Lincoln Plaza Cinemas

Surprised that this wasn't listed yet...A great place to see a film on one's own or with a date...always something to talk about and worth seeing...Had the pleasure of seeing things as different as La Nuit de Varennes, Milou en Mai, My Left Foot, Salaam Bombay here

Yes, I too was surprised this wasn't listed, and so I listed it. It is one of New York's most ESSENTIAL cinemas for informed and caring film-goers...along with Film Forum and the Walter Reade Theatre, and a few others. I too have seen many great programs here, and I am not from New York, but I have been to the place many times indeed in the last quarter-century. How about Gianni Amelio's "Stolen Children," and "Lamerica" for starters? The revivals of Satyajit Ray's masterpieces in pristine new prints were highlights. Seeing "Pather Panchali" again here in that series was an overwhelming experience.

Many worthwhile films play here besides those that have great popular appeal even among foreign and independent film buffs. The shattering Iranian "A Time for Drunken Horses" is one such movie. In the late 1980s the Taviani Brothers' "Kaos" opened on two screens but didn't draw the audiences to support that decision. Yet it remains a masterpiece of the modern Italian cinema.

In the initial weeks of Michael Moore's acclaimed "Fahrenheit 9/11" it was almost impossible to get near the theatre, depite the fact that the movie was playing on at least three of the screens.

Most of the foreign films that open here play for the first time in the United States, are reviewed, and go on to other cities. Its performance at the Lincoln Plaza often determines a film's success elsewhere.

A "cinema treasure" means to me not just an architectural wonder, glorious surroundings, or a huge screen. Sure, we all respond to those things and it anguishes us to see them perish, often through wanton destruction. But let it be known that a "cinema treasure" can be a small plain place like this that "merely" shows fantastic movies. There is nothing mere about the Lincoln Plaza Cinemas.

This was Daniel Talbot's return to theatre ownership and management after he sold his legendary New Yorker to Walter Reade. I believe that he's still involved with it.

And I believe the Talbot-founded distributorship New Yorker Films is nearby on West 61st Street.

I don't understand why anyone would pay $10 to see ANY movie here. The biggest screen is MAYBE 15' wide. They apparently think that if the movie is subtitled, it is perfectly fine to show with almost NO volume. And if the movie is in English, you can sit on top of the screen and STILL not be able to hear all the dialog. If something i really want to see is showing here (or the Angelika or Film Forum) I'd rather not see it at all. The last thing I saw here was Lone Star (John Sayles) and it was inaudible. When I found a manager, he told me (this is hysterically funny) "It's like a play, you're not supposed to hear all the words." Needless to say, I'd never go back.

March 18 exclusive theater of Woodman's new film "Melinda and Melinda".

The Lincoln Plaza Cinema was originally built as either a single or 2 screen theatre in a lower-level shopping arcade. As with most below-grade shopping arcades in NYC, it was unsuccessful (exceptions being Rockefeller Center and the late WTC). As the few stores went out of business, the theatre expanded, adding additional screens. If I'm not mistaken I believe the theatre now occupies the entire shopping area.

I go here all the time, most recently Monday to see the dreadful "Melinda & Melinda." I didn't know these were shopping arcades originally.

If I remember it correctly, up to the late/early 1990s the Lincoln Plaza was a triplex and I don't know if it was by accident or design but Talbot doubled the space to six screens about the time that the double-screen Cinema Studio (sic) a couple of blocks north on Broadway closed when they knocked the building down to build apartment tower that also houses the Barnes & Noble bookstore. I can't remember exactly when Cinema Studio closed, but I know I caught "Sex, Lies & Videotape" there back in 1989 I believe was when it was released.

saw 'New York, New York', 'The Little Thief', 'March Of The Penguins'
and 'Before Night Falls' here

I never understood the love for this theatre either. Yes, the bookings are first rate but it seems that foreign and independant film lovers think you need hard plastic seats and no pitch to the floor to enjoy the film. It's mindboggling that this and The Angelika are the world's most sucessful independant theatres. A booking at these places can make or break a film. Am I wrong, but isn't there an auditorium here where there is a giant pillar in front of one seat causing a partial view? I saw a couple of features here including "Muriel's Wedding" and "Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert", and although I loved them, the quality of the pictures superceded the quality of the showplace.

