Copacabana–A film by Paulo MacDowelGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
Copacabana, end of the 1930s
The short scenes recovered depict Copacabana Palace and Atlântica Avenue. To the right of the hotel is part of the Morro do Inhangá, which was partially destroyed to make way for the construction of the hotel pool.
The Copacabana Palace Hotel was commissioned to be ready for the International Exhibition in 1922, but it was not ready until 1923. Designed by Joseph Gire, who also designed Glória Hotel, the building was a landmark not only for the Copacabana neighborhood, but for for the whole city.
Levantamento terrestre de 1930 (1930)General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
Raising the land
In the lower left-hand corner, we see stretches of the Morro do Inhangá and the block occupied by Copacabana Palace.
Igrejinha de Copacabana (1900 circa) by Marc FerrezGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
Copacabana: before and after
The former Church of Our Lady of Copacabana: the sanctuary was demolished in 1918 during the widening of the Copacabana Fort.
Copacabana territory
Copacabana, a vast territory before; little did she know the destiny that awaited her: becoming the "Little Princess of the Sea".
Bonte elétrico trafegando em avenida residencial de CopacabanaGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
Streetcars throughout Copacabana
Unidentified street: the streetcars, which by 1904 were already electric, linked Botafogo with the central part of the city.
Access road between Copacabana and Botafogo: the Alaor Prata tunnel can be seen at two different junctures. On the left it is in its original condition (1924) and on the right, it is seen during the expansion project (1927). Opened in 1892, it was first named the Barroso Tunnel, then the Old Tunnel after the Leme Tunnel (New Tunnel) was opened in 1906.
Ressaca, Avenida Atlântica, CopacabanaGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
Atlântica Avenue 1925
In front of the Copacabana Palace Hotel, the damage caused by the July 5, 1925 rip current. Scenes from the rip current can be viewed in this film.
Vista aérea de CopacabanaGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
Building vertically and seaside culture
Despite the trend for taller and taller buildings at the time of its construction, Copacabana Palace Hotel remains not only an architectural landmark, but also a beacon of the seaside culture of the city of Rio de Janeiro.
Sea bathing, which was recommended at the beginning of the 20th century for health reasons, became the hallmark of Carioca culture, as well as an example of democratized leisure activity.
Regulating sea bathing, 1917
"Sea bathing will only be allowed from April 1 to November 30, from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.; and from December 1 to March 31, between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m".
Vista parcial da orla da Praia de CopacabanaGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
Copacabana in the 1950s
Bathers enjoy the high tide at the most famous beach in Brazil, before the widening of Atlântica Avenue.
Mayor of Rio de Janeiro
Eduardo Paes
Secretary of State
Eduardo Cavaliere
General Archive of the City of Rio de Janeiro
Rosa Maria Araujo
Documentation Center
Maria Thereza Kahl Fonseca
Curatorship
Conrado Werneck Pimentel and Miguel Mattos Silva
Editing and historical researchConrado Werneck Pimentel
Text revision
Pedro Paulo Malta
Interns
Luísa da Costa de Oliveira and Marcelle Araujo Lins
Film digitization
LUPA/UFF - University Laboratory for Audiovisual Preservation
ReferencesReflexões sobre as Origens da Tipologia Hoteleira Balneária Carioca na Década de 1920
Maria Helena da Fonseca Hermes
Grandes hotéis centrais no Rio de Janeiro (1908-1922): da construção ao arrasamento dos edifícios
Nina Zonis Nepomuceno
