Cine Lido

200 W. 48th Street,
New York, NY 10036

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Additional Info

Previous Names: Palais Royal, The Latin Quarter, 22 Steps, Princess Theatre

Nearby Theaters

Arista Theatres

“So this is gay Paree

Come on along with me,

We’re stepping out to see

The Latin Quarter"

The building was originally the Palais Royal, a legitimate theatre and concert hall, later housing the Broadway location of the Harlem-based nightclub, Connie’s Inn. At various other times, it became a Chinese restaurant, and then George White’s Gay White Way nightclub. In 1935, it became the Club Ubangi, featuring live African-American entertainers and showgirls. In 1936, it became the second location of the famed Cotton Club, originally in Harlem. This Cotton Club lasted until 1940. In 1942, the Latin Quarter nightclub opened in this space.

By July 1969 the Latin Quarter chorus girls had gone on strike and Morton Minsky acknowledged that the historic site had seen its best years. New Yorkers were already into ‘porn chic’ years before the New York Times coined the phrase when “Deep Throat” hit the scene in 1973.

Nick Justin’s Arista Theatres were in the market to capture the trend of fashionable upscale sexually-liberated Manhattanites, willing to shell out top dollar for the classy, soft core, beautifully filmed works from the likes of Radley Metzger, director of “Camille 2000”, “Therese and Isabelle” and “The Lickerish Quartet”.

From 1969 to 1978 the upstairs room supper club of the historic Latin Quarter became the a 15,000 square foot, $100,000 red and black remodel known as the Cine Lido.

Opening with the aforementioned “Camille 2000”, the theatre, and its sister location the Cine Malibu on the east side (it eventually sprang the Lido East as well), the theatres were an immediate success with the film getting rave reviews and the X-factor theme an instantly acceptable concept.

An original plan for burlesque style stage shows was quickly abandoned when the ‘art’ film concept worked.

By 1973 the porn business had become a cause celebre thanks to “Deep Throat” and the films were getting more explicit. Politicians jumped on the band wagon to clean up ‘smut’ and started harassing theatre owners.

A major raid of eleven New York film houses in July 1975 lead to the closing of the Cine Lido and confiscation of a print of the “The Newcomers”, a symbolic act to satisfy the puritans since the movie opened again the next day. Several other theatres were closed in the raid when they turned out to be showing bootleg prints of their films but content censorship remained elusive. The sole proprietor arrested was World Theatre owner Robert Sumner with his hit film “High Rise” confiscated. The arrest was considered payback for bringing “Deep Throat” to New York the previous year.

By 1977, even the New York Times yielded to pressure and stopped accepting ads for X-rated fare. This signalled the end of the Cine Lido’s ability to reach its target audience and by May 1978 the location was being advertised for lease.

It went on to operate as the 22 Steps disco and the legitimate Princess Theatre before being demolished in 1989 for a high rise.

Contributed by Al Alvarez

Recent comments (view all 16 comments)

Ed Solero
Ed Solero on April 19, 2011 at 10:14 am

Good work, Al! Glad I posted here today.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on January 4, 2012 at 7:54 pm

I found an old article that states the landlord was none other than E.M. Loews, who evicted the Latin Quarter due to overdue rent. Does anyone know if E.M. Loews was the actual operator of the Cine Lido and Cine Malibu?

ParadiseGray
ParadiseGray on June 7, 2013 at 10:51 am

The Latin Quarter was the incubator of the Golden Era of Hip Hop 1985 – 1988. It was the scene of epic battles and performances..ie KRS-One vs Mele-Mel., KRS-1 VS MC Shan etc.. It was where folks like Public Enemy, Queen Latifah, Big Daddy Kane, Eric B & Rakim, Salt & Pepa, Kid & Play, 3rd Bass, Schoolly D, Jungle Brothers and numerous others went to get their start.

We relive those lofty days with Paradise Gray of X-Clan.. he was the one who ran the show back in the days and he has lots of insights and stories to tell. Enjoy the interview

The History of the Latin Quarter-Hip Hop’s Legendary Nite Club: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h0c9EOo0GU

stevengoldberg
stevengoldberg on August 17, 2013 at 2:35 am

I was the owner of the Princess Theatre on Broadway and was the one who re-opened the Latin Quarter. I have film footage and memorabilia from the original LQ both in NYC and Palm Beach Fla. I have also got stuff from Cab Calloways Cotton Club which was located there prior to the LQ. I also was the one who changed it to the first, biggest an best Hip Hop and rap club shortly there after. I was young and it was a lot of fun being a part of New Yorks history.

darrenparlett
darrenparlett on August 17, 2013 at 3:03 am

@Steve that is awesome. Do tell more (i love this historical experiences )

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on October 26, 2015 at 12:34 am

1930’s photo as The Cotton Club added courtesy of Stephen Sclafaniā€ˇ.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on November 23, 2015 at 10:20 pm

Late `30’s photo added courtesy of the IM STILL SO NYC Facebook page. Larger marquee than the previous 1930’s photo.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on August 29, 2019 at 6:34 pm

October 1973 photo as Cine Lido added, photo credit David A. Isacowitz. Courtesy 70s/80s New York City Facebook page.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on December 23, 2019 at 10:04 pm

Cine Lido among the 1971 photos in below link.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/21612362@N05/sets/72157629137226648/with/6948877089/?fbclid=IwAR1yqOGPN-v1_cRyUSinKoWV4hCX4HXAmeEfPLKcRvwAq8Q2QU9sBzMfxZk

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on November 22, 2021 at 9:58 pm

2013 article with 1937 photos as Cotton Club.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2268971/Inside-speakeasies-1920s-The-hidden-drinking-spots-transformed-New-York-Citys-night-life-prohibition-era-beyond.html?ito=facebook_share_article-top&fbclid=IwAR1JyMOcQIpoeZs4HLKYIyC3WrMAY8-xndCJg97Y30fav3h_GSqYenfu0-M

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