United Artists 64th & 2nd Avenue
1210 2nd Avenue,
New York,
NY
10021
1210 2nd Avenue,
New York,
NY
10021
11 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Regal Cinemas, United Artists Theater Circuit Inc.
Architects: Drew Eberson
Functions: Medical Center
Previous Names: Columbia I & II, Gemini Twin Cinemas I & II
Nearby Theaters
United Artists opened the Columbia I & II on October 3, 1971 with Timothy Bottoms in “The Last Picture Show” on Screen 1 & Jack Nicholson in “A Safe Place” which opened Screen II on October 17, 1971.It was renamed Gemini Twin Cinemas I & II on July 21, 1978. It was one of the better twin cinemas built at that time and was designed by architect Drew Eberson. Each screen had 500-seats, the downstairs auditorium has the look of a single screen theatre complete with stage and luxurious drapes. The upstairs auditorium is not as nice but still scores above most. When UA added the third 299-seat screen in an acquired space a former store on November 15, 1996, they gave it the moronic name…. United Artists 64th & 2nd Avenue. Why must theatres be names after the street they are on? What happened to names like Rialto, Roxy and Star?
Another noteworthy thing is that this theatre was run for many years by Bob Meyer who started his career as an usher in the Roxy Theatre. He was the last of a dying breed of old time theatre managers who knew what showmanship was all about. My friend ran this theatre after Bob Meyers' sad passing. He felt the theatre reached its zenith with the two week Manhattan exclusive of “Bugsy”.
Some of those that came there to see it were Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Tom Cruise, Liza Minnelli and Joan Rivers. The staff adored Liza. She always tipped the candy people $20, telling them they work harder than anyone else there.
It was closed on October 5, 2012. By 2021 it was in use as a plastic surgery clinic.
Contributed by
RobertR
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Recent comments (view all 70 comments)
After the name change to United Artists 64th & Second, did this cinema only screen United Artists films?
davidcoppock, unlike other chains, UA theatres were never aligned to any particular distributor in New York City and never had many locations.
This location was also one of the first to feature CDS or the Cinema Digital Sound system, circa 90/91. I wonder if there is a also a list of DTS & SDDS initial installations for their launch in 93 & 94 respectively?
As per the Nickelodeon ad by Nyer this was to be the Music hall Christmas film but was not ready in time for the Nov opening.
TSATR set for the Easter show was then moved up. Only time I sprung for mezz tickets.
Somewhere In 1978, It Is Once Called Gemini Twin Cinema I & II.
One of my local theatres growing up…UA seemed to program a lot from Columbia, later Fox, Universal and Tri-Star
Hello-
didn’t Young Winston have an exclusive roadshow engagement
here Dec. 0f 1972?
Columbia put a couple of pictures in here on roadshows - Young Winston and Godspell
A plastic surgery clinic is now located in the former Columbia/Gemini/64th & 2nd space.
Please update, theatre open October 3, 1971, renamed the Gemini 1 and 2 on July 21, 1978 with the The Buddy Holly Story, the 3rd screen open on November 15, 1996 and renamed the UA 64th and 2nd Avenue, theatre closed October 25, 2012