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.

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.

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.

[9] In attendance were Mayor Earnshaw, Senate President Manuel L. Quezon, Interim American Governor George C. Butte, Speaker of the House Sergio Osmeña, and other prominent government leaders, businessmen, and society figures.

[7] During the following pre-war decade, the Metropolitan Theater hosted international artists including Ted Shawn, Jascha Heifetz, Amelita Galli-Curci, and Fritz Kreisler.

The theater also hosted the local dance productions of Lubov Adameit, Leonor Orosa-Goquingco, Paul Szilard, and Trudl Dubsky.

[9] Other significant events at the theater include the premier of production studio LVN Pictures's inaugural film Giliw Ko (1939).

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.

[11] The Metropolitan Theater re-opened in December 1978, after just four months of work, making the pre-Christmas opening deadline desired by Imelda Marcos.

[13] President Ferdinand Marcos said that he hoped the Metropolitan Theater would "emerge as the shining monument to the cultural enlightenment of the New Filipino.

"[6] The Met re-opened with a production of Rosauro de la Cruz's "Isang Munting Alamat" produced by the Kabataang Barangay, then-chaired by President Marcos's daughter Imee.

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.

"[17] 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.

[10] The stained glass marquee is highlighted on both sides by curving walls of colorful, decorated tiles resembling batik patterns of Southeast Asia.

Displayed on opposite sides of the foyer are two mural paintings by National Artist Fernando Amorsolo, titled The Dance and The History of Music.

[10] The foyer's grillwork features a drooping floral balustrade in a geometric Art Deco style, originally crafted by Arcadio Arellano, the brother and collaborator of the Met's architect, Juan M.

[14] The ceiling is decorated with Art Deco mangoes, bananas, and tropical leaves bas-reliefs designed by Isabelo Tampinco.