Cinemart Cinemas
106-03 Metropolitan Avenue,
Forest Hills,
NY
11375
106-03 Metropolitan Avenue,
Forest Hills,
NY
11375
4 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 179 comments found
Here’s an early view as the Metropolis, and already “closed for the summer”: nyc.gov
Very cool, Flynn. That fits with the PSA two-reeler that I’ve seen on TCM, where theater owners and managers assail the government for the enormous taxes levied on movie theaters. I think the date of that film is also circa 1953, and shows a remarkable number of vintage theaters.
An August 31st, 1953 New York Times article reads:
SIGN ASSAILS THEATRE TAX; Forest Hills Show Owner Says It Forced Closing of House.
A sign reading, “Thank You, Mr. Eisenhower, your 20 per cent tax closed this theatre,” was prominently displayed yesterday outside the Inwood Theatre at 106-03 Metropolitan Avenue, Forest Hills, Queens. The theatre gave its last movie show last night.
So now you all know the exact closing date.
After seeing 17824 cinema releases in my life (tons on TV),and 12 years living in Queens, I finally saw my first film at the Cinemart. It was a documentary called “Inside Job” and has 1 showing a day in their 92 seat theater. Theater didn’t seem that small, 11 rows of 4 on each side with 4 by themselves in the back. Never saw a theater with screens behind others. Usually screens are side by side,opposite one another or on top of one another. Here 1 and 2 are seperated by a hall which leads to 3, 4 & 5.
Fifty years ago tomorrow, the Inwood Art Cinema opened an exclusive one-week engagement of “Ecstasy” in what was claimed to be the original uncut, uncensored version of the 1933 Czech melodrama that helped to turn featured actress Hedwig Kiesler into a world sex symbol known as Hedy Lamarr. Added to the program was “Naughty Paris Nights,” featuring stars of the Folies Bergere, Moulin Rouge, Casino de Paris, and the Lido, and climaxing with “the most amazing Can-Can ever filmed.” Last complete shows started at 10:30 pm, with “Ecstasy” screening at midnight. Advertising boasted of “Ample Parking,” but didn’t specify where or for how much.
My memory of the Cinemart of the 70s and 80s is that it was a shabby dump. The movies that we saw there were on their last run, which fits the dollar format. “On a Clear Day” (the fifth time I saw it!) “Airplane,” and “Flashdance” are the ones I remember seeing there, though I know there were more. Nice to see it’s been reborn, and no reason why it shoudn’t be. Great neighborhood!
Warren, can you please re-post your scan from Sept 4th?
Great shot Warren, and welcome back.
This scan of a printed copy of the Queens Chronicle provides a more detailed image of the Inwood than the one at their website. The marquee looks original except for the side attraction panels, which probably have been changed from a black background with white lettering to the more modern reverse. The entrance doors and poster cases also look original. The Inwood’s current program was the sub-run “Caught” and a revival of “Penny Serenade”:
View link
Thanks Warren. Hope you as well as the Cinemart, which is doing very nicely.
Warren G. Harris sends this link to the Queens Chronicle with a great photo of the Inwood and a story on the history of the theater over the years.
View link
In today’s NY Daily News, Nicholas Hirshon lists the Cinemart as “bliss for bargain-hunters” in the Forest Hills area: “$6 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Patrons pay a $6 matinee price for any film before 5PM Mondays through Fridays. Kids and seniors are charged $6 at all times.” Presumably, the $6 on Tuesdays and Thursdays is for all performances, and not just for matinees.
I just scanned some pics of the Columbia and did this one of the Cinemart Marquee from its twin days.
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Good for you, hardbop !
That’s some over-schedulling, dantop500 !
I made my first trek out here this past weekend to finally catch up with “Brideshead Revisited.” I didn’t find anything all that distinguished about the theatre, but glad I had a chance to check out another NYC movie theatre.
This theater is running 12 films this weekend on 5 screens; that’s some wild scheduling. The North Shore in Little Neck has 6 films on 1 screen this weekend.
very nice Warren….now if only you could find a photo of the Ridgewood Theater wherever you are finding all of these. They would be great for the people trying to preserve it in it’s final hours of hope.
By the 1970s, the auditorium had been changed into a modern hodepodge, with pleated draperies covering the side walls and a new screen and curtain hung in front to the original stage area.
The decorative ceiling had been painted over except for one small portion that displayed an original chandelier. I wonder if it survived the multiplexing?:
View link
I’m having trouble reaching the box office. How would someone travel to the Cinemart Cinemas by subway and bus from the 7 train, or any bus subway connection. Decided I had to see Speed Racer on the big screen, even after reading the reviews. I love the Big Screen experience for both large and small films, and if nothing else Speed Racer is a Big Screen sfx movie. Thanks!
Since a number of months have elapsed since the initial rumors of the Cinemart’s demise appeared on this page, I wonder how the theater is faring. My wife and I saw “No Country for Old Men” last Friday. While the place was not packed, there were a good number of attendees. Hopefully, the theory that “no news is good news” will apply here and that the Cinemart will survive the “onslaught of Atlas”.
Since moving to Forest Hills from Greenpoint a little over six years ago, I have really gravitated to the Metropolitan Avenue part of this neighborhood, eventhough I live right off Queens Blvd. The Cinemart, along with the many restaurants and shops, is a major drawing card and I really hope it can survive.
Thanks, LostMemory.
Here are two recent photos of the Cinemart Cinemas, Click each photo to expand it.
Thanks, woodie. That’s between Myrtle and Jamaica Avenues. When did you move away from there ? I passed by there many times in 1990 going to and from a gal I dated who once lived at 103-15 110th Street. I remember a sign for a Dr. Cippolina at the southwest corner of Myrtle Avenue and 110th St.
YES I REMEMBER SEEING ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOOS NEST THERE ALSO. I LIVED ON 110 ST NEAR 86th AVE RICHMOND HILL .
Thanks, woodie. Where in Richmond Hill did you live ?
The last film I saw at the old single Cinemart before it was multiplexed was “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest” in August 1976.
The first films I saw there were “Where Were You When The Lights Went Out ?” and “Hot Millions” in early 1969.