Gahurovo Zlín's Grand Cinema is celebrating 80 years

Zlín - The Large Cinema in Zlín is celebrating 80 years since the screening of its first film. The anniversary will be commemorated with a photography exhibition about the history of the cinema and a film showcase. An open house day is also being prepared, Michal Gaja, the marketing manager of Golden Apple Cinema, which manages the Large Cinema, informed ČTK today.
     The first film screened was Trader Horn on September 6, 1932. In its eighty-year existence, the cinema has hosted more than 86,000 screenings attended by nearly 72 million viewers, Gaja stated.
     The cinema has undergone several renovations throughout its history, with the original capacity of 2,500 seats reduced to the current 1,013. The cinema, which is a cultural monument, also survived the impact of two bombs during World War II.
     The cinema is traditionally a venue for screenings of the Zlín Film Festival for Children and Youth, which is being held this year for the 52nd time. It also hosts medical congresses, concerts, and other events. Since 2008, audiences have been able to watch live broadcasts of performances from the Metropolitan Opera in New York. The cinema is fully digitalized.
     The celebrations will kick off on Thursday with a photography exhibition in the cinema's lobby. The showcase of original films will offer movies in 70mm format. For example, the film Batman, the biographical film Gandhi, the horror film The Exorcist, the music documentary about the Rolling Stones, the musical film Gypsies Go to Heaven, and the western The Untouchables will be on display.
     During the open house days from September 18 to 21, film lovers can explore the cinema's backstage, and popular films from previous years will also be screened during those days for a symbolic admission price.