# Elgin Theater

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Movie theater in Manhattan, New York City

This article is about the theater in New York City. For other uses, see [Elgin Theatre (disambiguation)](/source/Elgin_Theatre_(disambiguation)).

Elgin Theater The Elgin Theater, before 1982 Interactive map of Elgin Theater Address 175 Eighth Avenue Location Chelsea, New York City, United States Coordinates 40°44′34″N 74°00′02″W / 40.742766°N 74.000545°W / 40.742766; -74.000545 Capacity 600 Type Theater Event Cinema Public transit 14th St./Eighth Ave (NYC Subway) Construction Built 1941 Opened 1942 Renovated 1982 Closed 1978 Architect Simon Zelnik

The **Elgin Theater** is a former movie theater on the corner of [19th Street](/source/List_of_numbered_streets_in_Manhattan#17th_to_19th_Streets) and [Eighth Avenue](/source/Eighth_Avenue_(Manhattan)) in the [Chelsea neighborhood](/source/Chelsea%2C_Manhattan) of [Manhattan](/source/Manhattan) in [New York City](/source/New_York_City). The theater showed films from its opening in 1942 until 1978. Its longtime manager, [Ben Barenholtz](/source/Ben_Barenholtz), invented [midnight movie](/source/Midnight_movie) programming for the theater. Following a full renovation, the building reopened in 1982 as a 472-seat dance theater operated by the [Joyce Theatre Foundation](/source/Joyce_Theatre_Foundation).

## History

### Theater programming until 1977

The theater opened in 1942. The architect of the [Art Moderne](/source/Art_Moderne) style structure was Simon Zelnik.[1] Winold Reiss was the designer.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] When it opened, the theater had 600 seats.

The Elgin opened as a first-run cinema. In the 1950s through 1965 it presented Spanish-language cinema.[2][3]

In 1968, Ben Barenholtz assumed management of the theater and converted it to a repertory and art film house. The Elgin soon became noted for the innovation and variety of its programming, which ranged from revivals of classic Hollywood films; experimental works by [Jonas Mekas](/source/Jonas_Mekas), [Kenneth Anger](/source/Kenneth_Anger), and [Andy Warhol](/source/Andy_Warhol); and films by then-emerging directors such as [Jonathan Demme](/source/Jonathan_Demme) and [Martin Scorsese](/source/Martin_Scorsese).[4] Around 1975, Steve Gould and Chuck Zlatkin took over management of the theater in partnership with Barenholtz and continued similar programming.[5]

With the midnight screening of [Alejandro Jodorowsky](/source/Alejandro_Jodorowsky)'s surrealist western *[El Topo](/source/El_Topo#Release)* on December 18, 1970, the Elgin became the first theater to show [midnight movies](/source/Midnight_movie).[6] Barenholtz recalled, "I was told by the experts: 'Who's going to come see a film at midnight? You're out of your mind.' But within two years, there wasn't a city in the country that didn't have a midnight movie going."[7] *El Topo* premiered at The Elgin on December 17, 1970 and ran continuously seven days a week until the end of June 1971.[8] Author [Gary Lachman](/source/Gary_Lachman) claims that the film *[Invocation of My Demon Brother](/source/Invocation_of_My_Demon_Brother)* (1969) "inaugurat[ed] the [midnight movie](/source/Midnight_movie) cult at the theater."[9][10]

The theater was part of an efflorescence of revival cinema in New York City during this period. *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*' film critic [Vincent Canby](/source/Vincent_Canby) observed, "There is a heaven for movie buffs and it could be here and now thanks to The Elgin, [The Thalia](/source/Symphony_Space), The Symphony and all those other houses that occasionally recall the past."[11]

In May 1977, while continuing to present film, the theater began to mount programs of [rock music](/source/Rock_music) and allied acts. These two-set evenings were produced by Bleu Ocean. There were local objections to noise from the concerts.[12]

### Gay pornography controversy

On March 20, 1977, Roger Euster, the owner of the Elgin, evicted his tenants, Gould and Zlatkin, for non-payment of rent totaling $21,393. He immediately signed a lease with Tel-a-Gay, a producer and exhibitor of gay films, who launched an all-gay-pornography program on March 21.[13] The change inspired immediate protests by local citizens groups and picketing in front of the theater. The theater shut its doors the following day. Later that week, Euster and Tel-a-Gay President William Perry met with the community groups. They agreed to return the theater to its previous programming format on a trial basis to see if the operation could be sustained on the income.[14]

### Conversion to a dance theater

Main article: [Joyce Theater](/source/Joyce_Theater)

By late 1978, the theater had stopped showing films and was for sale. It was purchased in early 1979 by the Eliot Feld Ballet with the intention of converting it to a theater for smaller dance companies.[15] The building reopened in 1982 as the 472-seat [Joyce Theater](/source/Joyce_Theater). Philanthropist [LuEsther Mertz](/source/LuEsther_Mertz) underwrote the purchase of the theater in 1979, at a cost of $225,000. The renovated facility was named for her daughter, Joyce, to honor this contribution.[16]

