Ras Tanura Theatre

Ras Tanura 32819

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Additional Info

Firms: Spackman & Peterson

Functions: Live Performances, Movies

Styles: Streamline Moderne

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Ras Tanura Theatre

The Ras Tanura Theatre was opened in 1949, and was built by native craftsmen, to the designs of San Francisco architectural firm Spackman & Peterson. It was built for the Arabian American Oil Company (ARAMCO) as a facility for their resident workers. The facility also contains a large outdoor bowl used for showing movies under the stars.

Today, the population is 3,200, and still contains American & British expatriates. Although located within a compound, the public are admitted to attend the cinema, but Islamic laws frown on cinema exhibition.

In December 2017 a law was passed to allow public cinemas to open in the country for the first time in 35 years. It is hope that new cinemas will open by March 2018.

Contributed by Ken Roe

Recent comments (view all 3 comments)

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on January 13, 2015 at 12:59 pm

There is a photo of the Ras Tanura Theatre on this page of Boxoffice, February 4, 1950.

Buffer
Buffer on December 11, 2017 at 12:13 pm

The Crown Prince plans to permit cinemas after a gap of over 35 years, the first to open in March, 2018. Cinemas are seen as a catalyst for economic growth and diversification.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on December 11, 2017 at 1:00 pm

Linkrot repair: The photo of the Ras Tanura Theatre in Boxoffice of February 4, 1950, can currently be seen at this link (I hope.)

Edit: Well, it doesn’t, and I can’t figure out how to make a direct link to the page at the user-hostile web site Yumpu. Click on the search icon (magnifying glass) below the magazine page scan and put the name ras tanura in the search box, and clicking on the results from that search should take you to the page with the photo on it.

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