Reel Classics: Classic Movies on the Big Screen

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Classics on the Big Screen

There's nothing more fun than getting to watch classic movies the way they were intended--on the big screen. And though they can be a little hard to find at times, here is a listing of classic movie theatres that should help. If there's a theatre in your hometown, let me know about it. And even if there's not, don't despair. If you ever happen to be on vacation near one of these theatres, you can find out what's playing and maybe catch a show or two -- I usually do.

In the United States | Elsewhere in the World | Related Links

Classic Movie Theatres in the United States

Alabama:

The Alabama Theatre (1817 Third Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203; 205-252-2262) --a restored 1927 movie palace featuring a good selection of classic movies. See the website for a schedule of events.

Arizona:

Silent Saturdays/Sundays at the Orpheum Theatre (203. W. Adams, Phoenix, AZ; 1-800-905-3315 or 602-262-7272) --a joint project of the Orpheum Theatre and the Valley of the Sun Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society, featuring weekend silent movie screenings accompanied live on a restored Mighty Wurltizer Organ. See the website for a schedule.

California:

Cinefamily/The Silent Movie Theatre (611 North Fairfax Ave., Hollywood, CA 90036) --they specializing in off-beat movies, including silent films and classic talkies from the 1930s and '40s. See the website for a schedule of showings.
American Cinemathéque (6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028; 323-466-FILM) --in the famous Egyptian Theatre where so many Hollywood classics premiered, films of all ages and types shown daily, including classics.
AFI @ ArcLight (ArcLight Hollywood, 6360 W. Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026; 323-464-4226) -- a year-round program of film series, director's screenings, mini-festivals and retrospectives presented by the American Film Institute. See the website for a schedule or buy tickets online.
UCLA Film & Television Archives (405 Hilgard Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90095; 310-206-FILM) --featuring a series of classic and international film screenings, and a film preservation festival each March, in addition to special events open to the public. See the website for a schedule.
Laemmle Theatres (seven locations in the Los Angeles area) --primarily art house programming, but occasional classic films series such as Bogart films and the great MGM musicals. See the website for theatre locations, upcoming events and screening schedules.
Aero Theatre (1328 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90403; 323-466-FILM) --another location of the American Cinemathéque featuring regular screenings of classic films.
The Stanford Theatre (221 University Avenue, Palo Alto, CA; 650-324-3700) --classics galore in this restored movie palace built in 1925. See the unofficial website for schedules and upcoming festivals.
The Bay Theatre (340 Main Street, Seal Beach, CA 90740; 562-431-9988) --weekly classics and even occasional silents with live organ accompaniment. See the website for a schedule.
Paramount Theatre (2025 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612; 510-465-6400) --regular classics in a restored Art Deco movie palace with frequent Mighty Wurlitzer organ accompaniment.

Connecticut:

Greenwich Classic Film Series (Crown Plaza Movie Theater, Railroad Ave., Greenwich, CT 06830; 914-725-0999) --classic movies followed by lectures. See the website for a schedule.
Avon Theatre Film Center (272 Bedford Street, Stamford, CT 06901; 203-967-3660) -- a restored 1930s movie theatre featuring a Saturday series of "Avon Classics at High Noon". See the schedule here.

Florida:

Florida Theatre (128 East Forsyth Street, Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32202; 904-355-5661) --a 1927 movie palace restored to its original Mediterranean-style architecture and decor, featuring various live performances and a series of classic film screenings throughout the summer and winter. See the website for a schedule.
Tampa Theatre (711 Franklin Street, Tampa, FL 33602; 813-274-8982) --a restored 1920s movie palace featuring classics on Sunday afternoons in the summer. See the website for a schedule.
The Historic Capitol Theatre (405 Cleveland Street, Clearwater, Fl. 33755; 727-442-6152) --first opened in 1921, it hosts Capitol Classics every Tuesday night and features weekend classic films once a month. See the schedule here.

Georgia:

Screen on the Green (Piedmont Park - The Meadow, 10th Street and Monroe Drive, Atlanta, GA) --a classic movie outside in the park Thursday nights during the summer months. See the website for a schedule.
Fox Theatre (660 Peachtree Street N.E., Atlanta, GA 30308; 404-881-2100) --a restored 1920s movie palace featuring mostly live entertainment but occasional film showings as well, including some classics, especially during it's Summer Film Festival. See the website for a schedule.
Imperial Theatre (749 Broad Street, Augusta, GA 30901; 706-722-8341) --regular monthly classic movie screenings as well as a special summer series. See the website for a schedule.

Illinois:

The Chicago Outdoor Film Festival (Grant Park, 331 E Randolph Street, Chicago, IL) --free classics outside on the big screen in Chicago during the summer. See the website for a schedule.
Facets Cinémathèque (1517 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago, IL; 773-281-4114) --foreign and art house films with occasional classics. See the website for a schedule.
The Music Box Theatre (3733 N Southport Avenue, Chicago, IL 60613; 773-871-6604) --foreign and classic films in a restored 1929 movie house. See the website for a schedule.
Doc Films (Max Palevsky Cinema in Ida Noyes Hall, The University of Chicago, 1212 East 59th Street, Chicago, IL 60637; 773-702-8575) --the film society of the University of Chicago features public film screenings every day of the week during the school year -- modern films on the weekends, but classics during the week. See the website for a schedule.
The Normal Theater (209 North Street, Normal, IL 61761; 309-454-9722) --foreign, independent and classic films shown at this fully restored Art Deco movie theater from 1937 in central Illinois.

Maryland:

AFI Silver Theatre (8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring MD 20910; 301-495-6720) --a renovated 1938 movie palace run by the American Film Institute, this venue features three screens of great films seven days a week, including classics, moderns, silents, shorts, foreign and independent films. See the website for a schedule.

Massachusetts:

The Brattle Theatre (40 Brattle Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA 02138; 617-876-6837) --classics, independents and foreign films. See the website for a schedule of showings.
Museum of Fine Arts Films (465 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115) --mostly foreign and documentary films, but some classics. See the monthly schedule here.
West Newton Cinema (1296 Washington Street (Route 16), Newton, MA; phone: 617-964-6060) --about fifteen minutes from downtown Boston with seven screening rooms to show the classics, independent and foreign films.
Norwood Theatre Cinema (109 Central Street, Norwood, MA 02062; phone: 781-762-2429) --another suburban Boston theatre showing classic movies as well as some modern ones.

Michigan:

The Michigan Theater (603 E. Liberty Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104; 734-668-8397) --featuring "specialty film" programming including some classics. See the website for a schedule.
The Redford Theatre (17360 Lahser Road, Detroit, MI 48219; 313-537-2560) --a 1600 seat, 1928 movie palace in Detroit featuring 35mm presentations of classic movies every other weekend. Organ preludes and occasional special events too. See the schedule online here.

Minnesota:

The Heights Theater (3951 Central Ave NE, Columbia Heights, MN 55421; 763-788-9079) --a 1927 Beaux Arts-style movie house in the process of being restored, it hosts live performances, as well as both classic and modern film screenings. See the website for a schedule.

Nebraska:

Omaha Film Event -- special classic movie screenings and events in Omaha hosted by film historian Bruce Crawford. See the website for a schedule.

New Jersey:

The Landmark Loew's Jersey Theatre (54 Journal Square, Jersey City, NJ 07306; 201-798-6055) --a historic movie palace from 1929 which has been taken over by the City of Jersey City as a non-profit arts and entertainment center, featuring occasional classic movie screenings. See the website for a schedule.
Hoboken Cinemas (409 14th Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030; 201-710-5581) --a modern cinema complex featuring modern movies and a classics series. See the website for a schedule.

