Teatro Sierra Maestra

Calzada de Bejucal 30901,
Rancho Boyeros,
Havana

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Additional Info

Architects: Felix Cabarrocas, Evelio Govantes

Functions: Community Arts Center, Movies

Styles: Art Deco, Atmospheric, Mayan Revival

Previous Names: Teatro Paramount Lutgardita, Teatro Lutgardita

Nearby Theaters

Teatro Sierra Maestra

The Havana suburb of Ranch Boyeros grew up around what was then, in the early 1930’s, the new airport. The area was used for light industry and housing was built for its workers. The Teatro Lutgardita was built and opened in 1932 to provide entertainment for the local workers. This is Cuba’s only known Atmospheric style cinema and only one of four known in the world to have a Mayan/Atmospheric style treatment.

Designed by architects Evelio Govantes and Felix Cabarrocas, it has sparse Art Deco elements on its facade and its Atmospheric style interior is inspired by Mayan motifs. Notable features include the Mayan figures on the columns of the proscenium arch and the pair of ‘snake columns framing a doorway to its left. Some of its features have been copied from authentic Mayan sites such as Tikal, Chichen Itza etc. Above the ramparts of the trompe l'oeil stone walls are rural scenes below a darkened sky. The overall effect could be described as a 'Pueblo Deco’ style. The scenery designer Fernando Tarazona collaborated on the interior design. The balustrade along the balcony front, with its turned wooden posts evokes the traditional wooden ‘rejas’(window security grilles).

After closing as a cinema, it lay unused for many years. In early-2007 work began on a renovation/restoration project. This was funded by Ranch Boyeros ‘twin town’ in Spain; Torrejon de Ardoz, and a local Cuba solidarity organisation. New seats have been installed which came from a theatre in the Spanish town. The re-furbished building houses two art/sculpture galleries and a multi-purpose hall for various community events. It re-opened around 2011.

Contributed by Graeme McBain. Ken Roe

Recent comments (view all 7 comments)

atmos
atmos on March 22, 2005 at 4:39 am

The former Paramount movie palace is located in the rural town of Boyeros and is apparently art deco/mayan temple and has been closed for some years.

irishcine
irishcine on March 6, 2007 at 9:17 am

This cinema is extant, closed, with some deterioration during the years of closure. It is now the subject of keen efforts to rehabilitate it, for future arts use, by some local interests.

Indeed it is designed as an ornate Mayan style atmospheric and it was better known as the Teatro Lutgardita, the name used before Sierra Maestra was adopted.It is located in the Rancho Boyeros district of Havana, very close to Havana airport.

atmos
atmos on July 23, 2007 at 4:17 am

The entry from irishcine is correct.This theatre was called the Teatro Lutgardita and from information I found today it appears to have opened in 1932.The architects were Evelio Govantes and Felix Cabarrocas.

atmos
atmos on July 23, 2007 at 6:42 am

Just discovered the address – Calzada de Bejucal 30901 corner to Castellon,Boyeros.

atmos
atmos on December 9, 2015 at 4:30 am

Theatre has been operating for some time now.

csandretto
csandretto on July 11, 2016 at 7:54 am

It’s operating and open to the public

mikehume
mikehume on April 6, 2021 at 10:11 pm

The addresses didn’t work for me. I eventually found the location at 23°00'00.7"N 82°23'15.8"W (23.000203, -82.387723).

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