Village East by Angelika — Attraction in New York

Fire the projectionist.

I'm just coming from the 70mm screening of The Brutalist at the theater. I was very much excited for the movie and the rest of the audience seemed to be sharing that sentiment. A 10:45am showing was packed and the anticipation was felt throughout the beautiful auditorium prior to showtime.

I come to this movie theater for films screening in film because of the ambience and the enjoyment I get out of watching a movie specifically in that environment. It's one of my favorite theaters in the city and if you like going to the movies as much as I do, do yourself a favor and catch a screening there next chance you get.

Just make sure the bozo in the projection room keeps his mouth shut during the movie.

About twenty minutes into the movie I could hear someone talking rather loudly from behind me. Turning around I couldn't see where the noise was coming from until I looked at the ladder against the wall and where it led to.

Up in the projection room, the projectionist was talking to someone on the phone at full volume for an extended period of time. Looks were exchanged between the audience members that could hear the noise but nobody did anything. After several minutes and multiple more audible outbursts from the man in the box, I left my seat and went down to notify a staff member.

I told someone - who I thought to be a manager - about the man talking and if they could tell him to please stop. The assumed manager appeared willing to relay the message and I went back to the theater and enjoyed the silence.

However, that silence was short-lived. Not much later, you could hear the man continuing to speak at an awfully loud volume as if there weren't a large group of people sitting quietly in a room beneath him trying to enjoy a movie (which we paid for) at the same moment.

I usually go to the Regal down the street on Essex & Delancey and have unfortunately come to expect this sort of behavior from fellow moviegoers because nobody knows how to act anymore, but to have to deal with such behavior by a person directly responsible for screening the movie is completely unacceptable.

And what's even more unacceptable is the fact that this projectionist was either so oblivious to the noise he was making or completely apathetic to the inconvenience he was causing to the many people that, like me, sought out this specific theater to see this movie.

Either explanation is completely ridiculous and I can only hope someone that can remedy the situation for future moviegoers ends up seeing this and taking action.

Again - fire the...

Village East by Angelika, located at 181-189 Second Avenue in Manhattan's East Village, is a historic movie theater known for its distinctive Moorish Revival architecture. Designed by architect Harrison G. Wiseman, the theater originally opened in 1926 as the Louis N. Jaffe Art Theatre, serving as a venue for Yiddish theater productions. EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG

Architectural Features:

The theater's design showcases intricate Moorish-inspired details, including ornate plasterwork and a grand dome, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the period. These architectural elements have contributed to its designation as both an interior and exterior New York City landmark, as well as its inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG

Evolution Over Time:

Throughout its history, the theater has undergone various transformations, hosting off-Broadway productions, burlesque shows, and serving as a cinema under different names. In 1991, it was converted into a seven-screen multiplex, and in 2021, it was rebranded as Village East by Angelika, aligning it with the Angelika Film Center's commitment to showcasing independent and foreign films. EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG

Current Offerings:

Today, Village East by Angelika continues to operate as a prominent venue for independent and foreign cinema, offering a diverse selection of films that cater to a wide range of audiences. Its historic ambiance combined with modern cinematic presentations makes it a unique destination for film enthusiasts.

Visiting Information:

Address: 181-189 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10003

Official Website: For current showtimes, ticket purchases, and additional information, visit the theater's official website:

Village East by Angelika stands as a testament to New York City's rich theatrical and cinematic history, offering visitors an opportunity to experience films within a setting that embodies architectural and cultural...

Angelika East (AE) is one of the most beautiful movie theaters in the City. It’s a vintage theater that has been around since the 20’s, and its decorative interior is just gorgeous. I love coming here because it’s like taking a step back in time.

I recently saw ‘Sinners’ in theater 1, the Jaffe Theater, and it was a great movie-going experience. The screen is impressive and the audio quality is great. The theater itself is beautiful. I particularly love the ceiling as it displays craftsmanship and attention to detail that you don’t see in more modern movie theaters.

The only criticism that I have is that the bathrooms aren’t as clean as they should be. They definitely need to step up their game in that department.

I’ve been to AE on a regular basis over the years and I love the chilled atmosphere. Also the staff is very nice and friendly. Over the years I’ve had some great conversations with them. Many of the staff are true aficionados of the film industry. In closing, we are fortunate to have such a beautiful, vintage theater like AE. There aren’t many theaters like this left in the City, especially one playing the genres that are typically shown there. If there is a movie that’s playing that you’re interested in seeing, I would encourage you to go. If you’ve not been there before then you’ll be in for a nice treat. Strongly recommended. I...