The two-screen movie theater, which opened 24 years ago, has been remodeled completely.
Tower Theaters owner Robert Adam is seen in front of the cinemas in South Hadley's Village Commons in this file photo.
SOUTH HADLEY - The Tower Theaters, which were closed for renovations the first week of December, have re-opened with new conveniences and plans for a month-long celebration in January.
The two-screen movie theater, which opened 24 years ago, has been “remodeled completely,” said owner Robert Adam.
Long favored by some as a scaled-down alternative to multiplexes, the Tower now has new, wider seats with more legroom, cupholders, new carpeting and special seating for those in wheelchairs and their companions.
“We’re fully modern now,” said Adam, adding that he also invested $100,000 in improving visual projection last year. Both houses have 3-D, he said
The theaters re-opened with a 12-hour marathon of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Adam said one moviegoer confessed to him that he couldn’t have made it through the marathon in any other seats. “People told me they almost fell asleep because they were so comfortable,” he said.
The theater will sell wine and beer on these weekend dates: Jan. 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26.
Adam appeared before the Selectboard on Dec. 18 to get permission to serve the alchohol. “We’re following all the proper protocols,” he said, adding that the practice is “getting trendy” around the country.
The festivities will be launched on Jan. 3 at around 4 p.m. with a “meet-and-greet” for the public and free showings of an opera and a ballet performances at 7 p.m.
On all four Sundays in January, Adam plans on having free shows for kids. The two five-minute shorts on nature and other topics of interest to children will probably begin around 11 a.m., he said.
Adam said getting the renovations done in such a short time earlier this month was a “Herculean effort.”