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Albert Bialek, Owner of the Metro Theater Has Died; What Will Become of his Metro Dreams?

November 8, 2023 | 9:15 AM - Updated on November 9, 2023 | 12:10 AM
in ART, NEWS, REAL ESTATE
46
The Metro Theater in its heyday. Credit: West Side Rag.

Editor’s note: Liza Cooper is president of the NEW Friends of Metro Theater, advocates for the 90-year-old landmark movie theater, between 99th and 100th streets on Broadway, which has been closed for 18 years. Although, admittedly, not for the first time, the Metro has been on the brink of reopening as a dine-in, multi-screen movie theater — and no one was more excited than Albert Bialek, 89, the Metro’s owner. For the past two years, Cooper and Bialek have had bi-weekly phone conversations about the future of the theater, including one a few weeks ago, when he told her he was having health problems. Stunned and saddened by his death, Cooper shares what she learned about the reopening — and the man.

By Liza Cooper

“Liza, we are 99% there with the reopening. The Department of Buildings approved all of our construction proposals…but that is all I can tell you,” Albert said with his usual buoyant, but mysterious tone.

He always left me on the edge of my seat.

“Call me in two weeks,” he said before hanging up — always using the same closing words. He was enthusiastic and robust, warm and gracious.

It was the most exciting and hopeful of all of our phone calls, and we had been speaking by phone every two weeks for nearly two years.

As the president of NEW Friends of Metro Theater, I knew it was my responsibility to nurture a relationship with Metro‘s longtime owner Albert Bialek to support our group’s mission to restore, rebuild, and reopen. I never imagined it would be my last conversation with him. Nine days later on October 29th, he passed away.

A Little History

Beginning in 2020 a group of interested community members came together distraught at how the Metro had increasingly fallen into disrepair. Our accumulated distress over the theater’s now 18-year shuttering found its solace and inspiration in one another.

We were a scrappy and unusual group — a mix of folks with political careers, a musician, actors, a film director, pr experts, artists, and leaders who started out as strangers and with time became dear friends. Together we built a movement to change the status quo, raise awareness, and give love to this iconic theater in our midst. We collected memories of the Metro — “went into labor there”, “my first date”, “my career in acting was born in those seats” — and dreams for what it could be refurbished to become: a performing arts center, an art movie house, a stage for children to cut their teeth on performance, a concert hall.

Through it all we knew that relationships matter and cultivated them with the owner, Albert Bialek, and the new tenant, Tim League, founder of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.

Albert Bialek in his youth.

“Hi Al! What’s the latest? What’s taking so long?” I would call and pepper him with questions. At first he had an “It’s you again?” tone, but, with time, it shifted and he’d respond with delight and even offer intel during my regular calls.

“I can’t tell you the details but you are going to be very happy. This place is going to be great – a dine-in movie theater….” He’d as always end the conversation with, “Call me in two weeks.”

Interspersed between these calls, I’d touch base with Tim League. A group of us had breakfast with him at the Metro Diner when he flew into town — an evident visionary, lover of old theaters, and a doer and entrepreneur. He has remained through all delays resolute, determined, and devoted to turning the lights on again at the beloved Metro.

Albert has been something of an enigma in our Upper West Side neighborhood, a man who has seemed to hold the Metro Theater quite close to his heart, while standing in the way of its reopening. And yet, when I spoke to him, he was always as charming, gracious, and optimistic as could be: assuring me that the Metro would reopen soon. “You just wait, Liza! Believe me!”

When I learned of Albert Bialek’s passing, I had a terrible pang of sadness. One moment he would feel like an adversary, but then in the next moment he’d feel like a whimsical, larger-than-life friend. I had become fond of the man and looked forward to calling him…to learn the next update, the next morsel.

I’ll miss him.

Tim League is going forth with the plans for Metro theater and will work with Bialek’s estate moving forward. NEW Friends of Metro Theater will support him every step of the way and won’t slow down until Metro Theater reopens. And when it does, we will make one mighty toast to one another, the community on the UWS, and in memory of the inscrutable and always affable Al.

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46 Comments
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Joe
Joe
1 year ago

Sad. I hope they reopen.

5
Reply
Sidney Owl
Sidney Owl
1 year ago

This might be more believable if they’d take down the SPACE AVAILABLE sign on the marquee.

10
Reply
nucky
nucky
1 year ago
Reply to  Sidney Owl

Believable that he passed away?

