Chautauqua Cinema

The Chautauqua Cinema is a charming and comfortable movie theater within Chautauqua Institution. Join us for our summer-long festival of the best feature films, independents, art films and classics!

The Chautauqua Cinema will be closed for the 2024 season.

In early June, we announced that the Chautauqua Cinema would not be able to open for the 2024 season due to mold discovered during the Town of Chautauqua’s Code Enforcement Officer’s annual inspection of the building. We have since received and reviewed the environmental report and project plan. Crews will begin mold mitigation and ventilation system upgrades beginning in the first week of July 2024. We expect this work to take up to eight weeks. During this time, you may notice additional vehicles and equipment at the Chautauqua Cinema. We will work closely with the crews to ensure that the remediation and ventilation work does not impact the serenity of our grounds during the season.

We appreciate everyone’s patience as we work on the facility and prepare to bring the Chautauqua Cinema back for a triumphant return in 2025. We will keep the community updated as this work progresses, and we thank Cinema Director Billy Schmidt for his ongoing expertise and support for this work. Schmidt shared his enthusiasm, saying, “I’m very pleased to see this work happening so quickly, and I will be thrilled to welcome you back to the Chautauqua Cinema next June.”

Location & Information

Angels

Location & Information

DIRECTIONS: The Cinema is located in Chautauqua Institution at the corner of Hurst and Wythe Avenues about 1/4 mile from Bestor Plaza. Follow the brick walk (Pratt Ave.) northwest from the Plaza and look for the Cinema’s marquee up and to to your left, just past Norton Hall, and before the Children’s School playground.

ATTENDING FROM OUTSIDE THE GROUNDS: Request a free Cinema Pass at the Main Gate Welcome Center Ticket Office open daily 7 a.m.–9 p.m. during the Summer Assembly. One pass per day per person.

PARKING: Parking is available in the main lot accessible from Rt. 394, across from the Main Gate Welcome Center (GPS address 1 Massey Avenue, Chautauqua, NY). $10/day.

OUR MOVIES: We run a select series. All of our films have received critical acclaim and/or won awards. We picked them and we like them, but this does not guarantee that you will. Please make informed choices. Our carefully worded program descriptions may be of help.

Angels

THANK YOU to these Angels who have invested in the future of our Cinema!!

Paul & Merrillie Schmidt
Judith Alison Lee
Avivah Wittenberg-Cox & Tim Hollins
Pete Wietzel
Peter McDowell
Barbara & Peter Georgescu
Sanford & Margery Nobel
Barbara Britton
Terrie Vaile Hauck
The Richard Karslake Family
Janet & Av Posner

Friends of the Library Theater
Caroline Van Kirk Bissell
Jim & Betsy Vance
Teresa Kammerman (Genovese)
Rowland Bennett
Mike & Aleka Schmidt
Howard Teibel
Carol A. Chimento
Jay & Rosanna Benitez
Maggie & George Snyder
Rick & Susie Rieser
Gary & Jane Blemaster
Kathy Sabatier & Rick Funkhouser

Meredith & Raymond Andrews
T. Lynn Young
Miles & Elmore Demott
Ronda Brands & David Bakamjian
Liz, Tim, Olivia, Charlie & Madeleine Landon
David Klahr & Pam Weiss
Barbara Jacob
Frank & Elizabeth Petiprin
Drs. Lawrence & Carol Rizzolo
Harry & Gloria Glatz
David Miller
Virginia Putnam
Dr Howard & Pamela Saunders
Suzanne Koble
Eileen Braungard
Miles & Elmore Demott
Paul & Sue Harvey
Carole & Joel Schuman
Sylvia M. Faust
Rev. Richard E. Zajac
Herbert & Barbara Keyser
Daniel Andries & Anne Northrup

Bob Hopper
Richard & Sally Kalin
Bethanne Snodgrass & Marianna Montrie
Linda Steckley
Karen & Jonathan Levy
Stewart and Donna Kohl
Jeannette Ludwig
Todd Holland & Scotch Ellis Loring
Bill & Angela James
Margaret & Charles Zeiders
John Viehe Ed.D.

Penny Banks
Gayle & Andrew Camden
Bonnye & Larry Roose
Tori, Clarissa & Bobbi Savage
Sarah M. Redding
David Jaffe
Judy & Robert Doebke
Kit Klaber
David Zinman
Ira Cooperman
Fredonia Opera House
Jim Chimento M.D.
Bob & Joan Battaglin
Nancy & Phillip Kotler

Steven Jacobs & Patrica Curley
Charles & Naomi Kaufman
Ren & Patty Perlee
Karen Blozie
David Klahr & Pam Weiss
Karin Johnson
Paul & Sue Harvey
Bill & Ellen Neches
Susan C. Luehrs
Enid Shames
Diane, Marty & Doug Friedman
Ms. Joan A Smith
Mark E. Altschuler
Alice O’Grady
Janita K. Byars
Carolyn Whitehead
Jane A. Gross
Cathy & Leigh Digel
Lawrence & Jaqueline Katz
Fred & Judy Gregory
Dr. Cheryl Opacinch Gorelick
Neal & Linda Rhoads

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