New Moon Rises for North Adams, Pittsfield Theaters

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Choices for moviegoers in Central and Northern Berkshire suddenly tripled today as the North Adams MoviePlex 8 and Pittsfield's Beacon Cinema throw open their doors tonight for the much-anticipated "New Moon."

The North Adams theaters are reopening at midnight under new management after former owner Cinema North Corp. went bankrupt last month. The Beacon Cinema project, a six-theater, $23 million venture on North Street, also opens at midnight tonight.

That's good news for people looking for the first-run blockbusters that fuel the holiday season.

The North Adams theaters are being operated by George Gohl, who owns Greenfield Gardens Cinema. Gohl is leasing the space and equipment from Neil Ellis, owner of the former Kmart plaza where the cinemas are located.

Gohl's life partner, William "Bill" Gobeille, described the cinemas as a turnkey operation and said the former staff, including manager Scott Ingalls, were being brought back to run it.

The goal, he said, had been to get the cinemas open in time for "New Moon" and the holiday season. "It's been a very hectic couple of weeks."

"New Moon," the second movie based on the teen vampire "Twilight" book series by author Stephanie Meyers, is expected to exceed the record $70-plus million its predecessor made on opening weekend last year.

Gohl and Gobeille purchased the 80-year-old Vaudeville theater in Greenfield in 2001. It has seven screens and draws about 90,000 patrons a year.

Gobeille said the North Adams cinemas may also add independent and art films to cater to the colleges and growing arts community. Like the Greenfield theater, which holds monthly fundraisers for local youth groups, they would like it to become "a real presence in the community."


There's no doubt the closure of the North Adams cinemas was felt by residents. The nonprofit Images Cinema in Williamstown offered an alternative but its single screen rarely shows Hollywood blockbusters. 

North Berkshire residents have had to trek to the Berkshire Mall (or to Bennington, Vt.) to see a movie. The same's been true for years for Pittsfield residents: the mall or points south. The county's biggest city has been without movie theater for two decades.

That will no longer be true after midnight with the opening of the Beacon Cinema. The brainchild of developer Richard Stanley, owner of the Triplex in Great Barrington, the renovation of the historic Kinnell-Kresge building will include shops and restaurants along with state-of-the-art cinemas with 3-D screens and stadium seating.

Pittsfield officials are hoping the cinemas' opening — a month ahead of schedule — will be a major catalyst in reinvigorating the downtown area. A formal ribbon-cutting will take place on Friday at 11 a.m.

But anyone hoping to attend tonight's midnight showing of "New Moon" at the Beacon is out of luck — unless they already own one of the 850 tickets sold. All six theaters are full, Stanley told The Berkshire Eagle on Wednesday.

However, everyone's invited to the block party at the Beacon being held in conjunction with Third Thursday. There will be a trivia contest and awards for the best Bella and Edward lookalikes.

Tickets (cash only) in North Adams for "New Moon" go on sale at the door beginning at 9 p.m. Only one theater will be open so it's first come, first served.

Of course, you can still go to the mall. Our media partner WUPE will be there. Costume contest, a fundraiser for wolves and lots of other stuff going on. And if you can't make the midnight show, Regal Cinema is planning a 2:45 a.m. showing as well.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

North Adams Hosting Route 2 Overpass Study Walks

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city of North Adams is hosting three community walks this week to solicit input on a study of the 60-year-old Central Artery project. 
 
The focus is on the deteriorating Veterans Memorial Bridge that carries Route 2 and connections between the downtown and Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. The site visits will be led by Openbox, a community-centered design partner for the study, in collaboration with the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition 
 
The community walks will be held on one evening and two mornings:
 
Wednesday, Nov. 13, from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 14, from 7:30 to 9 a.m.
Friday, Nov. 15, from 7:30 to 9 a.m.
 
The walks are open to all and attendees are asked to register here and indicate and accessibility needs.  Attendees should arrive within the first hour and plan to spend between 30 to 45 minutes in total during the 90-minute timeframes.
 
Meet at the UNO Community Center on River Street for a self-guided site walk around the Route 2 overpass and
return to the center for conversations about people's everyday experiences moving to, through, and around Route 2 and North Adams.
 
The city, in conjunction with Mass MoCA, has received a federal Reconnecting Communities grant of $750,000 for a planning study. North Adams was one of only 46 communities out of 450 applications to receive a grant; the $1 billion pilot program is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act. 
 
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