Metro Cinema

I was involved in the triple conversion of the cinema. We created three auditoriums of ample width by referring to the original plans of the building. A structural engineering firm hydraulically raised the roof over the stage area to create the space fro cinema #1 ( if your tour the projection booth, you will see the steel support beam holding the roof. the auditorium plan was rotated 90 degrees in the building to create three auditoriums of diminishing size, with the largest, #1 toward the rear. A new 2nd floor deck houses the projection room, which connects into the old projection area at the front of the building. In 1993 we renovated the old projection room, which was a huge area set up for 3 projectors, and stage spotlights, into a 35 seat screening cinema which is used by Caribbean Cinemas + all local film distributors.

The cinema was the first with DTS and Dolby Digital sound, The projection screens in #1 and #2 are studio grade Stewart non-perforated screens with custom sound. All three cinemas handle Dolby Digital sound while #1 and #2 can handle DTS sound.....a grand old lady of a building, the original METRO sign is on the roof for storage since it is past repairable state......I have done 105 cinemas in Puerto Rico but this was one of my favorites.

Since the Cinema 150 closed, this is my favorite theater to truly feel the movie experience. It had great sound and projection. The main screen had dts and dd sound but caribbean cinemas dont work anymore with dts equipment (they uninstall all dts equipment from all of their theater in PR and the caribbean). The best place to see a good movie.

Are there any THX Certified theaters in Puerto Rico?

The Metro is still the best place to watch a movie. And it's the last of the great Santurce theaters still showing movies.
I remember going there as a kid to see all the great Tom and Jerry festivals with my grandparents and its a truly wonderful thing to be able to go there still.

no THX certified theaters in puerto rico...maybe some day

Some truly bad news. The Metro is losing its huge parking space. A huge apartment building will be built there. This means the theater will be left essentially without parking. This could mean trouble for the theater. Let's hope this doesn't mean the end for San Juan's only historic movie theater still operating.

josem, any chance the new apartment building will contain underground public parking for theatergoers?

Lets hope ARPE, the goverment agency who gives building permits had enough sense to think about parking space in the new building.

I remember The Metro very well. I saw the screenings of, The Bible, Cleopatra and The Sand Pebbles in this theatre. I believe that at the time this theatre was the only one in Santurce that could accomodate the film format of these epic films. So along with the Rex, Rialto, Matienzo and all those other film houses that gave me such beautiful memories in my childhood, the Metro also shall be fondly thought of as well.

I was Advertising Manager for Commonwealth Theaters in San Juan in the 60's and then District Manager for Wometco when they took over Commonwealth. In between I was Theater/Publicity Manager for the Metro and MGM-Puerto Rico which supervised the Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic MGM operations. Sorry, but Canuco is wrong. Those pictures played at the Metropolitan, not the Metro. The Metropolitan was the showcase for 70mm and roadshow presentations and the first theater in San Juan and Puerto Rico to install 70mm (for "South Pacific"). Even MGM spectaculars such as "Ben-Hur, "Mutiny on the Bounty" (with Brando) and "Dr. Zhivago," played at the Metropolitan, since MGM used the Metro for their regular fare until until 70mm "Cinerama" was installed for "Space Odyssey." But I agree with Canuco on the fond memories of those theaters in San Juan that, like the old movie palaces here in NYC, are gone forever. Andres Roura, New York City.

San Juan had both a Metro and a Metropolitan? Sounds confusing. Were they near each other?

Also, doesn't San Juan now have a new subway, the Tren Urbano? Does it stop close enough to this theatre that you won't need a parking lot anymore?

Yes, Ron, there was the Metro and the Metropolitan. They both were on Ponce de Leon Avenue but not near each other. It's very hard to tell because San juan is not a "grid" city like NY. True old time Sanjuaneros measure distances according to the old trolley stops. The Metro is on Stop 18 and the Metropolitan on Stop 24. I have not been in San Juan for a while, but I understand the Tren Urbano has not oficially opened though it is giving free rides on weekends. My understanding is that it ends at Stop 26, after crossing the Martin Pena canal into Santurce. Andres.

Yes, Ron, there was the Metro and the Metropolitan. They both were on Ponce de Leon Avenue but not near each other. It's very hard to tell because San juan is not a "grid" city like NY. True old time Sanjuaneros measure distances according to the old trolley stops. The Metro is on Stop 18 and the Metropolitan on Stop 24. I have not been in San Juan for a while, but I understand the Tren Urbano has not oficially opened though it is giving free rides on weekends. My understanding is that it ends at Stop 26, after crossing the Martin Pena canal into Santurce. Andres.

