Asmara: Home of Antique Cinemas
Friday, 20 November 2009 09:05 | Written by Sirak Habtemichael | 
About Eritrea - Art & Sport
The
history of cinemas in Eritrea dates back to 1920s during the Italian
colonial period, when the Eritrean people were familiarized with the
culture of cinemas. But not all the Eritrean citizens had the
opportunity to watch movies in the cinemas which were abundant even back
then. The only few privileged citizens who were allowed to watch
cinemas were the ones who worked with the Italians and only with their
bosses were they allowed to get in. Almost all the movies back then were
in Italian, especially until early 1940s.
The
construction of cinemas began in 1920s, where the first one to be
constructed was Cinema Emberto and Eritro. Also among the first cinemas
constructed in early 1920 and still standing as one of the finest ones
architecturally is Cinema Asmara, (Theatro Azmara). The cinema has a
monumental architectural style with a three story classic podium. During
the first decades after its construction, the cinema was used for stage
drama performances and ballet shows only to be watched by the Italian
‘first class’ families.
At present, Asmara Theatre is used for
rehearsals of stage dramas and other related cultural shows, but it is
not functioning as cinema now. The structure of the cinema and the area
it is seated on is in the main streets of Asmara, which gives a scenic
vintage beauty of art deco to the city.
The Italians then
constructed Cinema Hamassen for the local residents. It was among the
first cinemas to be constructed around the area where there was a dense
population of locals. This was around 14 years after the Asmara Theatre
was constructed. To this very day Cinema Hamassen provides services for
theatrical shows and movies.
Around 1940s, over 10 cinemas were
constructed all over Eritrea, which makes it among the first, if not the
first one to own grand theatres in Africa. The construction work, the
sophistication of the engineering as well as the interior design of each
cinema, especially the big ones captivated the eyes of a number of
tourists over the years.
Cinema
Roma, Cinema Impero, Cinema Capitol as well as the Odeon Theatre are
four of the biggest cinemas in Eritrea. Located in the downtown streets
of Asmara, the cinemas have magnificent outer view and a state of the
art interior design. The first three were constructed in 1937, while
Odeon Theatre followed a year after.
Records
from the Eritrean Cinema Administration indicate that each and every
single one of the cinemas was constructed for different purposes. The
only people that were allowed to watch movies at cinema Impero and
Capitol were among the first class from the colonizers, the Odeon
Theatre was for the officers’ class and others.
The
infrastructure, electrical installation and sound system posses a world
class standard to this day. Although only a few of the cinemas underwent
renovation, most of them still posses the genuine beauty and system
from the time of the construction. Among the few that underwent
extensive renovation is Cinema Roma, but the renovators applied great
ingenuity to maintain the classic and original features of the cinema.
Back
during the days, of course the cinemas were using old equipments which
still remain as monuments of antiquity in some of the cinemas. The 88
millimeter projectors and the fade cinema system which used real players
are abundant in all the cinemas. The engraved wall sculptures, the
monumental architectural design, the stairways to the first class VIP
boxes and the red carpet hallways especially at Cinema Roma are indeed a
sight to see. After all these years, the cinemas inside Asmara and
some other cities of Eritrea still maintaining the original designs and
of course providing public services to this day readmore
Friday, 20 November 2009 09:05 | Written by Sirak Habtemichael |
| About Eritrea - Art & Sport |
The
history of cinemas in Eritrea dates back to 1920s during the Italian
colonial period, when the Eritrean people were familiarized with the
culture of cinemas. But not all the Eritrean citizens had the
opportunity to watch movies in the cinemas which were abundant even back
then. The only few privileged citizens who were allowed to watch
cinemas were the ones who worked with the Italians and only with their
bosses were they allowed to get in. Almost all the movies back then were
in Italian, especially until early 1940s.The
construction of cinemas began in 1920s, where the first one to be
constructed was Cinema Emberto and Eritro. Also among the first cinemas
constructed in early 1920 and still standing as one of the finest ones
architecturally is Cinema Asmara, (Theatro Azmara). The cinema has a
monumental architectural style with a three story classic podium. During
the first decades after its construction, the cinema was used for stage
drama performances and ballet shows only to be watched by the Italian
‘first class’ families.At present, Asmara Theatre is used for rehearsals of stage dramas and other related cultural shows, but it is not functioning as cinema now. The structure of the cinema and the area it is seated on is in the main streets of Asmara, which gives a scenic vintage beauty of art deco to the city.
The Italians then constructed Cinema Hamassen for the local residents. It was among the first cinemas to be constructed around the area where there was a dense population of locals. This was around 14 years after the Asmara Theatre was constructed. To this very day Cinema Hamassen provides services for theatrical shows and movies.
Around 1940s, over 10 cinemas were constructed all over Eritrea, which makes it among the first, if not the first one to own grand theatres in Africa. The construction work, the sophistication of the engineering as well as the interior design of each cinema, especially the big ones captivated the eyes of a number of tourists over the years.
Cinema
Roma, Cinema Impero, Cinema Capitol as well as the Odeon Theatre are
four of the biggest cinemas in Eritrea. Located in the downtown streets
of Asmara, the cinemas have magnificent outer view and a state of the
art interior design. The first three were constructed in 1937, while
Odeon Theatre followed a year after.Records
from the Eritrean Cinema Administration indicate that each and every
single one of the cinemas was constructed for different purposes. The
only people that were allowed to watch movies at cinema Impero and
Capitol were among the first class from the colonizers, the Odeon
Theatre was for the officers’ class and others. The infrastructure, electrical installation and sound system posses a world class standard to this day. Although only a few of the cinemas underwent renovation, most of them still posses the genuine beauty and system from the time of the construction. Among the few that underwent extensive renovation is Cinema Roma, but the renovators applied great ingenuity to maintain the classic and original features of the cinema.
Back during the days, of course the cinemas were using old equipments which still remain as monuments of antiquity in some of the cinemas. The 88 millimeter projectors and the fade cinema system which used real players are abundant in all the cinemas. The engraved wall sculptures, the monumental architectural design, the stairways to the first class VIP boxes and the red carpet hallways especially at Cinema Roma are indeed a sight to see. After all these years, the cinemas inside Asmara and some other cities of Eritrea still maintaining the original designs and of course providing public services to this day readmore
