Built in 1927-28, and designed by architect Jose Miguel de la Quadra Salcedo, the theatre opened as a live theatre in 1929. The Teatro Avenida had a grand Neo-Classic style. Converted to movies in the early 1940's, it hosted National and International Premieres of important films.
The theater later became a showcase of 70mm films and it is unfortunately during this time in the late 1960's that the splendours of the original auditorium decoration was stripped away to leave a very plain, bland space to see a film. The only hint of decoration was a new frieze over the proscenium opening which had painted figures representing dancers and actors.
The facade is legally protected, and so is the grand lobby with its Italian marble, mirrored ceiling, chandeliers and grand stairs. In the 1990's a second screen was created in the former balcony.
In January 2007, it was reported that Madrid's City Council authorized conversion into a shopping mall. C&A was interested in turning into one of their clothing stores, but decided against it for architectural reasons. The theatre's operators asserted there were too few people in attendence, but would keep it open for 'one, two or three years' (unless a better offer came along sooner). The Solar family owns the Cine Avenida and the adjacent Palacio de la Musica. It has been stated that because of the existence of the Calle De Abada between the two theatres, there is no room to expand the stage-houses to host live performances, such as was done with the Coliseum and the Lope De Vega theatre's. The Cine Avenida, for decades one of the flagship movie palaces of the Gran Via, closed in June, 2007, to become a shopping mall.
News articles and editorials regretted the closing of so many Gran Via cinema showplaces. In four years since 2004 nine of the thirteen cinemas on the street have closed, the Cine Avenida closure makes ten. It was noted that "Premonition" was one of the two films playing in the Cine Avenida when it closed.
Contributed by Howard B Haas
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