Cinema Arts Centre

Cinema Arts Centre
Cinema Arts Centre Exterior
Information
Address423 Park Avenue, Huntington, New York, US
TypeNonprofit art-house cinema
Established1973
FoundersVic Skolnick, Charlotte Sky
StatusOpen
Key PeopleDylan Skolnick, Kelsie Greene (Executive Co-Directors)


René Bouchard (Director of Development)
RevenueUS$2.29 million (FY25)
AssetsUS$4.77 million (FY25)
Membership10,000
Annual attendance150,000
Capacity416 (316 in theaters, 100 in café)
Websitecinemaartscentre.org

Cinema Arts Centre (CAC) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit community cinema in Huntington, New York, United States. First opened in 1973, it is a theater supported by approximately 10,000 members.[1] Open 365 days a year, CAC welcomes over 150,000 annual visitors and is one of the oldest continually operating art-house cinemas in America.[2][3]

Cinema Arts Centre logo since 2022.

Cinema Arts Centre houses three screens, including two with 35 mm film projection capabilities. The Cinema also houses the Sky Room Café, a 2,200 square foot multi-purpose space that overlooks an outdoor sculpture garden.[4] It serves as a community hub for patrons before and after screenings, and regularly hosts lectures, concerts, receptions, and other special events. It offers a variety of concessions, including beer, wine, and organic popcorn.[5]

History

Cinema Arts Centre founders Vic Skolnick and Charlotte Sky.

Vic Skolnick and Charlotte Sky founded the cinema in 1973 after moving to Long Island and being unhappy with the film choices provided by their local multiplex. Sky rented a local dance studio on Saturday nights, where she and Skolnick projected movies onto a bed sheet. Patrons would bring their own chairs. Skolnick would give lectures before every screening. They called it New Circle Cinema, named after the dance studio they were in.[3]

In 1974, the theater switched venues to a nearby firehouse, while also changing its name to New Community Cinema Club. Due to the theater's small-scale nature, both Skolnick and Sky kept working part-time jobs to keep it open. In 1977, the Cinema moved a third and final time to a former elementary school. In 1991, a $1 million donation from the Hoffman Foundation, a local philanthropic organization, contributed to a massive renovation and expansion of the theater. That same year, it changed its name again to Cinema Arts Centre. According to Sky, the new name looked better on paper when applying for grants.[3]

In 2010, Vic Skolnick passed away. The Cinema held a public memorial service, which drew over six hundred people, including celebrities like Isabella Rossellini. In his place, Skolnick and Sky's son Dylan took the reins as co-director of the Cinema alongside his mother.[3]

The Cinema temporarily closed in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] Cinema offered drive-in screenings and virtual programming for members stuck at home. A virtual fundraiser hosted by Elliot Gould also contributed to keeping the theater open. [7] The Cinema reopened its doors to the public in May 2022.[8]

In 2026, the Cinema brought on Kelsie Greene as co-director alongside Dylan.[9]

Programming

Cinema Arts Centre's main 189 seat theater in 2025.

Cinema Arts Centre presents daily screenings of first-run American and international independent films, as well as over 500 annual special events. Its educational screening program, Film Arts in Education, makes film-centered learning opportunities available to schools in Nassau and Suffolk counties.[10][11] Popular programs include their monthly Sunday Schmooze,[12] which pairs early morning screenings with a complimentary bagel brunch,[13][14] and Preview Club, which allows moviegoers to watch upcoming films before their release date.[15]

The Cinema is well-known for its repertory programming. Their Anything But Silent series features silent films with live accompaniment by musician and film historian Ben Model,[16] while their monthly movie trivia night invites film-lovers to test their knowledge for a chance to win a $100 cash prize.[17][18] Families can enjoy weekly screenings of children's films every Sunday, and horror fans can attend a yearly All-Night Horror Movie Marathon, featuring a mix of classics and new titles, with some shown on 35 mm film prints.[19] Notable film professor Foster Hirsch also hosts a monthly film noir series.[3][20]

Beyond their regular programming, the Cinema also supports local filmmakers and creatives through many different initiatives. They host the Made in Huntington Film & TV Festival,[21] a festival launched by the Town of Huntington to support emerging local filmmakers.[22] They also host and curate the Long Island Youth Film Festival, an annual festival that showcases films made by local filmmakers ages 25 and under.[23] The Cinema also maintains a youth advisory board, made up of local students and young adults ages 15 to 25, who help shape select programming, organize special events, and encourage youth engagement with film and the arts.[24]

Reputation

Cinema Arts Centre audience in May 2026.

Cinema Arts Centre has been described as one of Long Island's major cultural institutions. Since its founding, the Cinema has been known for platforming local talent and educating audiences through film.[3] It has been estimated that the Cinema generates approximately $7 million in annual spending in the local economy.[2]

In 2023, Cinema Arts Centre was inducted into the New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry after being nominated by New York State Assembly member Steve Stern. [25] They were also presented with a $125,000 legislative grant.[26]

Over the years, many filmmakers, actors, and cultural leaders have publicly praised Cinema Arts Centre. Actor and filmmaker Ed Burns has attributed its longevity to it being a primarily family-run business, stating, "They have that kind of love for it. And that's maybe why they're still here and so many of the other theaters are gone."[3] Long Island native Hal Hartley has described Cinema Arts Centre as "indispensable to [his] filmmaking career" and "almost mythic."[3] Actor Ralph Macchio has praised Cinema Arts Centre's commitment to the theatrical moviegoing experience, remarking, "It's great [to support] seeing real movies in real theaters... what they do at the Cinema Arts Centre is a dying art."[27] Actress Isabella Rossellini has thanked the Cinema for providing “a fantastic safe harbor where we can show our work."[3] Former US Congressman Steve Israel has sponsored political film events through the Cornell Institute of Politics and Global Affairs.[28]

Notable Guests

Filmmaker David Lynch with CAC founders Vic Skolnick and Charlotte Sky, and current CAC co-director Dylan Skolnick, at Cinema Arts Centre in 2008.

Cinema Arts Centre has regularly hosted filmmakers, actors, musicians, authors, and other cultural figures for screenings, discussions, and audience Q&As.[3]

Among those who have visited are F. Murray Abraham,[29] Alan Alda,[30] Robert Altman,[31] Christie Brinkley,[32] Carol Burnett,[31] Ed Burns,[33] Steve Buscemi,[31] Dick Cavett,[34] Harry Chapin,[31] Alan Cumming,[35] Tony Curtis,[36] Giancarlo Esposito,[37] Edie Falco,[38] Danny Glover,[37] Debra Granik,[39] Joel Grey,[40] Steve Guttenberg,[41] Hal Hartley,[38] Tab Hunter,[42] DJ Kool Herc,[43] Lloyd Kaufman,[44] Norman Lear,[45] Fran Lebowitz,[46] Ang Lee,[31] Spike Lee,[31] Patti Lupone,[47] David Lynch,[48] Ralph Macchio,[49] Tim Matheson,[50] Anne Meara,[31] Rita Moreno,[51] Adam Nimoy,[52] Christopher Plummer,[34][53] Bill Plympton,[54] Paulina Porizkova,[32] Eric Roberts,[55] George Romero,[31] Isabella Rossellini,[56] Julian Schlossberg,[57] Paul Schrader,[31][58] Greg Sestero,[59] Marc Shaiman,[47] Tony Shalhoub,[60] Barry Sonnenfeld,[61] Jerry Stiller,[31] Susan Stroman,[62] George Takei,[63] Colm Tóibín,[64] John Turturro,[31][65][66] and Bruce Vilanch.[67]

