Apollo Theatre
Stauffacherstrasse 41,
Zurich
8004
Stauffacherstrasse 41,
Zurich
8004
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Additional Info
Architects: Peter Giumini
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Apollo Cinerama Theatre
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News About This Theater
- Aug 27, 2009 — At the movies in Zurich 30 years on
Located in the west of the city centre. From my limited ability to read German, it seems the theatre opened on 18th September 1928 as a cine-variety theatre. It was equipped with a Welte organ. CinemaScope was installed in 1954; Cinerama in 1964. An additional theatre (Apollo Studio) was built and attached to the original auditorium in 1972, but had no effect on the original. The original owner appears to be Eugen Scotoni-Gassman.
While I remained in Europe a few years after the Army in the 1960’s, I had the opportunity to see a 70mm print of “Tora, Tora, Tora” there. I remember pastel colors, and a booth forward of the balcony. I was impressed. The theatre closed in 1988 and was demolished later that year. A UBS Bank was built on the site.
Contributed by
vince young
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
The theatre’s website (text in German) is at:
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I saw Raiders of the Lost Ark here in the main screen in 1981 and Fort Apache the Bronx in the small screen. Zurich at the time had a few large cinemas remaining – the ABC, the Bellevue which was very Disney, the Capitol which was porn these three I believe now are plexed – but the Apollo was the grandest. The other great thing about Zurich moviegoing was a showcase in the Bahnhof (the train station) with posters and showtimes of anything playing in town – which was great for students and trainees working there who didn’t really know enough German to buy a paper. Most major releases are shown in English with 3 subtitles German Italian and French
Do you remember also a theatre just off the downtown area where every morning they would run trailers of upcoming attractions – regardless of where booked – for free? I even believe the concession stand was open during these showings.
I have a book on Zurich cinemas. Here are specific details that I can translate from the German text:–
Architect: Peter Giumini of Zurich
Opened: 18th September 1928
Seats: 1,700
Organ: Welte, opened by Herman Kuppers
I believe Eugen Scotoni was the building firm.
Contemporary reviews of the theatre in 1928 heralded it as the ‘Largest, most modern Cinema & Variety Theatre in Switzerland’.
The Apollo Cinerama closed in May 1988. The Cinerama Screen was installed until the end! I was at the Farewell show wich went trough the whole april ‘88, I often saw 3 Film a day, most im 70mm (Technirama, Blow ups, Todd AO). Blame UBS Switzerland for the tear down. Even this Bank became sponsors of most Movie OpenAir -Shows later.
Plenty of photographs and images of the Apollo Theatre (text in German) here:
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