THE CLOSING OF COPLEY PLACE
Last weekend marked the closing of the ll-screen, 30-year old Copley Place Theatre. Never loved because of its physical condition, it will nevertheless be missed both by moviegoers and by abutters. And it will leaved Boston in a situation where it is once again underscreened.
Built in a shopping mall at a time when the construction credo was to build with the easiest conversion to retail space ahould anything go wrong. So, Barney's is moving in. With its small auditoriums, small screens, flat floor, and inadequate sound system, it was not a great place for movie buffs. Nevertheless, most press screenings took place there (how many reviews might have been altered in more favorable viewing conditions?), and in recent years it did provide a venue for specialty movies for the film savvy Back Bay and South End audiences, for whom this was their neighbrhood theatre . Going to the Coolidge or Kendall Square is more of a stretch, and the programming policies of the Fenway or Boston Common won't change.
Ocassionally, some film would open at Copley exclusively. Now such films wil not be seen in Boston. Or, people won't see the worthwhile films that often played there because of logistics. There is now no Bnearby screen for the much Oscar nominated RAY or FINDING NEVERAND.
And, what about the Boston Film Festival? That Festival, with problems enough without need for more, used to have the Copley as its primary home. Although in the last two years, some programs have gonne on at Boston Common, there is no way Loew's is going to give up significatly more screens for the Festival, at a time when the Fall releases are just beginning.
And, just around the corner, the Circle in Cleveland Circle is up for sale.
Built in a shopping mall at a time when the construction credo was to build with the easiest conversion to retail space ahould anything go wrong. So, Barney's is moving in. With its small auditoriums, small screens, flat floor, and inadequate sound system, it was not a great place for movie buffs. Nevertheless, most press screenings took place there (how many reviews might have been altered in more favorable viewing conditions?), and in recent years it did provide a venue for specialty movies for the film savvy Back Bay and South End audiences, for whom this was their neighbrhood theatre . Going to the Coolidge or Kendall Square is more of a stretch, and the programming policies of the Fenway or Boston Common won't change.
Ocassionally, some film would open at Copley exclusively. Now such films wil not be seen in Boston. Or, people won't see the worthwhile films that often played there because of logistics. There is now no Bnearby screen for the much Oscar nominated RAY or FINDING NEVERAND.
And, what about the Boston Film Festival? That Festival, with problems enough without need for more, used to have the Copley as its primary home. Although in the last two years, some programs have gonne on at Boston Common, there is no way Loew's is going to give up significatly more screens for the Festival, at a time when the Fall releases are just beginning.
And, just around the corner, the Circle in Cleveland Circle is up for sale.
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