I was the publicty man for twentieth Century Fox and I can
assure you that the Bible and Sand Pebbles NEVER played the
METRO. Fox had a deal with Wometco and we played our " ROAD
SHOW " films at the Metropolitan Theatre. Our regular films
played at the Teatro Puerto Rico.

My company, when I was an independent film distributor, exhibited
films like " For the love of Benji " at the Metro.In fact,I opened the film the day that the famous tight rope walker, Karl Walenda,
fell and was killed on Ashford Avenue in the Condado section.

since there were so many comments on this topic, I would have felt left out if I didn't post something. I'm from San Juan, but I always went to the theathers at Plaza las Americas. In Santurce, I only went to the taco bell, and the taco maker, oh, and woolworth's nickel and dime. they had some good breakfast at their dinner.

The Metro was probably the most elegant theatre in the area. I remember that during the engagements for "2001: A Space Odyssey", at the height of the "Space Age", they had a satellite prop in the lobby!

Today;s local newspaper reports tthat businesspeople in the vicinity of the Metro are protesting the construction of the apartment building which will destroy this theater's parking space. Hopefully they will be succesful and the Metro will be able to maintian this essentail parking space.

You guys can look at my web page to see 2 pics of the metro...
http://www.geocities.com/skankypepe/Elmetro.html?1124735706169

Nice pic of the Metro. It's amazing to see that this movie is still open.

thanx it is an amaizing cinema

Jose dont you think that instead of protesting the construction of the towers we should be crying out for the extension of the tren urbano and the construction of more efficient means of transportation, which will help revitalize Santurce as an urban center. And perhaps more of the old theathers could be reopened if conditions in Santurce improve. The way i see it the construction of the towers will be helpfull in turning the whole area into a better place

The Metro was THE movie theatre in San Juan. Art deco facade, big neon sign, mirrored lobby, vast auditorium all draped in red and a big screen made it the ultimate movie going experience. When turned into a triplex, it lost a bit of its grandeur. But lets be thankful it is still standing. Recently it is showing signs of wear and tear, specially in its deco marquee. A good restoration to this architectural gem would do the job. I wonder if it is landmarked. Of the many, many movies that played here when it was a single screen movie house, I remember some like "The Conversation," "Z," "Lost Horizon," Andy Warhol's "Frankenstein" in 3-D, "On Golden Pond," Fellini's "Casanova," "Lisztomania," "Eyes of Laura Mars," "The In-Laws," "The Tamarind Seed," "Mahogany," "Gandhi," "Amadeus," "The Rose," "Fame," "The Invasion of The Body Snatchers," "The Champ," "The Boys From Brazil," Woody Allen's "Hannah and Her Sisters," "Mommie Dearest," "A Wedding," and "Quest For Fire." Up until the mid 70's the Metro had a big, concave rectangular billboard of its current attraction. A touch very much missed during the last thirty years.

I remember seeing Vincent Price in "The House of Wax" in 1954 (in 3-D no less), and it scared the shit out of me. I was only six years old at the time. I loved the Metro Theater. Also remember seeing "2001: A Space Odyssey" there in 1969. It was a great place to see a movie.

Also, the 1976 horror flick "The Sentinel" played at the Metro.

The Metro was typical of a series of elegant cinemas that Thomas W. Lamb (or his firm) designed for the international division of Loew's, Incorporated. Here are two images copied from a 1938 trade journal. MGM's Laurel & Hardy feature, "Swiss Miss," was the current attraction:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/metrosj01.jpg
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/metrosj02.jpg

can anyone give me the name of a movie currently playing at this theater? thanks!

They're not cooperating:
http://tinyurl.com/226zpm

Click here for the current movie schedule.

Is Puerto Rico on Eastern time? You can still catch Jessica Alba in "The Eye", starts in about an hour or so.

Funny

life.saver.
THANKS!!

Here are new links to images described above on 11/9/07:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/metrosj01.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/metrosj02.jpg

Great news! The Metro turned 70 this year and it has been refurbished. It is looking great! It is so wonderful to see San Juan's last great movie house looking fine and still showing movies!

Some 2009 Black & White photos of the Metro courtesy randomeyes.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/randomeyes62/4122596522/in/pool-72675154@N00/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/randomeyes62/4121823855/in/pool-72675154@N00/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/randomeyes62/4121833645/in/pool-72675154@N00/

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