This is where I saw "My Dinner with Andre" in 1981. Funny, back then, I was just jazzed to be going into Manhattan to see these kinds of movies that rarely made it out to the neighborhood cinemas and I hardly ever noticed the deficiencies in design or decor. I could certainly appreciate when I entered a stunning space like the Rivoli or Keith's, but it wasn't until later that I became so discerning about the theatrical space. I was just enthralled by the quality of films available only in Manhattan. I guess over the years as that quality has spiraled downward with every new film squeezed into a narrow funnel of PG-13 mediocrity based on ideas that basically re-hash every old movie and sitcom that ever attained a modicum of popularity, I was able to focus my attention on the quality of the theatrical decor and presentation. I'm sure if I walked into Lincoln Plaza Cinema's today, I'd be pretty unenthusiastic.

It may not be an inspiring space but they've certainly run more than their share of classics over the years, and I'm happy to have been there when they did. One of those exceptional experiences was when they ran Fassbinder's 15-1/2 hour long "Berlin Alexanderplatz" in 1983 (tickers were sold as weekly 3-hour installments, in sets, so you'd buy a specific day and time for five weeks). What was amusing was going back to the same theatre every Monday at 9:30pm for five weeks and seeing the same people sitting in the SAME EXACT SEATS every week. Recently saw "Touching the Void" there.

I was doing some research this weekend and looking at the film listings in the "Times'" "Weekend" section and noticed that the ads for Lincoln Plaza, which then had only three screens, and the demolished Cinema Studio up the street, were combined in one display ad. Did Dan Talbot own or book both theatres? I assume he did, based on the ads, but had never known/realized that before.

Hardbop... here's an ad from a 1986 Times clipping I have:
New York Cinemas - Times 10/27/86

Lincoln Plaza Cinemas along with the Cinema Studio and Metro twins were being operated by Talbot's chain New York Cinemas at this time. The Metro was acquired (and twinned) by Talbot in 1982. In fact, it was Talbot that re-christened it Metro (having picked it up as the XXX Midtown Theater). I think Cinema Studio was the first theater Talbot acquired after giving up the New Yorker in the '70's. After opening Lincoln Plaza Cinemas and running it concurrently with Cinema Studio and the Metro, he doubled the Lincoln Plaza's screens from 3 to 6 and rid himself of the other two houses in the late '80's. Cineplex Odeon picked up the Metro in '87. I'm not exactly when the Cinema Studio met its demise or if anyone operated the theater after Talbot and before it was demolished to make way for the multi-level Barnes and Noble store that now occupies the site.

Once he closed the Cinema Studio it didn't open again, but I think it sat there vacant for a long time before it was demolished for the B&N and apartment construction.

Recently I was ehre and a woman of a certain age was gently explaining to the girl at the concession stand that she didn't have to pay for her cup of coffee because she was Mrs. Daniel Talbot.

I was recently at this horrible little cinema for a sold out showing of THE LIVES OF OTHERS. I am fifty years old and the crowd was even older. They never shut up for one second throughout the film. So much for the rude younger generation...

With columns in the auditorium of this mutation multiplex theatre, I would rather stay on 42nd Street or at AMC Lincoln Center...

Uninspiring isn't the word for this place. It's now $11 to attend this, well screening room basement. Two esclators and a maze to get to the broom closet. That plus attitude from the ticket selling diva (he was probably upset Danny Noriega got voted off Idol). I saw the charming little movie "The Band Visit" here. For the first time in recent memory I had to navigate myself to get a clear view of the screen. By that I mean the first seat I took was behind a pillar. I didnt notice this would be blocking my way.

I unfortunately need to echo what Al said above. I'm 46 and the youngest person attending. Older people talking during the show. Terrible.

