Teatro Puerto Rico
Avenida Ponce de Leon,
San Juan
Avenida Ponce de Leon,
San Juan
2 people
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Wometco Theatres
Functions: Nightclub
Previous Names: Cine Puerto Rico
Nearby Theaters
Interesting theater that was part of the Cobian-Wometco theater chain. During the 1960’s and 1970’s, it specialized in horror movies. Many of the Peter Cushing-Christopher Lee-Vincent Price movies played here.
Because of the type of movies it played, the Puerto Rico had some of the coolest (to a ten year old) lobby displays in town. I distinctly remember the one for "Frogs" featuring a giant frog with a human hand sticking out of its mouth. Also the one for "When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth" featuring a life size Victoria Vetri.
During the early 1980’s, the Puerto Rico showed more mainstream fare such as "Rambo". It was one of the last Santurce cinemas to close down, in the late 1980’s.
It was briefly revived in the early 1990’s as a double bill theater, long after this kind of movie house had practically disappeared. It was not a sucessful idea and the Puerto Rico closed down for good.
It was later turned into a disco called Asylum which was a trendy place for a while. Currently its a disco called "EL Teatro". Recently I visited it and the lobby, carpeting was the same as in the former theater. Quite a nostalgic sight.
To this generation, the Puerto Rico theater is a fun place to dance, but to someone growing up in the 70’s, it will always be "the place" to see scary movies.
Contributed by
Jose Mendez
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
The theater inside is still very intact. It has the stage and the balcony pretty good and original condition. The projection booth was renovated to put the dj and sound equipment.
hey Jose how are you? where you able to get in during the day? where you able to take any pictures
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enjoy
Any pictures of the inside? I went into the website several times (www.elteatropuertorico.com) but it was under construction and now the web shows the Club Lazer in Old San Juan. The pictures are of club customers, nothing on the Puerto Rico. Andres.
About the origins of the Cine Puerto Rico on Ponce de Leon Avenue; it goes back to 1925, when it was built by as a silent movie house by renowned architect, Pedro De Castro for “United Theater”. Owner was Lloveras and the Architectural Style and facade was Art Déco. For the first decades of the century it was considered as one of San Juan’s finest.
El Teatro Puerto Rico. I remember a Host by the name of Freedie Baez.
Who would introduce the star of Puerto Rico or Latin America back in the 1970’s. I saw Iris Chacon, La lupe, Tito Puente, El Puma, along with tons of Cowboy movies. I was located by brook ave. It is now another Universal church of Christ.
This Teatro Puerto Rico is in Santurce, Puerto Rico. Lacated in Ponce de Leon Avenue and Lloeveras St. Retro must be remembering the famous Puerto Rico in New York City.
Renewing link.
Hi Andy-
Let’s have lunch
Stephen 212 492 6949
I remember seeing so many movies there.“The Spy Who Loved Me”, “Rambo”,“Inside Moves” “Willard” and countless Hammer horror movies.