Galatz

The first cinema presentations probably took place in August 1896, when L. Janin, concessionary of a French company, required from the municipality the approval to host several shows in the Central Garden. In 1903, a certain Anton C. Bottez, breveted electrician, hosted several cinema shows, and other films were presented by the French company “Pathé Frères”, on Domnească Street. There were three shows a day, with morning shows held on Sundays and holidays. In January 1904 an “Elektro–Bioscop” cinema was functional at the former Grand Theatre, presenting three shows each evening (five on holidays). There were also evening shows for adults (over 20 years old). In April 1907 there were presented sound films in the Central Garden, while other shows were hosted by the “High–Life” Garden[1].

In 1913, according to the statistics of the municipality there were authorised in Galaţi three cinema theatres: “Central” and “Regal” on Domnească Street and “Chino–Imperial” on Lahovary Street[2].

Later on, during the interwar period, the number of cinemas increased, and by 1930 local guidebooks mentioned seven cinema theatres: “Capitol” – Brăilei St., “Français” and “Miron” – Lahovary St., “Mihăilescu” – Bădălan, “Odeon” and “Trianon” – Domnească St., and “Paradis” – Justiţiei St.[3].

^[1] Emilia Enache, “Primele proiecţii cinematografice in oraşele Brăila şi Galaţi”, Studii şi cercetări de istoria artei, Seria Teatru, 2 (1972), 207–208; Paul Păltănea, Istoria oraşului Galaţi de la origini până la 1918, second edition, edited by Eugen Drăgoi (Galaţi: Editura Partener, 2008), vol. II, 369; Elena Ingrid Bahamat, “Timp liber şi mondenitate în Galaţii sfârşitului de secol XIX şi începutului de secol XX”, Danubius, 27 (2009), 109.

[2] Bahamat, “Timp liber”, 109.

[3] Anuarul general al oraşului Galaţi şi al jud. Covurlui, 1930–1931, edited by Radu Volbură (Brăila: Institutul de Arte Grafice Dunărea, 1931), 147.

References

Websites:

Archival sources:

Serviciul Judeţean Galaţi al Arhivelor Naţionale (The National Archives, Galaţi Branch), Primăria oraşului Galaţi (The Municipality of Galaţi), files starting with 1831.

Bibliography:

Anuarul general al oraşului Galaţi şi al jud. Covurlui, 1930–1931 [General Yearbook of Galaţi City and of Covurlui County, 1930–1931], edited by Radu Volbură (Brăila: Institutul de Arte Grafice Dunărea, 1931).

Bahamat, Elena Ingrid, “Timp liber şi mondenitate în Galaţii sfârşitului de secol XIX şi începutului de secol XX” [Leisure Time and Trendiness at Galaţi at the End of the 19^th and in Early 20^th Centuries], Danubius, 27 (2009), 97–125.

Enache, Emilia, “Primele proiecţii cinematografice in oraşele Brăila şi Galaţi” [The First Cinema Projections in the Cities of Brăila and Galaţi], Studii şi cercetări de istoria artei, Seria teatru, 2 (1972).

Pacu, Moise N., Cartea Judeţului Covurlui. Note geografice, istorice şi în deosebi statistice [The Book of Covurlui County. Geographical, Historical and Mainly Statistical Notes] (Bucharest: Stabilimentul Grafic I. V. Socecu, 1891).

Păltănea, Paul, Istoria oraşului Galaţi de la origini până la 1918 [The History of Galaţi from Its Beginnings to 1918], second edition, edited by Eugen Drăgoi (Galaţi: Editura Partener, 2008).

Prefectura Poliţiei Galaţi, Indicatorul oraşului Galaţi cuprinzând adresele tuturor autorităţilor civile şi militare, ale caselor mari comerciale şi ale tuturor instituţiilor etc. etc. [The Indicator of the City of Galaţi Containing the Addresses of All Civil and Military Authorities, of the Large Commercial Houses and of All Institutions] (Galaţi: s.e, s.a).