New Metro Twin

This theater, on Broadway up around West 100th street, also enjoyed a stretch in the 80's and 90's as a revival house, showing classic double bills that changed every 2 or 3 days, similar to the Hollywood Twin (now shuttered) on 8th Ave around 48th street. I think I still have some old flyers from both of these theaters on which they would print the upcoming month's schedule of attractions. With the advent of home video (especially now with the rising popularity of DVDs and large screen TVs) revival houses like these are fast becoming extinct.

The Metro Twin will be reopening soon. It is to be operated by the company that ran the Guild & Embassy Theatres in mid-town.

the theater is now open again.

the restoration was done by Cineplex Odeon and not Clearview Cinemas. The latter acquired the twin theater when Cineplex had to sell off some of its Manhattan theaters after it merged with Loews.

The Midtown first opened in 1933 and had 562 seats. The name Midtown has always puzzled me. Why Midtown when it's on the Upper West Side and more than 50 blocks from midtown? Perhaps midtown for the northern strip of Broadway that starts at Columbus Circle? Or perhaps midtown for the area known as Yorktown? By the time the Midtown opened, the nearby Adelphi had already been re-named the Yorktown (and would later become the New Yorker).

The first features booked into the Metro when it reopened under the management of Cineplex Odeon in the summer of 1986 were 'She's Gotta Have It' and 'A Great Wall'. It operated as a first-run house until January of 2003 when the landlord suddenly shut its doors as the result of a lease dispute with Clearview Cinemas, which had assumed control of the Metro (and several other Manhattan theatres) in the fall of 1998 when Cineplex Odeon was forced to divest itself of a handful of sites around the country in anticipation of its merger with Loews Theatres. Suddenly, in April of '03, the Metro - still a Clearview property - opened for business again (showing 'Chicago' and the Chris Rock comedy 'Head of State' on its two screens); however, rumors still abound of its eventual closing, to be possibly replaced by yet another UWS high-rise apartment tower.

a great theater ,small ,but with charm never has been able to find its way

Wasn't Dan Talbot/New Yorker Films (of the Lincoln Plaza and the late Cinema Studio) running the Metro for a few years before Cineplex blew into town?

I think he may have been the one who programmed it when it was revival and art films.

Sadly, as of tonight, the marquee now reads "Sorry We're Closed," although as of last weekend it was still open. The low-rise building to its north is empty and I've heard they're going to be razed, so things don't look good for the Metro. I won't miss the uncomfortable seats, but I will miss its mere existence as the only movie theater betw. 84th St. and the Magic Johnson on 125th. If anyone knows anything about the future of the building I'd love to know. Maybe at least the facade will be preserved!

Clearview should have turned this into "Cine Latino" instead of the theatre at 62nd Street. The Metro is much closer to the Hispanic population in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx. But I guess the Metro's underlying ground is more valuable for development as housing.

I wonder if thgis is temporary. I went to Clearviews web page and it now shows the Metro as an independant theater.Maybe it is just a matter of the theater chain being taken over. I thought when they reopened in 2003 it was supposed to be under an independant chain anyway.

The Metro has been - or likely still is - doomed for redevelopment(see my comment above from this past April 15th), but what's odd is its listing in today's NY Post Movie Clock makes mention of 'Garden State' playing there effective today, succeeding an engagement of 'The Manchurian Candidate' remake. What apparently happened is what occurred in January of 2003 when the Metro suddenly closed at that time - a dispute between Clearview and the landlord over the terms and length of Clearview's lease on the property. Whether their latest dispute, renewed or otherwise, can be resolved, I'd have to imagine, is a pure wild-card at this point.

I called moviefone and it shows the theater open showing Garden State and Open Water. It gave showtimes for today. Can anybody confirm thhat it is still open.

I went to the Metro on the 25th to see The Manchurian Candidate
(2004) in the lower auditorium on a tiny little screen (1.85)and noticed there were no surround speakers. The film began and I realized the sound was MONAURAL which I havent heard in a new film in years. The theater was hot as hell as there was no air conditioning. I was the only person attending the first show. As I ran out the door 10 minutes into the show a very pleasant staff member said "Don't you like the movie?" I said "No, the theater. It was so hot in there I didn't even ask for a refund. Tired Clearview.

Has anybody verified if the theater is open or not? I called moviefone and it lists showtimes for the theater.

No, it is NOT open. I live down the block and pass by every day. I emailed Clearview last week via their web site to find out what had happened and just got this response: "Clearview Cinemas has made a business decision to sell the lease for this theatre. Clearview ceased operation of the Metro Twin as of Friday, August 27, 2004. Unfortunately, we don't have any further information regarding the plans for this location."

