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Independent Film Houses Already Interested in Old Lincoln Plaza Space

February 28, 2018 | 10:56 AM - Updated on June 5, 2022 | 11:38 PM
in NEWS, POLITICS
33


Lincoln Plaza Cinemas before it closed. Photo by Sonja Noring.

Lincoln Plaza Cinemas at 62nd and Broadway closed at the end of January, and the owners told politicians at a recent meeting that they’re already hearing interest from other theaters in the space.

Council Member Helen Rosenthal and other leaders met with the owners, Milstein Properties, earlier this month. Rosenthal has urged the owners to maintain the space as an art theater after renovations. Her update is below:

On February 8th, Borough President Gale Brewer, Assemblymember Dick Gottfried, State Senator Brad Hoylman, and I met with Milstein Properties to discuss their plans for 1886 Broadway.

Milstein explained that they are beginning long-planned renovation work on both the outdoor plaza and the theater space this Spring, with the specific intention of maintaining 1886 Broadway as a film venue. They also told us that they have been approached by some independent film house operators who are interested in the space, and they will be pursuing these discussions.

Milstein has committed to updating our office on a regular basis as they proceed with their renovation plans. We are cautiously optimistic about Milstein’s intent to maintain an independent art theater and will be keeping a close eye on how the renovations unfold. As we noted in our January letter to Milstein, it is vitally important to the Upper West Side community, and to film culture in New York City, that we continue to nurture independent art theaters.

A rep for Milstein did not respond to a request for comment.

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Sid
Sid
7 years ago

I’m not very hopeful on this front. When other “old NY” places have closed, the real estate folks and developers always promise to do the same thing, and never do.

If they intend to keep it an independent cinema, why not work with LPC on renovations? I’d much prefer LPC than to have a group like Metrograph come in.

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L'urbaniste
L'urbaniste
7 years ago
Reply to  Sid

Yup! Can’t trust them dang developers and real-estate folk!

Why, all they do is put up architecturally spectacular new buildings that make Manhattan look like the world-class place it IS, and not like Sacramento.

ALSO, about them tricky developers of that spectacular one-of-a-kind sail-shaped VIA building on W. 57th; ya know what they done?

They put a brand-new Landmark picture-house on the retail level, and it’s currently showing the Oscar-nominated foreign film “The Insult”, which Lincoln Plaza would have shown.

BUT, the new Landmark smells a lot better!

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Bishop
Bishop
7 years ago
Reply to  L'urbaniste

The Insult DID play at Lincoln Plaza in the weeks before it closed. The ticket cost $15 (it’s $18.50 at Landmark 57) and one didn’t have to travel to the Henry Hudson Highway to see it.

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Jen
Jen
7 years ago
Reply to  L'urbaniste

Not even sure what comment is about. Some sort of cheerleading regarding what? All new developments are good, old stuff is bad?
Nice opening with “Yup!”

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lynn
lynn
7 years ago
Reply to  L'urbaniste

There’s an empty building sitting there. What do you suggest they do with it? I really don’t understand your argument.

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Sid
Sid
7 years ago
Reply to  lynn

Lynn: All I was saying is that I find the Milstein’s to be disingenuous about their claims to keep the space for independent cinema.

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Sid
Sid
7 years ago
Reply to  L'urbaniste

I’ve worked in real estate with developers building new projects and have also been involved in preservation efforts in other neighborhoods. The two are not mutually exclusive.

I have no qualms about new development. I do also like the new Landmark Theater on 57th and the VIA building it’s housed in.

That doesn’t mean I can’t also believe that the Millstein family is disingenuous or that I miss LPC.

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Tom
Tom
7 years ago

ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE? Would make fortune in that location.

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Jess
Jess
7 years ago
Reply to  Tom

My thoughts exactly!!!

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Bruce Bernstein
Bruce Bernstein
7 years ago

Sid said:

“I’d much prefer LPC than to have a group like Metrograph come in.”

what’s the beef with Metrograph? i didn’t know that it was more than 1 theater on the LES… i just attended for the first time this past weekend, and it seemed ok — other than out of the way (Ludlow Street).

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Amelia
Amelia
7 years ago

What was the name of the wonderful movie theater on the UWS that played old movies, movie musicals, in double features. With special rates for seniors? I’ve reached the age of serious forgetting. Does anyone remember? It was such a great place!

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Bishop
Bishop
7 years ago
Reply to  Amelia

You may be thinking about The Regency, Broadway at 67th, which closed in 1987. It’s manager, Frank Rowley, later ran The Biograph on West 57th, and one in Chelsea before eventually working for Lincoln Plaza Cinemas until it closed in January.

