Metropolitan Theater
Padre Burgos Avenue and Arroceros Street,
Ermita,
Manila
1000
Padre Burgos Avenue and Arroceros Street,
Ermita,
Manila
1000
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Additional Info
Architects: Alejandro Arellano, Juan M. Arellano, Otillio Arellano
Functions: Live Music Venue, Live Theatre, Movies
Styles: Art Deco
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Located in the Ermita district of Manila city centre. The 1,600-seat Manila Metropolitan Theater was opened on December 10, 1931. Designed in an Art Deco Style by architect Juan M. Arellano who had previously been known for his Neo-Classical style architecture. He had travelled to New York to study with renown theatre architect Thomas Lamb. The Metropolitan Theatre was used for concerts and film screenings.
In 1945 while the Philippines were under Japanese occupation, the Metropolitan Theatre was bombed by the United States Air Force and it lost its roof, with only the side walls surviving. In the post war period, the damaged building was used for commercial use and as a residential space for squatters.
Repairs were carried out to the plans of architects Otilio Arellano & Alejandro Arellano, both nephews of the original architect Juan M. Arellano. The Metropolitan Theatre was reopened in December 1978. The ‘Met’ as it is affectionately called, was closed in 1996. Parts of the theatre were converted into office space after closing.
In 2007, a renovation/restoration project was begun. The seating capacity has been reduced down to 990-seats for safety reasons. The Metropolitan Theatre reopened on 10th December 2021. It was listed on the National Cultural Heritage Act as a National Cultural Treasure on June 23, 2010.
Contributed by
Ross Melnick
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
Architect- Juan Arellano; Restoration Architect (1970’s) Otillio Arellano; Style- Art Deco, using Philippine mottifs for the ornamentation; seating capacity- 1,670; status- closed in the mid 1990’s, still standing,but deteriorating; east wing used as office space; soon to be rehabilitated
updates on the metropolitan theatre, got to this web site;
http://newsinfo inquirer. net/breakingnews /metro/view_ article.php? article_id= 72961
more updates on the metropolitan theatre
View link
Here is another photo:
http://tinyurl.com/3alox3
This page has a photo, circa mid 40s:
http://tinyurl.com/2wnkx6
Visited by the President of the Republic on 27 Feb, the local press in Manila recently ran several stories about the restoration of this cinema, which seems to be ongoing. This is seemingly the third restoration, one after the war, one in the Marcos era, after which the cinema was allowed fall into decay. Seemingly, the main roof has been repaired and the orchestra pit is no longer submerged in water. (The Metropolitan is close by the river, so the cinema may be vulnerable to flooding, even if the roof is fixed.) 50m pesos has been allocated and the City of Manila is managing the rehabilitation. The House of Precast is restoring the proscenium it made in the 1930s and Kraut is working on the stained glass facade.
No re-opening date was mentioned.
Recent interior photos suggest that many original features remain, or have been restored to near original condition. There seem to be no seating fitted, nor any use of the premises at the moment.
Article- https://ph.asiatatler.com/life/inside-the-manila-metropolitan-theatre-restoration
Update: The renovated theater reopened in 2021. Operated by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts the theater hosts frequent theater, music and film events.
https://www.facebook.com/METphOfficial/