Biopalatset
Sodergatan 28,
Malmo
211 34
Sodergatan 28,
Malmo
211 34
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Svensks Filmindustri
Architects: Arnold Salomon Sorenson
Styles: Art Deco, Neo-Vintage
Previous Names: Scania Teatern
Nearby Theaters
The Scania Teatern opened on 11th January 1925 with a Harold Lloyd comedy as part of the programme. It was designed by architect Arnold Salomon Sorenson from Helsingborg and had a seating capacity of 699. There is a long corridor that leads to the foyer and auditorium at the rear. The corridor has an arched ceiling and is decorated with unusual painted frescos representing life and customs from around the world by artist Einar Forseth. The auditorium was designed by interior designer Karl Norberg and had the majority of its seating on the main floor, with only a shallow, three rows, horse-shoe balcony at the rear.
The exterior of the Scania Teatern was re-modeled in 1943 and a new stylish canopy was erected, that is still to be seen on the building today.
The beautiful auditorium decorations were completely destroyed in an insensitive redecoration scheme in 1959. Only the entrance corridor with its 1925 decoration was retained. The Scania became a Roadshow cinema, equipped with Todd-AO it screened "South Pacific" from 5th October 1959. In 1979, a second screen seating 93 was created from a former cloakroom, off the foyer. Svensks Filmindustri(SF) stopped showing films at the Scania in 1988, the final film in the main auditorium was Luc Besson’s "The Big Blue" on 13th October 1988.
After a while, the auditorium was demolished and a new 6-screen multiplex was built onto the existing facade and entrance corridor, which was re-furbished back to its 1925 appearance. Opened by the Sandrews group as the Biopalatset on 8th December 1994. Jim Carey in "The Mask" was the opening film in the largest screen, which had seating for 251, and was THX certified. Seating capacities in the five screens were: 101, 140, 164, 94 and 60.
The Biopalatset was closed in late-2006, and is empty and unused when seen in September 2008.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
Three photographs of the Biopalatset that I took in September 2008:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/2951487059/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/2951488169/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/2952342180/
There is a breakdown of the seating for the Biopalatset on this site:
http://susning.nu/Sandrew_Metronome
Sad to see that this theatre closed again. I used to work as projectionist ‘99-'01 at Biopalatset and Metropol (also closed). Loved working at Biopalatset and still miss it.
From what I remember, the long entrance corridor used to hold some photographs of the original theatre. I wonder what happened to those when they closed – if they still sit there or if someone took them elsewhere. It would be great to see them posted online!