Cinestudio is an independent film theater located on the campus of

Trinity College Trinity College may refer to: Australia * Trinity Anglican College, an Anglican coeducational primary and secondary school in , New South Wales * Trinity Catholic College, Auburn, a coeducational school in the inner-western suburbs of Sydney, New ...

Hartford, Connecticut Hartford is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The city, located in Hartford County, Connecticut, Hartford County, had a population of 121,054 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 ce ...

. The theater is a single-screen venue with a

seating capacity Seating capacity is the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, in terms of both the physical space available and limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that ...

of approximately 485, a classic McKim, Mead & White design from 1935. Regionally, it is known for its large screen,

70 mm film 70 mm film (or 65 mm film) is a wide high-resolution film gauge for motion picture photography, with a negative area nearly 3.5 times as large as the standard 35 mm motion picture film format. As used in cameras, the film is wid ...

projection capability, Ultra High Definition 4K Digital Cinema and classic

movie palace A movie palace (or picture palace in the United Kingdom) is a large, elaborately decorated movie theater built from the 1910s to the 1940s. The late 1920s saw the peak of the movie palace, with hundreds opening every year between 1925 and 1930. Wi ...

atmosphere. The Dolby/Altec sound system is legendary. Cinestudio features a spectacular gold Austrian screen curtain that rises at every show, real balcony seating, and the gold lion courant insignia.

History

Cinestudio was founded in 1970, by a group of students at Trinity College. The students converted a large lecture hall in the college's Clement Chemistry Building on the Long Walk quad into a recreation of a 1930s film house. The theater was created as a cooperative, with students overseeing all aspects of the theater's operation. Cinestudio made its mark early by showing controversial films and debuting future cult classics, including ''

The Rocky Horror Picture Show ''The Rocky Horror Picture Show'' is a 1975 independent musical comedy horror film produced by Lou Adler and Michael White, directed by Jim Sharman, and distributed by 20th Century Fox. The screenplay was written by Sharman and Richard O ...

'', ''

Harold and Maude ''Harold and Maude'' is a 1971 American romantic black comedy-drama film directed by Hal Ashby and released by Paramount Pictures. It incorporates elements of dark humor and existentialist drama. The plot follows the exploits of Harold Chasen ...

'' and ''

Pink Flamingos ''Pink Flamingos'' is a 1972 American surrealist independent black comedy film by John Waters. It is part of what Waters has labelled the "Trash Trilogy", which also includes '' Female Trouble'' (1974) and '' Desperate Living'' (1977). The f ...

''. Cinestudio has continued largely as a cooperative operation. Two founding members, James Hanley and Peter McMorris, have guided the theater since its inception and now manage its day-to-day operation. A staff of approximately 50 student and community volunteers run showings seven days a week. In 2002, Cinestudio incorporated as a

501(c)(3) A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, Trust (business), trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of ...

not-for-profit arts organization A not-for-profit arts organization, also known as a nonprofit arts organization, usually takes the form of a not-for-profit organization, nonprofit organization, association, or foundation. Such organizations are formed for the purpose of develo ...

. The theater now is independent of Trinity College, although it still occupies space in the college's chemistry building. In 2007, the theater's ticket booth was renamed the Fred Pfeil Memorial Ticket Booth in honor of late Trinity College professor and long-time Cinestudio volunteer and board member,

Fred Pfeil John Frederick Pfeil (1949–2005) was an American literary critic and novelist. Pfeil (pronounced "file") was born September 21 in Port Allegany, Pennsylvania. He earned an undergraduate degree at Amherst College in 1971 and an M.A. at Stanford Uni ...

Films

Cinestudio screens a variety of second-run, independent, and classic films. Program booking is an open process in which patron participation in the film selection process is welcomed. Annually, Cinestudio hosts several film festivals, including The Connecticut Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, April in Paris, and Trinity Film Festival, the international student film festival.

External links

Cinestudio Theater

April in Paris Film Festival

Connecticut Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
{{coord, 41.7489, -72.693, display=title Charities based in Connecticut Buildings and structures in Hartford, Connecticut Cinemas and movie theaters in Connecticut Trinity College (Connecticut) Tourist attractions in Hartford, Connecticut