Strange! I would guess that "older people" would be quiet during the show, having developed their moviegoing behavior at a time when such rudeness was discouraged by management.

I've noticed that, too. With the older people, they think they are whispering to their friend about what happens in the next part of the movie, but because the friend is hard of hearing the whisper ends up being normal conversation level for the rest of us.

On October 30, 1992 Lincoln Plaza doubled its capacity from 3 to 6 screens. I though the doubling occurred earlier than that when the Cinema Studio closed in 1990. I believe the Dan Tabott owned or at least ran both Cinema Studio & Lincoln Plaza.

The delay helped the Angelika establish itself as the top arthouse in NYC.

LINCOLN PLAZA CINEMAS movie list 2002-07

4/12/02- HUMAN NATURE
9/20/02- BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE
10/18/02- AUTO FOCUS
11/8/02- FAR FROM HEAVEN
12/27/02- NICHOLAS NICKLEBY
3/14/03- BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM
6/6/03- WHALE RIDER
7/4/03- SWIMMING POOL
8/15/03- AMERICAN SPLENDOR
8/20/03- THIRTEEN
10/3/03- THE STATION AGENT
10/17/03- SYLVIA
11/26/03- IN AMERICA
12/12/03- GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING
6/23/04- FAHRENHEIT 9/11
9/24/04- THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES
10/22/04- SIDEWAYS
11/12/04- KINSEY
11/19/04- BAD EDUCATION
12/3/04- HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS
12/29/04- THE ASSASSINATION OF RICHARD NIXON
12/29/04- THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
3/18/05- MELINDA AND MELINDA
6/24/05- MARCH OF THE PENGUINS
8/5/05- JUNEBUG
8/12/05- GRIZZLY MAN
9/30/05- CAPOTE
10/7/05- THE SQUID AND THE WHALE
11/16/05- BREAKFAST ON PLUTO
12/9/05- MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS
12/14/05- THE THREE BURIALS OF MELAQUIDES ESTRADA
2/24/06- TSOTSI
4/14/06- THE NOTORIOUS BETTIE PAGE
5/5/06- ART SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL
5/5/06- THE PROMISE
6/9/06- A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION
7/28/06- SCOOP
9/27/06- THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND
9/30/06- THE QUEEN
10/13/06- INFAMOUS
11/3/06- VOLVER
11/10/06- FUR: AN IMAGINARY OF DIANE ARBUS
11/17/06- FAST FOOD NATION
11/22/06- THE HISTORY BOYS
12/20/06- THE PAINTED VEIL
12/21/06- VENUS
12/27/06- PERFUME: THE STORY OF A MURDERER
2/23/07- AMAZING GRACE
2/23/07- THE LIVES OF OTHERS
4/6/07- BLACK BOOK
4/20/07- JINDABYNE
5/4/07- AWAY FROM HER
5/18/07- THE GOLDEN DOOR
7/4/07- RESCUE DAWN
8/17/07- THE 11TH HOUR
9/28/07- LUST, CAUTION
10/5/07- THE GOOD NIGHT
10/12/07- SLEUTH
10/19/07- RESERVATION ROAD
10/26/07- BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD
11/2/07- DARFUR NOW
11/16/07- MARGOT AT THE WEDDING
11/21/07- I'M NOT THERE
11/28/07- THE SAVAGES
11/30/07- THE DIVING AND THE BUTTERFLY
12/25/07- PERSEPOLIS
2/29/08- CITY OF MEN
2/29/08- THE COUNTERFEITERS
3/19/08- UNDER THE SAME MOON
4/4/08- MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS
4/11/08- YOUNG @ HEART
4/18/08- THE VISITOR
6/6/08- MONGOL
6/6/08- WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE YOUR FATHER?
7/3/08- THE WACKNESS

I believe that the LINCOLN PLAZA is a great place to show great independent movies.

Here is a July 2001 photo.

Renewing link.

New book on Talbot theatres.

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