Translation: Clearview was pushed into selling their Metro Twin lease by the property owner; they wouldn't have booked 'Garden State' for an engagement scheduled to BEGIN August 27th otherwise. If it reopens again, it'll likely be for the short-term and it'll probably be an independent who'll run it, as what happened with the Art Greenwich Twin in 1999-2000 after Loews Cineplex pulled out of that property and the landlord, wanting to maximize his or her profit on the space while waiting for Equinox to settle its property conversion plans with the various neighborhood commissions, ran that space as a non-chain house for its final 16 months of operation. Far more probable in the case of the Metro is that, unless there's strong community backlash, its time of operation has come to an end.

I walked into the Metro Twin while it was playing Manchurian and another film. I considered one night recently going up to catch Open Water again, just to say I saw a movie there. The larger auditorium is so strange with the high rake of the converted balcony seats, and the 'main' auditorium is odd with it's small size and those two statues on the sides of that itty bitty screen.

I took a couple of shots before I was told no. I wish I got a better one of the cool front neon. *sigh* Maybe it'll do a quick reopen before the ball smashes another chunk of New York coolness away.

THE EXTERIOR OF THE 1933 METRO THEATER
WAS DESIGNATED A NEW YORK CITY LANDMARK
ON JULY 11, 1989 BY THE
LANDMARKS PRESERVATION COMMISSION.
IT IS STILL IN DANGER
OF BEING DESTROYED!!!!
CALL THE LANDMARKS PRESERVATION COMMISSION
AT (212) 669-7923
TELL THEM OF THE THEATER'S CLOSING,
THE PLAN TO TURN IT INTO A GRISTEDES,
AND URGE THEM TO LANDMARK THE INTERIOR
BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!
SAVE AN HISTORIC ART DECO THEATER AND
SAVE THE QUALITY OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD!
ALSO CONTACT:
GRISTEDES CORPORATE OFFICE: (212) 956-5770
LOCAL COMMUNITY BOARD 7: (212) 603-3080

I think it is so sad that this adorable little theater was cared for better. It's not too late for them to restore the interior to its former glory but with modern comforts don't you agree? The neighborhood has to speak out and write letters to the local community board and the landmarks commission. The N.Y.Landmarks Commission's address is: 1 Center St. 9th floor north, N.Y., N.Y. 10007. Even if they must put commercial businesses inside, cafes, restaurants, bookstores or boutoques are better than a Gristedes supermarket! They can't even maintain quality standards of cleanliness, appearance or freshness of food under normal supermarket circumstances across the street, why should they be allowed to takeover a charming landmark? This neighborhood is undergoing some great transitions, and is sensitive to what changes are made. A supermarket would make it a cheap, has been. Is thaour future?

Wait! Just got in from a walk and Gristides has posted big signs; a letter from their CEO says that people have been posting scurrilous rumors about their takeover of this theater, and that he has spoken directly with the owner of the Metro Twin, who intends to keep it as a theater. Now, I have no idea if this is true or not -- but an interesting development. I thought the front, at least, was landmarked...

I have heard from reliable neighborhood sources that the Metro was to become a temporary home for the Gristides store across the street while the new high rise was being built. The "twinning" would be undone and once the new store could open it would be restored as a theater. Unfortunatly only the exterior has been landmarked. The interior would be a simple restoration. If the Rapp & Rapp's State in Jersey City can be restored then so could this.
I had also heard that the property owner has been trying to put this together for quite some time. The property owner is also the landlord of the art deco building just south of the Metro.
Speaking of art deco, the architects of the Metro also designed the beautiful 315 Riverside Drive.

I think I know what's in the works for the Metro and it's future is looking brighter than ever.

Pete Apruzzese
Director of Film Programming
Big Screen Classics at the Lafayette Theatre

So I called the Landmarks Commission, feisty Upper West Sider that I am, and the recording states that the theater IS being refurbished and WILL remain a theater! This is terrific news, although I'll miss those $6 prices from the terrible seats!

May be some good news:
http://cinematreasures.org/news/12147_0_1_0_C

There was a news story about the latest developments at the Metro Twin in yesterday's New York Times (9/26/04), written by Jeff Vandam and published on page 8 of The City (Section 14)...The theatre is now being refurbished by owner Albert Bialiek in association with Peter Elson, whose father, Norman Elson, used to run the Embassy Theatres circuit of small-seaters. If I recall correctly, Peter Elson's mother is the daughter of the great theatre architect, Herbert J. Krapp.

