Garde Arts Center
325 State Street,
New London,
CT
06320
325 State Street,
New London,
CT
06320
14 people
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Exterior (and possibly interior) featured in the 2021 Hallmark Christmas movie the Sugar Plum Twist.
New article with a fairly detailed history of this theater, along with photos from the late ‘20s thru today – http://gardetheaterhistory.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-grande-olde-garde-history-of-new.html
The theater plans to once again offer movie screenings on a regular basis, after the recent installation of a newfangled 4K Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI) compliant digital projection system with eight channel surround sound, said to rival any similarly outfitted moviehouse in the region (with a screen that, at around 40 feet by 25 feet, is one of the largest non-Imax screens in the state).
The first major engagement planned for the screening is the 2015 Winter Film Festival, which starts up in January.
Wurlitzer installed their pipe organ opus 1302 here in 1926, a very modest Style E, 2 manuals 7 ranks in one chamber. The organ was later moved to the Crystal Palace in West Goshen CT.
Nice looking theatre I like the two verticals very old scholl looking.
This New York Times article mentions the Garde (toward the bottom) – it has been struggling as a performing arts center in the face of competition from newer venues though the news has improved recently: View link
I second that, SNWEB.ORG.
Listed in the New Haven Advocate’s Annual Manual. “A bonafide 1930s movie palace restored in the 1990s to its former magnificence and now serving as a multi-media performing arts center, with a Broadway subscription series…not to mention skads of children’s shows and a summertime film series. A major venue in an out-of-the-way seaside city, you never know if a show will be sold out or desolate; just go with the flow.
I’ve been past this place a few times, next time, I’m going in to see a show.
The marquee reminds me of the one that was on the late, great Coliseum Theatre in Seattle.
I understand that this theater is home to the largest remaining movie theater screen in Connecticut. Prior to the renovation, I saw restored prints of Ben Hur, Lawrence of Arabia, and Bridge on the River Kwai there. These widescreen epics deserve to be seen on the big screen… a REALLY big screen. Unfortunately, the Garde doesn’t run a classic film schedule. Bummer!
I watched the director’s cut of Blade Runner there several years back. The sound system is commendable.
The website is worth a visit for the photos of the lovely auditorium, which is not atmospheric even though the theatre’s site describes it as such.
Does the Garde still do the classic movies during the summer? When I lived in the New London area from 2000-2003, they used to do a summer Classic movies night. The interior of this theatre is absolutely beautiful. Is anything being done to the Capitol?
I came down from Providence to visit the Garde last night for a performance of the Verdi Requiem by the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, with chorus and soloists. I had never seen the inside of this marvelous theatre, and it is a joy. A north African desert motif inspires the lavish murals and decorations. The balcony lobby area is an especially pleasant space. The theatre is a complete delight, and anyone visiting New London should make a point of checking out this terrific place. Now if the nearby long-dormant Capitol can be reborn!
That is the new marquee that was put up when the theatre was restored in the last few years. The previous one was the typical triangular marquee.
I like the marquee, the roundness of it makes it unique.
The Garde Theatre is located at 325 State Street.