Home | Site map | Contact us

Cinemas

1- Early Projection Halls/Salles
(Cinematographs - Cinema(phones) - Cinemas)
Alexandria 1896 - 1925

Between the fact by now universally acknowledged that in 1896, “only a few months after the first screening in Europe had taken place, films by the Lumière Brothers soon found their way to Egyptian audiences in Alexandria” (Shafik, p. 10), and the perception of that special historical event seen in perspective and retrospect, there falls a certain shadow. Blurred by short memory and unrecorded history, a period fraught with events and rich in promise, is all too often buried in full glory, and the impact of the facts remains an understatement.

To raise a curtain on the cultural scene of the time cinema began, theatre had already found its way to the city, and a following among its citizens. A certain sophistication in taste had been acquired, and the rich brocade of varied origins interwove into a fabric large enough to cover a whole spectrum that would form an audience great enough for a novel concept in enterprise and recreation.

And so, in keeping with the Greek origin of the word kinema, the new form of entertainment created a stir and took Alexandria by storm, paving the way for the birth of an action-packed industry and, in future, a new form of art. Now along with one of the Seven Wonders of the World which once adroed its horizon, the city could boast a forthcoming attraction thereafter named The Seventh Art.

The first screenings took place as early as 1896 in the Toussoun Stock Exchange that was later to become the prestigious Club Mohamed Ali, and later The Horreya Cultural Center now known as Qasr el Ebdaa’ (Palace of Creativity). In one of the many chambers of that establishment, known as The Zawani Café, later screening activities were to take place, and the introduction of special sites for screening did not take long to follow.

A practice and a business almost totally embraced by resident foreigners of Alexandria, it soon proved extremely lucrative. Owners of café shops that served as meeting places for stock exchange activities (many popular cafés were known as borsas) were mainly Italians, Greeks and French. When local filming began, the cameras were used as projecting devices as well as for filming, and the acquisition of the novel invention proved a profitable one. Families whose next of kin had been filmed would rush to watch projections of their loved ones at the cafés.

In his book El Yonaniyoun fi el Cinema el Misreyah, Yannis Melakhrinado attributes the ownership of projection halls by Greeks to their keen sense of business, but whatever the reason and whoever else had the bigger share of the monopoly the fact remains that Egyptians first joined the market as owners only in Tanta and Port Said where Maqar and Mohamed Osman respectively pioneered the enterprise.

Interestingly, when cinema was introduced to other countries in the region, it was an Egyptian Jew who opened a cinema in Jerusalem called The Oracle. By 1897, the Cinematographe Lumière in Alexandria, owned by the Italian Dello Strologo, was offering regular séances and it became common practice to project films during theatre performances.

One of the first to combine theatre and film was the Italian Barda who transformed his Teatro Egyptien into Cinema Olympia; incidentally, he was later to write the music for Om Kalthoum’s film Wedad (Wedâd), a practice considered uncommon for the diva. At Cinema Urbanora, owned by another Alexandrian Italian, and catering to an almost entirely Italian audience, the Maestro Grasso and his Company of Araiis Zani would play Garibaldi’s Royal Hymn and celebrate the Italian National Feast in September of every year.

Ticket prices varied depending on target audience, niche of clientele and facilities. At first cinemas charged up to five piasters for the exclusivity and the novelty of the service; soon it was to drop to three and two, charging even less for children. First class tickets offered the benefit of a comfortable seat, whereas a third class seat aka ‘terzo’ was only a bench without a back. Cinema Metro’s ground floor less expensive seats had, however, a certain rangee x’ (X- Row) which promised a better view of the screen. Matinees and evening sessions were held, open air cinemas thrived in the summer, and Alexandria soon had as many cinemas as could accommodate a growing number of fans who had grown fond of its entertainment value.