## See also

- [Architecture portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Architecture)
- [Film portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Film)
- [United States portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:United_States)
- [New York City portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:New_York_City)

- [1942 in architecture](/source/1942_in_architecture)

- [List of theaters in New York](/source/List_of_theaters_in_New_York)

## References

**Notes**

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** White, Norval; Willensky, Elliot (June 2000). *[AIA Guide to New York City](/source/AIA_Guide_to_New_York_City)* (4th ed.). New York City: [Three Rivers Press](/source/Three_Rivers_Press). p. 182. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-8129-3107-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8129-3107-6).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Davis, Ben; Owners of the Elgin (2000). "Children of the Sixties: An Interview with the Owners of the Elgin". *Film Quarterly*. **53** (4): 4. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/1213747](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F1213747). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [1213747](https://www.jstor.org/stable/1213747).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Zoloto, Sam. ["Inge's 'Birth Day' to Open in March/Theaters Change Hands"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1965/12/31/95922591.html?pageNumber=12). *The New York Times*. No. 31 Dec 1965. p. 12. Retrieved June 28, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Peter, Belsito (October 8, 2013). ["Ben Barenholtz: A Life in Film"](http://www.indiewire.com/2013/10/ben-barenholtz-a-life-in-film-international-film-business-169352/). *Indie Wire*. Retrieved September 22, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Davis, Ben; Owners of the Elgin (2000). "Children of the Sixties: An Interview with the Owners of the Elgin". *Film Quarterly*. **53** (4): 4. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/1213747](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F1213747). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [1213747](https://www.jstor.org/stable/1213747).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-barenholtz_obit_6-0)** Sandomir, Richard (July 5, 2019). ["Ben Barenholtz, Midnight-Movie Innovator, Is Dead at 83"](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/05/movies/ben-barenholtz-dead.html). *The New York Times*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Strauss, Neil (July 7, 1995). ["It Must Be Midnight And Must Be Weird"](https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/07/movies/it-must-be-midnight-and-must-be-weird.html). *The New York Times*. Retrieved September 22, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Hoberman, J.; Rosenbaum, Jonathan (1991). *Midnight movies*. New York, N.Y.: Da Capo Press. p. 93. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780306804335](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780306804335).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Brottman, M.; Rowe, C.; Powell, A. (2002). Jack Hunter (ed.). *Moonchild: The films of Kenneth Anger*. London: Creation Books. p. 112.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [Lachman, Gary](/source/Gary_Lachman) (2001). *[Turn Off Your Mind: The Mystic Sixties and the Dark Side of the Age of Aquarius](/source/Turn_Off_Your_Mind%3A_The_Mystic_Sixties_and_the_Dark_Side_of_the_Age_of_Aquarius)* (New York: Disinformation). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-88064-278-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-88064-278-5), p. 305.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Canby, Vincent (April 12, 1970). ["Is Busby Really Camp"](https://www.nytimes.com/1970/04/12/archives/is-busby-really-camp-is-busby-berkeley-really-camp.html). *The New York Times*. Retrieved September 21, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Nusser, Dick (June 18, 1977). ["Queens House Books Rock Every Weekend"](https://books.google.com/books?id=aCQEAAAAMBAJ&q=elgin%20theater%20punk&pg=PT35). *Billboard*. No. June 18, 1977. p. 36. Retrieved September 22, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Klemesrud, Judy (March 22, 1977). ["Neighbors Assail Elgin's Switch to Homosexual Films"](https://www.nytimes.com/1977/03/22/archives/neighbors-assail-elgins-switch-to-homosexual-films.html). *The New York Times*. Retrieved September 21, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Klemesrud, Judy (March 24, 1977). ["Elgin Cancels Homosexual Films After Chelsea Residents Protest"](https://www.nytimes.com/1977/03/24/archives/elgin-cancels-homosexual-films-after-chelsea-residents-protest.html). *The New York Times*. Retrieved September 21, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Kisselgoff, Anna (January 9, 1979). ["Dance: Eliot Feld Ballet Acquires Elgin Theater in Chelsea"](https://www.nytimes.com/1979/01/09/archives/dance-remembering-isadora-duncan-eliot-feld-ballet-acquires-elgin.html). *The New York Times*. Retrieved September 21, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Kisselgofff, Anna (July 26, 1981). ["Creating a Theater Just for Dance"](https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/26/arts/creating-a-theater-just-for-dance.html). *The New York Times*. Retrieved September 21, 2017.

## External links

- [Joyce Theater site](http://www.joyce.org/)

- [New York Architecture](https://web.archive.org/web/20040811114522/http://nyc-architecture.com/CHE/CHE009-JoyceTheater.htm)

- [Illustrations of original design of theater](https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/99471672/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Elgin Theater](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elgin_Theater) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elgin_Theater?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.