Upper West Side Cinema Center

When the Lincoln Plaza Theater closed in January of 2018, it was like a body blow to the Upper West Side, an area that historically housed a huge community of arts lovers who were educated, sophisticated and open to a wide variety of cinema experiences.

It wasn’t as if there weren’t alternatives. Film at Lincoln Center is one of the best curated art houses in the country. AMC has two large multiplexes that, in addition to playing the latest Hollywood movies, also squeeze in the occasional Focus, Searchlight, A24 or Neon film. But, with the passing of the Lincoln Plaza Theater, a stalwart community institution was gone.

The Upper West Side is desperately under-screened for the rabid art film audience that exists. Since the demise of both the Lincoln Plaza Cinemas and the Landmark 57, there are now only 3 full-time art screens plus 1 part-time screen north of 14th Street. This is in comparison to over 20 dedicated art screens that exist in downtown Manhattan, and a similar number in Brooklyn.

The neighborhood is also in need of an anchor destination and event space for the community.

The Plan

The Upper West Side Cinema Center (UWSCC) has been formed as a not-for-profit corporation, with the goal of creating a new facility dedicated to screening art film releases that currently have no home in the neighborhood, as well as classic films and special events. The facility will include an Education and Community Center and a Lobby Lounge/Cafe open to the street and available for events.

We are now in the process of trying to secure ownership of the former Metro Theater, on 99th Street and Broadway. The plan is to restore the facade and marquee to its original splendor and build a five-screen cinema within its walls. The venue will be renamed The Metro Cinema Center.

The organization plans to partner with other cultural institutions such as Film at Lincoln Center, the JCC of the Upper West Side, New Plaza Cinema, Woodstock Film Festival, BAM, MOMA and Columbia University School of the Arts among others to offer additional capacity for their existing programming. The Educational Center will be modeled on existing cinema organizations such as the Jacob Burns Center in Pleasantville, NY and the Coolidge Corner in Brookline, MA.

Endorsed by
newfriendsofmetrotheater.org

The Team

President/Treasurer: Ira Deutchman
Vice President: Adeline Monzier
Secretary/Community Liaison/Marketing: Beth Krieger
Architects: Voith & Mactavish Architects LLC
Audiovisual Design: Boston Light and Sound
Legal Consultant: Stephen Cohen, Esq.
Real Estate Consultant: Doug Kleiman, RIPCO Real Estate
Interim Fiscal Sponsor: Woodstock Film Festival

Impact

In July of 2024, the Art House Convergence, an organization representing art house theaters across the country, released the results of a survey of patrons with some startling results. Here is a summary:

74% of patrons report that their art house theater is “extremely” or “very” valuable to their overall quality of life, up from 66% in 2019. 43% of respondents have paid to be members of their local art house organization. 92% of respondents said that their art house cinema presents films that are profound, 83% agree that their art house exposes them to new ways of thinking, 82% believe that attending their art house cinema makes them a more well-rounded person, 75% say that it raises their consciousness of important issues and 67% say that attending their art house connects them with people with shared interests and beliefs.

Art houses serve as the backbone for the artistic, civic, and economic vitality of communities. 93% say their art house sparks art and culture, 90% agree that their art house is one of the best things about the community, 89% say that their cinema helps tell important stories that would otherwise not be told, 87% say their cinema is an anchor in their community and 77% say that their cinema enhances their community’s economic vitality.

The plan for the Metro Cinema Center is aimed at fulfilling exactly this function for the Upper West Side and for all of Manhattan above 14th Street. Arts institutions, in general, have proven to be an economic boom, bringing patrons to restaurants and retail establishments, creating pedestrian traffic and increasing real estate values. The Metro is perfectly situated to provide a huge multiplier to the neighborhood.

“Movies are empathy machines” –Roger Ebert

Nonprofit cinemas are community spaces where audiences can have collective experiences, exposing themselves to the world beyond their own. The model has proven to add significant value to their communities in several ways:

• Economic Activity: Nonprofit arts and culture organizations, including cinemas, generate substantial economic activity. For example, in 2022, the nonprofit arts and culture sector in the U.S. generated $151.7 billion in economic activity, supporting 2.6 million jobs and providing $101 billion in personal income to residents.
• Job Creation: These cinemas create jobs not only within the organization but also in the surrounding community. This includes positions in hospitality, retail, and other service industries that benefit from increased foot traffic and tourism.
• Community Vibrancy: Nonprofit cinemas contribute to the vibrancy and attractiveness of neighborhoods. They can become cultural hubs that draw residents and visitors alike, fostering a sense of community and pride.
• Tourism and Local Spending: Events and screenings at these cinemas attract visitors who spend money on dining, shopping, and lodging, thereby boosting local businesses.
• Social Impact: Beyond economic benefits, nonprofit cinema centers enhance the social fabric of communities. They provide accessible cultural experiences, promote diversity, and encourage social connections.

PRESS

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The vision for the Metro Cinema Center is a five-screen theater, with two larger auditoriums, two smaller ones and a fifth room that has flexible seating and can be used as a screening room, a classroom, a meeting room or as a small reception space. Additionally, there would be a lobby lounge/cafe that would be open to the street and can be used for events. The architects have come up with the concept drawings below.

Booking Policy

• One of the five screens would be used for first-run art films, many of which would be playing simultaneously downtown or in Brooklyn. There would be a new release every two weeks.
• Two additional screens would be used for move-overs of successful releases, either from the first-run screen or from other Manhattan venues.
• One screen would be dedicated to festivals and repertory bookings.
• The fifth screen (Educational Center) would be for private events, community events, educational use and other specialized screenings. It will have flexible seating so it can accommodate classroom setups and other configurations.

Existing Program Augmentation

Examples of programming that could use additional venues:

• Film at Lincoln Center: Annual programs such as “Rendezvous With French Cinema,” “Open Roads: New Italian Cinema,” “The Jewish Film Festival” and others.
• The Upper West Side JCC has only one auditorium for their large, internationally recognized festivals, such as “The Other Israel” and “Reel Abilities.” The programs could easily support more showtimes and larger capacities.
• Uptown Flicks, currently housed at the tiny Maysles Cinema in Harlem, could expand its programming.
• The Children’s International Film Festival could expand its programming year-round with screenings and festivals targeting families kids and teens.

Educational Use

In a city where very little is done by established cinemas in terms of educational programs, the inclusion of a strong Education department would give the organization the opportunity to play a leading role in engaging new, younger and more diverse audiences.

Based on programs at model organizations in other parts of the country, the following are possible initiatives:

• Screenings of international films and American classics for families on weekends along with appropriate discussion leaders
• Coordination with NYC schools to organize educational screenings that tie into cultural and thematic curriculum strands
• Work with the NYC Department of Education (DOE) and the Mayor’s office to increase film literacy and the use of films as an education tool in NYC schools
• International partnerships with organizations like the French Cinematheque and their program “Le Cinéma, 100 ans de jeunesse,” which provides resources specifically tailored towards young people for watching and making films
• Afterschool Film Club for high school students
• College outreach program to attract more students and professors to screenings, organize master classes with specific professors and college departments and involve students in specific programming, juries and contests

Community Use

• Docent program for senior citizens to participate as trained hosts, introducing the films at public screenings.
• Partnerships with public libraries, community and youth centers, shelters, hospitals, community gardens on events for the community with specific films and talent related to their mission.
• Space available for meetings and presentations by community groups.
• Rentals for birthday parties, corporate events, family get-togethers
• Rentals for industry events, Oscar screenings, premieres etc.
• Restaurant space available for receptions before or after events