Profits were also made on the periphery of the business: Matussian Cigarettes Company offered free tickets to holders of coupons found in its cigarette boxes, and the French Chocolat Poulain made similar offers for purchase of their products. One cinema whose roof was made of porous wooden beams attracted moviegoers by renting out umbrellas for a minimal fee of a few but rewarding milliemes. Advertisements for the different cinemas were made in announcements touring the city either on banners or across microphones heralding the use of new equipment that would not strain the eyes or “hammer the head with disturbing and unbearable noise”, or as later on with the announcement of air conditioning in the case of Cinema Amir.

Different cinemas held different practices. In the very early days before translation was made available, a live interpreter was employed to narrate or explain the drama, depending on the case. Often, in order to please the attendance, he would undertake to comment on the action and predict coming events! In popular areas, it was common practice for the camera and projector operators to stop projection and freeze a frame at the demand of the audience when a specific scene would catch their attention or raise their interest, as in the more heated fight scenes, when members of the audience would demand to have a scene replayed, the operator would spool and replay the scene to the enthusiastic applause of the people.

Even later, a film was always preceded by actualites, or later still by the Amon Newsreel, a cartoon and scenes from a forthcoming attraction. In the days of the monarchy, the royal anthem would be played and the audience would stand in reverence until it had ended. Often in Charlie Chaplin movies, a live musician would accompany the silent film, visible to the audience.

Entertainment during the intervals became a customized service, with every cinema offering its special services. Cinema Rio, which screened mostly Pathé productions, had a waterworks machine that was eye catching and mesmerizing to watch; Cinema Royal hosted a magician and children’s mornings offering puppet shows and marionettes.

If a power cut came between the Alexandria audience and the film, they were known to chant in unison cima awanta, hato felousna (this cinema is a fraud, give us back our money). And the advertisement that announced that Father up a Tree (Abi fawka el shagara ) featured 54 kisses was taken seriously: viewers had great fun counting together each kiss as it came up. One, two, three roared the whole house with delight.

Children’s birthday parties were held inside the cinemas, and the adjoining cafeterias (often run by Greeks) would do the catering of the petit pain sandwiches and little gateaux soires. Apples dipped in candy syrup were circulated on a tray, and their taste still lingers on in the memory of Alexandrians to this day.

So too, in the collective unconscious, are memories of lush and elegant evenings at the cinema. In his article, Ibrahim Abdel Meguid tells of how an outing to the movies was preceded by a ritual in grooming and spraying cologne, and how a rumour that access to Cinema Royal would be denied in the absence of formal dress code got the young writer and his friends fantasizing. For the middle classes, an outing to the cinema meant money well spent and affordable family enjoyment; for the high society, the prospect of an evening séance exhumed furs, jewellery, hats and often revealing evening gowns for the ladies.

Sources for names, dates and other related information are listed in books by well known cinema historians. Unfortunately not all facts tally and when they fail to do so repeatedly it was deemed better to omit rather than make a doubtful entry.

Very often inauguration dates would be contradictory let alone conflicting. Word of mouth and anecdotal tales, though useful, could hardly be taken for granted or considered authentic or totally reliable. Many cinemas were inaugurated and shut down only a few weeks after opening dates, often only to re-open once again, either by the same name or a new one. Also, many cinemas would be owned and run by different people.

Often similar names are used across a disparate time line causing confusion as to inauguration dates of the different cinemas. Likewise, the changing names of streets over the years may create such similar confusion.

In order to facilitate navigation through the following pages of the streets and cinemas of Alexandria, it may be useful to remember the following name changes: Rue Rosette was changed to Rue Fouad to Tariq el Horreya or Sharia Gamal Abdel Nasser; Rue Missalla became Safia Zaghloul, Rue Mehatet el Raml or Rue de la Gare du Ramleh is presently Saad Zaghloul Street; Said Street is also known as Sharia el Ghorfa el Togariya. Rue de la Gare du Caire is Sharia Mehatet Misr; La Place des Jardins Français changed to Place Saad Zaghloul to Place Orabi.

As theatres (teatros) metamorphosed into projection halls and cinemas, or changed owners and management, they were often re-baptized. Here are some examples:

• Aziz and Dorés Cinephone, inaugurated in 1906/7, became Cinema Belle Vue in 1908 and then Cinema Strand.


• Teatro Alhambra was inaugurated as a theatre in 1900, then used as a cinema projection hall in 1928 and its name was changed to Cinema Alhambra till the late 1990s.
  
  
• Casino Eden, inaugurated on Place Jardins Français in 1910, changed into Grand Cinema Excelsior.


• Cinema Eldorado, on Mehatet Masr Square, changed to Cinema Star.


• Cinema Isis, inaugurated in 1910 on Rue Fouad, changed to Cinema Josy then to Cinema Plaza.


• Cinema Matussian, inaugurated in 1921 on Shakour Street, Ramleh Station, changed to Cinema Majestic.
  
  
• Cinema Ambassador, inaugurated in 1922 near Teatro Zizinia (next to Mohamed Ali Theatre – Cordahi Complex), changed to Cinema Royal and is currently Renaissance Cinema Complex.
  
  
• The Cordahi complex was built in 1921 on Rue Fouad. The Mohamed Ali Theatre was built in 1929, and it was also used as a projection hall. It became the Sayed Darwish Theatre, and is now the Alexandria Opera House.


• Cinema Misr on el Nil Street, Karmouz, changed to Cinema el Nil.


• Cinema Moharrem Bey on Moharrem Bey Street changed to Cinema Opera.
  
  
• Teatro Olympia on Rue Said el Awal, Manshieh, changed to Cinema Rex.


• Cinema Oriental, inaugurated in 1925 on Rue de l’ancienne poste (Sharia el Bosta el Qadeema), became Cinema Lido then Cinema el Sharq (translation of original name Oriental).
  
  
• Cinema Roy on Ramleh Station Square, changed to Cinema Ferial.


• Teatro Zizinia inaugurated in 1863 on Rue Rosette (later Rue Fouad) became a cinema projection hall round the turn of the century – exact date unknown.

Article: How The Cinema Began in Alexandria...

Name of Projection Hall: Salle de la Bourse Toussoun Pasha
Location: Rue Bab el Hadid, (Rue de L'ancienne Bourse)
Inaugurated in: 1896
Length of viewing: 30 minutes
Type of Programme: Short films
Price of Ticket: 4 Piastres (adults) 2 Piastres (children)

Name of Projection Hall: Lumière Cinematograph
Location: Rue Mehatet Masr (Rue de la Gare du Caire), near Alhambra
Inaugurated in: 1896-1897, Reopened 1899-1890 as part of the programme of Alhambra between Bourse Toussoun Pasha and ‘Teatro’ Alhambra, with an entrance on Rue Moharrem Bey.           
Owners: Lumière, France
Length of viewing: Short films
Price of Ticket: 3 Piastres Adults, 1.5 Piastres Children
Technical equipment and machinery: Lumière projection equipment    

Name of Projection Hall: ‘Teatro’ Abbas
Inaugurated in: 1904
Type of Programme: Complementary item.       

Name of Projection Hall: Aziz & Dorés Cinephone
Location: Rue Ramleh Station, (Lieu of Cinema Strand, corner of present Saad Zaghloul St. and Safia Zaghloul St.)
Inaugurated in: 1906/1907
Owners: Aziz Bandarli& Umberto Dorés Photographers
Type of Programme: Silent films & Sound movies.
Technical equipment and machinery: Louis Gaumont
Facilities: Sound System 

Name of Projection Hall: Urbanora Cinematograph
Location: Rue Salah el Din
Inaugurated in: 1906/1907
Type of Programme: Matinée & Soirée
Class of viewers/audience: Large number of viewers (triple the usual number) mainly from the Italian Community:
Facilities: Cooling system: 6 huge fans

Name of Projection Hall: Salle le Fonte
Location: 12, Rue Rosette (later Rue Fouad)
Inaugurated in: 1907
Technical equipment and machinery: Louis Gaumont
Facilities: Sound System

