West Newton Cinema announces anonymous $10 million donation, major renovations

Résumé détaillé

The theater was destined for demolition until a group of community members backed by a donor purchased it in 2023.

An anonymous $5.2 million donation saved West Newton Cinema from demolition in 2023. Three years later, that same benefactor is now aiding in the theater’s restoration, donating another $10 million this month, the West Newton Cinema Foundation has announced.

The six-screen Art Deco cinema, built in 1937, is a local fixture, screening a curated selection of mainstream, independent, foreign, and classic films. Community members rallied around the theater in 2023 when it was sold to a developer, forming the WNCF and purchasing the theater for $5.6 million in August 2024. That purchase was made possible by an anonymous donor, who has stepped forward once again with another major gift.

This time, the money will go toward a renovation. The WNCF, which runs as a nonprofit, has moved onto phase two of its plans for the theater: a $23 million remodel to bring the space up to snuff.

Of the $10 million, the benefactor designated $5 million to go toward the construction of an elevator, accessible doors and corridors, and wheelchair-accessible seating, plus $1 million for general construction costs. The donor will also match up to $4 million of community donations.

Jeffrey Page, marketing manager of the WNCF, told the Globe that the funds are “a transformational gift to the restoration of the cinema.”

A gathering place for panel discussions, director Q&As, and movie club meetings, the West Newton Cinema has a mission to “get the community together through the love of film,” Page said. “We like to show movies that mean something.”

In the time since it took over running the cinema, the WNCF has replaced the leaking roof, installed new electrical systems, and upgraded to 4K laser projectors and surround sound systems. The theater has remained open throughout, and the group has recently started renovations on the vestibule, lobby, and concession stand.

Moving forward, the WNCF hopes to upgrade the house seating, revitalize the theater’s facade and marquee, and generally refurbish the…

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