At the flicks: the Tuschinski, Amsterdam

[patricklondon]

One thing I do on every trip to Amsterdam is visit the Tuschinski cinema, whose cupolas dominate an otherwise unremarkable street between the Rembrandtplein and the Flower Market:






As you can see, it dates from the era of extravagant (bordering on bonkers) cinema design in the 1920s - in this case, what I think of as a particularly Dutch style, but it seems to me to border more on the Ballets Russes than Art Deco or more modernistic styles.










As you might guess, its founder was of Polish Jewish origins, and sadly met the fate of so many under the Occupation, but he is commemorated by a memorial plaque in the foyer. There both guided tours and an audiotour available - or you can drop into the foyer for a drink, or just stand and watch the ceiling lights cycle through a series of colours:




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[bjd]

Do they show movies there too?

Same general period but a different style completely -- this theatre in Lisbon:

[patricklondon]

Oh yes. It's been converted to a multiplex so there are several other smaller viewing rooms besides the main cinema screen. This last trip I saw Philomena there.

A famous one in London is the Tooting Granada, which is all done out in Hollywood Egyptian style with loads of gilding - it's now a bingo hall, but the building has the top level of heritage listing, so they can't muck about with it too much.

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[Deleted]

I've always walked past the Tuschinski and admired the building, but I have never seen a film there. I wonder if my Gaumont-Pathé film pass would be accepted there. My UGC pass is accepted in Belgium....

[tod2]

Wish I had known about Tuschinski theatre when we visited Amsterdam 2 years ago! Would have loved to go inside.

[lagatta]

I've never seen a film there either. Where I worked before was near the Filmmuseum in Vondelpark, and they always had interesting - and not expensive - screenings and a great café. There is a new, purpose-built cinema museum, www.eyefilm.nl/ but I do miss that old place. Look at this poster with a cooking cat for the Children's Film Festival! www.fantastischkinderfilmfestival.nl/

Some of those turn-of-the-last-century Dutch buildings have a strong "Javanese" flair, not at all authentic, but a bit like the "Egyptian" theme some other countries might be more familiar with.