The Midtown, designed by the architecture firm of Boak & Paris, opened in 1933. From 1948 through April 1972, it was part of the Brandt circuit, featuring sub-run foreign and independent fare starting in the 1950s. It exhibited films such as Belle de Jour, Shame (and just about every other Bergman movie), Breathless, Hiroshima Mon Amour, Repulsion, L’Avventura, Straw Dogs, and Gimme Shelter, though never in exclusive engagements. After Brandt's management, it operated as an adult film venue.
In 1982, its operation was taken over by Dan Talbot's New York Cinemas and it was twinned. Renamed the Metro, it opened for business as an exhibitor of repertory art house fare on October 1, 1982. The facility's HVAC system was overhauled and new bathrooms were installed in 1986.
On July 17, 1987, management of the theatre was assumed by Cineplex Odeon. Clearview Cinemas operated the theatre from December 1998 through August 26, 2004.
It is expected to be re-opened, with new seats and screens and under the management of Peter Elson, in November 2004.
The theatre's Art Deco facade received landmark designation in 1989.
Regarding some of the other comments about this theatre:
1. If one discounts for occassional short-term closings which generally mark the history of old cinemas, the Metro is the 2nd-longest operating movie theatre in Manhattan, exceeded in age only by the New Coliseum, which opened 13 years earlier. I am excluding Radio City which, though it opened at the end of 1932, is not primarily a film exhibitor.
2. Regarding the Midtown moniker, I think there are two, likely related, explanations. First off, the theatre is located at the "approximate" halfway point on Manhattan's north-south axis. There are about 120 blocks above, and 120 below, the Metro. Second, one must consider the context of the times in which the theatre was built. It began operation less than two years after the George Washington Bridge opened to traffic on 10/25/1931. The location of the Loew's 175th Street theatre, opened in 1930, is evidence of the belief of the time that the GWB would transform upper Manhattan and, probably, result in the neighborhood in which the Metro is located becoming known and thought of as "Midtown."

Any chance one screen will be revival>?

As of Monday, Peter Elson was simply acting as a consultant to the landlord Albert Bialiek, I do not believe that Elson is going to be operating the Metro.

Sadly, the place is in terrible shape and needs a lot of renovation, at least $100,000 worth to make it look really good again. Even replacing the seats in the upstairs theatre can't cure the chief problem up there - lack of legroom. And the downstairs auditorium's screen unfortunately can't get much larger - the proscenium was designed for 1.37 Academy ratio films - it was never enlarged when the wide screen boom hit in the 1950s. It doesn't appear that more than another 4 feet in width can be added as the screen frame is recessed - the projection beam would get cut off if the screen was made much wider.

As for revivals on one screen, anything is possible...

Pete Apruzzese
Director of Film Programming
Big Screen Classics at the Lafayette Theatre

David Freeland's article in last week's NY Press noted that "a soon-to-be-named 'celebrity operator' has been hired to run the (Metro) and scout out cutting-edge films from around the world". Is Peter Elson the 'celebrity operator' Albert Bialek makes reference to and what exactly qualifies Peter Elson as a 'celebrity booker', at least one worthy of note? The films shown in his previous properties - the various Embassy theatres in Times Square, the Embassy 72nd Street, and the Guild at Rockefeller Plaza - may have been mostly dignified (especially the majority of the bookings at the Embassy 72nd Street and the Guild), but I'd hardly classify them as being 'cutting edge'.

I remember going to the Metro to see the Laurel & Hardy festival. I entered the theatre and was so impressed by the large auditorium and beautiful decor, I had to catch my breath. The place was packed with an appreciative audience, adding to the enjoyment further. Then about a year and a half later, I had a nightmare that the Metro was about to twin! That morning, I took the LIRR to Manhattan, and went to the Metro to see the theatre more than the show (from the start, I have hated the twinning of movie theatres originally built as single-screens, a hate that began with the Washington Theatre in New Jersey). Luckilly, a Humphrey Bogart double-feature was showing, so
I was able to enjoy the show at the now half-filled theatre. A few months later however, my nightmare came true.....

What about a floating screen that would be in front of the proscenium? It could still be draped, somewhat like how the Cinerama conversions were. Say is the downstairs in The Metro big enough for Cinerama?

There were only a few films made in the Cinerama process, not enough to justify the expense of a new installation.

RobertR wrote:
What about a floating screen that would be in front of the proscenium? It could still be draped, somewhat like how the Cinerama conversions were. Say is the downstairs in The Metro big enough for Cinerama?
----

Sure, that could work. It would probably be very expensive to make it not look out of place, but it could work. But some valuable seating capacity would probably be lost. In fact, the limited seating of the whole theatre (fewer than 500 between both houses) is the chief difficulty with the location right now (aside from the dreadful condition) in terms of being able to meet projected operating expenses.

