New Haven Independent

Masher, the chief operating officer of Bow-Tie Cinemas, which runs the Criterion on Temple near George Street in New Haven, is the man behind the first such facility in the state. The Bow-Tie Cinemas Tuesday held the grand opening of its two screening and party rooms at the Temple Street theaters in front of about 50 guests.
There are two screening rooms, which hold 24 and 30 people each, plus a couple of party rooms in a new section of the theater to the right of the concession area. The plush room theaters feature seats roomier than found in a typical theater, hi-definition screens, DVD, cable, wi-fi internet and gaming ports.

The cost starts at $12.50 per person for a party that typically lasts about three hours. Masher said he’s booked “lots of” birthday parties; he has has both theaters booked for Thanksgiving and many other festivities. He’s even already booked a bridal shower, he said.

Ben Moss, the younger of the father-and-son team that owns the 17 Bow-Tie Cinemas theaters spread over five states, called the concept a first for Connecticut.
Ben, 32, and his father, Charley, 63, were in town to cut a piece of film to officially open the screening area. The task was supposed to be performed by Mayor John DeStafano Jr., but he was ill with “something that’s going around City Hall,” according to Jessica Mayorga, his spokeswoman.

The project received neither city money nor tax breaks, Mayorga said. Neither Moss nor Masher would divulge either the cost of the project or their income projections, saying the company was privately held and they do not discuss financial matters. Masher did say it took about six months to build.

The Moss family has been in the movie business for four generations, Ben Moss said. He said the Criterion name was from the theater at Broadway and 44th Street operated by his great-grandfather, B.S. Moss, and his grandfather and father, both named Charley. The New York theater, which had more than 1,650 seats, closed in 2000.

Ben, left in photo, and Charley, standing at the access to the screening area, gave credit to Masher for the idea.
Masher said he had had many requests for this type of facility and plans to have one in his Richmond, Va., theater when that opens next year.

The use of the screening and party rooms are up the customer, he said when a reporter asked him if there were any copyright problems with watching sporting events or other broadcasts.

“We rent the rooms only,” he said. “What you do is your prerogative.”

Others shared his enthusiasm for the project.

Loney O”Neill, sales manager of the New Haven Hotel on George Street, said she may direct people seeking entertainment or business meetings to the new facility.
“I’m glad to have a place to be able to send people,” she said.

Although the private screening rooms “may not be 100 accessible for low-income people, it creates an opportunity for others who may not have this type of facility at home. It also enhances the image of the city,” said spokeswoman Mayorga.