A VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM GERRY ORLANDO, PRESIDENT OF THE SYRACUSE CINEPHILE SOCIETY
It’s time for another update on what’s been going on with our series of classic movie screenings. Much of it isn’t good news, but please stick with this message to the end….Things get better!
While our original plan was to have a Spring 2026 season of Monday night movies as a finale to our weekly series, the sudden and unexpected closing of the Spaghetti Warehouse changed that.
Once we learned that the restaurant would be closing before we had a chance to do our Spring season, we immediately began searching for a new location so we could have our final season. Unfortunately, that search has proven to be very problematic.
Many of our regular attendees have informed us that while they enjoy the movies we show, the movies are only part of the total “Monday Night” experience for them. They also enjoy the dining and socializing with their friends before the show. That’s certainly understandable as many great friendships have been developed by our attendees over the years. With that in mind, we searched for an appropriate venue that would suit those needs.
A large obstacle in our search was space. Many restaurants have a private event room, but it only holds 30-40 people. That would be insufficient space for the large turnouts that we regularly have.
Another problem is the physical configuration of the room. Our screenings require a room with a high ceiling. That allows us to situate the screen higher so audience members’ heads don’t get in the way of the projected image. Many private event rooms we checked have very low ceilings, making the room unsuitable for our needs.
In our search we also discovered that unlike the Spaghetti Warehouse, many establishments are not willing to reserve their private room on the same night of the week for 13 straight weeks. They have too many other things going on in that space throughout the week: trivia night, live bands, lodge/club meetings, etc.
Yet another problem we encountered was staffing. Many owners and managers have told us that their establishments are short staffed and they don’t have the kitchen staff and servers to handle a large group like ours on a weekly basis.
Some of you have offered suggestions of certain bars/taverns that have private rooms. While those suggestions are appreciated, those private rooms are unacceptable because the public bar area is on the other side of the wall….and we’re sure our audience doesn’t want to hear loud dance music and bar crowd noise while they’re trying to watch a movie!
These are only a few of the problems that we have been encountering in our search, and it’s just not looking realistic or even promising for a new suitable location. As a result, we are being forced to regrettably cancel our Spring 2026 season. OK, that’s the bad news, but as promised, things get a bit better….
While we can’t have a final season of weekly screenings, we don’t want to abruptly “cut the cord” and just end things without a proper goodbye and closure. We want to celebrate with those of you who have enjoyed our screenings.
What we WILL be doing is having a big farewell event at Eastwood’s Palace Theatre on Sunday, May 3, 2026. The event will also serve to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Syracuse Cinephile Society. It will run from 2:00 – 5:30 PM…and you are invited!
Those attending will be guests of the Syracuse Cinephile Society. There will be complimentary snacks and drinks, plenty of time for friendly socialization and of COURSE a movie on the Palace’s giant screen: MGM’s classic 1952 Technicolor musical-comedy SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN starring Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds.
We’re showing SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN on this special occasion because it’s like a familiar friend or “movie comfort food”. We are proud to be screening the stunning restoration that brought new life to this beloved favorite when it celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2012.
If you are planning to attend this event, we ask that you please RSVP by March 1, 2026 with the total number of people who will be attending.
NOTE: An accurate head count of attendees is very important for our planning purposes.
You can RSVP one of three ways:
1. You can call or text Gerry Orlando at (315) 430-0258. If you’re texting, please identify yourself in the message.
2. You can send Gerry a private Facebook message.
3. You can e-mail Gerry at gorlando@twcny.rr.com.
So mark your calendar for Sunday, May 3rd from 2:00 – 5:30 PM at the Palace Theatre in Eastwood (located in the Northeast section of the City of Syracuse). This promises to be an event that will be a fitting finale to the movies and overall fun that we’ve all enjoyed over the years.
On behalf of the staff members of the Syracuse Cinephile Society, thank you for your loyal support and we hope to see you at our Grand Finale!
Sincerely,
Gerry Orlando
President
The Syracuse Cinephile Society
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