Cine-Teatro Fausto
Paseo del Marti (Prado) 201,
Havana
Paseo del Marti (Prado) 201,
Havana
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Located in the Habana Vieja (old town) district of Havana, on the Prado at the corner of Esquina Colon in the Jaruco neighborhood.
The Cine-Teatro Fausto was built in 1938 and designed in an Art Deco style, by architect Saturino Parajon. It has a simple Art Deco style facade, with vertical patterns above the entrance, flanked by horizontal delineations and has curved corners. Decorative botanical friezes and reliefs suggesting castlations on top.
It was the first theatre in Havana to have air-conditioning and its walls contain a cavity, protecting it from outside noise.
In recent years cinema use has been dropped in favour of comedy type shows on-stage. It had closed by February 2019.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
The Fausto may no longer be in use as a cinema but it is now used as a theatre and it remains undivided and in fairly good condition, with many original features. As with many buildings in Cuba, lack of resources means a gradual decline which is a problem, but on the other hand saves it from the drastic remodelling or destruction that might happen in other places.
The original theater started showing films on November 15, 1915 and it was one of the first to show talking movies. I think the building designed in 1938 originally had a beautiful streamlined façade. I went a couple of times as a child. A frequent patron in the neighborhood tells me orchestra seating was 50¢, balcony 30¢.
The old Fausto theater was the property of entrepreneur Luis Estrada. It had a presidential box with “boudoir” and separate entrance. It was redesigned by architect and engineer Saturnino M. Parajón y Amaro.
The Cinema was permanently closed when I visited in february 2019.