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The history of the primitive Spring cinema, later converted into Murillo Cinema, was located in the old Paseo del Obispo Morgades 4 (current Paseo de la Bonanova, 103). Its construction began in 1911, although there are some contradictions about the date.
It was built by the master builder Josep Masdeu, under the project of the municipal architect of Sarrià, Arnau Calvet i Peyronil, commissioned by Joaquím Font i Pedrosa. His first intention was for the cinema to be called Sala Morgades, in honor of the bishop, but he finally adopted the name Spring Cinema.
It had a classical façade that was not ornate and inside it had a stage for theatrical performances or artistic performances with a capacity of 770 spectators.
The festival of San Juan on June 23, 1911 was inaugurated and was a great relief for the upper area so that they did not have to travel to the center to be able to attend the cinema.
In its first advertisement, above all, it highlighted its excellent location and the advantage of not having to use fans for comfort as it received “the healthy effluvia of the neighboring mountains that embalmed the elegant and spacious living room.” In addition, he highlighted the convenience that the Vallvidrera tram had a station next to the cinema.
On the 28th, a new advertisement was published showing the new address of Paseo del Obispo Morgades. As for the programming, it still did not mention any films, it only announced selected films.
It is not until Tuesday, July 11 that the name of a personal performance (variety) appears:
“Today, Tuesday, second fashion, single session, at 10 pm. Artistic event: debut of the young and eminent diva Signorina Lina Mardi, who will perform the best pieces from her repertoire. Prices: general: 0.25; preference. 0 *50; boxes: 6.75”.
On Sunday, July 30, in the afternoon session, a massive fire broke out in the engine room that was quickly put out thanks to the bravery of the young spectator Ramón Julia and the engine driver, who managed to ensure that no personal misfortunes occurred, only the subsequent scare.
On Sunday, July 13, 1913, a meeting was held at 9 p.m., which was not to ask for political or union solutions. Sarrià in those times was an autonomous municipality, its annexation did not occur until November 4, 1921. The rally was organized by the Pro-Sarrià commission to protest the project of aggregation to Barcelona and in defense of the municipal autonomy of Sarrià .
On Tuesday, May 23, 1916, the play Terra Baixa was performed, which was an event in the town, since Àngel Guimerà himself attended the performance.
In November 1921, given the situation of force on the part of the government to achieve the annexation, a monster event was held in which one of the speakers, Ángel Marqués, representing the Traditionalist Youth, certified the inappropriateness of the annexation. . Well, while Barcelona was subject to a huge deficit, Sarrià did not have a cent of deficit nor the amount of taxes that Barcelona had. He alluded to the incongruity of the Barcelona councilors who entered the City Hall on foot and, when they left the municipality, all of them left using a car.
On Sunday, July 27, 1924, Pro-Sarrià organized a conference at half past ten in the morning to request the Municipal Charter that granted the new law, in which former deputies and councilors took part. Unfortunately, something that politics has not been able to solve today.
In 1925, the premises carried out some interior renovations to increase the capacity to 1,250 spectators and installing the Guardian Alerter, making it one of the first cinemas in Spain to have a fire alarm.
On Thursday, September 19, 1929, it became part of the Cinaes Chain. On June 26, 1921, on the occasion of the first round of the general elections, Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya held a meeting at the premises.
With the start of the civil war it was confiscated by the CNT for holding events and rallies. After the war and after a quick restoration, it opened to the public on February 16 with the films: The Heroes of the Neighborhood, Under Secret Orders, comedy and drawings.
The disposition of the government of the dictatorship not to allow names that were not Spanish forced its owner to change the name, on May 7, 1939, programming Morena Clara, for Imperio Argentina and Miguel Ligero, Neblina and Rio well used. The next day, Monday, it opened its doors as the Murillo cinema, programming: A man without entrails, The Savoy dance, Alias ??Dinamita and A damsel in distress.
On Sunday, September 11, 1955, managed by Empresa Las Arenas S. A., it appeared again on billboards as Cine Spring, showing on the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th, How to Marry a Millionaire and A Divorce.
The crisis of re-release cinemas with the appearance of video stores, on April 28, 1980, turned it into the Spring Studio Cinema, showing arthouse films: Chinatown and The Great Gastby.
Its location in the upper area of ??the city made it a highly sought-after building site. This and the drop in spectators, decided its owner to close the doors on April 30, 1984, screening his last film program: Francés y Fedora.