New York:

New York City -

Film Forum (209 W. Houston St., New York, NY 10014) --not exclusively classics (independents and foreign films too), but three screens in SoHo and open 365 days a year. See the website for a schedule of showings.
Film Society of Lincoln Center (70 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023; 202-875-5600) --a whole host of film showings, but organized into festivals and programs which may or may not include classics. See the website (Walter Reade Theater section) for a schedule of showings.
Bryant Park Summer Film Festival (Bryant Park, 42nd Street and the Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY) --a classic movie outside in the park Monday nights during the summer months. See the website for a schedule.
Silent Clown Film Series (The Little Theatre at the West Side YMCA, 5 West 63rd Street, New York, NY; 212-969-0968) --Sunday afternoon screenings of classic silent movies (especially comedies) with live musical accompaniment. See the website for a schedule.
Chelsea Classics (Clearview's Chelsea 9 Cinema, 260 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10011; 212-777-FILM #597) -- featuring classics on the big screen at a reduced admission price every Thursday night. See the website for a schedule.
Symphony Space (2537 Broadway, New York, NY 10025; 212-864-5400) --weekend screenings of international and classic films (including occasional silent movies with live piano accompaniment), even double features. See the website for a schedule.
Museum of the Moving Image (5 Avenue at 36 Street, Astoria, NY 11106; 718-784-0077) --a movie museum with seminars and film screenings featuring modern, classic and international films. See the website for a schedule.
MoMA Film at The Gramercy Theatre (Museum of Modern Art, 127 East 23 Street, New York, NY; 212-777-4900) --mostly modern and international films and documentaries, but occasional classics as well. See the schedule online here.
Anthology Film Archives (32 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10003; 212-505-5181) --featuring screenings of independent and avant-garde cinema including classic American, European, Soviet and Japanese films. See the website for a schedule.

Upstate New York -

Cinefest (4173 Streamwood Dr., Liverpool, New York 13090-1392; 315-409-4625) --a rare film festival that takes place in Syracuse every March, featuring classic movies rarely seen on TV or available on video. See the website for registration information and a schedule of showings.
Dryden Theatre at the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film (900 East Ave., Rochester, NY 14607; 585-271-3361) -- nightly movie screenings (including lots of classics) featuring films from the museum's vast library of preserved films.
Rome Capitol Theatre (220 W. Dominick St., Rome, NY, 13440; 315-337-6453) --a restored 1920s first-run movie house, the Rome Capitol is now a performing arts center but features a monthly movie series called Rome Classics as well as Capitolfest, a silent/pre-code movie festival each August. See the website for a schedule.
Lafayette Theatre (97 Lafayette Ave., Suffern, NY 10901; 845-369-8234) --a historic single screen movie palace featuring modern films, classics and a Mighty Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ.
The Historic Paramount Theatre (17 South St., Middletown, NY; 845-346-4195) --a 1930s movie palace offering live entertainment and a series of big screen classics.

Ohio:

The Ohio Theatre (39 E. State Street, Columbus, Ohio) --a 1928 movie palace, newly renovated and home to the CAPA Summer Movie Series, "America's longest running classic films series," which shows classics on the big screen from mid-June to late August. See the CAPA events website for a schedule.
The Cleveland Museum of Art (11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44106; 216-421-7340) -- featuring documentaries, modern independent and foreign films as well as occasional classics. See the website for a schedule.
The Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque (11141 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44106; 216-421-7450) -- featuring modern independent and foreign films as well as occasional classics. See the website for a schedule.

Oklahoma:

Oklahoma City Art Museum (3113 General Pershing Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73107; 405-946-4477) --mostly art-house movies, documentaries and foreign films, but a few classics on occasion as well as adult education classes related to classic film. See the website for a schedule.
University of Oklahoma Department of Film and Video Studies (640 Parrington Oval, 302 Old Science Hall, University of Oklahoma, Norman OK 73019; 405-325-3020) --screenings of several classic films which are free and open to the public, shown in conjunction with courses offered by the department. See the website for a schedule.
The Sooner Theatre (101 E. Main St., Norman, OK; 405-321-9600) --a 1929 Spanish Gothic movie palace renovated and now used for both live events and film screenings, including classics.

