Metro Twin
2626 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10025
2626 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10025
16 people
favorited this theater
Showing 76 - 100 of 149 comments
Mr. Elson is to be commended for his valiant attempt, his redecoration and reopening of the Metro, even though it didn’t succeed.
He may not have been able to obtain more popular arthouse films, due to competition from other venues, or may have believed that if he had those films, the other venues would have drawn off many of the moviegoers. So, he tried arthouse films that would be more unique, but, as we know, didn’t have enough drawing power. It may be not enough moviegoers from other places in New York wanted to attend movies in the neighborhood that the Metro was in.
I love old theaters, Art Deco, and theaters that use the curtain, so I was eager to visit, and snapped my photo. The film choices weren’t to my liking, so I wasn’t able to revisit.
Did the prior chain operators program mainstream fare? but not enough people attending?
It is tragic that so many single screens (and divided up theaters)have closed!
If the Metro doesn’t reopen as a moviehouse, let’s hope the Art Deco plasterwork and decorations can be kept.
And, we should all patronize those remaining survivors! Classic film series soon at the Ziegfeld! Great arthouse movies at the Paris! And, the others.
All this talk about terrible business at the Metro resulting in inevitable closing… It’s no wonder, as many films were so obscure as to draw in virtually no one— not even me (with a couple of exceptions over the last year), a huge fan of “art house” flics. Put in the kind of films programmed at Sunshine or Lincoln Plaza, and they’ll have a solid clientelle again. Here’s wishing so.
I’ve added my May 2005 interior & exterior photos here, adjoining this photo:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/howardbhaas/90266879/
It would be terrible to lose the Art Deco plaster and other beautiful touches. A restaurant or retail store could be enhanced by those details.
There was a sad article in the City section of this Sunday’s NY Times. Here’s a link to the online version – not sure how long it will be valid and you might have to sign up (it’s free) to take a look at this: View link
The building’s owner, Albert Bialek, declares the place “obsolete” as neighborhood theater, in the article. He has obtained permission from the City to gut the interior and doesn’t know what the future holds for the space. Here’s a key passage from the article:
“Mr. Bialek has been authorized by the Landmarks Preservation Commission to demolish the interior of the Metro, whose exterior was declared a landmark in 1989. He said he is considering leasing the space to a dinner theater, a restaurant or a store, or perhaps reopening it as a multiplex.”
Perhaps a some arrangement can be made whereby minimal interior alterations would be required. It seems the community simple did not support the theater – but whether that is a function of its “obsolescence” or, rather, poor programming choices is a matter for debate.
Hello! Can someone please confirm, or deny, whether The Metro has been used in a Woody Allen film and if so what film? I seem to have a memory of him walking into it. Thanks!
“I went past the Metro and there was a sign saying it was open. Now I didnt actually go in and check. I was on the 104 heading down to Times Square after lunch at Tom’s Diner."
posted by hdtv267 on Jan 3, 2006 at 5:40am
Oh, THAT sign. That sign went up months ago so people seeing the adjacent construction scaffolding (hiding the marquee from some viewpoints) would be reassured that it was still open. Nobody bothered to climb up to tear it down when it after the theater closed.
It’s not uncommon to see closed stores along Broadway (abandoned when the landlord tried to squeeze out a few thousand dollars too much) with an “OPEN” sign still on display in the doorway.
I agree: with a good choice of films, the Metro could do well. Good potential audience in the neighborhood, and easily accessible from other neighborhoods (Broadway IRT to 96th street, M-104 bus, M-96 crosstown bus, etc.).
After all the effort it would be sad to see this site disappear. I agree with RobertR that Landmark would make an excellent choice. They’ve consistently brought in top films to the downtown Sunshine such as “2046”, “Murderball” & “Howling Castle”. The Quad is another example of skilled niche programming. Not all arthouse films can get showcased at the Lincoln Plaza Cinemas. The upper West Side should be able to support an arthouse twin, if the formula for product and advertising is right.
This would be a good location for Landmark and they would get the product.
The theatre is closed and Albert Bialek, the landlord, is searching for a new tenant to replace Mr. Elson.
The telephone doesn’t answer.
The website doesn’t work.
The theatre is dark.
There is nothing on the marquee.
Although there has been little or no publicity it would appear that the theatre is closed.
If that is incorrect then Mr. Elson should let us know what is happened.
We all care and are concerned.
So is this theater closed again?
I’m wondering what you mean by “a few days ago”. Windows fronting on the sidewalk have been well-lighted but empty for a couple of weeks, I think. I stopped by late tonight to peer through the gate into the mostly-dark foyer (some old posters barely visible), then as I stood numbly at the ticket-window, I was approached by a “street-person” I’ve talked with before (last summer, at a sidewalk book-vendor’s table). She said “They’re going to show a movie next week”.
As for Thalia: films “already out 1 year +” is fine by me; it’s not likely I’ve seen them. Thalia (and/or the Metro) might do well to show films shown 5-10-20-30 years “out”, mixed with films NEVER “out”, i.e. some of those festival gems that somehow don’t seem profitable enough to distribute to “all the usual places”.
I live in the neighborhood and enjoyed having the Metro so close by; I frequent “art films” but some of their selections were fairly obscure, and I often wondered how they could stay afloat when even on weekend evening screenings, I was seldom one of more than a dozen in the audience.
A sign in the window a few days ago promised to show Woody Allen’s “Match Point” soon, but this seems very unlikely. If they can manage to stay open under same or new management, I will keep coming. It would be a terrible shame to lose another unique moviehouse (and the Thalia is not a consolation: great as they are, they offer generally very old news— films already out 1 year+.)
Yes, and it’s already been used as a playhouse by Roundabout, and not need as much modification.
What about the Gramercy? I think it’s for rent.
Do you think that the owners would rent for a theatrical production? We are continuing to look for a venue for our summer production of “Trouble in Paradise”…
I visited the old Metro theater many times before the new management. However I always ran into scheduling bumps with the current releases. Films would come and go from week to week (Mirrormask, Elle Parker) while others would run for 3-4 weeks and make the cinema seem like it only kept the same features.
Recently I had scheduled to go see a film, in mid-November, but the theater was being rented out for a film shoot.
Nearby construction really negatively impacted this theater. Going to a screening during the day… with jackhammers pounding next door… not particularly enjoyable.
I really hope someone picks up the theater. I think the combination of a handful of mainstream shows + selective independent films will make this a great theater again.
The concessions facilities were excellent and the staff was also pretty pleasant so I hope those folks land on their feet.
I noticed in today’s Times that the New Metro isn’t listed so I turned to this site and sure enough.
I had only been to the Metro once — way back in the mid 1980s — until recently when I caught three films there to take advantage of $7 bargain prices. Most recently I caught “Ellie Parker” there on a weekday afternoon and there was one other person there. Like I wrote above, I was the sole patron for “Going Shopping.” And the other film I caught there — “The Dying Gaul” — was on a Saturday afternoon and despite the bargain $7 price, there were less than 10 people there.
I enjoyed going to the New Metro. It is a throwback cinema with character. When you patronize a place like the New Metro you realize how soulless the new multiplexes are despite the big screens, stadium seating and cupholders.
I concluded yesterday that since there is no listed, the website is done and the phones don’t work that the Elson/Embassy management has closed the theatre.
The pictures that they were able to get or chose were simply not very appealing.
This is a good venue and someone that is creative and prepared to hang in there for a reasonable period can probably turn it around.
This is one of the last neighborhood theatres and it’s worth saving.
The closing raises the question of whether they will refund the multiple admission tickets or whether buyers will find themselves making claims in Bankruptcy Court.
Donald Baraf
I hate to see this close. Dan Talbot would be able to get good bookings here since he already books Lincoln Plaza.
That appears to be the case, Howard, as both their telephone recording has been turned off and their listing in today’s NY Post Movie Clock advises potential guests to call the theatre for showtimes. Meanwhile, the New Metro Twin website for several weeks made mention that ‘The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, & the Wardrobe’ was scheduled to open there on December 9th, but, sometime last week, that announcement had been removed. I suspect all that evidence points to Peter Elson having given up the fight, not that the Metro had a fighting chance under his management…
Official website not working & can’t find a film listing on another website. Did it close?
I made my first visit to the Metro in at least 20 years last week. It was only the second film I’ve seen there. Back in the 80’s I caught BREATHLESS there for the first time.
In any event, hard as this is to believe it was even less crowded when I was there than when Jeff Vandam, the Times reporter, visited. I was the sole patron for last Monday’s noon showing of Henry Jaglom’s GOING SHOPPING, which is playing exclusively at the Metro after lasting five days at the Angelika. Down at the Angelika they didn’t even wait until the Friday after GS opened to change the film; I was out of there after five days.
In any event, the Metro does retain a certain charm, especially when you compare it to the soulless multi-plexes. The first time I went I must have been in the other there because I don’t remember the seats being that steep in the cinema in which I watched GS. It reminded me a bit of those upstairs theatres in the old Embassy in Times Square.
The price is right because I think I paid only $7.50 or so and even at full price, evenings/weekends, the Metro is still a couple of dollars cheaper than the other Manhattan theatres. They also sell booklets of discount tickets.
And Lord is there construction up near the Metro, which is a free-standing building. Literally next door they are building some sort of apartment building. And there is a hole in the ground directly across the street so you know another banal apartment building is going up as the obliteration of the New York City we know continues.
I have to admit that I haven’t been inside for several years, after enjoying it through several phases, including its porn period(s); but on the other hand I haven’t been going to other movie theaters (except Thalia a year or so ago).
I think this is an excellent idea:
“…Only four blocks away, at Broadway and 95th Street, is the Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theater, part of the renovated Symphony Space complex. Isaiah Sheffer, the artistic director of Symphony Space, said the reborn Metro would be complementary rather than competitive. He wished Mr. Elson well and even imagines the Thalia and Metro cross-promoting one another’s offerings, a prospect that interests Mr. Elson, too…”
Exterior has landmark status, but interior—?!? Might it become a lobby for the high-rise (and I do mean HIGH-rise) to be built adjacent to it?
[Perhaps people noticed the front-paged news of a scaffolding collapse during Gristedes demolition across the street, a few months ago. Part of the same operation: one building to be 27 stories? the other 31? Up until now, “high-rise” in this neighborhood meant 15 stories. One of those Cheney-related corporations: revenge against the USW?]
P.S. I almost didn’t find this entry because I was searching for “Metro” (current name) and for “Midtown” (earlier name).
P.P.S. Why “midtown”? obviously, because about mid-way between where the numbered streets begin and where they end. Approximately. (North or south of them: terra incognita.)
I guess another theatre will be gone soon! Lets not hope so!