Actually walking around Paris you find many good interesting monument/buildings that otherwise you would miss. I just happened to walked all around the Montmartre area and without having to climb the hill came upon this cinema for the first time that was in renovations. The building struck me and came back later by car to see what was of it, and find out it turn out very nice indeed. Another historical building save in my eternal Paris. I like to tell you about it the Luoxor cinema or cinema palace of Paris!
Le Louxor was inaugurated in 1921, its appearance lives up to its name; a neo-Egyptian façade highlighted by colorful mosaics with floral/exotic animal motifs greets filmgoers as they enter the renovated theater. At the time, it was one of the largest cinemas in Paris with just over 1,000 seats. While it originally screened French and American movies, the 1970s saw the cinema turn toward Indian and Arab films in keeping with the population of the neighborhood. It was bought by the city of Paris in 2003, and reopened in April 2013, proof that the projection camera is not about to be shut off on the city’s film scene just yet.
The Le Luoxor is a cinema located at no 170, boulevard de Magenta in the 10éme arrondissement, at the corner of bd de la Chapelle and bd de Magenta initially inaugurated on October 6, 1921. it was transformed into a nightclub in 1983. Closed in 1988 and abandoned, it finally reopened on 17 April 2013, completely renovated with three showing rooms. It was built on the site of the department store Sacré Coeur Nouveautés. A rare survivor of pre-war cinemas, the Luoxor is a remarkable example of ancient architecture from the 1920s. The neo-Egyptian facade from which it takes its name in reference to the city of Luoxor and the multicolored mosaics on the facade were carried out in the 1920s. In addition to the floral motifs, beetles, cobras and, above the small terrace, a large winged disc. The room with its two balconies then offers 1,195 seats.
After the cinema closed there were first a Caribbean nightclub called La Dérobade, it became in August 1987 the largest gay nightclub in Paris under the name of Megatown, it closed in 1988. From then on the building was abandoned. The Luoxor Palace of cinema then experienced a long eclipse.
Group association and the city renovated and brought it back after attempts for a Tati discount store failed and it reopened as a cinema on April 17, 2013. The partial restitution of the large room, bearing the name of Youssef Chahine, and its decor, the creation of two new rooms in the basement, room no 2, baptized Juliet Berto-Jean-Henri Roger evokes with its starry ceiling the tombs of the Valley of the Kings and room no 3 has a basket handle vault in red tones; A bar with Art Deco lights has also been installed. The Luoxor has returned to its original vocation as a cinema. An exhibition space and a café-club complete this building now.
And yes dedication by a determine group of city dwellers lovers of cinema and architectural history made it possible, Le Luoxor is back and I am glad for them. You have many ways to get here, first you got the usual Metro lines 2 and 4 at station Barbès-Rochechouart. My RATP bus lines 30, 31, 54, 56, and 85. The RER express trains D,E and B with stations at Magenta, and Gare du Nord. The bike network VélibStation n° 9003 – Carrefour Barbès. For those road warriors like me there is a nice parking Goutte d’or, at 10-12 rue de la Goutte d’or 18éme.
Last September 2019 they showcase the films of the l’ACID (Association du Cinéma Indépendant pour sa Diffusion) from the Festival de Cannes! However, I was there when it re opened in 2013! the picture is from that time. Nice indeed.
The official webpage for Le Luoxor is here in French: Cinema Le Luoxor
And the story on the friends of the Le Luoxor who worked for its survival Les Amis du Luoxor in French: Friends of Luoxor on its history
So hopefully you can come at a time films are showing again and do try this one, worth the detour for its decoration. Hope you like the off the beaten path post on Paris,of course.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 