Metropolitan Theatre
241 East 14th Street,
New York,
NY
10003
241 East 14th Street,
New York,
NY
10003
2 people
favorited this theater
At its closing in 1988, the Metropolitan Theatre was perhaps the most notorious porno theatre in New York City, but it first opened in 1914 as the New 14th Street Theatre. Prolific architect Lorenz F.J. Welher’s design was one of his first for a full-fledged movie theatre rather than nickelodeon.
Around 1940, the theatre was re-named the Arrow Theatre, which stuck until the 1960’s, when it turned XXX as the Metropolitan (known to regulars as the Met).
Through the decades, the interior was never changed or even re-painted. The original screen still hung against the back wall, with a newer, larger screen placed some feet in front. The sliding glass skylight remained affixed to the ceiling, and soiled red damask covered the walls.
The theatre has since been razed and replaced by an apartment building.
Contributed by
Warren G. Harris
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Recent comments (view all 46 comments)
Is this a photo of this Metropolitan?
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Sure looks like it. (I just got a little dizzy with thoughts of a mis-spent youth…)
I don’t even know if it should say “retail” as this theater’s function, as it most definitely was demolished. It appears to currently be a condo or apartment building, and doesn’t even appear to be retail on the first floor. Compare to the photo alalvarez posted on april 13th, which still has “Einstein Bros” on the building next door. Here’s a google street view:
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Night view
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This daytime photo gives a more detailed view of the building: View link
Since Ken Roe has added another porn Metropolitan does anyone know when the Metropolitan closed and when THE MET opened?
The Village Voice ads above are from 1970.
In the Google picture above the theatre was located at the 235 East 14th Street. Which is the building to the left of the DVD Store.
Here'a a 1980s tax photo using #235 as the building’s address: lunaimaging
Hello-
i first became aware of this theater when i was a delivery boy for a local supermarket in the early 70s at which point it was already showing porn. i have always assumed it was a vaudeville house which had seen better days. but from the intro at the top am i to understand it was built from the ground up as a movie theater in 1914 and was not a conversion/renovation of an older structure into a movie theater and that it was strictly a movie theater its entire life?
If anyone has any stories about going to/ working at this threatre in its adult days, I would love to hear them. I am chronicling the histories of adult theatres in the US. Please contact me at Thanks!