Metro Cinema
Avenida Ponce de Leon 1255,
San Juan
00907
Avenida Ponce de Leon 1255,
San Juan
00907
9 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Caribbean Cinemas (Official)
Additional Info
Operated by: Caribbean Cinemas
Previously operated by: Loew's Inc.
Architects: Thomas White Lamb
Functions: Movies (First Run)
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
1787.722.0465
Nearby Theaters
The elegant Art Moderne style Metro Cinema opened in 1939 with a seating capacity of 1,000. Designed by noted American theatre architect Thomas W. Lamb, it was operated by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
From that time through 1974 it only showed movies distributed by MGM or Walt Disney.
All the great MGM classics from "Gone with the Wind", and "Dr. Zhivago" were shown there. In the 1960’s a Panavision 70mm screen was added just in time for "2001:A Space Odyssey"
The Metro Cinema was later bought by Caribbean Cinemas, who turned it into a three screen movie theater in 1989.
It remains the only surviving movie theater of the once thriving (15 theater) Santurce downtown district. It is still the place where most elegant movie premieres take place and was renovated in 2009.
Contributed by
Jose Mendez
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Recent comments (view all 37 comments)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davsot/4179211998
It’s always great to see pictures of the Metro. Plus the fact that is still open for business, albeit in triplex form, is heart-warming as well. However, it makes me cringe a little bit looking at the titles on the marquee. (Saw VI! Have they made that many? Yikes!)
This is the place where many of my generation saw “2001: A Space Odyssey”, in 70 MM with 6-Track magnetic sound. Oh well, times change!
JSA
Renewing link.
Fred Fajardo: House of of Wax was a Warner Bros. film, it could have not played at the Metro. At the time, the Mtero was owned by MGM and only played MGM movies. Later they obtained the distribution rights in PR for Buena Vista (Disney) and either played them at the Metro or booked them in another theater,m
Thanks AGR.
can anyone comment on the condition of the interior? I’m thrilled about the recent restoration but what does the interior actually look like?
Luis V: Though it is not the Metro we knew and loved, Caribbean Cinemas did a magnificent job in triplexing it, better than ones I have seen in the US mainland. The lobby is more or less the same, candy stand in the same place. The 3 auditoriums are sideways from left to right wall, with the #1, the largest, in the old stage/screen area and the #2 and 3 towards the lobby. Even the #3 is a reasonable size, not a shoebox. All have good sized screens relative to the size of the auditorium and good sound. I have been told the new seats installed recently are not as confortable as the original ones.I have not been at the Mero in a year (I live in NYC).
PS – The interior is simple modern style, no Art Deco like the original, but it is fine for the times.
I am doing a documentary about Cine Roosevelt. If you have any memorabilia or information about Teatros Cobian, the original owners of the cinema, and someone from the Cobian family I might interview please contact me at
Stylish art deco facade. Interior must be wonderful too.