New York’s Ziegfeld Theatre Closes With Crowded ‘Star Wars’ Showing

New York’s Ziegfeld Theatre screened its final movie Thursday night.

The iconic Midtown movie theater bowed out with a 10 p.m. showing of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. On the Ziegfeld website, last-minute tickets were available leading up to the 3D showing, but any requests for future dates prompted a message, saying, “Online ticket purchase is no longer available.”

New Yorkers took to Twitter on Thursday to document the long lines and “packed house” as they prepared to see the J.J. Abrams film and say goodbye to the Manhattan staple, which will be transformed into a high-end event space.

The Ziegfeld, which opened in 1969, is the largest cinema in the city, with some 1,131 seats, and is the favorite venue for glitzy Hollywood studio premieres. The studios have been preparing for the theaters’ closure for months, even if they aren’t happy about it. (More and more premieres are being held in Manhattan with the return of NBC’s The Tonight Show back to New York.)

Studios have begun holding premieres at the AMC multiplex in Lincoln Square, as well as at the AMC Empire in Midtown. The theater at MOMA is another alternative.

It’s possible the studios will be able to stage premieres at the Ziegfeld once it reopens in 2017 as an events space called the Ziegfeld Ballroom. 

See some of the goodbye posts on social media below:

About to see Star Wars in a packed house at the Ziegfeld. Who would have thought? #ripziegfeld pic.twitter.com/XwD7MiqaED

— kateyrich (@kateyrich) January 29, 2016

Long line for the 7PM Star Wars on the Ziegfeld’s last night. Too bad we all didn’t come here more often, I guess

— Richard Lawson (@rilaws) January 28, 2016

The great Ziegfeld Theatre closes tonight after the 10pm showing of Star Wars. Sad day in NYC!

— Andy Cohen (@Andy) January 28, 2016

Last screening ever at the #Ziegfeld! Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens. @ Ziegfeld… https://t.co/gf42CrkP35

— Nick Mann (@NickMannFilm) January 29, 2016

My wistful tears are sponsored by Chevrolet. #Ziegfeld #finalshow pic.twitter.com/8HFWljAUHR

— Will McKinley (@willmckinley) January 29, 2016

Complimentary popcorn and soda at the last ever Ziegfeld screening lines looking like Hunger Games

— Matt Raz (@mattRAZ) January 29, 2016

The sun sets on NYC’s Ziegfeld Theater. Final screening ever: The Force Awakens. https://t.co/aIGh3lHOfk pic.twitter.com/kuzGlK7ea6

— Sean Ludwig (@seanludwig) January 29, 2016