Lincoln Plaza Cinemas Successor Announces Film Series With JCC

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — The Upper West Side's beloved Lincoln Plaza Cinemas — which shut its doors in January after nearly three decades in business — has found a spiritual successor.

A group of Lincoln Plaza devotees going by the name New Plaza Cinema announced a partnership with the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan to hold screenings of first run and independent films in the JCC's auditorium this summer, according to a joint press release.

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While screenings will be held in the JCC's 250-seat auditorium, New Plaza Cinema will look for a more permanent location, founder Norma Levy said in a statement.

"We’re excited that the JCC has graciously agreed to screen these films with us this summer," Levy, a fan of the original Lincoln Plaza Cinemas, said in a statement. "We’re working to find a more permanent venue which will offer first run and independent films."

New Plaza Cinema will kick off its film series on June 24, 25 and 27 with screenings of IFC Films' "The Catcher is a Spy" by Ben Lewin followed the next week by a marathon of films based on Philip Roth's books in honor of the late author's passing.

While Lincoln Plaza Owner Toby Talbot, who founded the cinema with her late husband Dan Talbot, is not officially involved with New Plaza Cinema, she supports the group's efforts to continue her and her husband's work on the Upper West Side.

"Although Dan is no longer with us, I’m sure he would have been heartened—as am I—that a band of devoted theater goers have taken upon themselves the arduous task of creating similar cinema anew," Talbot said in a statement. "I fully support their effort and look forward to their ultimate success."

The Talbots opened the six-screen Lincoln Plaza Cinemas in 1981 on Broadway between West 62nd and 63rd streets and served as tastemakers of the New York City film scene. Before opening Lincoln Plaza Cinemas the Talbots operated the New Yorker Theater, Manhattan's Cinema Studio and Metro Theater through the 60s, 70s and 80s.

The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan is located on Amsterdam Avenue between West 75th and 76th streets. Its Carole Zabar Center for Film currently accommodates three film festivals throughout the year at its 250-seat auditorium. Even though the space is in high demand, the JCC jumped at the chance to partner with New Plaza Cinema.

"The moment we heard Lincoln Plaza Cinemas was closing, we knew we had to do something to support our community" Isaac Zablocki, Senior Director of the Carole Zabar Center for Film, said in a statement. "

"Despite the huge demand we have on our space for all the programs we run in the building, our administration and fellow programmers were happy to support this endeavor and offer any free time in the auditorium for these screenings."

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