Traditional Capitole cinema shines in new splendor
Published: Friday, Feb 23rd 2024, 22:20
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The historic Capitole cinema in Lausanne has been open again since Friday evening. The newly renovated building shines in new splendor. The landlady, the Cinémathèque suisse film archive, now has almost 900 seats.
The reopening took place after three years of renovation work. Lausanne now once again has the largest cinema still in operation in Switzerland. Filmmakers and actors were among the more than 700 guests at the opening.
The opening guests watched a screening of the 2005 film "La petite dame du Capitole" in the historic Great Hall. The documentary by director Jacqueline Veuve shows a portrait of the former owner "Miss" Lucienne Schnegg.
Employed in 1949, Lucienne Schnegg took over the management of the museum in 1956 and held this position until it was taken over by the City of Lausanne in 2010. She died in 2015 at the age of 90. The Capitole cinema can look back on a long history.
The venerable film temple was built in 1928 by architect Charles Thévenaz. The first panoramic screen was installed here in 1959. The Capitole is the only cinema that will continue to show films in 70 mm format, one of the original analog Cinemascope formats. Since its purchase by the city, the Cinémathèque suisse, to which the management has been transferred, has hosted major premieres and other events within its walls.
Following renovation and expansion, the Capitole now has a large and small auditorium, a café-bar and a media library. The small auditorium with 150 seats is equipped for the screening of 35 mm, 16 mm and digital films.
This small hall was dug under the historic hall. For safety reasons, the seating capacity in the large hall was reduced from 869 to 736, retaining the flair of the 1920s.
©Keystone/SDA
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