No, the auditorium is far too small for a Cinerama screen installation.

The Metro is slated to reopen by November 25, so says a renovation supervisor at the theater. It is no longer part of Clearview Cinemas.

Greg Mims

It will open again!! From today's NY Times:

Landmark Theater Held Over! 6th Big Broadway Run!
By DAVID W. DUNLAP

After closing and reopening and closing again over the last two years, to the accompaniment of rumors that it would be replaced by a Gristede's, the Metro Theater on upper Broadway is getting ready to debut once more, on Dec. 3, this time as an independent cinema.

With 292 new seats in the upstairs auditorium, 188 new seats downstairs and rolls of new red carpeting that arrived on Friday, the Metro - an exuberant Art Deco landmark between 99th and 100th Streets - is approaching its sixth incarnation in 71 years.

Behind its pink and black terra-cotta facade, adorned by an enormous medallion depicting tragedy and comedy, the Metro has been a first-run movie theater, a pornographic house, an art theater and a part of two national cinema chains. Though divided, its original Deco décor is delectably intact, including vinelike grilles and vase-bearing sylphs in niches flanking the proscenium arch.

Under the name Embassy's New Metro Twin, it will be a showcase for foreign and independent films, with some first-run features thrown in, beginning next month with the Italian movie "After Midnight" ("Dopo Mezzanotte") and "The Incredibles."

The reopening is not only a reprieve for the Upper West Side, which has been hemorrhaging small theaters in recent decades, but a welcome change for Peter H. Elson, a second-generation theater operator who has usually had to close the houses that his father, Norman W. Elson, acquired: the Embassy 72nd Street Twin on Broadway in 1988, the Embassy 1 in Times Square in 1997 and the Guild at Rockefeller Center in 1999.

"I intend to take as many chances on foreign and independent films here as I did at 72nd Street," Mr. Elson said Friday as he toured the Metro. "Ten years ago, I would have said that I didn't think this area could support an art theater. But this area has changed and improved and continues to improve."

Mr. Elson holds a 20-year lease on the theater from its owner, Albert Bialek. He said he had put about $240,000 into the renovation. There will be new sound systems, larger screens and curtains that will ceremoniously open before each show.

"In old movie palaces, the imagination started to work from the moment you opened the door," Mr. Elson said. "To the extent possible, that's the way it should be."

Boak & Paris, the original architects in 1933, infused the building with a sense of fantasy. In designating the exterior as an official landmark in 1989, the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission said that the Metro was "a rare surviving small Art Deco-style neighborhood movie theater" with "one of the finest facades of its type in New York City."

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.

"I would say, from Symphony Space's point of view, that it's a wonderful thing," Mr. Sheffer said. "It's good for the nabe."

It is also good for the landmarks commission, which has had to field at least 100 anxious calls about the unfounded Gristede's supermarket rumor, said Diane Jackier, the director of community and government affairs. How the rumor started is unclear, although the Metro's future was shaky last year and there is a Gristede's across Broadway.

Despite its uptown location, the theater was originally called the Midtown, a name it kept through the 1970's, when its adults-only fare included double bills like "Hooker Convention" and "Exchange Student." In 1982, the theater operator Daniel Talbot took over the lease, renamed it the Metro, and began showing an eclectic mix of foreign, art and revival films. Cineplex Odeon took over in 1987, followed by Clearview Cinemas.

At the time of the landmark designation, the commission noted that in 1934 there were 18 cinemas on Broadway from 59th to 110th Streets.

"Only 4 of the 18 are still standing and open to the public as movie theaters," the commission said in 1989. These were the Regency at 67th Street, the Metro at 99th, the Columbia at 103rd Street and the Olympia at 107th Street.

Today, only the Metro survives.

"Even though we don't regulate use," said Robert B. Tierney, the current commission chairman, "I am delighted that the Metro will continue to operate as one of the great landmark movie houses on the Upper West Side."

One word: HOORAY!!!

Since the new owner is from the Embassy thaters, why doesn't he reopen the Embassy 2,3 4 on broadway.

Mikeoaklandpark: perhaps he is...somethingis going on there at the Embassy 2,3,4 as there's a scaffolding directly under the marquee. I noticed it on Friday...

I can't foresee the Embassy 2-3-4 reopening as a movie theatre, not with the E-Walk and Empire on 42nd; it's just not realistic (unless it's being reconverted - and will be agressively marketed to the public as such - into a single-screen house) to think it could compete with the two theatres on the Deuce and, besides, AMC and Loews will most likely not allow product to double-run in a venue which is run by a competitor and so close by. My guess is the Embassy space will become a performing arts venue of some sort (cabaret, maybe?), retail space, or perhaps a restaurant.

