CinemaSalem
CinemaSalem opened in 2006. It is an independent movie theater that has also hosted a successful Film Festival for the last four years. Two North Shore men connected with the movie business took over the city's only movie theater from Patriot Cinemas at Museum Place Mall.
Former theaters in the Museum Place Mall include: Sack Cinema, Loews Cinema, Salem Flick theater, and Patriot Cinema at Museum Place Mall.
The first movie theater in the mall was in the early 1980's: Sack Theatre
Eventually bought by Sony, Sony-Loew's theater closed in 1994.
"The Flick" operated from 1995-1997. They offered $1 movies. East India Mall changed their name to Museum Place Mall during this time period.
Patriot Cinemas at Museum Place Mall (based on the So. Shore) operated the theater from 1998-2005. Paul Van Ness and Bill Collins took the cinema over in 2006, running it as an independent theater.
The owner of CinemaSalem, Paul Van Ness announced in Nov. of 2019 that he is looking for a buyer for the independent movie theatre. He is doing more with his movie production business and would like
to sell the business. CinemaSalem closed its doors in June 2020. All the movie theaters in the state were closed since March because of the pandemic.
Two longtime Salem residents Elaine Gerdine and Marshall Strauss have bought the cinema and hope to open again in spring 2021.
See Also
Vertical File in Salem Collection - Theaters
"Salem's last cinema to close" (former Loews theater in the Museum Place Mall) Salem Evening News, Dec. 13, 1994, p. 1
"It's lights, projector, action in Salem; renovated cinema gets rave reviews" (opening the Flick) Boston Sunday Globe, Oct. 1, 1995, p. N 17
CinemaSalem Theater website
"Buzz builds as theater nears showtime" Boston Sunday Globe, Apr. 30, 2006, North p1
"Theater gets another chance" Salem News, Mar. 23, 2006, p. A1
"CinemaSalem seeking buyer to remain open" Salem News, Nov. 14, 2019, p. 1
"CinemaSalem to close" Salem News, June 3, 2020. p.1
"New theater owners launch "I saved Cinema Salem" effort" Salem News, Apr. 29, 2021, p. 14
