The Picture House Regional Film Center introduces three new screens, thanks to an expansion into the former Bow Tie Cinemas Bronxville.
In a boon to film buffs across the region, Pelham’s Picture House Regional Film Center is expanding operations. The long-running Picture House announced it is taking over The Bronxville Theater this winter. According to Laura deBuys, The Picture House’s president and executive director, the move marks a long-awaited evolution of the film center.
“We always wanted to expand, but expansion has always evaded us,” explains deBuys. “In January of 2021, Bow Tie Cinemas announced they would not be reopening and that they wanted to find somebody to lease their [Bronxville] theater space.” Luckily, both Bow Tie itself and the theater it owned were ideal matches for The Picture House. “Bow Tie really understands the smell of the popcorn and the flickering screen, and they admire what we have been doing in Pelham,” explains deBuys. “They were really helpful in creating a situation where we could take over the lease and extend our programming.”
Above all, the move will significantly expand The Picture House’s already considerable offerings beyond film. “The Picture House has a 308seat main hall and a 14-seat screening room, but now we will have three 200-seat theaters in Bronxville,” notes deBuys. “We earn 50 percent of what we need to get by, and we have to raise the other 50 percent, so that means membership and fundraising. But it also means community programming, discussions, special guests, and education programs. We want to expand our portfolio with spoken-word, concerts, and all sorts of different offerings so that we are not completely film-centric.”
Related: The Picture House Is Opening a Second Location in Bronxville