– Laxman Ganapati
The Paris Theater, a historic cinematic gem located in midtown Manhattan, New York City, is known for its timeless elegance and exclusive film screenings. It is the longest-running arthouse cinema in NYC, as well as Manhattan’s only remaining single-screen cinema and the borough’s largest movie theater, with 571 seats. Unlike modern multiplex theaters, the Paris Theater has just one screen. This single-screen format is a rarity in contemporary cinema and adds to the theater’s unique charm.
Originally designed by the New York architectural firm of Emery Roth & Sons, in a classic Art Deco style, The Paris Theater first opened its doors in 1948, showcasing independent and foreign films. It served as a venue for the premieres of many critically acclaimed and award-winning films like director Claude Lelouch’s 1966 French film Un Homme Et Une Femme [English: A Man and a Woman], Luis Buñuel’s Belle De Jour, Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 classic Romeo and Juliet, the British comedy A Room With A View [1985], Metropolitan [1990], including the 2001 comedy-drama Monsoon Wedding.The theater has changed ownership several times over the years and also had its fair share of closures at times threatening to be permanent, due to economic challenges in the film industry. At one point, it was operated by Loews Cineplex Entertainment. It was also under the ownership of real estate developer Sheldon Solow, and also City Cinemas. However, since it reopened with the film Marriage Story, on November 6, 2019, popular OTT giant, Netflix operates this theater.
Efforts have been made to renovate and preserve the historic theater. Its distinct character and status coupled with the tag of ‘one of the last remaining single-screen cinemas’, have made it an important cultural landmark in NYC.
