By JEFF TIRRELL
After multiple delays primarily related to COVID19 the new chair lift at the Greenfield Garden Cinema is now complete. The state elevator inspector approved the lift on Friday. The new lift now allows a weight limit of 750lbs and is capable of handling motorized wheelchairs. The installation of the lift makes five of the seven screening rooms fully handicapped accessible. Garden owners Isaac and Angela Mass say they have been working on other ADA improvements to the theatrical experience as well. In addition to the closed caption readers and audio amplification devices in operation at the theater, the new owners have added noise cancelling headphones for those with auditory sensitivity.
Inaccessible are theaters six in seven of the cinemas are situated on top of the former balcony of the 1929 movie palace which is on the National Historic Register. Garden Cinema owner Isaac Mass says, “the wonder of digital film is that with a little notice it is easy to transfer any film playing in the balcony to an accessible location.” Mass who worked his way through law school as a projectionist at the Garden remembers the days of 35mm film, “We used to have to carry massive films that had already been spliced together after arriving in multiple canisters, if we wanted to move something” explained Mass, “it required clamps, lots of upper body strength and balance; one slip and you would lose the whole film.”
Isaac and Angela Mass say they have been working on other ADA improvements to the theatrical experience as well. In addition to the closed caption readers and audio amplification devices in operation at the theater, the new owners have added noise cancelling headphones for those with auditory sensitivity. “We love the Dolby 5.1 surround sound our system provides but understand that some patrons with autism or other auditory sensitivity are not comfortable with that level of sound, now we have a way for them to enjoy the movies.” Explains Angela Mass.
The lift was installed by building owners George Gohl and William Gobeille through a federal loan program administered by the City of Greenfield’s department of Community and Economic Development. The completion of this project was required to meet requirements of the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board (AAB). Now Gohl and Gobeille will be able to obtain a certificate of good standing with the AAB meeting all the conditions for new owners Isaac and Angela Mass to purchase the historic Garden Block, which is scheduled for later in the month.