From Illusion to Vilnius

 In the summer of 1896, the Cyrillic edition of Vilenskij vestnik announced the screening innovation of the animatographer showing live photography in the concert hall of the Botanical Garden from 5 to 11 pm. The first such continuous moving images – a moving train, images of a hairdresser’s shop, a fight in a tavern, horse riding and “Marie Stuart’s guillotine” – were shown to Vilnius residents using a new machine designed by Thomas Edison. During the Soviet era, a wooden cinema called “Summer” was built in the same Botanical Gardens, but now called the Youth Garden. It had a capacity of 300 people and only ran films for seven months of the year. Audiences knew that if they missed a film at their favourite cinema, they would be able to see it in the ‘wooden’ theatre during the warmer season. Now the Bernardines Garden. 

In 1907, the first cinema “Iliuzija” was opened in Vilnius in the same courtyard where the first cinema “Iliuzija” was opened in the middle of the 16th century. The first Reformed church in Lithuania was built in the same courtyard where Mikalojus Radvila the Black built the first Reformed church in Lithuania and where the first university clinics were located in the early 19th century. The second floor of the house rented by the Cholema brothers was used as a cosy, decadent 200-seat cinema. The auditorium had two boxes, a buffet, and the sounds of violin, piano and cello in the lobby. The courtyard was home to the confectionery “Viktorija”, a café, rooms rented by social organisations, offices, and a photographic laboratory set up by the photographer Icikas Chonovičius. Vilnius residents could watch “Journey to Niagara Falls”, “The Desire for Gold”, “The New Sherlock Holmes Story”, films about coin counterfeiters and high-speed car races in England, “The Paris Zoo”, and many more, filmed by the French Pathé studio. The names of the cinemas have also changed with the change of owners – Stella, Wanda.

Now 10A Didžioji str. is a closed courtyard. The pink house on the left marks the location of the “Illusion”.

Photos: 1) “Severo Zapadny golos”, 1907 January 21, photo  E. Juocevičiūtė; 2) Photo S. Žalneravičiūtė. , 2012

Just 80 steps from the Illusion, the Eden opened in 1909. It was not a luxury cinema, with an instrumental trio playing in the foyer only on festive days. The auditorium had a capacity of about 180 people. “The owner of the Eden used to announce in the newspapers: “Best art film “The Last Days of Pompeii”; “Newest film “Earthquake in Sicily”. People were interested in what was going on in foreign lands, and they were also interested in scientific films, such as how a chicken grows in an egg. People also liked “long” films, such as the 1909 film “Louis XI”. However, the lure of the ‘Eden’ manager in the newspapers eventually became worthless, as the poor ventilation of the auditorium made the audience suffocate. And then there was the fire in the equipment during the screening of In the Grip of Suspicion… “There have been better and worse times at the Eden, but it was the place where films were made before the First World War. Nowadays, 11 Didžioji Street is home to the Kitchen restaurant.

After the First World War, in 1920, the former Bank of Europe and Asia, in a corner house on Velikaya Street with huge windows, was converted into a restaurant and the new Eden cinema was built on its second floor. At that time, the venue was run by Jews and the repertoire consisted of films about Jewish life. In addition, there were performances by the Operetta theatre company, music and exhibitions. After a change of owners, the renovated cinema was renamed Sport. A year later, it became “Styling” (Polish: Stylowy), and later “Adria”. Unlike the adjacent buildings, the Adria was almost untouched by the Second World War, and the only thing left to do was to put up the broken windows and enjoy trophy films such as The Pirates Royal, Tarzan and The Three Musketeers again. When Adria became October, pupils were led to watch films that reinforced the Soviet spirit. For several years, before the evening screenings, the hearts of the audience were stirred by romances, orchestras or children’s song and dance groups. Tickets cost 10 kopeks for daytime screenings and 25 kopeks for evening screenings. Cakes, ice-cream and lemonade were available at the buffet. Bells rang to invite the audience to the small hall, which was heated by a stove. After the screening, they would go down the external staircase to the courtyard and through the archway to Savičiaus Street. After the restoration of independence, Spalis reopened in the Adria, but was not open for long. The premises at 18 Didžioji Street now house offices, shops and a restaurant on the ground floor.

