Ras Tanura Theatre
Ras Tanura
32819
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Map
Additional Info
Firms: Spackman & Peterson
Functions: Live Performances, Movies
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Nearby Theaters
No theaters found within 30 miles
The Ras Tanura Theatre was opened in 1949, and was built by native craftsmen, to the designs of San Francisco architectural firm Spackman & Peterson. It was built for the Arabian American Oil Company (ARAMCO) as a facility for their resident workers. The facility also contains a large outdoor bowl used for showing movies under the stars.
Today, the population is 3,200, and still contains American & British expatriates. Although located within a compound, the public are admitted to attend the cinema, but Islamic laws frown on cinema exhibition.
In December 2017 a law was passed to allow public cinemas to open in the country for the first time in 35 years. It is hope that new cinemas will open by March 2018.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
There is a photo of the Ras Tanura Theatre on this page of Boxoffice, February 4, 1950.
The Crown Prince plans to permit cinemas after a gap of over 35 years, the first to open in March, 2018. Cinemas are seen as a catalyst for economic growth and diversification.
Linkrot repair: The photo of the Ras Tanura Theatre in Boxoffice of February 4, 1950, can currently be seen at this link (I hope.)
Edit: Well, it doesn’t, and I can’t figure out how to make a direct link to the page at the user-hostile web site Yumpu. Click on the search icon (magnifying glass) below the magazine page scan and put the name ras tanura in the search box, and clicking on the results from that search should take you to the page with the photo on it.