Name of Projection Hall: Casino Belle Vue         
Inaugurated in: 1908
Type of Programme: ‘Complementary’ item on an entertainment programme

Name of Projection Hall: Casino San Stefano
Inaugurated in: 1908
Type of Programme: ‘Complementary’ item on an entertainment programme

Name of Projection Hall: Grand Cinema Excelsior – Casino Eden
Inaugurated in: 1910
Type of Programme: A variety of films from Pathé Productions
Price of Ticket: Free entry

Name of Projection Hall: Rosette Gardens (Jardins Rosette)
Inaugurated in: 1910
Type of Programme: Projection of a variety of films at midnight, after their regular entertainment programme

Name of Projection Hall: Teatro Chantecler
Location: Rue Salah el Din
Inaugurated in: 1911 (Cinema Chantecler 1925)
Type of Programme: Viewing rights granted from Pathé Productions (France), Nordisk Productions (Denmark)
* Reopened as Cinema Pathé
Technical equipment and machinery: Gaumont, Eclaire

Name of Projection Hall: ‘Teatro’ Alhambra, Grand Cinema ‘Arts et La Poire’
Inaugurated in: 1911

Name of Projection Hall: Cinema Palace - originally, Cinematograph Pathé
Location: Rue de L'ancienne Bourse
Inaugurated in: 1911

Name of projection Hall: Wekalet el Masrah wal Cinematoghraph
Location: Bolonaki Passageway
Inaugurated in: 1912
Owners: A. Brandi & Co

Name of Projection Hall: Cinema Empire
Location: Rue Mahatet Masr
Inaugurated in: 1912

Name of Projection Hall: ‘Teatro’ Iris
Location: 13, Rue Rosette
Inaugurated in: 1912

Name of Projection Hall: el Cinema el Misreyah
Location: Rue Ibrahim (popular district)
Inaugurated in: 1912
Number of seats: Can seat up to 1200 viewers
Price of Ticket: Affordable – tickets reasonably priced
Facilities: Arabic translation/ subtitles

Name of Projection Hall: Cinema Italia (Italie)                                     
Location: 12, Rue Rosette (near Salle le Fonte)

Name of Projection Hall: ‘Teatro’ Moderne
Location: Rue Mehatet Masr
Inaugurated in: 1914
Price of Ticket: Soirée: 4   -   2   -   1   Piastre(s)
(Loges) 25  -    20 -   15  Piastres
Matinée: 3  -    2   -   1 Piastre(s)
(Loges): 10  Piastres      

Name of Projection Hall: Cinema Matussian
Location: Rue Ramleh Station
Inaugurated in: 1921
Owners: ‘Matussian Cigarettes Co.’
Price of ticket: Free entry for Matussian Cigarettes coupons holders.

Name of Projection Hall: Cinema Lux (Ex. Olympia)
Location: Rue Said el Awal
Inaugurated in: 1921

Name of Projection Hall: Salle American Cosmograph
Inaugurated in: 1921 according to some sources and 1925 according to others.

Name of Projection Hall: Cinema Majestic
Location: Rue Ramleh Station
Inaugurated in: 1922

Name of Projection Hall: Cinema Leon                                  
Inaugurated in: 1922
Class of viewers/audience: Local community

Name of Projection Hall: Salle American Cosmograph
Inaugurated in: 1925 (elsewhere mentioned 1921)

Name of Projection Hall: Cinema Chantecler*
Inaugurated in: 1925 (Could be ‘Teatro’ Chantecler which was opened in 1911)

Name of Projection Hall: Cinema Iris
Re-inaugurated: 1925

Name of Projection Hall: Cinema Mohamed Ali
Inaugurated in: 1925

Name of Projection Hall: Cinema La Liberté
Inaugurated in: 1925
Class of viewers/audience: Local community

Name of Projection Hall: Cinema Orientale
Inaugurated in: 1925
Class of viewers/audience: Local community

2 – Later cinemas

Alexandria Cinemas as listed in the Cinema Guide For Arab and North African Countries published in 1951-1952

