Moscow's Oldest Cinema Reopens After 7-Year Reconstruction
The Art Elektro-Theater is one of the three oldest movie theaters in the world.
The Art Theater (Khudozhestvenny) on Arbat Square was for more than a century the site of openings, cinema festivals, and special events. Built in 1909 by Robert Albert Broksha, it was the third cinema in the city and the only theater especially designed to show movies. In 1912-1913 Broksha had Fyodor Shekhtel, Russia's finest style moderne architect, redesign and expand the theater. Damaged during the war and reconstructed many times in the following years, little remained of the Shekhtel design.
Using Shekhtel's original drawings and bits and pieces of the extant interior and exterior, a team of Russian and foreign architects, designers, and construction companies led by Sber has returned the theater to its 1913 appearance. It is estimated the cost was at least 1.5 billion rubles (about $20 million). The theater will be managed by the company Pioner, which has successfully run the eponymous art house cinema for many years.
The theater is opening on April 9 with "Father" staring Anthony Hopkins. The link to the theater is the charming cinema1909.ru.
Using Shekhtel's original drawings and bits and pieces of the extant interior and exterior, a team of Russian and foreign architects, designers, and construction companies led by Sber has returned the theater to its 1913 appearance. It is estimated the cost was at least 1.5 billion rubles (about $20 million). The theater will be managed by the company Pioner, which has successfully run the eponymous art house cinema for many years.
The theater is opening on April 9 with "Father" staring Anthony Hopkins. The link to the theater is the charming cinema1909.ru.
The reconstruction took more than seven years to complete. While the decor is from the early 20th century, the technology is cutting-edge 21st century: Dolby Atmos sound systems and Barco high-contrast laser projectors - four of the 17 in the world today.
Kirill Zykov / Moskva News Agency
One of the architectural glories of the space is Shekhtel's graceful winding staircase made of marble.
Kirill Zykov / Moskva News Agency
The cinema now has four halls: the large hall with 474 seats, two small halls with 46 seats each, and one intimate and very elegant hall for 21 movie-goers.
Maxim Mishin / Moskva News Agency
The cinema is now the most luxurious in Moscow, with crystal chandeliers, marble and stone floors, floor to ceiling mirrors, and a fountain in the foyer.
Maxim Mishin / Moskva News Agency
The theater has a cafe, a restaurant and a bar for pre- or post-viewing relaxation, entered from the lobby or directly from the street.
Kirill Zykov / Moskva News Agency
The theater also houses the Nekrasov Library where library-card holders can borrow books on cinema, architecture, theater and music.
Kirill Zykov / Moskva News Agency
Here in 1925 one of the premieres of Sergei Eisenstein's "Battleship Potemkin" was held.
Kirill Zykov / Moskva News Agency
The panels by artist Georgy Totibadze harken back to the fashion for all things Japanese that was popular in Europe and Russia in the early 20th century.
Kirill Zykov / Moskva News Agency
In 1952 the friezes and columns were hacked off the facade and replaced by enormous movie posters. The laconic Shekhtel design and pre-Revoltionary orthography once again grace Arbat Square.
Maxim Mishin / Moskva News Agency
