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The now-defunct Edén cinema was a location located in the current Nou de la Rambla. It was built on the land occupied between 1883 and 1886 by the former flamenco tablao of Café de la Alegría.
Later, in 1897, after a major renovation, it became the Edén Concert music hall, one of the most legendary and historic venues in the old Chinatown.
In 1935, in the midst of the Republic, he decided to move into the film world to avoid the classic problems of nightclubs. With censorship and customers who after two drinks caused public altercations, he preferred to become a cinematographer and avoid the continuous fines imposed by the government authority.
It was inaugurated on Monday, December 23, 1935, with a capacity of 1,275 spectators, with the screening of the musical film, Use Your Imagination, and with the shorts: Fox News Movietone News Current World News, Exploring the Pacific, Travel; Women’s Magazine, Phil Spitalny (women’s jazz orchestra), Over the Jungle Empire, Lindbergh Routes and A clean, sporty trumpet.
On July 18, 1936, the day of the coup d’état, he screened Man in White by Clark Gable and Myrna Loy, The Mummy by Boris Karloff, and The Invisible Man by Claude Rains and drawings of Popeye. Later, after being collectivized by the CNT, it opened its doors again on August 9, continuing to show the same films from July 18.
After the civil war, it opened its doors again on February 5, screening: Betty Goes to War, Wings in the Night and the musical A Jazz Time. On Monday, October 16, 1939, it changed its old name, converting it only to Eden, with the screening of The Voice That Accuses, The Tiger of Esnapur, Noticiario Luce and Drawings.
Its programming opted to offer quality films, which made it, despite its location, one of the favorite cinemas in the neighborhood. On September 26, 1960, it began programming jointly with the Catalonia cinema. The films chosen were: The Final Hour and Crime for Newlyweds. The union lasted until 1961, when he returned to programming alone.
In 1965 he appeared again associated with the cinemas: ABC, Chile, Cervantes and Nápoles. In 1969 he disappeared from the Billboards, although he continued programming quality films. In 1971, he returned to programming with the Verdi, Cervantes, Iris and Nápoles cinemas.
The degradation of the neighborhood caused the establishment to lose the attendance of foreign spectators, which influenced the spirit of its owner, who decided to abandon the business. It closed its doors on Sunday, August 27, 1972, with the screening of When Ambition Turns Red and Buccaneer Rebellion.
The appearance of the company Cinesa, the rehabilitation of the area and the possibility of remodeling the premises, led to new possibilities of resurgence.
Cinesa undertook a total transformation of the venue, reducing its capacity to provide greater comfort to spectators, leaving it at 721 spectators and renewing the projection and sound equipment.
The inauguration took place on Sunday, July 1, 1973, with a presentation that Cinesa had already made in other cinemas, premiering eight films during the first week, in order to bring the public closer to the premises:
Sunday 1: Black Chronicle, with Alain Delon and Catherine Deneuve. Monday 2: Doctor Casanova, with Jean Paul Belmondo and Mía Farrow. Tuesday 3: Shadows in the Dark, with Jonathan Frid, Grayson Hall, Joan Bennett. Wednesday 4th: Treasure Island, with Órson Welles. Thursday 5: The White Forest, with Charlton Heston. Friday the 6th: Ulzana’s Revenge, with Burt Lancaster. Saturday 7th: The Clan of the Marseilleses, with Jean Paul Belmondo and Claudia Cardinale. Sunday 8: The last forbidden games, with Marlon Blando.
A repertoire with the most important artists of the time. Which made it take off again for five years. But the decline that the cinema suffered in the 70s caused it to become an S room in 1978.
Like all cinemas that adopted this type of programming, it had a very short life. It closed its doors permanently on April 28, 1985, with the screening of Clítoris pacata mundi and The Bed Has a Price.