Name of cinema: Alf Leila
Location: Cinema Street, Abu Kir
Owners: Madame Georgette & Ostaz Naguib
No. of Seats: 800-Salle
Working season: Summer only / Open Air
Language of films & viewing: Egyptian/ Arabic & American or British
Technical Equipment: Erneman
Technical Machinery: RCA

Name of cinema: Alhambra
Location: Safia Zaghloul Street
Owners: Elias George Lotfi
No. of Seats: 1373 (575 Stalls - 136 First Floor - 182 Balcony - 300 Gallery - 36 Loge)
Working season:All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Italian, French, Greek & American or British - First Viewing
Technical Equipment: Century Ashcraft
Technical Machinery: Western Electric

Name of cinema: Amir
Location: 41 Fouad Street
Opening & Closing Dates: April 1952 - Present
Owners: Fox: 20th Century Film Company
No. of Seats: 1204 (614 Salle - 590 Balcon)
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: American or British - First viewing
Technical Equipment: Simplex
Technical Machinery: RCA  
Technical Facilities: York Air conditioner since its inauguration (Pic. ) (Caption: Interior of Cinema Amir)

Name of cinema: Anfoushi
Location: Ras El Tin
Owners: National Cinema Company: Moh. Hassan Ghanem & Mahmoud Youssef
No. of Seats: 800 Salle
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Egyptian/ Arabic
Technical Equipment: G. B. Kelly
Technical Machinery: Diosonic

Name of cinema: Bacos
Location: 155, Abu Kir Street
Owners: Awlad Fouad Haggar
No. of Seats: 1014
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Egyptian/Arabic
Technical Equipment: Cinemechanica
Technical Machinery: Altec Lansing

Name of cinema: Olympia
Location: Anastasie Street
Owners: Mohamed Ahmed el Sayed
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Egyptian/Arabic & American or British – Adventures.

Name of cinema: Camp Caesar
Owners: Gamal Reda & Nasr Eddine Shalaby
No. of Seats: 350 Stalls
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Egyptian/ Arabic
Technical Equipment: British Gaumont
Technical Machinery: Gaumont

Name of cinema: Champs Elysees
Location: Ramleh Station
Opening & Closing Dates: Inauguration end of 1952
Owners: Politi Brothers
No. of Seats: 350 Stalls
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: European Films
Technical Equipment: British Gaumont
Technical Machinery: Gaumont

Name of cinema: Cleopatra les Bains
Location: Bubastes Street, Cleopatra
Opening & Closing Dates: Inauguration end of 1952
Owners: Awlad Fouad Haggar
No. of Seats: 1020 (980 Stalls- 8 Loge)
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Egyptian/ Arabic
Technical Equipment: Saper Simplex
Technical Machinery: RCA

Name of cinema: Concordia
Location:15, Said el Awal Street
Owners: Elias George Lotfi
No. of Seats: 1100 (540 Stalls - 560 Balcony)
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Egyptian/ Arabic & American or British
Technical Equipment: Erneman 2
Technical Machinery: Western Electric

Name of cinema: Cosmo
Location: General Earl Street
Owners: Josy Film
No. of Seats: 1310 (1100 Stalls - 100 Balcony- 22 Loge)
Working season: All seasons

Name of cinema: Eden
Location: Camp Caesar
Owners: Gamal Reda & Nasr Eddine Shalaby
No. of Seats: 350 Stalls
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Egyptian/ Arabic
Technical Equipment: British Gaumont
Technical Machinery: Gaumont

Name of cinema: El Helal
Location: El Mex Road
Owners: El Malahy & United Cinema Company
No. of Seats: 800
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: American or British & Egyptian/ Arabic (Adventures)
Technical Equipment: G.B. Kelly
Technical Machinery: G.B. Kelly

