Cines Callao

The Cine Callao, designed by architect Luis Gutierrez Soto in a ‘Classical’ style and constructed in 1925 to 1926, it opened 11th December 1926 with the film “Luis Candelas, el bandido de Madrid”. It is one of the famed movie palaces of the Gran Via, this is at the intersection of the Plaza del Callao. It has a prominent corner site and was originally built as a twin theatre, with a second 822-seat ‘open air’ auditorium on the roof, which has been closed for many years.

The interior was re-modeled in the late-1950’s or early-1960’s in an Art Deco style which swept away the former Classical interior. In the 1990’s, when I visited, there were 1,147 seats including two balconies. On the main floor seating, I counted 30 rows of 24 seats, but I didn’t visit the closed balcony. The smaller auditorium is in the basement. As of 2007, auditorium 1 has 1,101 seats and auditorium 2 has 429 seats.

Recent comments (view all 7 comments)

Ken Roe on November 19, 2007 at 4:19 pm

A view from the Metro station entrance, across the street:
http://flickr.com/photos/ojosdetrapo/971726477/
A full view, as seen in April 2007:
View link

HowardBHaas on November 19, 2007 at 4:38 pm

More photos of exterior,
2007: View link
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nazaret/609266421/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jofrias/1888321903/
View link
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hanneorla/465469801/

Close up of exterior decoration:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jofrias/1888322831/

2006 photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/petezin/153160483/
View link

2005: View link
2005: http://www.flickr.com/photos/flipao/61532764/
2004: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ghgomezl/293802728/
view from above: View link

Ken Roe on January 27, 2008 at 4:33 pm

Photographed as a single screen in 1995:
http://flickr.com/photos/yellowsummer/2223006124/

Roloff on April 19, 2008 at 4:18 am

Here’s a postcard in my collection from 1954 with the Cine Callao on it, as well as another one, but which one is it?!
View link

TruusBobJanToo on October 31, 2009 at 3:20 am

A photo of Cine Callo from October 2009.

woody on October 31, 2009 at 10:22 am

in 2007 also showing its stuning art deco neightbour which houses the Capitol Cinema
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/435193416/

atmos on June 18, 2015 at 6:35 am

Theatre opened 11 December 1926.