art deco theatres in manila

ART DECO THEATRES IN

MANILAOf all the 10 theatres, only 2 serves

as theatres today.

Art Deco theaters of Manila are theaters constructed in the 1930s to 1950s built in Art Deco style, or a similar branch of the style like Streamline Moderne, in the Philippines. The construction of these early theaters in Metro Manila provided the venue for early forms of entertainment like bodabil, a local adaptation of vaudeville, with most eventually converting to movie theaters with the growth and popularity of Philippine cinema in the metropolis. Several theaters built within the city of Manila were designed by prominent Philippine architects, including future National Artists Juan Nakpil and Pablo Antonio. Unfortunately, some of these theaters have since been closed and several of them demolished

Manila Metropolitan Theatre

The Manila Metropolitan Theater or MET is an Art Deco building in Manila, designed by the Filipino architect Juan M. Arellano. It was inaugurated on December 10, 1931, with a capacity of 1670 (846 orchestra, 116 in loge, and 708 in balcony).[1] During the liberation of Manila by the United States and Filipino forces in 1945, the theatre was severely damaged, losing some of its roofing and destroying some of the walls. After reconstruction by the Americans it gradually fell into disuse in the 1960s. In the following decade it was meticulously restored in 1978 but again fell into decay.

Recently, a bus terminal and parking structure has been constructed at the back of the theatre.The city of Manila, with the help of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) recently finished a plan to rehabilitate the theater.The sculptures in the façade of the theater are from the Italian sculptor Francesco Riccardo Monti, who lived in Manila from 1930 until his death in 1958, and worked closely together with Juan M. Arellano.[2] Highly stylized relief carving of Philippine plants executed by the artist Isabelo Tampingco decorate the lobby walls and interior surfaces of the building.The theater was again closed in 1996 due to ownership disputes between the city administration and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). On June 23, 2010, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Manila mayor Alfredo Lim re-opened the theater after extensive renovations.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila_Metropolitan_Theater

Avenue Theatre

The Avenue Theater was named after the street where it was located, on the western side of Rizal Avenue near the corner of Claro M. Recto Avenue. It was designed in the 1930s by National Artist Juan Nakpil, best known for his design work on the UP Administration Building and Library, Manila Jockey Club, and Philippine Village Hotel. During those days, theaters had designs from well-known architects and the Avenue Theater was no exception for it was a grand Art Deco building. The lobby's flooring was finished in marble and housed 1000 moviegoers. It also contained a hotel and office space.

During its glory days, people would often come to take their minds off the troubles of the war. During the Japanese Occupation, movies from the U.S. were banned, so the theater housed live acts. After World War II, the Avenue Theater was the only surviving building left on the western side of Rizal Avenue.Further renovations by Juan Nakpil were done during the 1950's. An air-conditioning system was added, and films were shown in Technicolor on wide screens. The theater continued to show movies and live performances. Some of the first FAMAS Awards were held there.The theater was closed in 1997 but continued to stand until 2006, when the owners demolished the building to turn the place into a parking lot, provoking outrage among cultural historians and preservationists.

Capitol Theatre

The Capitol Theater, situated in Escolta, Manila, was designed by Juan Nakpil and was built in the 1930s with an approximate seating capacity of 800. This theater had a double balcony, which is a rare architectural design. The theater's facade has reliefs of 2 muses done by Francesco Monti. The theater is now closed, its location serving as a venue for a few commercial establishments and restaurants in the area.

Bellevue Theatre

The Bellevue Theater is one of a few classic Philippine theaters built in the '30s still running today. It is located on Pedro Gil (formerly Herran) Street, Paco, Manila and has a total seating capacity of 600. The theater features a Neo Mudejar theme, and contains a quonset hut design, and other classic ornamentation. The theater is not currently operational and a general merchandise store occupies its first floor.[

Ever Theatre

The Ever Theater is located along Rizal Avenue in Manila. The theater was also designed by Juan Nakpil and has a single screen cinema with an 800 seating capacity. It was also visited by Walter Gropius during its inauguration in the 1950s, praising the theater's outstanding qualities. Currently closed as a theater, it now serves the public as a commercial arcade.

Ideal Theatre

The Ideal Theater was located at Rizal Avenue in Manila and designed by the late architect Pablo Antonio in 1933. The theater was demolished in the late 1970s to give way to the construction of a department store. The Ideal Theater was one of the first major works of Pablo Antonio along with the buildings of Far Eastern University and Manila Polo Club.

Life Theatre

One of the works of Pablo Antonio, the Life Theater used to be one of Manila's prime movie houses. The theater was adorned with aluminum buffles and columns, consistent with its Art Deco design. Along with the Times Theater, the theater is found along Quezon Boulevard in Quiapo, Manila. It has since been converted to a shopping center.

Scala Theatre

Another theater designed by Pablo Antonio was the Scala Theatre, also on Avenida Rizal in Manila. With its floors paced with tea rose marble and its curved wall ligned with glass blocks, the theater's magnificence did not last: it was closed in the '90s. The theater catered to up to 600 people for its single screen operations.

