Bioskop Metropole XXI or Metropole XXI Cinema is located on Jl Pegangsaan No. 21, Menteng, Central Jakarta, it was built on August 11, 1949 and was completed in 1951. The inauguration of the cinema was attended by Rahmi Rachim, wife of Vice President Mohammad Hatta; Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX, and Haji Agus Salim, to show the film Annie Get Your Gun (George Sidney, 1950) as the premiere. Metropole XXI, a cinema with six studios became the first cinema in Jakarta. In 1960, its name changed to Megaria Cinema on orders from President Soekarno. During the New Order, the name was changed to Megaria Theatre. After 1989, the name was changed back to Metropole 21, then Megaria 21, until finally named Metropole XXI.

Originally named the Metropole cinema was designed by Liauw Goan Seng. Goan Seng design Metropole with Art Deco style as part of the development of world architecture Art Nouveau. Based on these facts, the Metropole is one example of the history of architecture in Indonesia. Metrople XXI cinema become the oldest cinema’s with Art Deco-style architecture with some ornaments such as mosaics, paintings, and some simple carvings that adorn the walls. The condition of the building is still neat and well groomed. Some restoration has been done, but does not eliminate the original architectural style attached to each corner.

Metropole cinema also made history as the first-class cinema that plays Indonesian film titled “Krisis” or “Crisis” from Usmar Ismail. Krisis became the first Indonesian film to be successful in first class cinema, to be played for five weeks, surpassing Western films. Metropole cinema in 1955, also became one of cinema that also play movies from the participants of the first Indonesian Film Festival which took place on March 30-April 5, 1955.

How to get here (see the route map):

From Juanda/Gondangdia go to platform 2 and take the Red Line or Blue Line heading to Bekasi/Depok/Bogor and stop at Cikini and take a 5 minutes walk to the southeast

From Tanah Abang go to platform 3 and take the Yellow Line heading to Depok/Nambo/Bogor and stop at Manggarai, go to platform 3/5 and take the Red Line or Blue Line heading to Jakarta Kota and stop at Cikini and take a 5 minutes walk to the southeast

From Sudirman go to platform 2 and take the Yellow Line heading to Depok/Nambo/Bogor and stop at Manggarai, go to platform 3/5 and take the Red Line or Blue Line heading to Jakarta Kota and stop at Cikini and take a 5 minutes walk to the southeast

see the link map or the map below

Reference

http://travel.detik.com/read/2012/03/30/151503/1881232/1025/ini-dia-bioskop-tertua-di-jakarta

http://www.fimela.com/read/2011/04/26/kisah-perjalanan-hidup-metropole-xxi

http://karbonjournal.org/movietheater/bioskop-megaria-di-jakarta