Saving Small Downtown Movie Theaters

The Brian Lehrer Show | Jul 21, 2025

The indie movie theater in downtown Maplewood, NJ, closed during the pandemic, and wasn't able to re-open -- a fate shared by many small movie theaters as moviegoing habits have changed. Angela Matusik and Lisa Cohen, co-founders of the Maplewood Film Society,  talk about their efforts to re-open the theater in Maplewood, and explain why they think independent theaters are crucial spaces in small towns. 

Be alert for scams. WNYC never asks for nor accepts money for coverage or interviews. Anyone making such a request does not represent WNYC.

WNYC is funded by sponsors and member donations

Top Stories

Darializa Avila-Chevalier on Mamdani, ICE and the NYPD

Who’s Running This Place |

Has MAGA Lost Faith in Donald Trump? Plus, Molly Fischer on Waymo

Rich Baris, a pollster supportive of MAGA, explains how the President lost control of his movement. And Fischer, a New Yorker staff writer, on the present and future of driverless cars.
The New Yorker Radio Hour |

Watch: Test your news knowledge with Brian Lehrer

Brian Lehrer leads special guests in a multi-round quiz of news oddities.
Radiolab |

A Nobel Peace Prize Winner on the State of Press Freedom and Democracy

The Brian Lehrer Show |
YOU ARE ONLINE