A New Art Form was Born this Century

Abstract

Reprint of the prospectus issued by the American Cinematheque in 1973, an effort to establish a branch of Henri Langlois' Cinémathèque Francaise in New York City. A brief introduction provides historical perspective on the unrealized project.

A New Art Form was Born this Century

It has come to be the most powerful of all the arts.

Adopted by the youth of our generation as their property, it speaks directly to people of all ages.

The new art is, of course, the motion picture.

Since the Renaissance, every art form has reached a stage at which the intervention of a few patrons was required to assure its fullest development.

Film is at that point today. It must have a permanent home in America. It will cost $10 million.

The work of many people over a number of years has gone into the plans and preparations that make this a possibility, one that can be realized immediately.

Making it a reality will take more than money: it will require exceptional vision.

The plans that have been developed and the individuals who are prepared to execute them are, we believe, worthy of that vision.

What will it be?

The American Cinematheque will be the first museum and exhibition center in this country to be dedicated solely to the art of the motion picture.

A primary cultural resource making the largest film archives in the world easily available to specialists and the general public.

An educational institution illustrating the techniques, history and possibilities of this powerful form of communication to schoolchildren and students of all ages.

The transformation of a long-neglected jewel in the urban landscape into a highly visible center of life for residents of the city and visitors from all over the world.

Physically, the American Cinematheque will contain three auditoriums for the screening of motion pictures; one of 500 seats, one of 250 and one of 150. The 500 seat auditorium will have the capacity to exhibit almost every known format of the medium, from 70mm to Super 8.

It will also contain 25,000 square feet of museum exhibition space where permanent and temporary exhibitions trace the development of filmfrom primitive cave paintings through to the present day. Other exhibits will examine a variety of themes such as the relationship of film to modern painting, sculpture and theatre arts.

All the exhibitions will be created for the enjoyment and education of children as well as adults.

There will be conference and research facilities.

There will be a reference library.

There will be shops, among them a bookstore and a flower market.

And, of course, places to eat. A 350 seat restaurant to provide meals at modest prices to both visitors to the Cinematheque and to those who wish to come only for a meal. In addition to the restaurant there will be a café offering drinks and sandwiches in the public area.

There will be a generous public space, landscaped and maintained by the Cinematheque, which is not only a park but a means of elegant access consistent with the architectural distinction of the facility itself.

Where will it be?

In Manhattan, under the Queensboro Bridge at First Avenue between 59th and 60th Streets, in the very heart of Manhattan's most vigorous shopping, entertainment and recreation areas. In an astonishing space under the tiled vaults and in the open spaces surrounding it.

In the 1910's it was the site of a prosperous open market; in 1919 it was glazed in as a covered market; it was given a mosaic fountain in 1918, and it continued in popular use until the 1930s. Since then it has been used for municipal storage, its plaza space turned into a parking lot.

The City of New York has leased the space to the Cinematheque for a dollar a year. It is hoped by government officials and community residents that the Cinematheque will serve as a further impetus to the development of what is among the most dynamic areas of growth in the City...