Hi Jess, If you belong to either the Abarbanel or the Wiser families, then you people have most of the info, certainly the photos, regarding the inside story of the Eden Cinema. If you are interested in a critical approach to the Eden days(and you can read hebrew), try my book: Projecting Power – The Cinema Houses, the Movies and the Israelis (Resling, Tel-Aviv, 2006)
Probably the most loved and remembered movie theatre of the one-screen era in Tel-Aviv. The initial plan was to build an opera house but then, the owner, Jacob Moghrabi, a wealthy merchant who just arrived from Syria, changed his mind. Built on the city’s main square,the Moghrabi Theatre was everybody’s meeting place.The Moghrabi closed in 1986 . The building was demolished in the mid 90’s, and is used now as a parking space.
The Eden cinema opened in August 1914 and closed a short while after by the Turkish authoroties – they claimed that the projectors were used to signal british submarines in the Mediteranian. The cinema reopened in 1917 with the new order of the british mandate. Eden was the first and only cinema in Tel-Aviv till 1927. With the establishing of the new state of Israel and changes in the city and the new movie theatres, the Eden lost its appeal, now showing mainly indian, greek, and turkish movies of poor quality. The place closed in 1974.
A recent photograph of the exterior of the Eden Cinema: View link
I also saw it that week at Cinema I and it was more like watching an execution during the french revolution. Many in the audiance – the place was packed – sat there exepcting to see the worst movie ever. The critics killed it, they reacted to the movie as if Cimino, whom they crowned after Deer Hunter, had betrayed them. And with UA announcement, the audiance smelled blood. That s exactly how it was the last couple of days the movie was shown. And they booed during the credits at the beginning, as if heads were about to roll. With one exception. Vilmos Zsigmond s name. They applauded him. As if he is not to be blamed. There were laughs later on, but then people got tired. They became quiet. Many left. I remember the smell of grass. It was not just a movie. I remember getting bored as the movie went on which only shows the power of the critcs, and specially their hate. I could not appriciate the movie for what it was back then, certainly not when I took part in a mob scene.
Try a book titled “ENTER THE DREAM HOUSE”, memories of cinemas in south London from the twenties to the sixties, published in 1993 by the British Film Institute. Lots of interviews with projectionists, ushers etc. Great book
I understand that Arcata’s population in 1914 was just over a thousand, and there were 524 seats at the Minor. How was it back in those years? Did everybody in Arcata and other small towns go to the movies 3-4 times a week? or did they use movie theatres for other purposes – legit theatre, local school graduation ceremony, political gatherings?
Hi, Gerald. Forget what I said about CRIA. Agree with u 100% on the Thalia. their film noir series were something. Now can u, or any body else out there, show me the way to the Playboy, the one that was located on 57th between 7th and 6th. Could nt find it on the list.
Gerald, I think u confuse the Paramount with Cinema Studio, located few blocks further up, on broadway & 66th. CRIA! was an art film, the kind of films they used to show at the studios (2 screens).I remember seeing at the Paramount movies such as RAGING BULL (‘80), THE IN-LAWS (firsr version) and TOOTSIE ('82). I m pretty sure. I lived in that area back then.
It was july 1974, my first visit to the country, and to ny. My cousin took me to see Woody Allen’s SLEEPER at the Bijou. It was a second run (the movie was made in 1973) . I guess my cousin wanted to introduce me to ny through a Woody Allen movie. I did nt get half of the jokes, he could nt stop laughing. Too bad they dont have a photo of the place.
Hi Jess, If you belong to either the Abarbanel or the Wiser families, then you people have most of the info, certainly the photos, regarding the inside story of the Eden Cinema. If you are interested in a critical approach to the Eden days(and you can read hebrew), try my book: Projecting Power – The Cinema Houses, the Movies and the Israelis (Resling, Tel-Aviv, 2006)
Probably the most loved and remembered movie theatre of the one-screen era in Tel-Aviv. The initial plan was to build an opera house but then, the owner, Jacob Moghrabi, a wealthy merchant who just arrived from Syria, changed his mind. Built on the city’s main square,the Moghrabi Theatre was everybody’s meeting place.The Moghrabi closed in 1986 . The building was demolished in the mid 90’s, and is used now as a parking space.
Photos of the square and the Moghrabi Theatre:
http://147.237.72.31/scripts/topsrch/topapi.dll
The Eden cinema opened in August 1914 and closed a short while after by the Turkish authoroties – they claimed that the projectors were used to signal british submarines in the Mediteranian. The cinema reopened in 1917 with the new order of the british mandate. Eden was the first and only cinema in Tel-Aviv till 1927. With the establishing of the new state of Israel and changes in the city and the new movie theatres, the Eden lost its appeal, now showing mainly indian, greek, and turkish movies of poor quality. The place closed in 1974.
A recent photograph of the exterior of the Eden Cinema:
View link
Try Film Comment, jan-fab 1981, “‘Heaven’ Can Wait”, by Jack Kroll
I also saw it that week at Cinema I and it was more like watching an execution during the french revolution. Many in the audiance – the place was packed – sat there exepcting to see the worst movie ever. The critics killed it, they reacted to the movie as if Cimino, whom they crowned after Deer Hunter, had betrayed them. And with UA announcement, the audiance smelled blood. That s exactly how it was the last couple of days the movie was shown. And they booed during the credits at the beginning, as if heads were about to roll. With one exception. Vilmos Zsigmond s name. They applauded him. As if he is not to be blamed. There were laughs later on, but then people got tired. They became quiet. Many left. I remember the smell of grass. It was not just a movie. I remember getting bored as the movie went on which only shows the power of the critcs, and specially their hate. I could not appriciate the movie for what it was back then, certainly not when I took part in a mob scene.
Try a book titled “ENTER THE DREAM HOUSE”, memories of cinemas in south London from the twenties to the sixties, published in 1993 by the British Film Institute. Lots of interviews with projectionists, ushers etc. Great book
I understand that Arcata’s population in 1914 was just over a thousand, and there were 524 seats at the Minor. How was it back in those years? Did everybody in Arcata and other small towns go to the movies 3-4 times a week? or did they use movie theatres for other purposes – legit theatre, local school graduation ceremony, political gatherings?
Thanks, Warren.In general, is there an easy way to find a movie theatre that changed names?
Hi, Gerald. Forget what I said about CRIA. Agree with u 100% on the Thalia. their film noir series were something. Now can u, or any body else out there, show me the way to the Playboy, the one that was located on 57th between 7th and 6th. Could nt find it on the list.
Gerald, I think u confuse the Paramount with Cinema Studio, located few blocks further up, on broadway & 66th. CRIA! was an art film, the kind of films they used to show at the studios (2 screens).I remember seeing at the Paramount movies such as RAGING BULL (‘80), THE IN-LAWS (firsr version) and TOOTSIE ('82). I m pretty sure. I lived in that area back then.
It was july 1974, my first visit to the country, and to ny. My cousin took me to see Woody Allen’s SLEEPER at the Bijou. It was a second run (the movie was made in 1973) . I guess my cousin wanted to introduce me to ny through a Woody Allen movie. I did nt get half of the jokes, he could nt stop laughing. Too bad they dont have a photo of the place.