Cinema St. Denis
The first public showing of the Lumiere brothers' Cinematographe projector took place December 28, 1895 in the basement lounge of the Grand Cafe on the Boulevard des Capucunes in Paris.
This presentation of ten short films, lasting only twenty minutes, is often erroneously stated as being the first to present projected moving pictures to a paying audience.
After the first successful screenings, the brothers acquired a former wax museum at 6, boulevard Saint-Denis transforming it into the Cinematographe Lumiere with a seating capacity of 200. Opening in March 1896, this long narrow space eventually becomes the Cinema St. Denis.
Cinema St. Denis
Conflicting dates are given for Charles Pathe's acquisition of the theatre. In 1908 or 1912, he purchased the Cinema St. Denis, renaming it the Pathe-Journal, one the earliest movie houses devoted to newsreels.
Retaining the name Pathe-Journal, the movie house was sold in 1965, first turning to action films and than finally to porno.
On March 2, 1993, what many consider to be the oldest cinema in the world closed its door. Currently the space serves as a neighborhood supermarket.
The above photo appears in Kenneth Macgowans' Behind the Screen: The History and Techniques of the Motion Picture (New York: Delacorte Press, 1965). The caption refers to the Pathe Journal as the "Oldest movie theatre?"
Cine-Facades (in French) is an interesting site, with additional photos and information on the Pathe-Journal.
6, boulevard Saint-Denis on Google maps:
