Metropol Theater

The Metropol Theater was opened on 29th January 1929 with 864 seats. The opening film was Luis Trenker in “Kampf um’s Matterhorn”. It was designed in an Art Deco style by Bonn based architects Toni Kleefisch and Jacob Stumpf. It was equipped with a 2 Manual theatre organ manufactured by M. Welte & Son. There was a cafe which was located above the large dome in the auditorium ceiling. As well as films it also hosted stage shows.

In 1970 the cafe above the dome was converted into a 2nd screen, known as Bambi at the Metropol. Later it was renamed the Kuppelsaal (Dome Cinema) and a small 2-screen Metropol Film Theater was built adjacent to the main building. The Metropol and its adjoining screens were closed in March 2006. The Welte organ was removed from the building in 2009 and was installed in the Siegfrieds Mechanischem Musikkabinett in Rudesheim. There was hope that the building would be given a listed preservation order, but that did not happen.

Plans to convert the auditorium into commercial use were fought off by public opposition and proposals were made to convert it into a multi-cultural venue, but these plans were never approved. In 2010 the main auditorium was converted into a Thalia bookstore. There have been structural changes, which include two sets of stairs leading from the main orchestra floor to a balcony which has been built above the stage. Thankfully most of the original Art Deco style decoration survives.