Name of cinema: El Montazah
Location: 14, Sidi Bishr Street
Owners: El Malahi & United Cinema Company
No. of Seats: 1000
Working season: Summer only / Open Air
Language of films & viewing: American or British & Egyptian/ Arabic
Technical Equipment: Erneman
Technical Machinery: D 3

Name of cinema: El Nasr
Location: Abu Kir
Owners: David Daniel
No. of Seats: 740 (700 Stalls - 8 Loge)
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: American or British & Egyptian/ Arabic
Technical Equipment: Power
Technical Machinery: Standard

Name of cinema: El Sharq
Location: 11, Rue de l’ Ancienne Bourse
Owners: Sons of C. Bengalo
No. of Seats: 1381 (796 Stalls - 450 Balcony - 27 Loge)
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: European Films - First & Second Viewing

Name of cinema: Ferial
Location: Saad Zaghloul Square
Owners: Politi Brothers & Levy Brothers & Co.
No. of Seats: 1446 (900 Stalls - 506 Balcony - 8 Loge)
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Egyptian/ Arabic & American or British - First Viewing
Technical Equipment: Century Ashcraft
Technical Machinery: Western Electric

Name of cinema: Florida
Location: Sidi Bishr
Owners: Nasr Eddine Shalaby
No. of Seats: 600 (500 Stalls - 100 Balcony)
Working season: Foreign
Language of films & viewing: Foreign
Technical Equipment: Cinemechanica
Technical Machinery: Cinemechanica

Name of cinema: Fouad
Location: 13, Fouad Street
Owners: Victor Arwas & Les Films Naray
No. of Seats: 735 (554 Stalls - 151 Balcony - 6 Loge)
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: French & Italian - First Viewing
Technical Equipment: G.B. Kelly
Technical Machinery: G.B. Kelly

Name of cinema: Hadra
Location: El Hadra Street
Owners: Abdel Qader el Fadel & Co.
No. of Seats: 1000
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Egyptian/ Arabic & American or British
Technical Equipment: G.B. Kelly
Technical Machinery: G.B. Kelly

Name of cinema: Laila
Location: 134, Hagar el Nawateya Street, Bacos
Owners: Egyptian Cinema Company: Mohamed Ali & Co.
Manager: Elias George Lotfi
No. of Seats: 875 (650 Stalls - 200 Balcony - 5 Loge)
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Egyptian/ Arabic & American or British
Technical Equipment: Erneman 2
Technical Machinery: Western Electric

Name of cinema: La Gaité
Location: Pelouse Street, Ibrahimieh
Owners: Athaneos Boulos & Co.
No. of Seats: 1031 (706 Stalls - 270 Balcony - 11 Loge)
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: American or British Films - Second & Third Viewing
Technical Equipment: G.B. Kelly
Technical Machinery: RCA

Name of cinema: Lotus
Location: 96, Moharrem Bey Street
Owners: Mohamed Lotfi & Co.
No. of Seats: 1500
Working season: Summer only
Language of films & viewing: Egyptian/ Arabic
Technical Equipment: Gaumont
Technical Machinery: Geloso

Name of cinema: Majestic
Location: 36, Saad Zaghloul Street
Owners: Elias George Lotfi
No. of Seats: 920 (700 Stalls - 200 Balcony - 4 Loge)
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Egyptian/Arabic -Second Viewing
Technical Equipment: Erneman 2
Technical Machinery: Western Electric

Name of cinema: Majestic
Location: 36, Saad Zaghloul Street
Owners: Elias George Lotfi
No. of Seats: 800 Stalls
Working season: Summer only / Open Air
Language of films & viewing: Egyptian/ Arabic & European - First & Second Viewing
Technical Equipment: Erneman 3
Technical Machinery: Western Electric

Name of cinema: Metro
Location: Safia Zaghloul Street
Owners: Metro Golden Mayer Co.
No. of Seats: 1528 (936 Stalls- 592 Balcony)
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: American or British - First Viewing
Technical Equipment: Century Ashcraft
Technical Machinery: Western Electric
Technical Facilities: Coldair Air Conditioning