RIP Mr. Bialek

3
Reply
Dan S
Dan S
1 year ago

There doesn’t appear to be much activity in the construction permitting for the building:

0
Reply
Che_junglecat
Che_junglecat
1 year ago
Reply to  Dan S

Here’s the Rag on 19 Sept. re the liquor license process the theater had to wait through – and the hopeful outcome.

0
Reply
Dan S
Dan S
1 year ago
Reply to  Dan S

https://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/JobsQueryByLocationServlet?requestid=1&allbin=1056460

0
Reply
Performance Art
Performance Art
1 year ago

I think that the theater should show Lucy removing the football as Charlie Brown tries to kick it, on infinite loop.

13
Reply
Liza Cooper
Liza Cooper
1 year ago
Reply to  Performance Art

Let’s hope we finally have a touchdown …and an opening in the next year!

3
Reply
UWSCinemaLover
UWSCinemaLover
1 year ago

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get the renovation done and reopen! We need a real theater up here. I remember seeing so many great flicks there (Crooklyn, Birdcage, Motorcycle Diaries, Kill Bill!!!).

6
Reply
Liza Cooper
Liza Cooper
1 year ago
Reply to  UWSCinemaLover

Wonderful memories. Our group is working hard to make this happen for you and all of us!

1
Reply
Liza Cooper
Liza Cooper
1 year ago
Reply to  UWSCinemaLover

I’m with you! Please follow us on Facebook: NEW Friends of Metro Theater

1
Reply
Bill Williams
Bill Williams
1 year ago

WOW that photo is great and a reminder of what used to be at the Metro instead of the current blight it has become.

2
Reply
Liza Cooper
Liza Cooper
1 year ago
Reply to  Bill Williams

We believe it will rise again! We want to see it through. Understand the frustration!

1
Reply
Sjrotts
Sjrotts
1 year ago

Thank you for your efforts, Ms. Cooper, and for the passion and resiliency of the NEW Friends. Here’s to the Metro!

6
Reply
Liza Cooper
Liza Cooper
1 year ago
Reply to  Sjrotts

Thank you for your kind words! It takes a village. Follow NEW Friends of Metro Theater on Facebook

1
Reply
Phil
Phil
1 year ago

Liza — Thank you so much for this update, and for all you and your gang have done to support the reopening of The Metro. We all believe it could very well be the key to revitalization of our entire stretch of Broadway. And to the family and friends of Albert, our deepest condolences.

8
Reply
Liza Cooper
Liza Cooper
1 year ago
Reply to  Phil

Thank you for your beautiful note. We’d love your involvement!

1
Reply
Homeless New Yorker
Homeless New Yorker
1 year ago

RIP Al Bialek. May the Metro live on.

Would it take much to allow homeless musicians to practice there, maybe set up a band or two and rehearse, maybe even give concerts? They can’t play in shelters, and their skills decay like muscles without exercise.

7
Reply
mark
mark
1 year ago
Reply to  Homeless New Yorker

The building’s insurer probably wouldn’t be pleased with that unless there was an enormous premium increase, but more likely cancellation. Then there is the inevitable – you can’t tear this place down because there will be protesters saying is used by community organizations, blah, blah, blah.
Unless you have extraordinarily deep pockets or using taxpayer dollars, it is hard to do good in NYC.

1
Reply
Liza Cooper
Liza Cooper
1 year ago
Reply to  Homeless New Yorker

Inspiring idea!

3
Reply
Homeless New Yorker
Homeless New Yorker
1 year ago
Reply to  Liza Cooper

And poets and rappers would love to have another venue to perform at, especially as the famous Nuyorican Poets Café on the *Lower East* Side is closing for 3 years.

4
Reply
Liza Cooper
Liza Cooper
1 year ago
Reply to  Homeless New Yorker

Loved Nuyorican!

2
Reply
Homeless New Yorker
Homeless New Yorker
1 year ago
Reply to  Liza Cooper

And music (and dancing) is not the only talent homeless people have. There are actors, comedians, writers who don’t mind reading aloud – think of another Selected Shorts, also an UWS enterprise. And there are visual artists: painters, photographers, cameramen, directors, who could show their work on the walls or screens.

3
Reply
Liza Cooper
Liza Cooper
1 year ago
Reply to  Homeless New Yorker

Wonderful ideas

1
Reply
Homeless New Yorker
Homeless New Yorker
1 year ago
Reply to  Liza Cooper

When such bands have or reach viable levels, they could perform in neighborhood schools, senior centers, hospitals, parks, wherever there’s an audience.

