My own comment from looking at the photo of the redone theater, though not having been there, is it still resembles a typical cinema and it is great that it continues for entertainment! Since my friend doesn’t recall it ornate before, the changes wouldn’t be a big deal.
A friend (A-M) saw movies there 2002 or 2003. He recalls the interior as not ornate, but there was some molding that was painted grey. He recalled good acoustics.
Looking at the photo of the redone auditorium, he says the ceiling looks different (higher) and the proscenium is different if not totally gone. He says there was more molding before.
He’s glad the theater is not “dancing with the wrecking ball.”
Clicking on El Teatro at the official theater website linked in the theater’s introduction, and on the various links on the left at El Teatro, provides various photos of the Rialto’s vestibule lobby, foyer, auditorium, and renovations.
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.
Small photo of the exterior of the Shell Building:
View link
2005 exterior photo:
View link
This appears to be a 2007 photo of the movie screen with a bit of film overheated:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pixzilla/1027332372/
2007 exterior photos:
View link
View link
with the painted gate down:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/linkadoor/1287157630/
2007 close up of ticket booth:
View link
2006 exterior photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/delafuente/274067772/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deepblue66/168818675/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deepblue66/195273400/
View link
2007 exterior photo:
View link
My own comment from looking at the photo of the redone theater, though not having been there, is it still resembles a typical cinema and it is great that it continues for entertainment! Since my friend doesn’t recall it ornate before, the changes wouldn’t be a big deal.
A friend (A-M) saw movies there 2002 or 2003. He recalls the interior as not ornate, but there was some molding that was painted grey. He recalled good acoustics.
Looking at the photo of the redone auditorium, he says the ceiling looks different (higher) and the proscenium is different if not totally gone. He says there was more molding before.
He’s glad the theater is not “dancing with the wrecking ball.”
Ken, the story doesn’t say what was wrong with the projector. I suppose it could have damaged in various ways, too.
I’ve since added a historic cinema in Segovia, sadly closed:
/theaters/22178/
Clicking on El Teatro at the official theater website linked in the theater’s introduction, and on the various links on the left at El Teatro, provides various photos of the Rialto’s vestibule lobby, foyer, auditorium, and renovations.
Exterior photos at night of the renovated theater with musical ‘Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar’ (“Today I can not lift” on the marquee http://www.flickr.com/photos/oyejuan/408108458/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/caribb/267324470/
Photo of the foyer here:
View link
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/