Great news!!! Today’s El Nuevo Dia newspaper informs that the governor has officially signed legislation that will renovate the Santurce area. In those plans…renovating the Paramount, which will become a live theater venue!!! This is truly great news that will not only save the Paramount , but that will also help the Metro theater since the area will become a government priority.
I am extremely happy to know that the Paramount is being renovated. After the loss of the historic Riviera theater it’s good to see the local government involved in the renovation of Santurce theaters.
The Metro is still the best place to watch a movie. And it’s the last of the great Santurce theaters still showing movies.
I remember going there as a kid to see all the great Tom and Jerry festivals with my grandparents and its a truly wonderful thing to be able to go there still.
Bad news for lovers of The Paramount. The San Juan Star reported that plans to renovate the theater have been cancelled. The company that was planning the renovation has sold the property to the government’s Land Authority and they plan to demolish the building to create an office building. The government claims the theater is beyond repair and should be razed.
The Cinerama, along with the Radio City, were the two jewels of Santurce cinemas. This was the place to see all the great epic films. From “Grand Prix” to “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” to “Krakatoa, East of Java”, they all played at the Cinerama. I remember lines around the block when “Earthquake” played at The Cinerama. And this was due to the fact that watching a movie there was an inccredible experience. Just seeing those huge curtains open was a show in itself. And when the movie started, well, it was magic. One felt part of the movie watching that giant screen. So much so that once in a while a little kid would walk up to the screen , touching the screen in amazement.
Between epics, the Cinerama would also play stange horror movies such as “Horror Hospital” and “House that Screamed”. The latter featured a classic promo of giving away Alka Seltzers before the movie began.
When Plaza Las Americas mall opened its huge mall theaters, attendance at the Cinerama dwindled. And unfortunately, this wonderful theater was one of the first Santurce theaters to close down. For years, the marquee with its huge Cinerama sign, stood there waiting for someone to rescue this fine theater. No one did. In 1999 it became a carpet store.
The Riviera theater was one of the most beautiful movie theaters in Puerto Rico. It was the neighborhood theater for the upscale Condado section and besides being a first run movie theater it was also a place where many Latin American singing stars would perform.
In the 1960’s the Riviera became a second run theater showing double features. And it was a treat going there. An old lady who was the owner would greet all visitors and would thank the patrons when they were leaving the premises.
The double bills were quite an eclectic bunch. On weekends the Riviera would show recent fare. But on weekdays, it was a combination of recent and old movies.
Among the movies I remember seing there were “Italian Job”, “Vanishing Point”, “Westworld”. “Marlowe” and an amazing double feature of “ Murder in the Orient Express” and “Day for Night”.
In the late 1970’s the Riviera stopped showing movies and it became a live theater for a while. In the Late 1970’s it was remodeles and revived as a movie theater once again. The “Grease”–“Sturday Night Fever” double bill played to packed houses during that short revival.
Unfortunately, the Riviera closed down in 1979. It stood there waiting for somebody with the vision to turn it into a movie theater once again. In 1988 Hurricane Hugo blew away the marquee and the huge “Riviera” sign.
Even at its most run down, the Riviera’s art deco architecture was amazing. Young people who never saw it at its best would marvel at its design.
Unfortunately in 2001. developers decided to demolish the grand Riviera theater. The place was turned into a parking lot and there are plans now to build an apartment building there.
The grazing of the Riviera caused quite an uproar in the local community. Newspapers featured stories saying that an entire era of movies in Puerto Rico had passes away with the destruction of the wonderful Riviera theater. The press also argued how little the state goverment is doing to preserve our heritage.
Still, the beautiful Riviera theater lives on in old photos and in the minds of the many who spend a magical time there.
Great movie theater located just four blocks from Macalester College. The first floor screen was great and the atmosphere was always sophisticated and relaxed. Saw many memorable movies there, including “Raging Bull” I truly hope the Grandview remains operating as a movie theater.
This was one of the many movie theaters on Ponce De Leon Avenue in Santurce, Puerto Rico. Of the nearly 15 theaters, only the Metro theater is still operating .
The Holiday was located at Stop 22. It was a regular movie theater, but in the 1960’s it became an “adults only” movie house. Later it was torn down and a Fine Arts center was created nearby.
The Ambassador is currently being renovated and will be a part of the government’s efforts to create a theater row on Ponce De Leon Avenue.