Same owners as Embassy theaters is nothing to brag about one of the worst operated theater chains in NYC.

They ran those Embassy theaters right into the ground.

Anybody go to the grand re-opening this past weekend? How are the renovations?

Embassy 2-3-4 was like a 42nd St grind house. Embassy 1 was slightly better. The only theatre somewhat maintained was the Guild and that went to hell at the end too.

Drove past this theater this morning on my way to work (I drive in occasionally). I like to drive down Broadway and see if I can spot any places where theaters are or were.

Anyway...from the outside, this theater looks fantastic. Very brightly lit and such. I could see they had "The Incredibles" and "The Motorcycle Diaries" playing which is good because it will hopefully draw more of a mixed crowd. Great to see it up and running.

The Gentleman who did this should be canonized.

The re-opened this weekend, I heard there were some problems. Did anybody go?

The official web site of the New Metro Twin: http://www.metrobroadway.com

Did he bring one of his turnstyles there? LOL

A month after its grand reopening, the Metro is currently showing two move-over engagements - 'The Motorcycle Diaries' and 'What the Bleep Do We Know?!' - deep into their runs and likely not doing too much business at this point; kind of a surprising way for Peter Elson to go when one considers the glut of other quality, more recent films just released around and during the holiday season, such as 'The Aviator', 'Kinsey', 'Sideways', and 'The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou', all of which are drawing healthy box office in Manhattan and around the country and all of which cater perfectly to UWS audiences.

FIRST REPORT:

Okay, haven't seen a movie yet, but I walked up today to have a look. I was only able to have a peek at Theater 2 on the right, the main auditorium of the original theater. The statues are still there. It looked like all the seats had been replaced. There is a curtain that rises over the screen. The screen is much larger than the previous one. It looked like some painting had been done, and some carpeting had been replaced.

Sadly, the cool old-style Ladies and Gentleman hanging bathroom signs are gone. They merely have common block-people flat plastic signs to distinguish between the sexes.

The concession menu signs have been taken down so the flourescents usually highlighting the popcorn prices are a bit coldly claring. They have printed pieces of paper with the menu items at the concession counter. I was told they're still renovating.

The four cool 3-D Coming Soon movie poster cases are there. The ceiling tiles are there inside and out.

The marquee is lit up, the lobby pillars are lit up, but the neon METRO sign over the pillars was not lit. I asked about it but the high schoolers earning their bubblegum money were clueless about all these details I was interested in.

At the minimum, I'm happy with what I've seen so far. I do miss the restroom signs, but I'd rather merely miss those, than miss the chance to enter through this funky lobby and see a film in what seems to be an okay theater. It also looked like a new sound system had been set up.

I'm checking their website weekly for a film I want to see. It looked like they might be getting the Danish film The Green Butchers as a moveover from Cinema Village but now they're reporting two other films on their website. I hope to catch something soon. Although programming is bizarre at the moment, this kind of theater is very rare now in Manhattan and boy, that massive marquee stretching out over the entire sidewalk to the street is pretty nice. Especially as it's not a digital readerboard.

I wouldn't mind seeing nice maroon vests or something on the crew there. It was hard to tell who was working there and who was seeing a movie.

How's seeing a movie here? Nice to see a classic theater taken car of.

In it's Midtown days it played "Woodstock" on it's Oscar re-issue.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/WoodstockAcademyre-issue.jpg

A story in the City Section of The New York Times (9/4/05) said that the Metro will likely close by the end of the year if attendance doesn't improve substantially. A local resident was quoted: "Many of the movies at the Metro are so obscure that there is virtually no audience for them." Owner-operator Peter Elson said: "We really have tried. It's been disappointing. They want to have a theater, but they don't want to support it." A 2PM screening of "King of the Corner" attracted only four people while reporter Jeff Vandam was visiting the theatre.

When the Metro first re-opened, one of the selling points of the management of the theatre by Peter Elson were his 'connections' within the film exhibition industry. Question is, what kind of 'connections' does Elson have? Just look at some of the highlights of the current slate of art-house films currently in exhibition around the city: 'The Aristocrats', 'Broken Flowers', 'The Constant Gardener', 'Grizzly Man', 'Junebug', 'Me and You and Everyone We Know', and '2046'; if Elson truly had meaningful contacts of note, wouldn't he have been able to book at least one of those films into the Metro?

I guess another theatre will be gone soon! Lets not hope so!

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 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.

Here is a closeup view.

Official website not working & can't find a film listing on another website. Did it close?

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...

I hate to see this close. Dan Talbot would be able to get good bookings here since he already books Lincoln Plaza.

