Oh! Would someone in Madrid please write a book about Madrid cinemas including vintage photos? And, place vintage photos & photos of interiors of Madrid cinemas online? Many cities in US & Europe have such books & websites.
As to my comment above, Ken Roe has suggested to me the following:
“ I don’t think the vintage photo on their website is even Spanish. It would have the title ‘Cinderella†in Spanish, not English and two other points I notice, there is a vertical sign in the centre distance for an ‘Orpheum’ which I don’t think Madrid ever had, and the vertical sign of the theatre on the right has the word ‘Theatre’ not ‘Teatro’.”
Since theater websites change over time, I’m adding this to Comments instead of the Introduction:
A photo on the theater’s official website (click Entradas, then plano) shows the auditorium facing the large balcony and depicts a beautiful neoclassical auditorium with ornate plasterwork, lavish chandeliers and sconces.
Another photo on the official theater website (click at Proximamente) is vintage, with Walt Disney’s Cinderella, Technicolor on a theater marquee. I’m not sure if that marquee is the Gran Via.
My notes from October 17, 1997 seeing Spanish director Almodovar’s “Carne Tremula” (Live Flesh) which was set in Madrid, are for main floor, 22 rows of 19 seats, aisle, 19 seats, and two balconies, with total of 1750 seats.
I estimated the screen was 50 feet wide. There was a red curtain in front of the screen.
The auditorium was very handsome with a huge backlit grill above the screen and a dome at the center of the ceiling.
Two additional screens were in the basement.
It would be a shame if the main cinema ceased to be a cinema! And, if the interior were gutted, that would be even more terrible.
Photo of exterior of TGI Friday, former Cine Azul: http://www.flickr.com/photos/drzito/253421826/
There’s another photo from November 2005 of the interior of the restaurant (not showing anymore cinema decor than the exterior photo does) so the conversion was as least as early as 2005.
Live Nation is selling their theaters that presents legit shows, because they want to be a Rock N Roll CONCERT company. That’s why they chose a name like “Live Nation” in the first place. Recently, they sold their ownership interests in the former movie palaces in Chicago’s Loop, because those are legit theaters.
I seem to recall a listing in 1992 when I first visited Spain, that it was then open. Later in the 1990’s, I visited the store but wasn’t photographing. It does have a wonderful exterior.
I’d like to second inclusion on this list of San Francisco’s Metro as an intact theater that can be saved, and important for all the reasons stated at that theater’s page.
Oh! Would someone in Madrid please write a book about Madrid cinemas including vintage photos? And, place vintage photos & photos of interiors of Madrid cinemas online? Many cities in US & Europe have such books & websites.
As to my comment above, Ken Roe has suggested to me the following:
“ I don’t think the vintage photo on their website is even Spanish. It would have the title ‘Cinderella†in Spanish, not English and two other points I notice, there is a vertical sign in the centre distance for an ‘Orpheum’ which I don’t think Madrid ever had, and the vertical sign of the theatre on the right has the word ‘Theatre’ not ‘Teatro’.”
Since theater websites change over time, I’m adding this to Comments instead of the Introduction:
A photo on the theater’s official website (click Entradas, then plano) shows the auditorium facing the large balcony and depicts a beautiful neoclassical auditorium with ornate plasterwork, lavish chandeliers and sconces.
Another photo on the official theater website (click at Proximamente) is vintage, with Walt Disney’s Cinderella, Technicolor on a theater marquee. I’m not sure if that marquee is the Gran Via.
Bristol rear exterior?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/drzito/414822746/
2007 Photo of the entire exterior:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/drzito/1444052024/
Another closeup exterior 2007
View link
another photo of closed theater:
View link
My notes from October 17, 1997 seeing Spanish director Almodovar’s “Carne Tremula” (Live Flesh) which was set in Madrid, are for main floor, 22 rows of 19 seats, aisle, 19 seats, and two balconies, with total of 1750 seats.
I estimated the screen was 50 feet wide. There was a red curtain in front of the screen.
The auditorium was very handsome with a huge backlit grill above the screen and a dome at the center of the ceiling.
Two additional screens were in the basement.
It would be a shame if the main cinema ceased to be a cinema! And, if the interior were gutted, that would be even more terrible.