Name of cinema: Metropolitan
Location: 79, Farouk el Awal Street
Owners: D. Andreades
No. of Seats: 455 (400 Stalls)
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: American or British & Foreign
Technical Equipment: G.B. Kelly 12
Technical Machinery: Imperial

Name of cinema: Misr
Location: El Nil Street
Owners: Awlad Fouad Haggar
No. of Seats: 790 (635 Stall- 155 Balcony)
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Egyptian/Arabic
Technical Equipment: Century Ashcraft
Technical Machinery: Altec Lansing

Name of cinema: Mohamed Ali
Location: 22, Fouad el Awal Street
Owners: Pericles M. Demetrio & Co.
No. of Seats: 1121 (504 Stalls - 457 Balcony - 32 Loge)
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Foreign - First Viewing
Technical Equipment: Century Ashcraft
Technical Machinery: Western Electric

Name of cinema: Odeon
Location: Camp Caesar Station
Owners: Aslanidis Brothes
Working season: All seasons

Name of cinema: Park
Location: Shakur Pasha Street
Owners: Awlad Fouad Haggar
No. of Seats: 1031 Seats (823 Salle -168 Balcon - 8 Loge)
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Egyptian/ Arabic - First and Second Viewing
Technical Equipment: Cinemechanica
Technical Machinery: Cinemechanica

Name of cinema: Plaza
Location: 14, Rue Fouad
Owners: Madame Marie Philipdeps
No. of Seats: 850 (780 Salle - 14 Loge)
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: American or British
Technical Equipment: Erneman 2
Technical Machinery: Western Electric

Name of cinema: Qais
Location: 36, Hagar el Nawateya Street, Bacos
Owners:Egyptian Cinema Company: Mohamed Ali & Co. Manager: Ellias G Lotfi
No. of Seats: 725 (510 Stalls - 95 Balcony – 4 Loge)
Working season: Summer only / Open Air
Language of films & viewing: Egyptian/ Arabic & Foreign
Technical Equipment: Erneman 2
Technical Machinery: Western Electric

Name of cinema: Ras el Tin
Location: Safar Pacha Street
Owners: Awlad Fouad Haggar
No. of Seats: 1197 (949 Stalls- 178 Balcony -14 Loge)
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Egyptian/ Arabic - Second Viewing
Technical Equipment: Motiongraph
Technical Machinery: Altec Lansing

Name of cinema: Rex
Location: Tito Bey Cheeny
Owners: Elias George Lotfi
No. of Seats: 2518 (2036 Stalls - 427 Balcony -11 Loge)
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Egyptian/ Arabic - First Viewing

Name of cinema: Rialto
Location: 36, Safia Zaghloul Street
Owners: John Athanasio & Co.
No. of Seats: 1205 (666Stalls - 439 Balcony - 20 Loge)
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Foreign - First Viewing
Technical Equipment: Simplex
Technical Machinery: RCA
Technical Facilities: Career Air Conditioning

Name of cinema:Rio
Location: Roof Garden 37, Fouad Street
Owners: Elias George Lotfi
No. of Seats: 900
Working season : Open Air
Language of films & viewing: Foreign - First Viewing
Technical Equipment: Erneman 2
Technical Machinery: Western Electric

Name of cinema: Rio
Location : 37, Fouad Street
Owners: Elias George Lotfi
No. of Seats: 1278 (727 Stalls - 406 Balcony - 29 Loge)
Working season : All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Foreign - First Viewing
Technical Equipment: Century Ashcraft
Technical Machinery: Western Electric

Name of cinema:Ritz
Location: Saad Zaghloul Square
Owners: Elias George Lotfi
No. of  Seats: 1584 (1484 Stalls - 10 Loge)
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Egyptian/ Arabic - First Viewing
Technical Equipment: Erneman 2
Technical Machinery:Western Electric

