Beekman Theatre
1271 2nd Avenue,
New York,
NY
10065
1271 2nd Avenue,
New York,
NY
10065
14 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: City Cinemas, Clearview Cinemas, Crown Theatres LLC, Loews Cineplex, Loew's Inc., Sony Theatres
Previous Names: Crown New York Twin, Loews Cineplex New York Twin, New York One & Two, Beekman One & Two
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News About This Theater
- Aug 24, 2009 — Paris & Beekman projectionist pickets
- Aug 21, 2009 — "Alien" 30th Anniversary
- Aug 18, 2009 — New operators for NY theaters
The Loew’s New York One Two, later known as the New York Twin, opened on March 2, 1979 with “Norma Rae” and “Fast Break” in the two auditoriums in the basement of a high rise apartment building. In 1996, each auditorium sat 460 people. Loew’s, which for awhile renamed their theatres Sony before resuming the Loews name, ceased operating the theatre in May 2002.
Having departed from its nearby single screen theatre, the Gotham Theatre, Crown Theatres LLC became the movie operator on October 11, 2002.
In May 2005, Crown was replaced by Clearview Cinemas. Following the June 2005 closing and eventual demolition of Clearview’s single screen Beekman Theatre, Clearview renamed the theatre Beekman One & Two.
On July 2, 2007, Clearview departed, and the theatre closed. On October 23, 2008, the theatre reopened as an independent art house named Beekman Theatre. As of 2009, City Cinemas became the new movie operator of the Beekman Theatre and the Paris Theatre, both of which are owned by the same landlord. City Cinemas closed both the Beekman Theatre & the Paris Theatre on August 27, 2019. The final movies at the Beekman Theatre were “Blinded by the Light” and “The Farewell” splitting a screen (at different times) and “After the Wedding” on the other screen. There is no news yet as to whether either theatre will re-open under a different operator.
Contributed by
Howard B. Haas
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Recent comments (view all 113 comments)
City Cinemas took control the same day with the Paris over 10 years ago. In the 1980 to at least 1990, when it was the New York Twin it showed 70MM 6 track presentations on a regular. On Christmas 1988 there was a line around the corner seeing Rain Man. I was at the old Beekman theatre seeing Talk Radio.
The bad thing if you filled up 432 people, the sightlines are bad. The person in front, there head might partially block the movie. Also limited knee space.
I saw Maiden on a Saturday evening at 5PM. Only 40 people. Another patron said to someone it never crowded on the weekends.
I recently posted pictures of the theatre.
One of my favorite theaters in the city. I will miss it immensely.
Judging by the photo’s there seemed very littl rake for seating which must have resulted in bad sight-lines for busy screenings. Appears screen curtains were not a feature of this twin as well. Another sad loss, but nowhere near the tragedy of The Paris closure.
Some of us like a poorly raked theater, reminds me of my youth. Place was never full enough to be an issue, no wonder it closed.
Please update, theatre closed August 27, 2019 and rename either Beekman One and Two. This was the last twin that kept two seperate entrances.
I loved going to this theater. The design with chrome-bedecked escalators bringing you to two separate basement lobbies with two separate (but adjacent) concession stands was incredible to me. Somehow, having gone there at least a dozen times during my time in the city, I only saw one movie in the righthand, smaller theater. The decor reminded me somehow of a chic department store in the 80’s. So sad when it closed.
What is there now?
Google street view from October 2022 shows the marquee still there. Here is a realty listing for the space.
https://www.veradaretail.com/listings/1271-2nd-avenue-retail-space
That the side store for rent, not the movie theater
yes, the theatre is available for lease…
https://property.jll.com/listings/beekman-theatre-1271-2nd-ave-columbus-circle