By Elizabeth Correnti
Night owls on campus looking for more than a movie night on a residence hall floor can head to the Coolidge Corner Theatre, which recently restarted its midnight movie showings.
The midnight shows at the theatre, located on Harvard Street in Brookline, were on hiatus until the film “Dead Alive” was shown Sept. 27. Along with a screening of the movie, there were musical performances and a zombie costume contest.
“There were make-up artists and people in full zombie costumes,” said Corie Scibelli, Coolidge Corner Theatre senior staff member and middler American Sign Language major. “It was a place for people to be in their element.”
The theatre is not only known for its midnight showings, but its character and vintage charm, students said.
“I don’t know what it is, but it’s got that something,” Scibelli said.
That “something” could be the gold painted walls, original light fixtures or personal 17- to 45-seat theatres Coolidge has to offer, giving it a classic appeal.
“It is one of the landmark theatres in Boston – a wonderful art-deco period theatre,” said professor Kathy Howlett, the cinema studies program co-coordinator.
The organization had noticed a bad response to the cancellation of midnight showings, Scibelli said, so they decided to begin the popular program again.
“People would come up to me on a Tuesday night after close and ask if there was going to be a midnight show,” Scibelli said. “I don’t think it was a priority for our board at the time.”
The midnight showings and events have attracted more patrons to the Coolidge Corner Theatre. Movies like “The Twilight Zone” and in a Creature Double-Feature night, “Creature from the Black Lagoon” and “They Came from Outer-Space,” are some typical midnight choices.
“We love to show [movies] like those, because we know everyone keeps a place in their heart for them,” said Scibelli, who added that they are trying to do more on Friday and Saturday nights.
As a nonprofit organization, Scibelli said the Coolidge Corner Theatre is managed by a board of directors, and the rest of the staff call themselves “Cooligans.”
“A lot of fundraising and grants are needed to keep a theatre like that running compared to the Cineplexes,” Howlett said.
Movies during regular hours usually include independent films, documentaries and obscure films. Classics like “Indiana Jones,” “The Princess Bride” and “Superman” have also been shown. Events include book readings, film discussions, sing-alongs (in April, there was a sing-along night with R’B singer R. Kelly’s “Trapped in the Closet”), and competitions based on the popular video game Rock Band, on the big screen.
“We create a place where college-age kids can go when they can’t go to the bars,” Scibelli said. “We love you to bring as many friends as you like.”
Blair Weiss, a freshman entrepreneurship major, said she thinks the Coolidge Corner Theatre is unique because it offers a variety of films.
“It’s not the same mainstream stuff that Hollywood dishes out and expects you to like,” Weiss said. “It’s much more interesting to see indie films.”
The next midnight showing is Friday, Oct. 24, featuring a full-length skate film called “Worthless.” Tickets are $7.50. There will also be a 12-hour horror film festival on Halloween.
The Coolidge Corner Theatre is open seven days a week. Visit www.coolidgecorner.com for ticket information and show times.
