Aegidium Cinema
Parvis Saint-Gillies 18, Sint-Gillis,
Brussels
1060
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The Diamont Palace opened in 1905 in the Sint-Gillis district of Brussels. It was first a ‘Salle de Spectacle’ and the auditorium was located one floor up, at first floor level. The foyer and stairs have the feel of entering a grand house, with marble, mirrors and chandeliers all still intact. Seating in the auditorium was provided in stalls and balcony levels. It was a palistered and mirrored auditorium, flanked by Moorish style arches along the walls, with the proscenium flanked by trompe l'oeil paintings.
In 1913 it became a cinema and in 1923 the name was changed to Aegidium Cinema.
After closing (date unknown) the auditorium became a furniture repository and this was still operating in 1995 when the Cinema Theatre Association included the building on its visit to the cinemas & theatres of Brussels in September 1995. Adjacent to the building was a ‘Salon’ which was in in use by a theatre group. The cinema is now used as a community centre.
The Aegidium Cinema was described as ‘a rare example of an early Belgian cinema’.
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Recent comments (view all 2 comments)
It was a palistered and mirrored auditorium with the proscenium flanked by trompe l'oeil paintings.
Ken,was that still present when you visited?
Howard, the interior was intact on my September 1995 CTA visit. It could still be the case today.
Here is a May 2009 photograph of the exterior and entrance:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sblackley/3559159674/