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December 30, 2005
World's oldest cinema reopens in Beijing
China Daily's Beijing Weekend reports that the oldest cinema in the world has reopened: "Coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Chinese [movies, Daguanlou Cinema], running 102 years since it opened in 1903, has just been listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest operating movie theatre. With an investment of 5 million yuan (US$620,000) from the government and the support of China Ancient Architecture Research Centre, the cinema has regained its original look from the 1900s. It is like travelling between the past and present as visitors step into the century-old cinema. Though there is still that "new smell" in the new renovated theatre, people can easily find themselves lost down memory lane. Yellow glazed glass, black and white posters, long gowned ushers and richly ornamented corridors all take people back to the times of a century ago. "We just want to rekindle people's interest in the old cinema," said Wang Zhanyou, the 12th manager in the long history of the cinema: "Because in the last few years Da Guanlou has sustained losses," he sighed." [More history and anecdotage at the link.]
Posted by pride at December 30, 2005 12:55 PM
Comments
I really appreciate this information. I only recently discovered that this theatre still existed. After reading you article, I can see this is a place that would be good to take travelers that aren't interested in Beijing Opera, but would be interested in old cinema.
Very informative, thanks again!
Posted by: Beijinger ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.mcnblogs.com/mcindie/nav-commenters.gif)
at January 7, 2009 01:15 PM
I really appreciate this information but I belive taht the historic Cinema Lumière in Pisa (Italy) is the oldest purpose-built, continually operating cinema in the world. The Lumière opened in December 16th, 1905.
http://www.lumierecinema.it/LumiereP...riainbreve.htm
One of the first commercial screening of movies with fully synchronized sound took place in the Cinema Lumière (Pisa - Italy) in October 19th, 1906 by the Fabbrica Pisana di Pellicole Parlate, patented by Pietro Pierini with the name of "Isosincronizzatore".
Until march 2009, Korsør Biograf Teater (opened january 30th, 1907) in the danish city Korsør is the oldest cinema in the Guinness Book of World Records. Before a cinema in Szczecin, Poland, was listed as the oldest.
Posted by: agoseta at March 12, 2009 08:34 AM
I really appreciate this information but I belive taht the historic Cinema Lumière in Pisa (Italy) is the oldest purpose-built, continually operating cinema in the world. The Lumière opened in December 16th, 1905.
http://www.lumierecinema.it/LumiereP...riainbreve.htm
One of the first commercial screening of movies with fully synchronized sound took place in the Cinema Lumière (Pisa - Italy) in October 19th, 1906 by the Fabbrica Pisana di Pellicole Parlate, patented by Pietro Pierini with the name of "Isosincronizzatore".
Until march 2009, Korsør Biograf Teater (opened january 30th, 1907) in the danish city Korsør is the oldest cinema in the Guinness Book of World Records. Before a cinema in Szczecin, Poland, was listed as the oldest.
Posted by: agoseta at March 12, 2009 08:34 AM
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