See Also

References

  1. ↑ "Cinema Arts Centre". YouTube. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  2. 1 2 "Mission and History". Cinema Arts Centre. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Guzmán, Rafer (2023-12-02). "Huntington's Cinema Arts Centre celebrates 50th anniversary: How an unconventional family business survived and thrived". Newsday. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  4. ↑ "Rentals". Cinema Arts Centre. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  5. ↑ "Sky Room Cafe". Cinema Arts Centre. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  6. ↑ Robinson, Pam (2022-05-07). "Cinema Arts Centre Re-Opens". Huntington Now. Retrieved 2026-06-09.
  7. ↑ Robinson, Pam (2020-10-20). "Elliott Gould to Lead Virtual Fundraiser for Cinema Arts". Huntington Now. Retrieved 2026-06-09.
  8. ↑ "Huntington Cinema Arts Centre Reopens For In Person Screenings". News 12 - Bronx. 2022-05-06. Retrieved 2026-06-09.
  9. ↑ "Staff". Cinema Arts Centre. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
  10. ↑ "Film Arts in Education". Cinema Arts Centre. Retrieved 2026-06-09.
  11. ↑ "Cinema Arts Centre". arthousetheaters.com. Retrieved 2026-06-09.
  12. ↑ "Huntington Serves Up Babette's Feast". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  13. ↑ "Hold Me Tight-Sunday Schmooze Movie". Positive Community Connections. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  14. ↑ "Film screening at Cinema Arts Centre, Huntington, NY". Sousa Mendes Foundation. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  15. ↑ Espinoza, Victoria (2016-02-09). "Preview Club comes to Cinema Arts Centre for movie lovers". TBR News Media. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  16. ↑ Staff, T. B. R. (2018-03-07). "Historian Ben Model helps silent films live again". TBR News Media. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  17. ↑ Redding, Kevin (2023-12-23). "Hosting Movie Trivia Night at the Cinema Arts Centre: The perfect job for movie geek Daniel French". TBR News Media. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  18. ↑ "Movie Trivia Night!". prod3.agileticketing.net. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  19. ↑ Robinson, Pam (2025-07-21). "Horror Marathon Returning to Cinema Arts". Huntington Now. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  20. ↑ "Film Noir Classics: The Reckless Moment". prod3.agileticketing.net. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  21. ↑ "Screening Schedule | Made In Huntington Film & TV Festival". Made In Huntington. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  22. ↑ Minton, Matt (2025-04-03). "Inaugural Made in Huntington Film & TV Festival Launches to Support Emerging Filmmakers (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  23. ↑ "Long Island Youth Film Festival". FilmFreeway. 2026-03-01. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  24. ↑ "Volunteer". Cinema Arts Centre. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  25. ↑ "Historic Business Preservation Registry - NYS Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation". parks.ny.gov. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  26. ↑ "Cinema Arts Centre at 50 – Huntington Historical Society". Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  27. ↑ Cinema Arts Centre (2026-05-25). Ralph Macchio Returns to His Hometown Movie Theater | The Karate Kid Post-Screening Interview & Q&A. Retrieved 2026-06-12 – via YouTube.
  28. ↑ Robinson, Pam (2024-06-13). "Cinema Arts to Host Political Film Festival". Huntington Now. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  29. ↑ Bubbeo, Daniel (2025-03-24). "F. Murray Abraham coming to Cinema Arts Centre for 'Amadeus'". Newsday. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  30. ↑ Bubbeo, Daniel (2017-07-26). "Alan Alda revisits 'M*A*S*H,' talks new projects". Newsday. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  31. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Cinema Arts Centre". Long Island Arts Alliance. 2021-01-01. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  32. 1 2 Bubbeo, Daniel (2023-02-17). "Christie Brinkley to interview Paulina Porizkova at Cinema Arts". Newsday. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  33. ↑ Boylan, J. Gabriel (2012-12-07). "Ed Burns on filming New York, making Christmas movies, and the new realities of indie filmmaking". POLITICO. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  34. 1 2 Staff, T. B. R. (2015-10-07). "Tab Hunter documentary to be screened at Cinema Arts Centre". TBR News Media. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  35. ↑ Bubbeo, Daniel (2022-12-30). "Alan Cumming to appear at Cinema Arts Centre". Newsday. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  36. ↑ Reports, Staff (2009-11-04). "Tony Curtis revisits Some Like It Hot' for his new book". The Victoria Advocate. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  37. 1 2 "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  38. 1 2 Guzmán, Rafer (2025-09-12). "Hal Hartley reflects on indie filmmaking legacy and future". Newsday. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  39. ↑ longislandpress (2026-02-17). "Cinema Arts Centre to host acclaimed filmmaker Debra Granik at a screening of her new documentary". Long Island Press. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  40. ↑ Rumsey, Spencer (2017-02-19). "Legendary Joel Grey Hosts Rare Screening of 'Cabaret' at Cinema Arts Centre". Long Island Press. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  41. ↑ Bubbeo, Daniel (2012-06-04). "Steve Guttenberg at Cinema Arts". Newsday. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  42. ↑ Staff, T. B. R. (2015-10-20). "Cinema Arts Centre welcomes Tab Hunter for film memoir". TBR News Media. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  43. ↑ "THE SPIN INTERVIEW: DJ Kool Herc - DJ Kool Herc invented hip-hop. It's time he got his props". www.alanshacklock.com. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  44. ↑ "Lloyd - Mitch Cohen lives! Toxie & I reunited with the OG Monster Hero at Cinema Arts Centre! 🧹💪 TROMA James T. Mills Andrew L. Miller Adam Peltier Bloody Disgusting Toxic Avenger #toxicavenger, #toxie, #tromavillehealthclub, #tromaville, #mitchcohen, #thefirstsuperherofromnewjersey, #51yearsofdisruptingmedia #indiefilm #tromaevents | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  45. ↑ De Vita, Iris (2014-09-30). "NORMAN LEAR - Legendary TV Producer, in Person at Cinema Arts Centre on 10/15". Huntington, NY Patch. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  46. ↑ Anderson, John (2011-03-14). "True wit: Fran Lebowitz visits Cinema Arts". Newsday. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  47. 1 2 Bubbeo, Daniel (2026-04-06). "Marc Shaiman, Patti LuPone coming to Cinema Arts Centre". Newsday. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  48. ↑ Guzmán, Rafer (2025-01-17). "David Lynch made a rare LI appearance at Huntington's Cinema Arts Centre". Newsday. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  49. ↑ Bubbeo, Daniel (2026-04-03). "Ralph Macchio coming to Cinema Arts Centre for 'The Karate Kid'". Newsday. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  50. ↑ de Rubio, Dave Gil (2024-11-01). "Tim Matheson to host 'Animal House' screening in Huntington". Long Island Press. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  51. ↑ Bubbeo, Daniel (2013-03-05). "Rita Moreno meets fans in Huntington". Newsday. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  52. ↑ Rubio, Dave Gil de (2024-11-15). "Adam Nimoy to host screening of 'For the Love of Spock' in Huntington on Nov. 24". www.longislandpress.com. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  53. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  54. ↑ "BILL PLYMPTON Previews New Film SLIDE at the Cinema Arts Centre". www.mylitv.com. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  55. ↑ Mosher, Julianne (2024-09-12). "Actor Eric Roberts to hold book signing at the Cinema Arts Centre". TBR News Media. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  56. ↑ Mead, Julia C. (2004-06-06). "FILM; Rossellini, Surrealism and a Polite Smile". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  57. ↑ Release, Press (2025-05-23). "Julian Schlossberg heads to the Cinema Arts Centre June 1". TBR News Media. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  58. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  59. ↑ "Greg Sestero in person with THE ROOM & BIG SHARK". prod3.agileticketing.net. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  60. ↑ "39 Years Later, Huntington's Cinema Arts Centre Still Bringing 'Art House' Experience to Long Island". The 250 Square Foot View. 2012-08-30. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  61. ↑ Guzmán, Rafer (2020-02-28). "Barry Sonnenfeld returns to LI for book event". Newsday. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  62. ↑ de Rubio, Dave Gil (2026-01-09). "Susan Stroman brings Broadway To Huntington". Long Island Press. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  63. ↑ de Rubio, Dave Gil (2024-10-04). "George Takei: Interstellar Activist". Long Island Press. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  64. ↑ "COLM TÓIBÍN with a screening of BROOKLYN and his newest book The News From Dublin". Colm Tóibín. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  65. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  66. ↑ Anderson, John (2011-09-30). "John Turturro's 'Passione' for Naples". Newsday. Retrieved 2026-06-10.
  67. ↑ Sutton, Heidi (2025-02-22). "Bruce Vilanch heads to the CAC March 3". TBR News Media. Retrieved 2026-06-11.

40°52′25″N 73°24′51″W / 40.8735°N 73.4143°W / 40.8735; -73.4143

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