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 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 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.

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"...

What about the Gramercy? I think it's for rent.

Yes, and it's already been used as a playhouse by Roundabout, and not need as much modification.

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+.)

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".

So is this theater closed again?

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.

The theatre is closed and Albert Bialek, the landlord, is searching for a new tenant to replace Mr. Elson.

This would be a good location for Landmark and they would get the product.

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.

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.

"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.).

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!

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: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/22/nyregion/thecity/22metr.html

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.

I somehow doubt that the Landmarks Preservation Commission "authorized" Bialek to demolish the interior, since it only has jurisdiction over the landmarked exterior. At most, the LPC might have said that it would not oppose his efforts. Bialek's statement makes it seem like the LPC approved of the demoliton.

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.

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.

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.

Tilly, Woody Allen goes into the Metro in Hannah and Her Sisters to watch the Marx Brothers (though he is so despondent at that point he states "I didn't even know what was playing")

This is a damn shame that the theatre business can't support a place like this in Manhattan.

That's right. The Marx Bros. flick was "Duck Soup" and the scene Woody is watching is the musical number the entire cast sings about going to war... "Oh Freedonia, Oh don't you cry for me..."

I love Woody's films... I just wish he would get more involved in the efforts to preserve the neighborhood theaters and revival houses that have lent their character to his movies over the years.

This movie theater's exterior reminds me of the opening scenes of Janet Jackon "Lets Wait Awhile" video, did they shoot those here?

Here is another photo of the Metro.

Any news on whats happening here?

From what I've heard, the Metro will most likely not reopen as a theatre.

I wish this would become a Sundance house.

To Jodar: Yes.

I don't know if you have seen this site before, but this website has photos and alot of background on this theater.

Some ads from the Midtown XXX years -
Sylvia - Daily News 1/25/78
Sweet Paradise - NY Post 12/11/80
Neighborhood Guide - NY Post 3/9/82 (near the end of its porn days)

Talbot/New York Cinemas -
Neighborhood Guide - NY Post 1/29/86
True Stories - NY Times 10/27/86
Block Ad - NY Times 10/27/86

Looks like Talbot may have started to program first run here towards the end of '86. At least for the "True Stories" and "Blue Velvet" engagements in October. Also interesting that I found only one of the screens advertised in the movie clock and Neighborhood Guide earlier in the year when the Metro was in revival mode.

Also occurs to me that the theater was listed and advertised as "Midtown 99th St" in its porn days, so perhaps this should be an AKA listed above.

Anything going on here yet?

I walked by last night and the marquee was illuminated... not to tout new movies or a grand re-opening as of yet (at least for now), but to broadcast to interested passersby the availability of 15,000 square feet for lease, being offered by Robert K. Futterman. The exterior one-sheet display cases, as they have been for months, were also lit up, while the entrance doors were covered from the inside by a black tarp. Let's hope, as shaky a proposition as it currently is, that someone swoops in, realizes its possibilities, and reopens it as a cinema.

The Metro was closed when Extel Corp began building its two ugly glass midtown office building condos next door and across the street. While it was saved from demolition during construction as part of the deal that allowed Extel to build these buildings twice as high as any other building in the neighborhood, it is now for lease, and will no doubt become a Home Depot or Wal-Mart. So glad we "saved" it!

I've tried to peek around the edges of the black sheet, but can't see beyond it. I suspect it's there to hide the gutting of the interior. If that's what they're doing, they're sneaking the rubble out through the adjacent construction site; gate over theater entrance stays closed.

What puzzles me is why this cinema kept opening and closing again the last few years. Did they have trouble getting butts on seats? Were they doing something wrong? Why couldn't they make a success of it?

There is an ad in today's Business section of the New York Times that would appear to be for this property. It has a picture of the marquee with an art deco "Retail" sign on top where the word "Metro" is now. It lists the availability of store front properties as well as two levels of space inside.

When I passed by Saturday afternoon, the entrance was still obscured by the gate and black plastic, but the retail space adjacent was gaping open and this was where workmen were emerging carrying metal debris, apparently from demolishing the lobby and/or the "upstairs" theater. A front-loader or some such machine was where the last row of seats on the ground floor would have been. The lobby was dark, but beyond the machine and what appeared to be part of the supports for the upper theater I could see the ornate interior, with its own lights lighted (in contrast to the forehead lanterns and work-lights barely lighting the debris in the foreground). I tried to get a photo, but exposure was tricky with my "no frills" camera. Don't know how well pics came out. As I stood there, a guy came up to my elbow and asked "can I help you?" I said, "no."

Somebody with a better camera and skills might want to get one last photo of what's left of the interior while it's still there.

