Guided Visit at the Cineteatro São Luiz
Get to know some more historical aspects of Fortaleza cinema and curiosities about the equipment.
In 1915...
Luiz Severiano Ribeiro betted on the cinema business with the opening of Cine Riche. In 1930, he expanded his work with movie theatres and distribution to the Southeast, but he was determined to build the best, most beautiful and luxurious cinema in Brazil in Fortaleza.
After being the house of Luiz's grandfather, being the Casa Menescal, being the Polytheama cinema, the building is demolished to begin, in 1938, the works of the building that we know as São Luiz.
Opening Night
Its inauguration should have been in 1940. However, the works of the building were stopped for 20 years due to the Second World War. Finally, the day chosen for its effective inauguration was March 26, 1958. The movie "Anastasia - A Princesa Forgocida" was on display.
Foyer Entrance by Guilherme SilvaCineteatro São Luiz
The Foyer
São Luiz was designed by a civil engineer and architect from Ceará Humberto da Justa Menescal, with the participation of Humberto Monte, José Euclides Caracas and Oscar Dubeux Pinto.
It has an entrance hall in Carrara marble (province of Massa and Carrara in Lunigiana, Italy), three crystal chandeliers from extinct Czechoslovakia, staircases, carpets and imposing paintings. It is worth mentioning that some furniture and props have remained the same since the opening, such as chandeliers, sofas, ticket urns, displays and mirrors.
Staircases by Guilherme SilvaCineteatro São Luiz
Concert hall renovation by Gentil BarreiraCineteatro São Luiz
The Reform
In 2011, as the only remnant of a golden age of street cinemas in Fortaleza, was sold by Grupo Severiano Ribeiro to the Government of the State of Ceará. The sale happened after a negotiation aimed not only at physical preservation but also at maintaining cultural activities.
As a result, the Secretary of Culture of the State of Ceará put a detailed and delicate project of restoration and renovation of its architecture (so that nothing deviated from the original), instrumental retooling and conceptual readjustment of the actions.
Renovation of the second floor of the audience by Felipe AbudCineteatro São Luiz
Renovation of the first floor of the audience by Guilherme SilvaCineteatro São Luiz
Reform analysis by Felipe AbudCineteatro São Luiz
Room renovation by Gentil BarreiraCineteatro São Luiz
Concert hall chairs by Guilherme SilvaCineteatro São Luiz
The Exhibition Room
The side decoration of the cinema hall, based on art-deco references, emphasizes geometric and linear shapes, in addition to an infinity of colours and textures, designed by Osório Ferreira and Marcelino Guido Budini.
Main room ceiling by Guilherme SilvaCineteatro São Luiz
Main room ceiling details by Guilherme SilvaCineteatro São Luiz
Main room lights by Guilherme SilvaCineteatro São Luiz
Stage View by Guilherme SilvaCineteatro São Luiz
The Stage
It was reopened as Cineteatro São Luiz to host artistic programming in the most varied languages. The effective resumption of daily programming in new formats took place from May 2015. Cine Teatro currently has a capacity of 1,050 seats.
Chairs in the main room by Guilherme SilvaCineteatro São Luiz
End hallway of main room by Guilherme SilvaCineteatro São Luiz
Stage curtains by Guilherme SilvaCineteatro São Luiz
Showroom by Guilherme SilvaCineteatro São Luiz
Democratic, plural and pulsating for all Ceará people!
Nowadays Cine Teatro São Luiz has become a reference house in Brazil's cultural diffusion and artistic appreciation.
Text: Elídia Vidal
Layout: Yule Bernardo
Photos: Cineteatro Collection, Gentil Barreira and Felipe Abud
The Cineteatro São Luiz is an equipment of the Secretary of Culture of Ceará managed by the Instituto Dragão do Mar.
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