Village East by Angelika

City Cinema’s beautifully restored Village East was once the home of Yiddish theatre in its original auditorium which had 1,252 seats in orchestra & balcony levels. Legend has it that Walter Matthau began his show business career here as a young boy working at the concession counter.

Built in 1925 and opening on November 17, 1926 as the Louis M. Jaffe Art Theatre with “The Tenth Commandment”. The Yiddish Art Theatre moved out of the building in 1928 and it became the Yiddish Folks Theatre. It was leased to Molly Picon in 1930-1931. From 1936 to 1944 was renamed Century Theatre and became a 1,087-seat movie theatre (listed as (Closed) in 1941-1943). It reopened briefly in 1945 as a Yiddish Theatre. In 1946 it was renamed Stuyvesant Theatre and continued as a 1,082-seat movie theatre for another 7 years. From 1953 it was renamed Phoenix Theatre and became a playhouse which continued to 1961. It was renamed Casino East Theatre and hosted a burlesque production of “This Was Burlesque” which ran for 3 years and in 1965 it continued as a burlesque theatre, renamed Gayety Theatre. On May 25, 1969 it went over being an Off-Broadway live theatre renamed Eden Theatre and presented the Off-Broadway premiere of “Oh! Cacutta” (An Entertainment With Music) which moved to Broadway at the Belasco Theatre on February 17, 1971 (1,314 performances). In 1971 a short run of the Off-Broadway production of “Grease” was performed here before transferring to Broadway at the Broadhust Theatre where it ran for 9-years (3,388 performances). It was renamed Entermedia Theatre on November 18, 1981 until January 24, 1982 when a pre-Broadway production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” was performed until its Broadway transfer to the Royale Theatre, where it ran for 747 performances and winning several Tony Awards.

Its past is still evident in the Moorish style designs that adorn the outside of the theatre and inside, which are the work of interior designer William Pogany. The ticket lobby has an ornate ceiling and the main lobby that has a concession stand is very ornate, including the ceiling and has Yiddish writing in the decoration. The ornate decorations extend to the exits to the outside, and there are two grand stairways which lead to the balcony of the auditorium where a large Star of David in the domed ceiling further infuse atmosphere into the historic building.

The movie theatre also hosted dance, concerts & movies having been renamed 12th Street Cinema followed by Second Avenue Cinema until it closed as a single auditorium in 1988. It reopened as the Village East Cinema on February 21, 1991 as a 7-screen movie theatre. Today in the basement below the original ornate auditorium and lobby, four screening rooms have been added in what was originally the orchestra seating area. Seating here is provided in Screen 2;187, Screen 3;179, Screen 4;130 and Screen 5;66. A further two screens have been added on the former stage area of the theatre, which are stacked one on top of the other, Screen 6;145 & Screen 7;174. The screen on top has wonderful stadium seating, a decent size screen, and is a very nice theatre in itself, with exposed brickwork and some character. However, it is not as beautiful as the main 440-seat Screen 1 auditorium which is located in the former balcony, with stairs down to a lower floor inserted over the circle void where there are 40 seats. As of 2017 this auditorium has 365 seats.

With New York City’s lack of a still-operating historic movie palace, the Village East is the closest thing around. The theatre is listed on both the State & National Historic Registers and its façade and interior, including the lobby and domed auditorium, are designated New York City Landmarks. In 2015 the historic main auditorium’s magnificent plaster ceiling was restored.

In February 2021 it was renamed Village East by Angelika.

Recent comments (view all 168 comments)

ridethectrain on February 25, 2021 at 10:52 pm

please update theater name Village East by Angelika. Angelika Fil Center just phase ouy City Cinema name is being phased out by Angelika. Reading still owns the theaters

ridethectrain on February 26, 2021 at 5:46 pm

Tenet will be shown Friday in 70MM on March 5. Tickets on sail

Ken Roe on December 2, 2021 at 8:23 am

A 70mm experience at the Village East at Angelika on 30/11/201 by Howard B. Haas

Ed Solero on December 2, 2021 at 9:14 am

Nice piece, Howard!

HowardBHaas on June 13, 2022 at 7:45 am

Thanks, Ed. In March of this year, I returned for the 70mm screening of “Murder on the Nile” and I posted photos in the photo gallery, of this beautiful theater.

Joe Vogel on January 14, 2023 at 11:21 pm

Hal: According to this web site, yes, the Village East, then known as the Gayety, did play the role of Minsky’s in that film.

Shawn Charles on January 16, 2023 at 11:32 am

I was the manager of this venue from 1978-1985. Many plays and concerts during my time there. Best Little Whorehouse, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, etc. Talking heads, Wilson Picket, etc. Also, many films and commercials shot there. The Fan (with Betty BaCall) 3 Dr. Pepper spots (Mickey Rooney) etc.

Many superstitions in theatre, including the ghost light on stage set out overnight for roaming spirits. We set our ghost light for a couple roaming spirits, including Burt. Burt Lahr passed away about halfway through the filming of the “The Night They Raided the Minsky’s” in 1967. Light also set out for Montgomery Clift, who passed in ‘66. He appeared in “The Seagull” on our stage in '56.

NewYorkToursbyGary on October 20, 2024 at 8:55 pm

This is where Ou Calcutta! had it’s world premiere, I believe, in 1969. This was obviously right before the move to Broadway, opening at the Belasco Theatre which was originally named coincidentally Stuyvesant.

rivest266 on October 21, 2024 at 1:19 pm

Oh! Calcutta! opened in May 1969. Ad posted.

ridethectrain on January 27, 2025 at 3:01 pm

Theatre Capacity:

Theatre 1 363 (70MM)

Theatre 2 153 (70MM)

Theatre 3 165

Theatre 4 118

Theatre 5 66

Theatre 6 145

Theatre 7 173 (35MM)