Texas:

Ector Theatre (500 N. Texas, Odessa, TX 79760; 915-337-9595) --a monthly schedule of weekend classic movies on the big screen.
The Palace Theatre (300 South Main Street, Grapevine, TX 76051-5319; 817-410-3550) --a 1940s Art Deco movie house currently home to live productions and occasional dinner-and-a-classic-movie features. See the website for a schedule.

Virginia:

Williamsburg Film Festival (Williamsburg, Virginia) --an annual tribute to Hollywood's Golden Age featuring appearances by classic stars and screenings of classic films. See the web site for details.

Washington, D.C. (see also Maryland):

Mary Pickford Theater at the Library of Congress (Library of Congress, Madison Building (between 1st and 2nd streets on Independence Avenue), SE Washington, DC 20540-4690) --just a little screening room that holds about 30 people (so reservations are recommended) but a big screen nonetheless, and the Library of Congress has a wonderful collection of classic films. See the website for a schedule.
Screen on the Green (by the Washington Monument, Washington D.C.) --a classic movie outside on the National Mall Monday nights during the summer months. See the website for a schedule.
National Theatre (1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington D.C. 20004; 1-800-447-7400 or 202-783-3372) -- free film screening (including classics) in the Helen Hayes Gallery. See the website for a schedule.
American City Night Owl Classics (American City Diner, 5532 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington DC; 202-244-1949) --an old-style '50s diner which projects classic movies on an outdoor screen seven nights a week. No admission fee.

Washington:

The Seattle Cinerama Theatre (2100 4th Avenue (at Lenora St.), Seattle, WA, 98121; 206-441-3080) --an 800 seat Cinerama theatre built in 1963, restored in 1998 and the only Super Cinerama theatre left in the United States. One of only a handful of theatres worldwide capable of screening a Cinerama film in its original 3-strip format. See the website for a schedule.

Classic Movies on the Big Screen World Wide

Australia:

The Astor Theatre (1 Chapel Street, St. Kilda VIC 3182, Australia; phone: 03-9510-1414) -- a single-screen Art Deco movie theatre near Melbourne specializing in 70mm presentations and double features of classics, independent and foreign films. See the website for a schedule.
The Capri Theatre (141 Goodwood Road, Goodwood SA 5034, Australia; phone: 08-8272-1177) -- another vintage Art Deco theatre, this time still equipped with a Wurlitzer pipe organ, the Capri mostly screens modern movies these days, but still hosts occasional classic movies and organ concerts. See the website for a schedule.

England:

National Film Theatre (South Bank (near Waterloo Station), London SE1 8TL; phone: 0171-928-3232) --run by the British Film Institute, the NFT shows classic movies (as well as some independent and foreign films) on three screens every night. Check out the schedule online or become a member and get their programming booklet sent to you monthly.

France:

Action Ecoles (23, rue des Ecoles, Paris 75005; 5th arrondissement; metro: Maubert-Mutualité, Jussieu) -- specializing in classic American movies. See VersionOriginale for a schedule of screenings.
Action Christine (4, rue Christine, Paris 75006; 6th arrondissement; metro: Odéon, Saint-Michel) -- specializing in American movies from the 1960s and '70s. See VersionOriginale for a schedule of screenings.
Grand Action (5, rue des Ecoles, Paris 75005; 5th arrondissement; metro: Cardinal-Lemoine, Jussieu) -- international films, including some American classics. See VersionOriginale for a schedule of screenings.
Le Quartier Latin (9, rue Champollion, Paris 75005; 5th arrondissement; metro: Odéon, Cluny) -- international films, including some American classics. See VersionOriginale for a schedule of screenings.