State Theatre

Another work of the late architect Juan Nakpil, the State Theater was on Rizal Avenue in Manila. Built in the 1930s with an art deco design, the theater was eventually closed in the 1990's, and was demolished in 2001

Times Theatre

The Times Theater, currently found along Quezon Boulevard, Quiapo, Manila, was designed by Architect Luis Z. Araneta. It was erected in 1939, with an Art Moderne relief. Unmaintained today, the theater is still operational, and can accommodate 800 people with its single screen operations.

Rex Theatre

The Rex Theater is an artdeco structure built during the 1930's located in Salazar St. Binondo Manila.This structure survived WWII but as time pass, it was converted to a restaurant, the Presidents Tea House. The owner kept the fascade of the theater but changed the interior.

Ginto Theatre

It was formerly called Lider Theater. It was built during the late 1960's. It is one of the few movie theaters that's still running and operating with double feature films. The Guinto and the Times theatre are the only theaters that are still operating along Quezon Boulevard. Last September the city of Manila raided the place for alleged sanitary reasons, fire code regulations and is now a place for male prostitution.

Gaiety Theatre

The Gaiety Theater is located along the street of Marcelo H. Del Pilar in Malate Manila near Hyatt Hotel.It was designed by Juan Nakpil in 1935. It was owned by an American, Mr. H. Brown, producer of La Vida de Rizal.

Luneta Theatre

Luneta Theater- an old cinema house located along T.M. Kalaw St., Manila. The building is still existing although the theater is no longer in operation. It is owned by the Litonjua family.The theater is just beside the old Luneta Hotel

Lords and Jennet Theatre

The Lords and the Jennet Theater was built during the late 1960's and through the years , the Lord's and Jennet's stood the test of time. There was a certain decade in the history of  Manila (2000) wherein demolishing stand-alone theaters is a trend to make way for new yet unsightly infrastructures.

Unfortunately the neighboring theaters of the twin theaters  (Avenue, Clover and the State theater) along Avenida were demolished. Usually the movies that are being shown here are either x-rated or out-of-date.

Dilson Theatre

The Dilson Theater, same with the Lords & Jennets Theater was built during the  1970's. It is located in CM Recto Avenue beside the Hollywood Theater. They say it is now unmaintained, no air-conditioning and very grimy. Unlike before where it is the place to be. In recent news, Mayor Lim closed this theater for several violations including the Ginto Theater but now it is open and still on business.

Roben Theatre

The Roben Theater was erected during the early 1970's. It is located in C.M. Recto in Rizal Avenue Manila a place where stand-alone Movies were everywhere. Before it was a haven for people who are looking for a good time, a place to relax and a place where you can just lean back and enjoy the show, but now a lot of people say that it is a haven of prostitution. The Roben Theater is still operating. Despite the demolition of stand-alone theaters along Rizal Avenue, The Roben is still standing proud with its steel sign although it is not well maintained, it is still operational.

Galaxy Theatre

“This was a lovely movie house, also among the prime movie houses during its time. The use of sun buffles created a very dignified character to the structure. The stairway leading the balcony was very graceful. The arcade post was accented with mahjong-like blocks.”By 2008, the building had been demolished.

Lyric Theatre

The Lyric Theater sat 1600 people and was designed by Pablo Antonio, the foremost Filipino modernist architect of his time who also designed the Ideal, Life, Galaxy, and Scala theaters.Frank Goulette, a former policeman acquired the Lyric in 1913 and went on to start a chain of movie houses through the Philippines. He died in 1933. The Lyric was taken over by Eastern Theatrical Inc. (Rufino family).It suffered extensive damage during the war and is now non-existent.

Manila Grand Opera House

The Manila Grand Opera House (Filipino: Maringal na Bahay-Opera ng Maynila, abbreviated MGOH) was a theater and opera house located in the Santa Cruz district of Manila on the intersection of Rizal Avenue and Doroteo Jose Street. Built in the mid-19th century as the H.T. Hashim’s National Cycle Track, a circular wooden structure with a nipa roof, the complex served as the center of Philippine culture and the primary theater for the viewing of plays, movies and zarzuelas in Manila prior to the construction of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in the 1960s. The complex had undergone several incarnations and name changes before being demolished. A hotel has since been constructed on the site on where the theater once stood.

Other theatres in Manila

Art Deco Theatres of the PhilippinesSummary:1) Metropolitan Theatre Under Renovation2) Avenue Theatre Demolished3) Capitol Theatre Abandoned 4) Bellevue Theatre Variety Store5) Ever Theatre Arcade6) Ideal Theatre Demolished7) Life Theatre Mall8) Scala Theatre Abandoned9) State Theatre Demolished10)Times Theatre Operational11)Rex Theatre Restaurant12)Ginto Theatre Operational13)Gaiety Theatre Abandoned14)Luneta Theatre Commercial

Space15)Lords and Jennet Theatres Operational16)Dilson Theatre Operational17)Roben Theatre Operational18)Galaxy Theatre Demolished19)Lyric Theatre Demolished20)Manila Grand Opera House Demolished

QUIZ

Identify the theatre in the picture

Sources:www.wikipedia.orghttp://video48.blogspot.comhttp://thefilipinas.blogspot.comhttp://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1435281http://my_sarisari_store.typepad.com/my_sarisari_store/movie-billboards-and-theaters/http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/12375

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