From Silent Films to Live Performances: The Legacy of New London's Garde Arts Center

The Garde Theatre opened on September 22, 1926, in New London, Connecticut, as a grand movie and vaudeville palace. Designed by architect Arland Johnson and named after businessman Walter Garde, it featured an ornate Moroccan-style interior and debuted with the silent film The Marriage Clause. Warner Bros. purchased the theatre in 1929 for $1 million, maintaining it as a top-tier movie house for decades.

As suburbanization and multiplex cinemas grew, attendance declined, leading to the Garde’s closure in 1977. After a brief private ownership, it was sold in 1985 to the non-profit Garde Arts Center, Inc., which aimed to restore and repurpose the historic venue. By 1987, the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra made it their home, and under Executive Director Steve Sigel, the Garde expanded its programming to include live performances, film screenings, and community events.

A major restoration effort began in the 1990s, supported by state funding and a $15.75 million campaign. The theatre reopened in 1999 with a restored interior and expanded facilities, including the Oasis Room and upgraded lobbies. The Garde also acquired nearby historic buildings, transforming them into a hub for arts, education, and commerce.

Today, the Garde Arts Center hosts concerts, Broadway shows, films, and community events.