. The sign on the front of the theater read, "WE DID IT - ON WITH THE SHOW." Kleiler stayed as the theater's programming director until 1993.
Some famous people have connections to the Coolidge. Comedian John Hodgman, who grew up in Brookline, worked at the theater when he was young. Also, Academy Award-winning actor Julianne Moore saw the movie Eraserhead at the Coolidge. She says that experience helped inspire her to become an actor.
In November 2021, the Coolidge Foundation started a big expansion project. They added 14,000 square feet to the building. This $12.5 million project was called "The Campaign for the Coolidge." It was designed by Höweler + Yoon. The expansion added two new modern theaters. It also has a 60-seat Community Education and Engagement Center. There's a media library for films and Coolidge merchandise too. The new parts also make the theater easier for everyone to access. The Trust Family Foundation gave a $1 million donation for this project. The expansion officially opened on March 27, 2024.
Coolidge Award
The Coolidge Award is given every year to a film artist. It honors someone who "advances the spirit of original and challenging cinema." This means they make movies that are new, interesting, and make people think.
Here are some of the people who have received this award:
- 2005: Vittorio Storaro
- 2006: Meryl Streep
- 2010: Jonathan Demme
- 2012: Viggo Mortensen
- 2013: Thelma Schoonmaker
- 2016: Jane Fonda
- 2017: Werner Herzog
- 2018: Michael Douglas
- 2019: Julianne Moore
- 2023: Liv Ullmann
- 2023: Ruth E. Carter
Coolidge Breakthrough Artist Award
This award was created in 2023. The Coolidge Breakthrough Artist Award celebrates new and exciting voices in film. It highlights the next generation of young film artists.
The first recipient of this award was:
- 2023: Elegance Bratton
Images for kids
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Coolidge Award winner Jonathan Demme at the Coolidge Corner Theatre in 2010.
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Popcorn being served in the Coolidge Corner Theatre lobby.
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Musician Robyn Hitchcock at the Coolidge Corner Theatre in 2010.
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A screening of Night of the Living Dead on October 2, 2023. It had live music by the Morricone Youth.
