Coolidge Corner Theatre Restores Vintage Film Technology

October 2, 2026 - 23:17

For the Coolidge, getting the opportunity was not always guaranteed. The theater recently brought back a piece of cinema history by installing and operating equipment that projects films in a format most audiences have never seen.

The technology in question is Cinerama, a widescreen process that became a sensation in the 1950s. It used three synchronized projectors to cast images onto a deeply curved screen, creating an immersive experience that television could not match. The format required special cameras, special theaters, and a level of coordination that made every screening a technical feat.

The Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, Massachusetts, now has the ability to present films in this rare format. The venue acquired the necessary projectors and spent considerable time restoring them to working condition. Staff members learned the complicated threading and alignment process required to keep three separate reels in perfect sync.

Cinerama titles from the 1950s and 1960s drew audiences with travelogues and epic productions. The format eventually faded as single projector widescreen systems became cheaper and easier to manage. Few theaters today can screen these films as they were meant to be seen.

The revival gives modern viewers a chance to experience the spectacle that once pulled people away from their living rooms and into movie palaces. For the Coolidge, the project represents both a technical achievement and a commitment to preserving the history of the medium.