Capitol Cinema is a former

cinema Cinema may refer to: Film * Film or movie, a series of still images that create the illusion of moving image ** Film industry, the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking ** Filmmaking, the process of making a film * Movie theate ...

in the western

Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...

n city of

Timișoara Timișoara (, , ; , also or ; ; ; see #Etymology, other names) is the capital city of Timiș County, Banat, and the main economic, social and cultural center in Western Romania. Located on the Bega (Tisza), Bega River, Timișoara is consider ...

. Currently, it hosts the Banat Philharmonic, and films are only screened outdoors in its summer garden.

History

In 1908, Timișoara saw the opening of its first cinema, Cetate Cinema. Over time, however, the building fell into serious disrepair and required extensive restoration. Because such rehabilitation would have taken a long time, and demand for cinema performances was growing—evidenced by the increasing audiences at both Cetate Cinema and Apollo Cinema—a decision was made in 1927 to construct a new venue: Capitol Cinema. The architectural plans were entrusted to

Duiliu Marcu Duiliu Marcu (25 March 1885 – 9 March 1966) was a Romanian architect, one of the most well known and prolific of the interwar period. With a career spanning from 1912 to 1966, he is said to have designed 150 public and private projects across Rom ...

from

Bucharest Bucharest ( , ; ) is the capital and largest city of Romania. The metropolis stands on the River Dâmbovița (river), Dâmbovița in south-eastern Romania. Its population is officially estimated at 1.76 million residents within a greater Buc ...

, and the construction was financed by the city hall. Initially, the cost was estimated at 20 million lei, but negotiations with the contractor brought the total down to 15 million lei. Construction began on 6 December 1929, and the cinema officially opened on

Christmas Day Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A liturgical feast central to Christianity, Chri ...

in 1930. Alongside the main building, a summer garden was included to host outdoor screenings—a familiar concept for locals, who had already experienced similar setups at Cetate Cinema and Apollo Cinema. The last film shown in Capitol's summer garden was in the summer of 1994. Over the years, Capitol Cinema was also known by other names, including "Modern" and "Maxim Gorky." In 1931, it had to be rebuilt after the roof collapsed and damaged the auditorium. Another major renovation and modernization took place in 1972, during which the cinema was also expanded under the supervision of architect

Șerban Sturdza Șerban Sturdza (born 14 September 1947) is a Romanian architect, former president of the Order of Architects in Romania, current vice president of Pro Patrimonio. and correspondent member of the Romanian Academy The Romanian Academy ( ) is a ...

. By the year 2000, Capitol Cinema was one of seven cinemas operating in Timișoara, alongside Dacia,

Timiș The Timiș or Tamiš (, , , ) is a river that flows through the Banat region of Romania and Serbia and joins the Danube near Pančevo, in northern Serbia. Due to its position in the region, it has been labeled as the "spine of the Banat". N ...

, Arta, Melodia,

Studio A studio is a space set aside for creative work of any kind, including art, dance, music and theater. The word ''studio'' is derived from the , from , from ''studere'', meaning to study or zeal. Types Art The studio of any artist, esp ...

, and Unirea. Capitol Cinema, like all cinemas in Timișoara, was once part of the Autonomous Film Directorate (RADEF). However, following the

Revolution In political science, a revolution (, 'a turn around') is a rapid, fundamental transformation of a society's class, state, ethnic or religious structures. According to sociologist Jack Goldstone, all revolutions contain "a common set of elements ...

, ownership was returned to the original proprietors. After a series of legal proceedings, the Capitol Cinema—along with its summer garden—was eventually reclaimed by Timișoara City Hall. Today, the building houses the Banat Philharmonic, though film screenings are still occasionally held. In 2014, the cinema's summer garden underwent a complete renovation with the help of volunteers, students, Banat Philharmonic staff, and prison inmates. Together, they restored the screen, replaced the chairs with new ones, planted flowers, and refurbished the fountain. Additionally, a new sound system was installed to enhance the viewing experience.

References

{{Reflist Cinemas in Romania Buildings and structures in Timișoara Culture in Timișoara