The Lost Movie Theater of Grand Central Terminal

Grand Central Terminal once had a movie theater and remnants of it can be seen in the train hub today. Grand Central Theatre, which opened in 1937 (possibly earlier), showed newsreels, shorts, and cartoons. The 242-seat theater operated for three decades and then was gutted for retail. Today it’s the Grande Harvest Wine shop next to Track 17, a previous tenant was a photo shop. Renovations to the terminal in the 1990s revealed the ceiling, that stylistically matches the one in the main terminal.

The first film to screen at the theater was the MGM film Servant of the People: The Story of the Constitution of the United States–one supposes Americans were a little more high-brow back then. According to the website, I Ride the Harlem Line, the theater was advertised as the “most intimate theatre in America” and was open every day until midnight.

Another fun tidbit is that the theater was designed by Tony Sarg, the same person who created the first balloons for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, including Felix the Cat!

Secrets of Grand Central Terminal Tour

From hidden tennis courts to the remnants of a lost movie theater and an office-turned-speakeasy, uncover the secrets of New York City's iconic train terminal!

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Visit the former theatre site when you join us on a Secrets of Grand Central Terminal Walking tour!