For Polish immigrants living in Milwaukee, finding a taste of home in a new city can be a real challenge. Lucky for them, local theaters offer a way to reconnect with Polish culture through film. Milwaukee boasts several theaters where you can watch movies in Polish or by Polish directors. We have chosen five theaters every Polish immigrant should check out: Avalon Theater, Oriental Theatre, Times Cinema, Landmark Downer Theatre, and Ridge Cinema. You may watch a film in your mother tongue, screen your own movie, or host a community event at any of these places. Let’s dive into each one and decide where to have the best fun with Polish cinema.
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Avalon Theater
If you are searching for the cinema, Avalon Theater, historic cinema in the Bay View neighborhood, is a good choice. Since 1929, it has shown international and independent movies to residents and visitors of the area. Going to Avalon Theater is a special experience. It is a building of Spanish colonial architecture, with mosaics and frescoes in the interior. The ceiling is designed to look like a night sky with stars and moving clouds, adding a magical touch to your movie night. In addition to the newest productions, Avalon Theater presents retrospective cycles, classical movie screenings, thematic evenings, and festivals. So this is an ideal place to watch rare and independent films, also in Polish and by a Polish director. The theater also serves as a venue for art exhibitions, performances, and other cultural events, making it a fantastic spot to enrich the city’s cultural scene.
Address: 2473 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee
Oriental Theatre
Oriental Theatre is one of the most famous and oldest cinemas, celebrated for its unique architecture, a remarkable history, and a leading role in the city’s cultural life. The exotic design of this cinema is of the Eastern Renaissance type and contains a significant content of Indian, Egyptian, and Chinese architecture. Mosaics, golden statues, dragons, and intricate carvings are inside. Since 1927, the Oriental Theatre has been a cinema and cultural center, offering a wide range of films — from new blockbusters to classic and independent movies — along with various cultural events. If you’re looking for a place to watch Polish films in Milwaukee, Oriental Theatre is the spot. You can catch Polish directors' works during retrospectives, special screenings, or the Milwaukee Film Festival, which takes place in the spring. One such festival’s venue is the Oriental Theatre. This venue does not only demonstrate films but also becomes a place for concerts, theatricals, and lectures — very many of them are related to cinematography. The Oriental Theatre doesn’t have an in-house restaurant, but just like some of the other cinemas in our list, it’s located in a lively area with plenty of dining options nearby. Visitors can easily find a variety of restaurants and cafes within walking distance, perfect for grabbing a bite before or after catching a movie.
Address: 2230 N Farwell Ave, Milwaukee
Times Cinema
Times Cinema is a small yet important theater, part of the Neighborhood Theater Group, which also includes Avalon Theater and Rosebud Cinema. Since opening in 1935, the theater has been a key part of the neighborhood’s cultural life. New releases, classic retrospectives, and independent and documentary films are offered at the cinema. The theater also hosts themed evenings, director meet-and-greets, and post-screening discussions. While Times Cinema has shifted more emphasis in the past few years toward events rather than regular showings, Polish films can still be seen here. It remains an active participant in the yearly Milwaukee Film Festival, showcasing the talent of drama lovers from all over, including Poland. While there is no full cafe or restaurant inside of Times Cinema, there is a concession stand that offers an assortment of snacks and beverages—including such classics as popcorn, candy, and soft drinks.
Address: 5906 W Vliet St, Milwaukee
Landmark Downer Theatre
Landmark Downer Theatre is a historic cinema on the city’s Upper East Side, opened in 1915. It is the oldest operating theater in the city. Downer Theatre shows both Hollywood and independent films from around the world. It specializes in foreign and art house films, hence greatly favored by film lovers who want to taste something different than mainstream movies. Polish films can be frequently seen at the Landmark Downer Theatre during the regular schedule and during festivals, too. The theater is also a venue for the annual Milwaukee Film Festival. Landmark Downer Theatre does not have its own restaurant, but there are many restaurants and cafes located in close proximity to the theater.
Address: 2589 N Downer Ave, Milwaukee
Ridge Cinema
Ridge Cinema is part of the Marcus Theatres network and offers an unforgettable movie experience thanks to its cutting-edge technology. The theater features modern tech like ScreenX and SuperScreen DLX. ScreenX provides a 270-degree panoramic view, while the SuperScreen DLX offers heated DreamLounger seats for ultimate comfort. The cinema is even equipped with assistive technologies for the hearing- and vision-impaired. Some of such technologies include listening devices, subtitles, and descriptive audio. Spirited by such remarkable amenities, the Ridge Cinema always presents special screenings and film festivals that allow film enthusiasts to watch unique and rare films. Sometimes, Polish films get into the regular schedule; they are also presented at festival programs and special screenings. The cinema runs with many concessions, including classics like popcorn and candy, to more filling options like nachos, pretzels, and hot dogs. Coca-Cola Freestyle machines are also on-site to have an array of options for drinks. Aside from the basic concessions, Ridge Cinema has a Zaffiro’s Express restaurant, which services made-to-order pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, and salads. The restaurant area is designed for guests to have their meals or bring them into the theater.
Address: 5200 S Moorland Rd, New Berlin
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