At the end of the 40s, Mexico lived a true boom In film productionmainly driven by the Government and an event that had paused activity in much of the world, World War II. Along with oil production, Mexico compared that great income only with film production, which became a quality product and, almost, of first necessity for Other countries that invested money in Mexican cinema.
But where were these audiovisual jewels that told the history of rural Mexico, but also of the newly created urbanized country? Different companies were given the task of Build cinematographic enclosures that mostly housed more than 1000 spectators. All in decorated spaces as out of the productions that were reproduced inside the dark rooms.
Enrico Caruso placed the first stone of Cine Olimpia, one of the first cinema in Mexico City that ceased to exist entering the 21st century.Casasola Archive, National Photo Library, INAH
The Odeón cinema was another of the imposing cinemas built in the first half of the twentieth century to accommodate the nascent public of cinephiles.Casasola Archive, National Photo Library, INAH.
The arrival of cinema in Mexico
It was during the Government of Porfirio Díaz that Mexico prostrated the gaze of the world, mainly, by the investment proposals that represented a great push For the national economy. With this, the development of cities and new ways of life for those inhabited.
On the night of August 6, 1896, they arrived at one of the halls of Chapultepec Castle Los Hermanos Bernard and Gabriel Vayresent by the Lumière brothers as ambassadors of the invention they had presented just a few months before, in 1895. Porfirio Díaz, accompanied by a select group of characters from politics and the Socialité From the time, they settled in their seats to see the unimaginable: images that came to life.
The Vayre brothers not only came to Mexico exhibiting the material that the Lumière brothers had created in France, but they had the mission of generating new productions that included several walks from Díaz riding a horse in Chapultepec or receiving their ministers in the castle.
Of the 35 productions of the Vayre brothers, They survive approximately a dozenas Aurelio de los Reyes says in their Mexican mute cinema filmography, 1896-1920. After Diaz projection, The cinema had permission to go to the streets and be shown to the Mexican people. To do this, spell projection rooms were installed in some large spaces of the center of Mexico City, such as the Madero drugstore, where 50 cents were charged that was the same thing that was paid at that time to go to the bulls, in shade, as it also ensures of the kings.
The facade of opera cinema remains standing by showing its magnificent architectural and sculptural details in style Art Decó.Christian Ortega
The Savoy cinema was one of those who, like so many, had to modify their turn to stay alive.Rodolfo Reyna Studio
Spaces where the image takes on movement
The film rooms that still remain in the memory of some generations, were created mainly in the 20s, throughout the main cities of the country such as Guadalajara or Monterrey. Architecturally, These first rooms sought the opulence and elegance of the great theater halls At the end of the 19th century because, in the end, the material that was exhibited was a well -elaborate piece of action.