2
Reply
Roberta axelrod
Roberta axelrod
1 year ago

Hoping those of us still waiting for a local movie theatre , can be on an email list for notification of updates and films whenever they finally happen.

2
Reply
Liza Cooper
Liza Cooper
1 year ago
Reply to  Roberta axelrod

Please follow us on Facebook: NEW Friends of Metro Theater

3
Reply
Lauren
Lauren
1 year ago

A beautiful tribute and I am so proud to be a member of such a wonderful community organization like NEW Friends of Metro Theater.

3
Reply
Greg Hunt
Greg Hunt
1 year ago

Folks with all due respect:
1) Movie theatres are not viable businesses any more.
2) The theatre is landmarked which makes turning it into anything else besides a movie theatre almost impossible .
Unless the Landmarks Preservation Commission becomes more flexible, this theatre will remain empty for some time to come because no viable business model works there.

6
Reply
Liza Cooper
Liza Cooper
1 year ago
Reply to  Greg Hunt

The plans are for a movie theater with special features.

0
Reply
Sam
Sam
1 year ago
Reply to  Greg Hunt

Only the marquis is landmarked. The building is not and has been gutted.

1
Reply
david
david
1 year ago
Reply to  Greg Hunt

Tell that to the Angelika (3 locations in NYC alone), the Paris, The Film Forum, Film and Lincoln Center, the Quad….shall I go on??

2
Reply
Tim
Tim
1 year ago
Reply to  Greg Hunt

You’re not wrong about landmark status placing a glacial hold on things that’s for sure. However, we just experienced the most successful summer box office in history. Those with the capital to invest in this industry are wise to do so and now more than in the past it makes sense a company like Alamo is determined to make this happen. Here’s to the Metro and our neighborhood!

8
Reply
Liza Cooper
Liza Cooper
1 year ago
Reply to  Tim

Can’t wait for the opening of the Alamo at the beloved Metro!

0
Reply
Homeless New Yorker
Homeless New Yorker
1 year ago
Reply to  Greg Hunt

In the old days, movie theaters and vaudeville houses doubled as each other. Now that we get movies and TV over the Internet, there will be extra value in live performances at venues. Movie theaters could shift to or towards being such venues.

2
Reply
Chuck D
Chuck D
1 year ago
Reply to  Greg Hunt

I thought just the facade was landmarked? I assume as long as you have a marquee and awning, you can open up a weed dispensary or dollar store or any other thing this neighborhood desperately needs more of.

3
Reply
Mandy W
Mandy W
1 year ago

Thank you for this tale, for your persistence and your focus on relationships, and your commitment to the cause! Sorry Al won’t see it but I hope the work with his estate can cross the finish line.

4
Reply
Liza Cooper
Liza Cooper
1 year ago
Reply to  Mandy W

Thank you for your kind words. Follow us at New Friends of Metro Theater!

1
Reply
Wayne
Wayne
1 year ago

Is Bialek the owner who gutted the theatre and ripped out its historic auditorium, leaving only a shell building there?

0
Reply
Chuck D
Chuck D
1 year ago

Maybe just turn it into a weed shop?

0
Reply
Joanne Dorian
Joanne Dorian
1 year ago

Thank you, Liza Cooper, for the informative, enlightening, and touching article about an often baffling man. May he rest in peace. I’m so glad he lived long enough to pass the theater to a visionary like Tim League. I can’t wait for those signs to come down and for the construction to begin! Long live The Metro Theater!

4
Reply
Liza Cooper
Liza Cooper
1 year ago
Reply to  Joanne Dorian

None of this can happen without people like you – passionate, dedicated to the neighborhoods renaissance and talented!

1
Reply
Will
Will
1 year ago

I miss pre-gentrified Broadway above 96th street

2
Reply
Pat Weich
Pat Weich
1 year ago

I too miss having an operative movie theater and I’m sorry that Mr bialek didn’t live to see that come to fruition once again.
May he rest in peace and maybe see it from above looking down. 🙏

2
Reply
Marilyn Bialek
Marilyn Bialek
1 year ago

Albert Bialek was a wonderful human being who worked so hard to become successful. He dedicated himself to his Jewish Community. It is so sad that he passed away and the Bialek Family will miss him tremendously!!!

1
Reply
Marilyn Bialek
Marilyn Bialek
1 year ago

The photo of the Metro Theater is great!!! Please Please Please start renovations to such a beautiful and iconic theater!!!! Reminds me of the glitz and glamous in the 50’s and 60’s

1
Reply

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