Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
[UPDATE] Ziegfeld Theater Will Close To Make Way For Fancy Ballroom
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Jan 20, 2016
Modified Mar 25, 2018
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Jan 20, 2016
Modified Mar 25, 2018
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
[UPDATE BELOW] The Ziegfeld Theater, one of the best movie theaters in the city, seems perpetually plagued by rumors that it will close. And though it's thus far managed to survive, it appears the Ziegfeld is once again at death's door—the cinema's leaseholder, Cablevision, says they've been asked to vacate the space to make room for a new tenant. A ballroom. Can you watch Star Wars in a ballroom?
The Post first reported on the move today—Cablevision said that their lease had not been renewed, and noted in a statement that "we will be exiting our lease in the coming weeks.”
In April, rumors swirled that the city's largest surviving single-screen venue was set to die at the hand of Cablevision CEO and noted blues band frontman James Dolan. Cablevision backed away from the rumor—which was sparked by Dolan himself—and put out a statement claiming the theater would "remain open for the foreseeable future." The foreseeable future is over, and the Ziegfeld looks like it'll be replaced by 10,000 square-foot column-free ballroom by fall 2017.
Update 12:05 p.m.: The Times confirmed today that the Ziegfeld Theater will indeed die as a cinema and reopen as the Ziegfeld Ballroom by fall 2017.
“We will be exiting our lease in the coming weeks to accommodate the new tenant,” Cablevision said in a statement. “We wish the owners of the Ziegfeld Theatre the best of luck with the future of the establishment and with the new tenant that they have selected.”
Tagged
cablevision
james dolan
midtown
ziegfeld
ziegfeld theatre
Rebecca Fishbein
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
How the Village Halloween Parade keeps its soul
A visit to the community-driven pre-parade puppet preparations.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Oct 28, 2026
'You Can See Everything' … as long as you go to Staten Island
Nathan Fielder’s Elizabeth Holmes documentary has been selling out across Manhattan and Brooklyn. Tickets to see the film, however, are very much available in other boroughs.
By
Sonia Rao
Arts & Entertainment
'You Can See Everything' … as long as you go to Staten Island
Nathan Fielder’s Elizabeth Holmes documentary has been selling out across Manhattan and Brooklyn. Tickets to see the film, however, are very much available in other boroughs.
By
Sonia Rao
Inside the hidden chamber that controls Lincoln Center's magnificent fountain
By
Sonia Rao
In the algorithm age, NYC college radio DJs are still broadcasting the funky stuff
By
James Ramsay
A Queens prop shop shutters, bunnies find a home uptown, and more openings and closings
By
Hannah Frishberg
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .