By Daniel Krieger
When Lincoln Plaza Cinemas on 63nd Street closed in 2018, the neighborhood grieved the loss after a 37-year run during which Upper West Siders got a steady diet of art-house films. After the closing, a group of local movie lovers, “seniors and retirees,” according to the New York Times, who just couldn’t let go, took matters into their own hands and founded its successor – New Plaza Cinema.
The group bounced from venue to venue, including the JCC and Symphony Space. They were flooded out of the New York Institute of Technology in January, 2020. Then, earlier this year, theatergoers celebrated the post-pandemic reopening of New Plaza Cinema on West 86th street at the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew.
But that’s not the end of the story. On Monday, New Plaza Cinema announced that it has formed a partnership with and found a new home at Macaulay Honors College, a branch of CUNY, at 35 West 67th Street, where it will continue Lincoln Plaza’s tradition of showing independent, foreign and classic films. It will launch on September 30th, with an opening lineup in the 72-seat screening room that includes: Fire of Love,Three Minutes – A Lengthening, The Good Boss, Taming the Garden, and Hold Me Tight.
“This is a terrific opportunity for New Plaza Cinema to return to screening top foreign and independent films in the neighborhood of our late, lamented Lincoln Plaza, in a first-rate venue,” said Gary Palmucci, New Plaza Cinema’s Film Curator and General Manager.
And Dean Dara N. Byrne, of Macaulay Honors College, said: “This is an important new relationship for Macaulay. And we’re thrilled that our students will be able to see firsthand how activism in support of a shared passion can sustain a community in the longterm.”
Schedule, pricing, and ticket purchasing details are available on the New Plaza Cinema website: www.newplazacinema.org
In deference to the new location, They should open with “Goodbye, Mr. Chips”
Great news!!!
I really admire their tenacity. The seats at St. Paul and St. Andrew were pretty uncomfortable, but so glad that they made their space available.
Great news, but would have been better if it were further north.
I really liked the 86th and WEA site. Too bad.
That is wonderful news! Can’t wait.
Wonderful news, indeed!
Just a concern:
I know there are steps leading up to the main entrance. Do they have accessibility accommodating those in wheelchairs too? Another entrance perhaps? They’re required to follow the ADA …Americans with Disabilities Act.
Sure hope so…since it’s the law.
Fabulous news. I hope that they can somehow add some signage or branding, and a concession, but seems doubtful. I miss the public profile and street presence of the old theater (still untouched it seems since the closure, which seems criminal to me.)
I would like to see them remove the proof of vaccine and mask rules. It seems beyond time for these barriers to be lifted.
The mask and vaccination rules are the landlord’s rules (CUNY)
Given the demographics of their core audience, I fully support maintaining the rules. Better safe than sorry
Perhaps, but for how long? All mask and vaccine mandates have been lifted elsewhere. Covid numbers are very low and steadily going down. At some point we have to return to normality.
i agree!!!!!!
The determination of this crew!
So happy to hear this! Thank you to those who made this happen!
i’ll miss the stadium seating, but glad it’s still with us!!!!!
What FABULOUS news!!!! Thanks so much for this
article, and congratulations to the New Plaza in its
new home!
Actually, masks still are recommended by the CDC and many public health experts for indoor spaces. I know some people find wearing masks a burden, but it’s a minor inconvenience, isn’t it? And a mask requirement definitely makes me more likely to see these movies. I look forward to checking out the new site.
It makes others less likely to go to the movies also. For me, I find masking demoralizing at this point. I understand if others want to wear them of course, but the time for mandates has passed.
This is wonderful news. My husband and I saw many many first rate movies there. So excited for the opening. Many thanks to those who fought for this!
I’m still heartbroken about our flood, which level the gorgeous new theatre at NYIT and destroyed my three storage bins in my building. But I am glad this tenacious group found a new home nearby. I didn’t know there was a theatre on West 67 Street.
This is wonderful, thank you so much! I have missed this theater!