What can we say — thank you Cable Car Cinema for your years of innovative programming and community involvement. We will all miss the theater with the couches and the unusual movie schedule (many of my faves featured music — from Rodriguez and Nick Cave to Hildegard von Bingen and Black Sabbath) but the café itself brought much vitality to that section of South Main Street. I loved driving by in the winter and seeing students sitting in the sun with their coffees.
In September of 2016, owners Dan Kamil and Emily Steffian celebrated the 40th anniversary of the theater’s operation with a typically wacky event — a 24-hour marathon of movies made in 1976. I took that opportunity to reminisce about other similarly unique events held at the theater, which I reprint here.
★”Last Shop Standing,” timed to coincide with Record Store Day, turned into a vinyl flea market street party with live performances. (Prov Monthly 2013)
★”Complex World” celebrated its release on dvd by selling out two theatrical shows. This turned into a 70’s reunion party of Providence’s best musicians and worst reprobates. (The Dose 2010)
★”Out of Our Minds” starred musician Melissa Auf Der Maur who followed the screening with a live plugged-in set which totally rocked. (The Dose 2010) I still can’t quite believe that that happened.
★”The Last Picture Show” ushered out the old reel-to-reel, making room for the new digital projection system. Some of us got Dan’s homemade ribs as well. (Prov Monthly 2013)
And who can forget that guy who sang “Teddy Bears’ Picnic” before every movie for years and years?
The final day of operation for the Cable Car Cinema featured screenings of the Ruth Bader Ginsburg documentary “RBG.” Emily worked the counter while Dan and Moses collected tickets. Emily said the family looks forward to taking it easy this summer and pondering future projects. I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.
Thank you Dan and Emily!
More about the closing at the ProJo.
I will miss having you right there across the street, Dan and Emily. Thank you and your wonderful staff for all those lunchtime mozzarella, tomato, spinach and onion on rye’s. And the movies accompanied by popcorn with Old Bay – and a brew.
I will keep my eyes peeled for you around town. I can’t wait to hear about your next act.
Very warmest of wishes and thank you for an amazing run.