Olympia Cinemas
2770 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10025
2770 Broadway,
New York,
NY
10025
8 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Cineplex Odeon, Clearview Cinemas, Loew's Inc.
Architects: Henry J. Corn, Victor Hugo Koehler
Previous Names: Olympia Theatre, Loew's Olympia Theatre, Olympia I & II Cinemas
Nearby Theaters
Located just six blocks north of the former Art Deco style Metro Theatre, the modest Olympia Theatre had been a neighborhood favorite since it opened in 1914. It was operated by Golden Theatres by 1980 and they converted it into a triple screen theatre on December 19, 1980 and on June 26, 1981 it became a quad. Taken over by Cineplex Odeon it was reduced to become a twin-screen theatre on December 6, 1987.
The Olympia Theatre was also one of the cheapest places to see a first run movie in Manhattan, with its lower-priced matinees, until it last operators Clearview Cinemas closed it on December 19, 2002. It was gutted in January 2003. In October of 2003, the Olympia Theatre was demolished.
Contributed by
Cinema Treasures
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Recent comments (view all 39 comments)
Growing up across the street from the Olympia I was privy to its many reincarnations. I recall in the mid 60’s it became the venue for the Spanish speaking community by showing Latin American films. In the 70’s it became controversial (at the time) for showing films like “The Devil in Miss Jones”. I remember the media blitz that descended on our normally unassuming neighborhood when it first showed. The Olympia had a very small background role in the movie “Harry and Tonto” starring Art Carney. It wasn’t Mr. Carney’s last movie to be shot on locale. If I recall correctly, it was the first movie house to break the $10 admission barrier. Now in its place stands a high rise luxury apartment building. Just like so many other icons of our youth, gone, but never forgotten.
http://nytelecom.vo.llnwd.net/o15/agencies/lpc/arch_reports/438.pdf picture on last page… btw Olympia Theater was original name
A rare theater to have been multiplexed and then to have had the number of screens REDUCED from four to two!
Yes, Cineplex Odeon also reduced screens at the 23rd Street West. It was a move away from arthouse and towards mainstream by CO in Manhattan.
Here is an ad for the 1964 re-opening as a Spanish language house.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=x7pbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WFINAAAAIBAJ&pg=3565%2C72604
01 de julio 1964 anuncio de “El Diario La Prensa” se ha cargado en la sección de fotos de este teatro.
Thanks for these great ads, Mark!
Hello-
the only film i can remember seeing here was “Everyone’s All American” starring Dennis Quad. so i guess had to be prior to 2003.
also when exactly did it become a 1st run venue?
I only remember it as a 1st run venue.
The Olympia and (three blocks north) the Nemo were my neighborhood theaters in the 1940’s and 50’s. The Olympia was smaller and (back in the 50’s) slightly more elegant and ‘atmospheric’ than the Nemo. Fond memories. I left New York in 1961 when they were still operating as mainstream, though second-run, theaters.
Please update, Golden made it a triplex on December 19, 1980 and a Quad on June 26, 1981. Cinplex Odeon reduced it to a twin on December 6, 1987. Theatre closed December 19, 2002 under Clearview Cinemas