The property is currently being marketed as a "Unique Marqueed Retail Location," divided into five stores. The largest will rent for $105,000 per month, and apparently gives the tenant the right to display its logo in the large circle on the frontage. With all five stores rented at the prices asked, the owner would earn $236,875 per month. Here's a newspaper ad from 3/14/07:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/metrostores.jpg

That's quite a bit more that it was getting as a theatre - it was asking around $15,000-$20,000 a month plus taxes, IIRC, which was still way too much for it to survive.

My wife and I stumbled upon this theater back in 1999 (she was just my girlfriend at the time) and decided to go in and see THE WHOLE NINE YARDS. That was the only time I went to this theater.

If as I think, the exterior is legally protected, then I would hope, and think, that the large circle on the exterior with sculptural reliefs of figures, would be protected.

I passed by the Metro last night and there was something in Spanish on all three sides of the marquee, with no mentioning of space still being available for lease, leading me to think a Latino restaurant or grocery or clothing store is moving in. When I'm in the neighborhood again this weekend, I'll write down and later post on this site the words on the marquee, hoping someone can translate them. (Upon first look, from what limited knowledge I have of the Spanish language, there wasn't any definite indication on what's moving in, but I might be wrong.) Also, the tarp covering the view from the box office window and the doors were removed; there's now a sheet of lumber obscuring the view from the box office, but the doors now offer a clear look at the interior of the theatre - it's been all but gutted to the bare four walls, with a false stage at the front of the former downstairs auditorium, and construction lights throughout.

GONE?

Plaster Statue of woman
http://www.flickr.com/photos/howardbhaas/90266879/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/howardbhaas/90269226/

Grillwork, plaster:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/howardbhaas/90265784/

SAD SAD SAD!!!

Unless someone had the foresight to remove at least some of those elements, Howard, I fear to report they are all gone, but at least we have your photos to remember them by.

By the way, I walked past the Metro earlier this afternoon and the phrasing on the marquee reads "Hoy Gran Estreno - Es Tu Momento". As I mentioned yesterday, my knowledge of Spanish is pretty poor; can anyone provide a translation?

I translated "Hoy Gran Estreno - Es Tu Momento"; literally, in English, it means "Today Great Premiere - Is Your Moment" - what this signifies, if anything at all, about what's moving into the Metro Twin space, I have no clue...

"ES TU MOMENTO@ (Its your moment) is a Vodaphone ad slogan, so it may be a paid advertisement or a special event party being held on the site.

The most recent permit issued by the Department of Buildings for 2626 Broadway is dated 10/19/2007. Job Description: "Change use of building to retail use. Add Mezzanine and second floor in existing building". It appears that some type of store is going to open in this building.

This is an October 2007 view of the Metro at night.

Gone gone gone!

Here is a list of movies that were shown at the Metro Twin from January 2002 to August 2004.

1/18/02- Snow Dogs
1/25/02- Kung Pow: Enter the Fist
2/8/02- Big Fat Liar
2/8/02- Collateral Damage
March 2002- In The Bedroom
March 2002- Monster's Ball
3/29/02- Panic Room
4/12/02- Changing Lanes
5/3/02- Spider-Man
5/31/02- The Sum of All Fears
6/21/02- Minority Report
6/28/02- Mr. Deeds
7/17/02- Eight Legged Freaks
7/26/02- Austin Powers In Goldmember
8/7/02- Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams
Aug. 2002- My Big Fat Greek Wedding
8/30/02- FearDotCom
9/13/02- Barbershop
11/8/02- 8 Mile
11/22/02- Die Another Day
12/6/02- Analyze That
12/19/02- The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
12/25/02- Catch Me If You Can
TBA 2003- Chicago
TBA 2003- Adaptation
3/28/03- Head of State
4/11/03- Anger Management
5/2/03- X2: X-Men United
5/15/03- The Matrix Reloaded
5/30/03- The Italian Job
6/13/03- Hollywood Homicide
6/20/03- The Hulk
7/2/03- Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
7/11/03- The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
7/25/03- Seabiscuit
7/25/03- Spy Kids 3D: Game Over
Aug 2003- Dirty Pretty Things
Aug 2003- The Secret Lives of Dentists
9/12/03- Matchstick Men
9/12/03- Once Upon A Time In Mexico
10/3/03- Lost In Translation
10/10/03- Kill Bill Vol 1
11/5/03- The Matrix Revolutions
11/14/03- Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
11/21/03- Dr. Seuss' The Cat In The Hat
12/12/03- Something's Gotta Give
12/17/03- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
1/16/04- Along Came Polly
1/16/04- Big Fish
1/23/04- Mystic River
2/13/04- 50 First Dates
2/27/04- The Passion of the Christ
3/5/04- Starsky & Hutch
3/26/04- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
3/26/04- The Ladykillers
4/16/04- Kill Bill Vol 2
4/23/04- Man on Fire
5/7/04- Van Helsing
5/14/04- Troy
5/28/04- The Day After Tomorrow
6/4/04- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
6/18/04- The Terminal
6/30/04- Spider-Man 2
7/16/04- A Cinderella Story
7/30/04- The Manchurian Candidate
7/30/04- The Village
8/6/04- Collateral
8/20/04- Garden State
8/20/04- Open Water

