Metropolitan Theatres Explained

Metropolitan Theatres
Type:	Private
Industry:	Entertainment
Services:	Movie theater
Founded:	1923
Founder:	Joseph Corwin
Fate:	Filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2024
Hq Location City:	Los Angeles
Hq Location Country:	United States
Area Served:	Southern California Loveland and Steamboat Springs, Colorado Park City, Utah
Key People:	David Corwin (CEO)
Owner:	Corwin family

Metropolitan Theatres is Los Angeles's oldest movie theater chain.^[1] Opened in 1923, they filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2024, at which point they owned 15 theaters: ten in southern California (including seven out of eight in Santa Barbara), three in Colorado, and two in Utah.^{[2] [3]}

History

Metropolitan Theatres was founded by Joseph Corwin in 1923.^[2] At the time, the Corwin family operated almost every movie theater in downtown Los Angeles's Broadway Theater District, the city's premiere theater venue until Hollywood was built up in the 1920s and 30s.^{[1] [4] [5]}

In the 1950s, Metropolitan Theatres expanded into Santa Barbara.^[3] In the 1970s, they shifted to blaxploitation films in their downtown Los Angeles theaters, in the 1980s, those same theaters shifted again, to Spanish language cinema. The company at one point had more than 1000 employees.^[1]

The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2024. Chief Executive Officer David Corwin blamed the bankruptcy on the Covid 19 pandemic, which he said was "devastating to the business," as well as the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes and increased labor, rent, and utilities expenses.^[1]

List of theatres

Notable theaters that have been either owned or operated by Metropolitan Theatres include:

Greater Los Angeles

Broadway Theater District

• Los Angeles Theatre^{[1] [4]}
• Orpheum Theatre^[1]
• State Theatre^{[1] [4]}
• Tower Theatre^[1]
• Palace Theatre^{[1] [4]}
• Arcade Theatre^[4]
• Roxie Theatre^[4]
• Rialto Theatre^[4]
• Globe Theatre^[4]
• United Artists Theatre^{[4] [6]}
• Cameo Theatre^[7]
• Broadway Theatre^[8]

Other

• Warrens Theatre, downtown Los Angeles^[6]
• El Portal Theatre, North Hollywood^[8]
• The Westlake, Westlake^[9]
• El Miro Theatre, Santa Monica^[10]
• WGA Theater, Beverly Hills^[8]
• Frida Cinema, Santa Ana^[8]

Elsewhere in California

• Arlington Theatre, Santa Barbara^{[1] [3]}
• Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara^[3]
• Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco^[8]

Notes and References

1. Web site: L.A.'s Oldest Theater Chain Files for Bankruptcy . . Chris . Nichols . March 13, 2024 . en-US.
2. Web site: Metropolitan Theatres files Chapter 11 to renegotiate cinema leases . . TRD staff . March 6, 2024 . en-US.
3. News: Metropolitan Theatres Declares Bankruptcy . . Nick . Welsh . March 5, 2024 . en-US.
4. Web site: National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form - California SP Broadway Theater and Commercial District. United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service. May 9, 1979.
5. Web site: National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form - Hollywood Boulevard Commercial and Entertainment District . . April 4, 1985 . en-US.
6. Web site: Early Los Angeles Historical Buildings (1925 +) . 1 . . November 10, 2024 . en-US.
7. Web site: Early Los Angeles Historical Buildings (1900 - 1925) . 4 . . November 10, 2024 . en-US.
8. Web site: Movie Theaters Previously Operated by Metropolitan Theatres . . November 9, 2024 . William . Gabel . en-US.
9. Web site: Early Los Angeles City Views (1925 +) . 5 . . November 10, 2024 . en-US.
10. Web site: Early Views of Santa Monica . 5 . . November 10, 2024 . en-US.