Kudos has to go out to Matt Zone, the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization and the city of Cleveland for all the efforts that have gone into the Gordon Square Arts District. They managed to take a great neighborhood with great bones and transform it from an aging area to a lively and fun district. I have already written about the great places to eat and shop here, but what may be the finest jewel in the crown is the Capital Theater.
Cleveland was a thriving city in the early 1900′s. This being the heyday of vaudeville and the beginning of the movie business, it comes as no surprise that the city is littered with theaters. Nearly every neighborhood had some sort of stage theater or movie house, most of which fell into complete decline. Later, many were torn down to make way for McDonald’s, shopping malls, or other some trappings of modern life. Even our beloved Playhouse Square came close to becoming another parking lot. Still others were converted into something else-churches, porn theaters, even offices. Some fell into such disrepair that they could not be salvaged at all. Luckily, the Capital Theater managed to find new life.
I am a big believer in adaptive reuse. Far too many of Cleveland’s precious architectural gems have become the victim of the wrecking ball and are gone forever. These theaters were truly sad in that they were places to attract patrons and as such were often sumptuous and ornate. A hundred years later, it becomes very expensive to return these little treasures to their former glory, but the Capital Theater did it. Operated by the Cleveland Cinemas chain, it is a great asset to the Gordon Square district. Cleveland Cinemas has a long history of meshing arty and independent films with traditional new releases. Who knows? as the Cleveland International Film Festival continues to grow, maybe we will get to see some of the films from the festival showcased at this awesome locale. (Speaking of the CIFF check out the site to be in the trailer!)
I was pleased to go and see Avatar at the Capital and loved the work that was done. They managed to blend modern comfort with old world elegance. The screen is big enough for all those great movies like Avatar that really should be seen at a cinema, yet the theater is also small enough to make the space intimate enough to create that arty theater feel. Being newly renovated and so sparling clean, yet grand and ornate-this is my favorite in the Cleveland Cinemas chain.
If you have yet to see the theater space and the work that they have done, then make the time. They are showing some cool films, screenings and one day showings, as well as big names like Avatar. They are even showing midnight movies with cult classics like Fight Club! A new film that is coming out is Extraordinary Measures.
EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES (CBS Films) Opening Date: January 22, 2010 From his
working class roots, John Crowley (Brendan Fraser) has finally begun to
taste success in corporate America. Supported by his beautiful wife Aileen
(Keri Russell) and their three children, John is on the fast track. But
just as his career is taking off, Crowley walks away from it all when his
two youngest children, Megan and Patrick, are diagnosed with a fatal
disease. With Aileen by his side, harnessing all of his skill and
determination, Crowley teams up with a brilliant, but unappreciated and
unconventional scientist, Dr. Robert Stonehill (Harrison Ford). Together
they form a bio-tech company focused on developing a life-saving drug. One
driven to prove himself and his theories, the other by a chance to save his
children, this unlikely alliance eventually develops into mutual respect as
they battle the medical and business establishments in a fight against the
system – and time. But, at the last minute, when it appears that a solution
has been found, the relationship between the two men faces a final test -
the outcome of which will affect the fate of John’s children.
You can be one of the first to see this film! The Capital is having a pre-screening on Wednesday, January 20th at 7:30 pm. Even better, there is a way that you won’t have to pay! Have you visited the Got City Game website? I wrote about the GCG television show earlier. It is a web based reality show set in Cleveland and they are giving away cool stuff. Not only do the contestants have a shot at the grand prize, but the viewers have a chance to win cool stuff as well. When you go to the site and vote for your favorite team, you are entered into the drawing. The more you vote (you can vote once a day) the better your odds. They are giving away some scholarships as the grand prize, but along the way they are giving away some cool stuff too. This week they are giving out VIP passes to the pre-screening at the Capital. They have a handful of passes to give out this week, so get over there and enter! You can also win by being a fan on their Facebook page. GO NOW! They have multiple pairs of passes to give away, but the screening comes up Wednesday! Get your entry in ASAP Got City Game!! If you believe in Cleveland, then you should be watching this show. What a great way to raise awareness about how cool this town is than by having a reality show that shows off our assets. Tell your friends from around the globe to watch, too. Let’s give the whole world a glimpse of our great city!
Nice article. I was so pleased to see the Got City Game the other day, and now to find this! Finally we are celebrating the great things about this city! kUDOS TO MATT ZONE!