The scene is surprising to say the least, especially because you are not in a museum or an old projection room, but in a space now occupied by a well-known restaurant chain in Zaragoza, on Goya Avenue.
This unusual decoration has an explanation that many Zaragoza residents are unaware of. The building is linked to one of the city’s historic cinemas, the former Gran Vía cinema, which for decades brought hundreds of viewers together in front of its screen.
A CINEMA WITH MORE THAN 600 SEATS
To discover the origins of this place, we have to go back to October 2, 1943. That was the day the Gran Vía cinema opened, taking its name from the Zaragoza avenue where it was located, specifically at number 40.
This unusual space is on Goya Avenue. Photo: Y. T.
The cinema occupied part of a building with apartments and commercial premises. It had been designed by architect Miguel Ángel Navarro, who opted for an art deco aesthetic, a style widely found in entertainment venues at the time.
According to the book Catálogo de Cien Años de Cine en Zaragoza, the establishment was owned by Antonio Barbany and had 603 seats spread across two floors. That was a considerable capacity for a cinema that, for almost four decades, formed part of the daily lives of many Zaragoza residents.
Its history as a cinema ended in March 1980, when it definitively closed its doors after almost 37 years of activity. The space was later converted into a bingo hall, a transformation also experienced by other Spanish cinemas during those years.
Its history as a cinema ended in March 1980. Photo: Y. T.
A SURPRISING PROJECTOR
More than four decades after that closure, the memory of the Gran Vía cinema remains present in a corner that goes unnoticed by many people who spend time in the area.
In an elevated part of the establishment, four old wooden seats can be seen, with armrests and metal frames, arranged in a row as if they were still waiting for the spectators to arrive. Next to them stands a large cinema projector, accompanied by other old devices on tripods. Its presence serves as a curious tribute to the building’s cinematic past.
THE TRANSFORMATION OF THIS CORNER
Although the former cinema was located at Gran Vía, 40, this corner can now be accessed from Goya Avenue, where the 100 Montaditos and La Sureña chains are located.
That is why, the next time you go in for a drink, it may be worth looking up. Amid the bustle of the tables and the coming and going of customers, some old seats and an imposing projector continue to recall that, long before montaditos and snacks, this place was linked to the magic of cinema.
