At the Coolidge, you see friendly faces, red velvet curtains, and the brilliance of the big screen. What you don’t see is everything happening behind the scenes to keep our beloved movie palace running.
So we’re taking you behind the screens to learn more about your favorite, local, independent, art house theatre and the many ways you can show your support.
The easiest way?...
First, let's take a look at the many, many ways every dollar you donate to our Annual Fund gets used at the Coolidge.
Moviehouse 1 Restoration
Your contribution supports important restoration work at the Coolidge, such as:
- upgraded projection technology (4K newly installed!),
- brand new seats
- work on our red curtain
- and repaired plasterwork and sconces
...plus, everything that happens onscreen and off!
Getting Movies On Screen
Almost every day at the Coolidge has a repertory (i.e. not a newly released) film. From Big Screen Classics to Cult Classics and Cinema Masala to Science on Screen, you will always find what we call a "new, old favorite'' movie at the Coolidge.
Months before the lights dim for your screening, the staff is planning, requesting, booking, shipping, and inspecting each pick.
A PACKED SCHEDULE
From morning to midnight, movie lovers like you fill the Coolidge with laughter, curiosity, and conversation. Every day, our schedule is packed with incredible events for all members of our community.
9:00am | Staff carefully build the week’s schedule to accommodate screenings and classes across six screens and an educational space.
11:00am | 150 middle and high school students from across Greater Boston arrive for Coolidge Classroom: a film screening and facilitated discussion. It’s fully free, including lunch and buses!
2:00pm | Doors open for screenings of newly released films from across genres and languages. Coolidge staff welcome you, accommodate your accessibility needs, and answer questions.
6:00pm | 45 film lovers gather in the Education and Community Engagement Center for a pre-film seminar led by an accomplished film scholar, deepening your understanding of the art form.
7:00pm | The lights dim for a sold-out screening for a new release or one of your favorite signature Coolidge programs—Big Screen Classics, Science on Screen, Cinema Masala, and more.
Midnight | The night is young as cinephiles gather for an After Midnite screening on 35mm film.
Your support keeps the projectors running, the classroom full, and the marquee glowing long after the credits roll. Most importantly, you ensure that the magic of the movies remains accessible to everyone who walks through our doors.
More ways to support
Dig deeper into projects you care about at the Coolidge.
Name a Seat in Moviehouse 1!
After two decades of wear and tear, Moviehouse 1 is getting an upgrade. Naming a seat helps us preserve our historic theatre while ensuring it is comfortable and accessible to all. From movie quotes to memories of loved ones, dozens of movie lovers will be engraved into our living history.
Ensure special format programming with the Film Forever Fund!
As film prints become more difficult to secure and distributors invest in them less, the cost of screening on film has increased significantly in the last several years—but we're committed to presenting this historically important medium as often as we can. The Film Forever Fund retains the vision of filmmakers who choose to shoot in film. In 2023, we excitedly established a new fund that directly supports 16mm, 35mm, and 70mm film at the Coolidge: the Film Forever Fund.
Secure our future with the endowment or planned giving!
What if there were a way to make sure the Coolidge is still around, even after you? There is! You can include the Coolidge in your bequest, trust, or will. Or, you can contribute to the Katherine Tallman endowment fund, ensuring the Coolidge has a base of support for generations to come.