Moviegoing in Israel
Basic Stats
In 1966, 2.6 million Israelis went to the cinema over 50 million times, which translates to about 24 times per year.
In 1968, when television broadcasting began, theaters began to close down, first in the periphery, then in major cities.
It is estimated that over 330 standalone theaters were torn down completely or redesigned as multiplex theaters.
Bet Shemesh Cinema, early 1950s
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Eden Cinema, Tel Aviv
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Eden Cinema, Tel Aviv: 1914
The Eden Cinema (“Kolnoa Eden”) was built in 1914 despite objections by the residents of Ahuzat Bayit, the neighborhood that later became the modern city of Tel Aviv. The owners, Moshe Abarbanel and Mordechai Wieser, received a 13-year franchise.
During World War I, the theater was shut down by order of the Ottoman government, fearing that its generator could be used to send messages to enemy submarines off shore.
It reopened to the public during the British Mandate and became a hub of cultural and social activity.
The theater was very popular in the 1950s and 1960s, but it closed down in 1974.
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Mugrabi Cinema, Tel Aviv
The Mugrabi Cinema (Kolnoa Mugrabi) opened in 1930, during the British Mandatory regime. It was designed in an art deco style that was popular in cinemas worldwide. The building was roofless for the first few years, but later on, it was topped with a sliding roof.
During holidays, people often gathered in front of the theater. One such happy occasion was a spontaneous dance in the streets, when the United Nations General Assembly voted in favor of the Partition Plan in November 1947.
After a fire in the summer of 1986 due to electric short-circuit, the building was demolished.
In 2011, plans were submitted to rebuild a replica of the original cinema with a luxury high-rise above it.
Keren Cinema, first movie theater in the Negev (Southern Israel)
Movie Theaters
In the early 1900s, silent movies were screened in sheds, cafes and other temporary structures.
Cafe Lorenz
In 1905, Cafe Lorenz opened on Jaffa Road in the new Jewish neighborhood of Neve Tzedek. In 1909, the Lorenz family began screening movies at the cafe.
In 1925, the Kessem Cinema (Kolnoa Kessem) was housed there for a short time.
Cinema Keren: 1953
In 1953, Cinema Keren, the Negev’s first movie theater, opened in Beersheba, the capital of the region. It was built by the Histadrut with the capacity of seating about 1,200 people.
Armon Cinema, Haifa: 1931
In 1931, Moshe Greidinger opened a cinema in Haifa. In 1935 he built a second movie theater, Armon, a large art-deco building with 1,800 seats that became the heart of Haifa’s entertainment district. It was also used as a performance venue by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the Israeli Opera.
Alhambra Cinema, Jaffa: 1937
The art deco Alhambra cinema, with seating capacity of 1,100, opened in Jaffa in 1937. It was designed by the famous Lebanese architect, Elias al-Mor.
It became a popular venue for concerts of Arab music. Among others, Farid al-Atrash and Umm Kulthum appeared there.
In 2012, the historic building reopened as a Scientology center after two years of renovation.
Smadar Theater, Jerusalem: 1928
The Smadar theater was built in Jerusalem’s German Colony (“Hamoshava Hagermanit”) in 1928. German-owned, it mainly served the British Army, during the Mandatory regime. In 1935, it opened for commercial screenings as the “Orient Cinema.” It was turned over to Jewish management in order to keep it from being boycotted as a German business, which infuriated the head of the Nazi Party branch in Jerusalem.
After 1948, it was bought by four demobilized soldiers. Then, one of them, Arye Chechik, bought out his partners. A movie lover, Chechik sold tickets, collected them at the door and worked as the projectionist, while his wife ran the concession stand.