IFC Center
323 6th Avenue,
New York,
NY
10003
323 6th Avenue,
New York,
NY
10003
31 people
favorited this theater
Once a single screen theatre which opened by 1938, the 550-seat Waverly Theatre was subsequently twinned, with the closing and and conversion of the balcony into a second, smaller auditorium in the mid-1980’s. It was a funky little two-screen house which was the launching pad of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” as a midnight cult hit in New Yew York.
Before it closed in late-2001, the Waverly Twin featured mostly films that double-run from the glossy and much more charmless United Artists Union Square Stadium 14 at Broadway and W. 13th Street. The Waverly Twin was also known for showing the occasional low-budget indie or art flick, and hold-overs whose runs had expired at other Greenwich Village theaters.
In June 2005, the Waverly Twin reopened as the three-screen IFC Center screening independent, foreign, documentary, and classic films. On December 4, 2009, two additional screens were opened, for a total of five screens.
Contributed by
Dan Braun
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Recent comments (view all 194 comments)
The Cornelia Street facade looks like one of the New School’s outposts in the West Village. I hope they can make it work – 6 new screens is great (I just hope they’re more like the original theaters and not theater #5 – which appears to be getting flipped around in the new design – hopefully that’ll will mean a bigger screen. They may want to reconsider how the theaters will be numbered too – it may be a confusing building to navigate with a few theaters downstairs, two theaters upstairs in one part of the building, and a few on floors 2 and 3 in another part of the building (presumably accessed differently – – although maybe not – it looks like they’re relocating the elevator).
On February 28 1988 John Waters & Divine made a personal appearance on opening night. Unfortunately Divine, in what could have been a career changing performance, would pass away 10 days later. “Hairspray” would spawn a huge Tony winning musical and award winning big screen remake. Ad in photo section.
I’ve never been there but after reading many reviews I think I will not attend this theater. Why pay $14+ to see a movie with a small screen, bad ambience and questionable projection. I have a big 80" screen and projector at my home. I went to the Angelika a while back and was not impressed at all, I like Film Forum though.
They should renovate this theater like what they’re doing with Landmark’s new megaplex and add reserved seating and recliners.
What new Landmark megaplex? are you referring to the 8 screener they announced? A megaplex meant many more screens.
This whole business of reserved seats and recliners is outrageous and pricey.
My favorite theater for “midnight shows.” Remember seeing BRIDE OF RE-ANIMATOR and FRANKENHOOKER in particular.
What does IFC stand for?
Owned by The Independent Film Channel, an American cable television network, which also has an IFC Films division which produces independent films for theatrical release.
Theater was built in the 1930’s