Metro Cinema

Avenida Ponce de Leon 1255,
San Juan 00907

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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

Metro Theater

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

Recent comments (view all 37 comments)

JSA
JSA on February 4, 2010 at 8:02 pm

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

AGRoura
AGRoura on June 13, 2010 at 4:28 pm

Renewing link.

AGRoura
AGRoura on June 13, 2010 at 7:21 pm

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

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez on January 1, 2012 at 5:27 pm

can anyone comment on the condition of the interior? I’m thrilled about the recent restoration but what does the interior actually look like?

AGRoura
AGRoura on January 7, 2012 at 3:08 pm

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).

AGRoura
AGRoura on January 7, 2012 at 3:11 pm

PS – The interior is simple modern style, no Art Deco like the original, but it is fine for the times.

rooseveltdoc
rooseveltdoc on October 28, 2012 at 1:33 pm

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

paulnelson
paulnelson on January 18, 2015 at 10:16 pm

Stylish art deco facade. Interior must be wonderful too.

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