Eastside Cinema

919 3rd Avenue,
New York, NY 10022

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: City Cinemas, United Artists Theater Circuit Inc.

Functions: Retail

Previous Names: Eastside Playhouse

Nearby Theaters

Eastside Cinema

Opened by United Artists on January 21, 1973. UA closed it in 1992. It was closed almost a year before being remodeled and reopened by an independent on April 16, 1993, operated by City Cinemas, who operated it until it closed on June 10, 2003.

UA did run some quality films here and some offbeat things like “Sextette”. The last go around as the Eastside Playhouse saw some quality art bookings since the remaining eastside houses are pretty much first run mainstream.

Contributed by Robert R

Recent comments (view all 30 comments)

Finistere
Finistere on March 12, 2010 at 11:42 am

Unaccompanied, I saw “Word Is Out” — the greatest gay/lesbian consciousness-raising film ever made — there in the spring of 1978. It was commercially courageous, even in cosmopolitan New York, to show such a film in that era, and I was so blown away by by this title that I went back for a second screening on another day. It was even better the second time around. Seeing “Word Is Out” (soon to be released for the first time on DVD in spring 2010) was for this viewer a kind of life-changing event and I’ve always identified the joyous experience of the film with its venue.

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on October 22, 2011 at 8:09 am

Opening ad now in the photo section.

SethLewis
SethLewis on October 22, 2011 at 12:22 pm

This was an art house for maybe its first year…Then it went mainstream UA showing mostly United Artists product on showcase with a smattering of pictures from other studios…It was more of an art house under City

Saw Steppenwolf, The Return of the Pink Panther, Moonstruck here…probably a couple of other pictures

Mikeoaklandpark
Mikeoaklandpark on October 24, 2011 at 10:58 am

I saw Annie Hall here in 1977.

SeaBassTian
SeaBassTian on September 14, 2012 at 10:07 pm

Well, I always knew this theater as Eastside Playhouse. It had a bit of a old-school feel with a ticket window at the sunken entrance and a long, narrow auditorium. I saw quite a few films there actually. Last one I recall was The Others… Now it’s a giant carpet store, sadly.

Norman_24
Norman_24 on November 26, 2016 at 11:41 pm

I want to the staff / cast screening of “Day of the Dead” here at the end of May in 1985. It was a private screening. A fantastic night overall. My first time to meet director George Romero. This night is written about in the book, “The Zombies That Ate Pittsburgh” by Paul A. Gagne.

Moneyspider
Moneyspider on July 2, 2019 at 2:51 am

I was very little but I remember seeing Great Mouse Detective and a rerelease of Cinderella here. It looks pretty much the same but it’s now a rug shop.

Mikeoaklandpark
Mikeoaklandpark on July 4, 2019 at 11:23 am

Saw Annie Hall here in 1977

kieran10
kieran10 on September 17, 2020 at 1:08 am

There was nothing terribly spectacular about this theater, but I did find it charming, nonetheless. It was a nice walk when I used to live on 11th street & 3rd Ave. I know I saw quite a few films here, but my memory is fading. Belle Epoque, Metroland, Gods and Monsters, Sirens, and others. Do I remember correctly that the doors from the lobby into the theater were on the side of the house as opposed to the back of it?

ridethectrain
ridethectrain on July 5, 2021 at 9:46 am

Please update, theatre reopen on April 16, 1993 under City Cinemas and closed June 10, 2003. Better grand opening ads in photos section

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