Manila Metropolitan Theater

Origins, opening, and pre-war years (1924–1942) In 1924, during the American Colonial period, the Philippine Legislature approved the project proposal of Senator Juan B. Alegre to build a "people's theater" in the Mehan Garden. There was little, however, that came of it until 1928, when Manila Mayor Tomas Earnshaw spearheaded a project to build a theater. The City of Manila leased out 8,293 square meters of public land in the Mehan Garden to the newly-formed Metropolitan Theater Company at ₱1.00 for 99 years. The Metropolitan Theater Company was made up of wealthy Manila businessmen who would provide the capital for the venture. It was headed by Horace B. Pond of the Pacific Commercial Company, who was joined on the Board by Antonio Melian of El Hogar Filipino, Enrique Zóbel of Ayala y Compañia, University of the Philippines President Rafael Palma, Senator Manuel Camus, Leopold Kahn of Levy Hermanos, and businessman J.L. Pierce. The Metropolitan Theater Company raised ₱1 million to fund the project through community efforts, including fundraising dinners and selling stock to the public at affordable rates, offering Class A shares for ₱100.00 and Class B shares for ₱5.00 par value. Other significant events at the theater include the premier of production studio LVN Pictures's inaugural film Giliw Ko (1939). World War II (1942–1945) Unlike other similar establishments, during the Japanese Occupation in the Second World War, the Metropolitan Theater was still active. It became the home of the New Philippines Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Francisco Santiago, which held its inaugural concert in July 1942. Alongside concerts and film screenings, the Met was the stage for the performances of the Dramatic Philippines theater group founded by Francisco "Soc" Rodrigo and Narciso Pimentel, Jr. from 1943 to 1944. They performed Rodrigo's translations and adaptations of Western plays. The KALIBAPI political party also used the building as a meeting center. On December 10, 2021, the Metropolitan Theater celebrated its 90th anniversary with its formal re-opening. Previously, it had a soft opening in June 2021, with its official reopening postponed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The theater hosted the state necrological service for National Artist Nora Aunor on April 22, 2025. == Architecture ==

in 1988 The Metropolitan Theater was designed by Filipino architect Juan M. Arellano in the Art Deco style. Arellano was inspired by the phrase "On Wings of Song" for the structural configuration of the building: a rectangular-shaped auditorium flanked by pavilions on either side. Throughout the design, Arellano weaved Filipino decorative elements into the Art Deco style. Philippine Magazine editor A.V.H. Hartendorp described the style as "modern expressionistic." Exterior The façade's focal point is its proscenium-like central window of stained glass that corresponds with the shape and scale of the Main Theater inside. The stained glass marquee was executed by the Kraut Art Glass Company, with the "Metropolitan" label backlit and surrounded by Filipino floral motifs. Interior Foyer The Main Theater is accessed through a foyer with a two-story ceiling and stairways on either side leading to the balcony. By the stairways are the Adam and Eve bronze sculptures done by Italian artist Franceso Riccardo Monti. Displayed on opposite sides of the foyer are two mural paintings by National Artist Fernando Amorsolo, titled The Dance and The History of Music. Since the 1996 foreclosure, the original murals are in the GSIS Museum and so reproductions were made for the NCCA-led restoration. == Gallery == File:Metropolitan Theater.JPG|Close up of the art deco ornaments of the Metropolitan Theater File:Manilajf2185 26.JPG|Manila Metropolitan Theater entrance facade File:Manila Metropolitan Theater Main Facade.jpg|The main facade with the glass mural and other decorative elements File:Manila Metropolitan Theater Aracde.jpg|Arcade File:Manila Metropolitan Theater Sculpture.jpg|A sculpture at the topmost part File:Manila Metropolitan Theater Typical Bay.jpg|Typical bay File:Manila Metropolitan Theater Masses.jpg|Play of levels of massing File:Manila Metropolitan Theater Minor Entrance.jpg|Side entrances File:Manila Metropolitan Theater Block.jpg|The fly tower File:Manila Metropolitan Theater Ornament.jpg|Organic ornaments File:Manila Metropolitan Theater View from Quezon Bridge.jpg|View from the foot of Quezon Bridge File:Manila Metropolitan Theater front (Padre Burgos, Manila; 02-10-2022).jpg|The theater from the air == References ==