Cine Payret

This theater was inaugurated on 21 January 1877, owned by opulent Catalonian Joaquín Payret, trying to rival Teatro Tacón. It was consecutively known as Teatro de la Paz and Coliseo Rojo. It is purportedly the first theater in the country to show movies, in 1897. It was located on Paseo del Prado between San José and Teniente Rey, across from the National Capitol building, one block north of the “Capitolio” theater. It was rebuilt in 1951. I saw Mexican film “Canaima” there with Jorge Negrete and Charito Granados. The theater is incorrectly positioned on the street map.

Cine Payret is mentioned in Oscar Hijuelos' new novel “Beautiful Maria of My Soul,” along with a few other theaters in Havana and other parts of Cuba.

The present building of the Payret Theatre opened in 1951 as a first run movie theatre. It had the distinction of showing the first CinemaScope film made “The Robe” in 1953. It boasted the largest wide screen in Havana, around 60ft. I remember as a child seeing The Robe and was very impressed with the full stereophonic sound. Eventhough the exterior architecture is neo classic, the interior is very modern, with wonderful basrelief figures of the 7 muses on each side of the proscenium. It has approximately 2000 seats, being the largest cinema in Havana. Considering the little maintenance given, it is in fair shape although it needs new carpets and seats. After almost 40 years absence I returned to Havana and attended a show there. The curtains are different and do not enhance the off white auditorium walls bu it still looks as I remember so long ago. Obviously the economic stagnation after the revolution saved this grand dame of movie theaters. They dont make them like this anymore.