Great news!!! Today’s El Nuevo Dia newspaper informs that the governor has officially signed legislation that will renovate the Santurce area. In those plans…renovating the Paramount, which will become a live theater venue!!! This is truly great news that will not only save the Paramount , but that will also help the Metro theater since the area will become a government priority.
This was a very small theater that featured second run movies.
It was across the street from the old Shannon’s Pub on Loiza Street.
I am extremely happy to know that the Paramount is being renovated. After the loss of the historic Riviera theater it’s good to see the local government involved in the renovation of Santurce theaters.
The Metro is still the best place to watch a movie. And it’s the last of the great Santurce theaters still showing movies.
I remember going there as a kid to see all the great Tom and Jerry festivals with my grandparents and its a truly wonderful thing to be able to go there still.
Great news!!! The last of the independent theaters in Puerto Rico has been renovated. It is a now a duplex showing first run films!!!!!
Bad news for lovers of The Paramount. The San Juan Star reported that plans to renovate the theater have been cancelled. The company that was planning the renovation has sold the property to the government’s Land Authority and they plan to demolish the building to create an office building. The government claims the theater is beyond repair and should be razed.
The Cinerama, along with the Radio City, were the two jewels of Santurce cinemas. This was the place to see all the great epic films. From “Grand Prix” to “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” to “Krakatoa, East of Java”, they all played at the Cinerama. I remember lines around the block when “Earthquake” played at The Cinerama. And this was due to the fact that watching a movie there was an inccredible experience. Just seeing those huge curtains open was a show in itself. And when the movie started, well, it was magic. One felt part of the movie watching that giant screen. So much so that once in a while a little kid would walk up to the screen , touching the screen in amazement.
Between epics, the Cinerama would also play stange horror movies such as “Horror Hospital” and “House that Screamed”. The latter featured a classic promo of giving away Alka Seltzers before the movie began.
When Plaza Las Americas mall opened its huge mall theaters, attendance at the Cinerama dwindled. And unfortunately, this wonderful theater was one of the first Santurce theaters to close down. For years, the marquee with its huge Cinerama sign, stood there waiting for someone to rescue this fine theater. No one did. In 1999 it became a carpet store.
The Riviera theater was one of the most beautiful movie theaters in Puerto Rico. It was the neighborhood theater for the upscale Condado section and besides being a first run movie theater it was also a place where many Latin American singing stars would perform.
In the 1960’s the Riviera became a second run theater showing double features. And it was a treat going there. An old lady who was the owner would greet all visitors and would thank the patrons when they were leaving the premises.
The double bills were quite an eclectic bunch. On weekends the Riviera would show recent fare. But on weekdays, it was a combination of recent and old movies.
Among the movies I remember seing there were “Italian Job”, “Vanishing Point”, “Westworld”. “Marlowe” and an amazing double feature of “ Murder in the Orient Express” and “Day for Night”.
In the late 1970’s the Riviera stopped showing movies and it became a live theater for a while. In the Late 1970’s it was remodeles and revived as a movie theater once again. The “Grease”–“Sturday Night Fever” double bill played to packed houses during that short revival.
Unfortunately, the Riviera closed down in 1979. It stood there waiting for somebody with the vision to turn it into a movie theater once again. In 1988 Hurricane Hugo blew away the marquee and the huge “Riviera” sign.
Even at its most run down, the Riviera’s art deco architecture was amazing. Young people who never saw it at its best would marvel at its design.
Unfortunately in 2001. developers decided to demolish the grand Riviera theater. The place was turned into a parking lot and there are plans now to build an apartment building there.
The grazing of the Riviera caused quite an uproar in the local community. Newspapers featured stories saying that an entire era of movies in Puerto Rico had passes away with the destruction of the wonderful Riviera theater. The press also argued how little the state goverment is doing to preserve our heritage.
Still, the beautiful Riviera theater lives on in old photos and in the minds of the many who spend a magical time there.
Great movie theater located just four blocks from Macalester College. The first floor screen was great and the atmosphere was always sophisticated and relaxed. Saw many memorable movies there, including “Raging Bull” I truly hope the Grandview remains operating as a movie theater.
This was one of the many movie theaters on Ponce De Leon Avenue in Santurce, Puerto Rico. Of the nearly 15 theaters, only the Metro theater is still operating .
The Holiday was located at Stop 22. It was a regular movie theater, but in the 1960’s it became an “adults only” movie house. Later it was torn down and a Fine Arts center was created nearby.