Hoyts Groton Cinemas 2

The cornerstone for the Groton Plaza Shopping Center was commemorated at an event on May 19, 1953. The plaza opened with W.J. Bastian’s dime variety store, Western Auto, First National store, and a Friendly’s Ice Cream location. Though there was no cinema there, that would change two expansions later.

The first brought a Bradlee’s discount big box store and Aprel Magnavox home entertainment store. In early-1971, Cinema 1 & 2 was announced as a mini-theatre twin seating 280 per auditorium or 560 total. The projection would be automated. Brusto Properties’ twin would be located next to Food Fair. William Rosen, Robert Spodick and Leonard Sampson of New Haven were listed as the owners. Cinema 1 & 2 launched March 17, 1971 with Elliot Gould in “I Love my Wife” and James Earl Jones in “The Great White Hope".

New Haven-based Gemini Theaters took on the venue operating it from November of 1976, as the Groton Cinemas 1 & 2 until the 15th Anniversary of the venue in December of 1986. Gemini sold its theater portfolio sold to the Stoneman Family’s Boston-based Interstate Theatres Corporation. Gemini also sold the Olde Mistick Village Cinema and Norwich Cinemas 1 & 2.

Hoyts Cinema Corporation then bought out Interstate in May of 1988. Hoyts renamed it as Hoyts Groton Cinemas 2. It then closed the venue at the expiry of its 30-year leasing contract on September 30, 1991 with Charlie Sheen in “Hot Shots” and Terence ’T.C.‘ Carson in “Livin’ Large". Its space in the strip center was repurposed for retail.

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