Name of cinema: Royal
Location: 22, Fouad Street
Owners: Pericles Demetreo & Co.
No. of Seats: 1224 (854 Stalls - 335 Balcony - 7 Loge)
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: American or British - First Viewing
Technical Equipment: Simplex
Technical Machinery: RCA Photophone
Technical Facilities: Westinghouse Air Conditioner

Name of cinema:San Stefano
Owners: Nasr Eddine Shalaby
No. of Seats: 350 Stalls
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Foreign
Technical Equipment: Cinemechanica
Technical Machinery: Cinemechanica

Name of cinema: San Stefano
Location: Open Air
Owners:Nasr Eddine Shalaby
No. of Seats:900 Stalls
Working season:Summer only
Language of films & viewing:British
Technical Equipment:Cinemechanica
Technical Machinery:Cinemechanica

Name of cinema: Sporting
Location: Sporting Tram Station Ramleh
Owners: Shamamah & Milamid & Co.
No. of Seats: 1000 (800 Stalls - 200 Balcony)
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: American or British, French, Italian & Second Viewing of Egyptian/ Arabic films
Technical Equipment: Cinemechanica
Technical Machinery:Cinemechanica

Name of cinema: Star
Location: Nebi Daniel Street
Owners: Elias George Lotfi
No. of Seats: 814 (414 Stalls - 400 Balcony)
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Egyptian/ Arabic and American or British - Second Viewing
Technical Equipment: Erneman 2
Technical Machinery: Western Electric

Name of cinema:Strand
Location: Saad Zaghloul Square
Owners: Tommy Christo & Co.
No. of Seats: 1117 (796 Stalls - 206 Balcony - 23 Loge)
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: American or British & European - First Viewing
Technical Equipment: Simplex
Technical Machinery: RCA
Technical Facilities: Coldair Air Conditioning

Name of cinema: Tatweeg
Location: 72, Tatweeg Street
Status: Closed down
Owners: Mohamed Lotfi
No. of Seats: 945 (900 Salle - 9 Loge)
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Egyptian/ Arabic &American or British
Technical Equipment: G.B. Kelly
Technical Machinery: G.B. Kelly

References:

• Abdel Meguid, Ibrahim. “Cinema Cinema”. Alex Med Newsletter. Issue 3. May – July 2006.
  
• El Hadari, Ahmed. Tarikh el Cinema fi Misr:1896-1930. Cairo: Publications of the Cinema Club, 1989.
  
• Melakhrinado, Yannis. El Yonaniyoun fi el Cinema el Misreyah. Alexandria, 2003.
  
• Shafik, Viola. Arab Cinema: History and Cultural Identity. Cairo: AUC Press, 1998.
  
• (ed.)Wassef, Magda. Egypte: 100 ans de Cinéma. Paris: Institut du Monde Arabe, 1995.

3. Later Cinemas

Name of cinema:  Carrefour
Location: Moharrem Bey
Owners: Al Fotaim
No. of Screens: 7
No. of Seats: 2165
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Egyptian/ Arabic

Name of cinema: Family Mall
Location: Gianaclis
No. of Screens: 2
No. of Seats: 380
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Egyptian/ Arabic

Name of cinema:  Good News
Location: Rushdi, Deeb Mall
No. of Screens: 3
No. of Seats: 400
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Egyptian/ Arabic

Name of cinema:  Green Plaza
Location: Smouha
Owners: Ragab
No. of Screens: 6
No. of Seats: 1465
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Egyptian/ Arabic

Name of cinema: Kiroseiz
Location: Rushdi – Kiroseiz Mall
No. of Screens: 4
No. of Seats: 750
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Egyptian/ Arabic

Name of cinema:  Osman
Location: Smouha
No. of Screens: 5
No. of Seats: 967
Working season: All seasons
Language of films & viewing: Egyptian/ Arabic

Name of cinema: Renaissance
Location: Smouha – Zahran Mall
No. of Screens: 4
No. of Seats: 824
Working season: All seasons

Name of cinema:  San Stefano Mall
Location: San Stefano Mall
No. of Screens: 10
No. of Seats: 1630
Working season: All seasons