KINO Rotterdam: A first look

KINO Rotterdam Gouvernestraat

When I entered the building located at Gouvernestraat, between Kruiskade and Nieuwe Binnenweg, a couple of weeks ago it becomes clear that a lot of work is taking place. You are welcomed by the smell of new paint, dust, scaffolding, bright lamps and workmen. And although not everything is finished yet, you can clearly see the first glimpses of what will soon open at this location, the fifth cinema in Rotterdam: KINO. A cinema which doesn’t only want to be different by showing films which normally aren’t shown in Rotterdam, but it also wants to be more than just a cinema. A place to eat, meet each other and to work as well. Continue reading

The Lost Cinemas of Rotterdam: Arena

Lost cinemas of Rotterdam Arena

Bioscoop Roxy bw2
Although most people in Rotterdam will know this location, on the Kruiskade, as the former stage Nighttown (where a lot of famous musicians have played, it was a cinema for a couple of decades before. It was also one of the few cinemas which survived the second world war.

After the success of his W.B.Theater located on Nieuwe Binnenweg Karl Weisbard decides in 1930 to open a second cinema: Roxy Theater. The building is designed by Jac Van Gelderen. It has a thousand seats and opens its door on May 31st. Besides movies some stage performances take place as well. Continue reading

The Lost Cinemas of Rotterdam: Capitol

Lost cinema rotterdam Capitol

In the past I have looked at various cinemas that are no longer around in Rotterdam, but since the city has had such a rich cinema history there are still a lot of them I have not written about. Enough reason to continue this series, now with a new look and an interactive implementation giving you control over looking into the past and present.

This time I take a look at one of the few cinemas which has managed to survive the bombing of Rotterdam during the second world war:
The West Cinema Theater / Capitol / Grand / Studio ’62 located at Nieuwe Binnenweg 326, close to the Heemraadssingel. Continue reading

The Lost Cinemas of Rotterdam: Cineac NRC

Lost Cinemas of Rotterdam: Cineac NRC history

In the past I have looked at several lost cinemas, but there are still a lot I had not touched upon yet. Time to continue with my journey to the past, this time with Cineac NRC cinema which was located at the Coolsingel, next to department store Bijenkorf. Pathé started the Cineac cinemas to show the latest news. It was shown constantly and visitors would be able to stay there as long as they wanted. With the slogan “A journey around the world in 50 minutes!” it tried to lure them in.

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The lost cinemas of Rotterdam: Centraal

thelostcinemascentraal-e1333821825929

Back in October last year one of the Monday questions was about the first movie you saw at the cinema. I remembered the movie and the location of the cinema, but not what the name was. It was the start of journey into the history of cinemas in Rotterdam. I bought the book “Fantasy, Illusion and enchantment: Memories of cinemas in Rotterdam” by Herman Romer and found out more about the rich cinema history the city I was born and grew up in has. Henk Berg has also written a great book about the subject. In this new series I literally look into that history (using information out of their books as a source), one cinema at a time, starting with “Centraal”, which gave me my first movie going experience. Continue reading