About Images Cinema
Mission | History
| Staff | Board
| Press Releases | Funding
Mission
Images Cinema, a non-profit community movie theater, presents
a wide range of independent, foreign and classic films which
impact filmmaking and our culture. Images Cinema is dedicated
to the exploration of film as an art form, a source of entertainment
and an educational tool.
History
On November 30, 1916, the Walden Theatre first opened its
doors. The theater’s grand entrance on Spring Street
welcomed patrons into the impressive 400-seat house. This
momentous event brought Williamstown to the cultural forefront
of the Berkshires. In the early 20s, an eager audience was
treated to silent film performances by Billie Burke, Charlie
Chaplin and the Keystone Cops. The late 20s brought talkies
to the screen. From the romantic detectives of the 40s to
Westerns of the 50s to the pop culture movies of the 70s,
Images Cinema has featured the latest and greatest of the
film world. Unlike the Mohawk, the Opera House and the Colonial
Theatre, for more than 80 extraordinary years, Images Cinema
has survived the challenges of an ever-changing culture.
As an independent cinema, Images Cinema struggles to carve
out a space in an industry overwhelmed by multiplexes. Acquiring
films from distributors is difficult for a small, hometown
theater without the clout of a large corporation. Images not
only competes with other cinemas, it rivals television, video
and the internet for attention. Independent film — a
film not financed by a major Hollywood studio — is free
to be an _expression of ideas and creative photography. The
films Images Cinema features are movies that have, and will
continue to have, an effect on filmmaking for years to come,
allowing movie-goers a chance to experience the very best
in the art of film.
One of the few remaining single-screen, independent theaters
still in operation, Images Cinema is an historic part of the
Northern Berkshires offering an exceptional variety of independent,
foreign and classic films year-round. Images Cinema was an
early pioneer in creating Berkshire County’s reputation
for world-class culture and not many small communities can
boast the sophistication to support this legendary cinema.
It's been called "A metropolitan-quality art house"
and "A permanent film festival" by The Berkshire
Eagle and remains a vital institution in this region.
(Angela Cardinali)
Staff
Sandra Thomas.
Executive Director
Janet Curran,
Managing Director
Dave Blair, Head Projectionist
Brian Rennell, Box Office
Juliana Haubrich, Box Office
Ven Voisey, Box Office
Amanda Hartlage, Box Office
Vladimir Mijanovic, Projectionist
Andrew Bemis, Projectionist
Board of Directors
Susan Gold, Chair
Joe Finnegan, Vice Chair
Tom Sheldon, Vice Chair
Edward M. Warren, Treasurer
Julie Mackaman, Secretary
Trudy Ames
Philippe Besnard
Jim Canavan
Lisa Cushman
Peter Davenport
Holly Hardman
Steve Lawson
Deborah Rothschild
Zelda Stern
Rob Swann
Press Releases - coming soon
Funding - coming soon
