The Famous Avenue: the Szczecin Pionier Cinema
Marta Kufel
What was the pandemic’s impact on the cinema’s business, which moments in the history of the Pionier Cinema were crucial, and what is the future of small cinemas and the film industry at large? – those are some of the subject discussed in a conversation with the representatives of the oldest cinema in the world.
You can find an interview with Jerzy Miśkiewicz and Wanda Szewczyk on the website of the Famous Avenue project
https://slynnaaleja.szczecin.eu/aktualnosci/kino-pionier-wywiad/
The Szczecin Pionier Cinema, the oldest cinema in the world, will be the main attraction of this year’s edition of the Famous Avenue (Słynna Aleja) project and the Festival of Brands. Various events will take place around this Brand on Wojska Polskiego Avenue, including a film quiz, stop-motion animation workshops and 3D graffiti. The Pionier Cinema will also be the attraction of cross-border walks and the sponsor of an outdoor Cinema event.
The Pionier Cinema is located in the centre of Szczecin at 2 Wojska Polskiego Avenue. It officially opened on 26 September 1909 with a display of short films. The founder of the cinema was Otto Blauert, and a year later it was taken over by Albert Pietzke. At first it was called “Helios”, and later until 1945 “Welt Theater”. From December 1945 for 5 years it was called “Odra” (eventually, the name was changed to “Pionier”). The first film that was displayed after the war was Ivan the Terrible, directed by Sergei Eisenstein. In autumn 2009, while making a documentary entitled “In the old cinema – Pionier 1909”, documents confirming the true age of the cinema, dating as far back as 1907, were found. The Pionier Cinema is officially the oldest cinema in the world which was also confirmed by an entry in the Guinness Book of Records. The British magazine “Total Film Magazine” published a ranking of the world’s 30 best cinemas. The Szczecin Pionier Cinema was classified on the 19th position. It is the only Polish representative in this ranking. Its creators emphasise that it is the oldest cinema in the world with only 82 seats in the auditorium, and also with a cinema café where you can have a glass of wine, or watch a silent film with piano accompaniment. The Pionier Cinema belongs to the prestigious Europa Cinemas network and the Arthouse Cinemas Network.
About the Famous Avenue project. The Wojska Polskiego Avenue is one of the most famous streets in Szczecin. Its part, between Zwycięstwa Square and Szarych Szeregów Square, has become the axis of the revitalisation process of the City centre. Residents, traders and the City jointly are trying to find a way to revitalise this area and restore its former significance. The Famous Avenue project involves the realisation of joint ventures with the contribution of Szczecin’s best-known Brands, located within the Avenue. These brands are backed by many years of activities, tradition and history related to Szczecin. These are: the Pionier Cinema, Bar Pasztecik, Ewa and Henryk Sawka Gallery, Sylwia Majdan Atelier, Cukiernia Koch, fish bar Seamor and Piccolo pizzeria. Last year, the first edition of the project took place in which Ewa and Henryk Sawka Gallery was a leading Brand.
The programme is being implemented by: the City of Szczecin, Żegluga Szczecińska Turystyka Wydarzenia – event organiser, Szczeciński Fundusz Pożyczkowy, Szczecińskie TBS. The strategic partner is Szczecińska Energetyka Cieplna.