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pumpkinpie
pumpkinpie
7 years ago
Reply to  Amelia

Are you perhaps thinking of the Regency Theatre? Its repertoire of film classics was a treasure. The only time I ever saw an entire movie audience spontaneously jump to its feet in a roaring, electrifying standing ovation was at the Regency after Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell finished dancing ‘Begin the Beguine’from BROADWAY MELODY OF 1940.

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Suzy
Suzy
7 years ago
Reply to  Amelia

The New Yorker on 89th B’way?
Olympia on 107th B’way?
The Thalia on 95th B’way?

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Ben
Ben
7 years ago
Reply to  Amelia

Could you be thinking of the Regency?

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Dick Corrigan
Dick Corrigan
7 years ago
Reply to  Amelia

could you be thinking of the Regency or Thalia? The Regency always showed musical film and older ones. Miss that theatre so much.

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K.
K.
7 years ago
Reply to  Amelia

Do you mean The Regency? I forgot all about double features!

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Bill
Bill
7 years ago
Reply to  Amelia

You’re probably thinking of the Regency at 67th and Broadway. I spent many a happy afternoon/evening there, tucked within those mercurochrome-tinted walls. How I fondly I remember the night I saw “Gone With The Wind”. As Scarlett was fiercely proclaiming “I’ll never eat another radish again!” and the camera pulled majestically back … the house lights suddenly popped on and the Max Steiner score was wiped out by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. Them was the days!

https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/1199/photos/229708

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Harriet F.
Harriet F.
7 years ago

I loved, loved loved Lincoln Plaza Cinema. But don’t people get it, that the former owner/operators are now too old to commit to a 10 year lease, and all the work involved. I believe we will have an art cinema there, it will not be as cheap, but it will also not be falling apart. Things change…..always.

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Andrea Gouvea Vieira Vieira
Andrea Gouvea Vieira Vieira
7 years ago

Torcendo para dar certo!

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Lauren
Lauren
7 years ago

AND there is a BIG need for a movie house in the void between 84th and 125th on Bway!!!!

There’s the old Metro STILL empty for a decade or more but there’s 40+blocks with no movies!

Keep the old Lincoln Sq location for an art house but also consider one NORTH – Columbia is nearby and there IS a need!!!

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Patricia
Patricia
7 years ago

God bless you, for following up on this.I applaud your efforts.
We must win this battle.
I will contact Gottfried etc ,to pursue this.
Thank you

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Natalie Helms
Natalie Helms
7 years ago

Please keep independent films in this location.

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Jen
Jen
7 years ago
Reply to  Natalie Helms

I’m also keeping my fingers crossed.

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Reed
Reed
7 years ago

and why isn’t there a concern with the Metro? It has been vacant for years and would certainly be a much needed asset for the entire Upper West Side. The area north of West 96 is void of cultural activities.

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Julia
Julia
7 years ago
Reply to  Reed

mmmm–at least till you get to Columbia…

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sima ariam
sima ariam
7 years ago

very good news. we miss the “good” movies.!

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Ground Control
Ground Control
7 years ago

There isn’t a reason in the world to not have given a new lease to the Talbot group who wanted it to continue the wonderful, cutting edge film franchise they created. I would contend the only reason they didn’t get one was because of the astronomical rent Mr. Milstein will eventually demand. The Talbot’s could have and would have taken their franchise into the future. It’s the Milsteins that made that impossible. While I’m grateful that our elected leaders took a stand, I think that the loss is still great and will not be made whole. I would love to see the sadly unused Metro be turned into an art movie house with the Talbots placed at the helm.

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geoff
geoff
7 years ago
Reply to  Ground Control

you use the word ‘franchise’. is that what their business actually was, a franchise? i thought it was an independent, sole proprietorship, maybe a partnership.

KFC is a franchise, and owners have some independence, but not much.

how does ‘franchise’ relate to this business?

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Rochelle Rachelson
Rochelle Rachelson
7 years ago

I truly hope so. We film lovers are desperate for a venue to see our beloved independents 💋

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UWSHebrew
UWSHebrew
7 years ago

Lincoln Plaza was a dump and should have been closed years ago.

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Jim
Jim
7 years ago

The planned renovation work on the outdoor plaza will be great for Condo Owners but bad for the public. There will be less seating and when 30 Lincoln showed the plans to Owners several years ago the waterfall was not included. We even had a security guard hired to escort homeless folks from sleeping in this public space, cant have poor people around this condo..

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naro
naro
7 years ago

There is not much else except movie theatre that can be done with this windowless basement location.

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