2006 photo of exterior of this historic, Expressionist cinema:
View link
Other exterior photos are found in this article:
View link
I recall going to see this theater’s exterior. I’m not sure if this is the building, with the sign, maybe:
View link
2006 Exterior photo of the tower with the cinema:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zuza-j/186548226/
2007 close up of exterior of cinema:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kailos/1343527210/
Historic photo showing Cine sign on top of the tower:
View link
1929 exterior:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/etecemedios/243706671
Photo of exterior of TGI Friday, former Cine Azul:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/drzito/253421826/
There’s another photo from November 2005 of the interior of the restaurant (not showing anymore cinema decor than the exterior photo does) so the conversion was as least as early as 2005.
Spiderman 3 publicity, exterior photo:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xoubanet/472209273/
Photo of “Mama Mia!” on the theater’s marquee: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ailime/38558861/
2007 photo of exterior, as legit theater presenting Beauty and the Beast:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/led-zep/1249791450/
2003 photo of exterior showing the movie “Chicago” on the marquee:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/asten/100939251/
2006 photo showing plywood on closed movie house:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/drzito/253421828/
Live Nation is selling their theaters that presents legit shows, because they want to be a Rock N Roll CONCERT company. That’s why they chose a name like “Live Nation” in the first place. Recently, they sold their ownership interests in the former movie palaces in Chicago’s Loop, because those are legit theaters.
Photos of the exterior of the closed movie theater:
View link
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kailos/1343517126/
Especially since it could get gutted, I’d hope there are photos somewhere of the ornate interior!
AUDITORIUM PHOTOS of one of the best Art Deco moviehouses still showing movies daily in the US.
2007 photo of Auditorium facing curtained screen:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lizclink/652030053/
2005: View link
View link
2004 http://www.flickr.com/photos/sushiesque/69898488/
2006 orchestra rear: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kris3198/180191498/
2006 shows some side decoration: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kris3198/180191466/
I meant to write “De Nada” to Lost Memory, but it was lost.
Exterior Photos:
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/hanneorla/465464748/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/comcinco/447224355/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yeyopepe/60782243/
Lit up at night:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarrask/1428241482/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/manu244/557300784/
View link
http://www.flickr.com/photos/raiworld/302945841/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/digitus/85319291/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ronsel/17963599/
Lost Memory,
AUDITORIUM PHOTOS:
2007 auditorium showing both balconies, so this wonderful movie palace is currently intact:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/inthesity/1815054879/
2007 side wall & screen: http://www.flickr.com/photos/inthesity/1815899658/
Movie screen & ceiling- isn’t this magnificient? View link
http://www.flickr.com/photos/comcinco/450249503/
probably main floor of auditorium: http://www.flickr.com/photos/comcinco/450249949/
More photos of exterior,
2007: View link
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nazaret/609266421/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jofrias/1888321903/
View link
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hanneorla/465469801/
Close up of exterior decoration:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jofrias/1888322831/
2006 photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/petezin/153160483/
View link
2005: View link
2005: http://www.flickr.com/photos/flipao/61532764/
2004: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ghgomezl/293802728/
view from above: View link
Lost Memory, your photo is indeed that of the Capitol.
PHOTOS!
2006 exterior:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/olrik_1/84333430/
2006 exterior: http://www.flickr.com/photos/asturtom/312675305/
2005 close up of decor at top: http://www.flickr.com/photos/urokhard/4110302/
2007 close up of entry: http://www.flickr.com/photos/atxus/1560722981/
View link
2006 close up of entry: http://www.flickr.com/photos/notunlike/292928903/
2007 Box Office (ticket booth) View link
View link
2002 exterior: http://www.flickr.com/photos/niltoncpp/141036259/
2007 FOYER leading to auditorium:
View link
2007 stairway: View link
2005 main AUDITORIUM:
View link
2006 main auditorium:
View link
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2007 main auditorium:
View link
View link
house lights off but lighting on balcony sides:
View link
2007 balcony seats? View link
2007 facing balcony: http://www.flickr.com/photos/photocapy/399191641/
I seem to recall a listing in 1992 when I first visited Spain, that it was then open. Later in the 1990’s, I visited the store but wasn’t photographing. It does have a wonderful exterior.
I’d like to second inclusion on this list of San Francisco’s Metro as an intact theater that can be saved, and important for all the reasons stated at that theater’s page.