If you’ve been to the Walter Reade Theater in the past few weeks, you’ve probably had to pick your jaw up off our newly restored marble floor. We recently rescued it from underneath a layer of carpet and buffed it up to its former glory. The result, if we do say so ourselves, is gorgeous.
Photo by Mettie Ostrowski.
The lobby renovation is just the first step of a year-long process in preparation for the Walter Reade Theater’s 25th Anniversary in 2016. Next summer, we’ll be tackling the theater itself, replacing the soundproofing and installing a new screen and 4K and 16mm projectors. But to make this all possible, we need your help!
One way to support the renovation is to name a seat in the historic theater. The seat can bear your name or that of a family member, a business, or a cherished friend. It can also be used to celebrate the memory of a loved one. At the same time, you’ll be helping to carry on the tradition of excellence in film presentation at the Walter Reade Theater, which Manohla Dargis of The New York Times has called “one of the finest movie-watching rooms in the city.”
Christopher Nolan at the Walter Reade Theater in 2012. Photo by Julie Cunnah.
In addition to the New York Film Festival and year-round cinematheque programming of new finds and old treasures of cinema, the Walter Reade Theater has played host to innumerable directors, actors, musicians, and more. Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan, Steve McQueen, Laura Poitras, Wim Wenders, Juliette Binoche, John Waters, Isabelle Huppert, and Jackie Chan are just a few examples of the film luminaries that have graced the theater’s stage, with more joining their ranks every year.
For more information about naming a seat, including a chart of available seats and pricing, click here. Enshrine your name in one of the finest venues for movie-watching in the world, and help keep the Walter Reade Theater on the cutting edge of film presentation as it heads into its 25th year!