The theater was under the management of Clearview Cinemas before it closed on August 26, 2004 and reopened as an independent theater in
December of 2004.

Here is another list of some of the movies that were shown at the Metro Twin since it reopened on December 3, 2004 as an independent
theater.

12/3/04- The Incredibles
12/3/04- The Motorcycle Diaries
6/22/05- Herbie: Fully Loaded
9/30/05- The Greatest Game Ever Palyed
10/28/05- Flightplan

After that, this theater has closed at the end of 2005.

R.I.P. Metro Twin 1933-2005

I forgot to mention that the Nicolas Cage/Christian Slater action-packed WWII drama WINDTALKERS was shown at the Metro Twin on June 14, 2002.

Here's an interesting article from the NY Times dated 11/14/07:
http://tinyurl.com/38chul

Thanks for sharing that, ken mc. Don't you love how cavalier the real estate broker remarks that "nothing was saved" regarding the beautiful art deco detailing and statuary that once adorned the interior? One wonders if he's just oblivious to their intrinsic value or if he managed to stash some of it away for his own collection - as a hunter might mount the head of a steer he's killed.

http://nycblogestate.com/2008/04/landmarked-uws-metro-theatre-for-sale.html

Eastern Consolidated website. The building is being sold for retail use. "Ownership has already completed the interior demolition to deliver the space completely gutted and vacant at a cost of approximately $400,000".

An headline in today's (07/09/08) New York Times "A Landmark Theater In Need of Sequal." Vacant for the last three years, it's speculated that it might sell for $15 million. Anyone interested? I remember trecking there around late 50's - early 60s for good old Joan Crawford Warner pix.

Anyone interested in what? The article makes it clear that the building won't again be a movie house. It quotes Ross Melnick, co-webmaster of this site.

Howard--Yes, and Ross said "..Manhattan movie theaters without landmark status, unlike the Metro, were often demolished because the land was more valuable to developers." He went on to say, he would rather see classic cinemas as movie theaters. The Art Deco facade has landmark protection. So sue me, I'm an optomist if I hope something can be salvaged.

The beautiful Art Deco facade stays. The article says the marquee stays. The interior has been destroyed. $15 million means no movies.

The Metro has a new tenant - Urban Outfitters - and the building itself has a new asking price, $11.5 million, down from a "speculative" $20 million, according to today's NY Post (http://www.nypost.com/seven/01062009/business/deal_for_1540_bway_147352.htm; see second item down).

What a shame this is gone
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c32%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=135&ProductID=31086

Yesterday I watched Harry Hurwitz's 1971 movie in a 35mm revival at the Newport Film Festival, The Projectionist. It is a fictional story about a projectionist at what appears to be the Midtown Theatre. We see the exterior and marquee in several shots, and a theatre interior (same place used????) several times. There are also some stunning scenes of an array of lighted marquees on then-glorious 42nd Street. The movie is available on DVD and I have not found any other comments here referring to that film.

This is a January 2009 NY Times story. Photo included.

New book on Talbot theatres.

http://www.amazon.com/Yorker-Theater-Other-Scenes-Movies/dp/0231145667/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0

For those of you following Peter Elson, it is interesting to note that his grandfather was Herbert J. Krapp architect of many of the legitimate Broadway Theaters. See a plaque in the Majestic Theater designating Mr. Krapp as the Architect of Broadway.

In response to the comment by Gerald DeLuca above, I've been told that the booth the projectionist is seen in is at the Olympia Theatre a few blocks north of the Midtown. I have the DVD and will have to take a look, but as I recall the projectors are at a downward angle that would be more appropriate for the Olympia which had a steep balcony and the equipment was the brands Loews used in many of their theatres at the time. That film was kind of legendary among projectionists here in New York, and I was always particularly interested because Chuck McCann, who played the projectionist, had been an usher at Radio City as was frequently cited by the staff when I was there.

There's still a for sale sign where the marquee used to be at the Metro.

Here's a photo taken 11/14/2009
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11273693@N00/4103756707/