In the autumn of 1909, the film missionary Richard Stremer came to Vilnius and opened his family theatre on the second floor of the former “Lithuanian” hotel next to the Town Hall. The 200-seat auditorium was filled with its own orchestra and a buffet to create a cosy atmosphere. Štremer himself used to film various events in the city and show them on the screen to the citizens of Vilnius. When people watched ‘The Vilnius Pospeška Horse Race on 14 May 1909’, Epstein’s funeral or other episodes of everyday life, they were curious to find themselves on the screen. Later on, Štremer began to “soundtrack” the cinema not only with music, but also with recitation – professional performers watching the image on the screen tried to speak synchronously for the characters. After the First World War, comic films and cabaret performances were the crowd-pleasers at the Štremer family cinema.

Now, the ground floor of the post-war building at 20 Didžioji Street is occupied by designer Ramunė Piekautaitė’s shop.

Bombs of retreating Germans thinned out the buildings of Didžioji Street. One of the cavities was to be filled with a new cinema. The young architect Gediminas Baravíkas was entrusted with the design work. Although the model of the cinema was presented and approved in 1967, the red-brick, tiled, modern cinema did not open its doors until a decade later. At that time, 500 people watched the film “The Last Sacrifice”, about a merchant’s widow, in the first auditorium, while the second 300-seat auditorium was occupied by the film “Crazy Riches”. The cinema had a spacious lounge and a buffet. The architect also designed a 6 m high artist’s workshop, but Soviet officials held their informal meetings there. In the basement workshop, the young painter Vidas Drėgva painted “Moscow” film trailers on canvas. 

During the 14th Union Film Festival in 1981, “Moscow” was screened in competition, watched and judged by a jury of film professionals and schoolchildren of different ages. This festival gave an impulse and hope that people were ready to watch different films. That is why, even before perestroika, film critics proposed to the director of Moscow to open a rare film hall. Soon, banned films were pulled from the shelves and presented by film critics Saulius Macaitis, Skirmantas Valiulis and Izolda Keidošiūtė.

In 1991, the “Moscow” sign was replaced by “Helios”. Less than a decade later, the cinema was privatised. 

Now the premises at 28 Didžioji str. are occupied by clothing shops and restaurants.

Nuotraukos: 1) Kino teatras „Maskva“, 1977 m., V. Žarnosekovo nuotrauka (Lietuvos centrinis valstybės archyvas); 2) „Maskva“ kino salė, 1977 m., A. Grinčelaičio nuotrauka (Lietuvos centrinis valstybės archyvas),

Architect Mikhail Prozorov designed a number of impressive buildings in Vilnius in the early 20th century. He also contributed to the cinemas “Illusion” and “Eden”. The department store behind the Town Hall, owned by the merchant Leiba Zalkind, is also his handiwork. After Zalkind’s death, the modern building with its large windows was rented out to a gymnasium, a photo studio and shops due to huge debts. The second floor was given to the Casino cinema. The auditorium with a balcony could seat more than 600 people. When the Second World War broke out, a sign was hung on the door of the Casino saying: ‘Entrance only for German soldiers’. The cinema staff working there, who were connected to the Armia Krajowa, had a secret place in the toilet. In post-war, starving Vilnius, hunger could be quenched dozens of times by watching “Waterloo Bridge” with the famous actors Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier and other trophy films. In 1950, the Casino was christened “Moscow”. After Stalin’s death, cinemas are told to entice audiences with music. So for a few years, a stage ensemble, including the student Benjamin Gorbulsky, played at Moscow. The upper floors of the house belonged to the Vilnius Model House, which not only produced clothing collections for foreign countries but also published the fashion magazine Banga. When the funds for a major renovation were not forthcoming, “Moscow” was closed and the entire building was given to the Model House. Now, 33 Didžioji Street is home to the clothing store “Du broliai”

Photo: Cinema ‘Maskva’ , 1968. (Vilnius Regional State Archive)

In the 17th century, the Rūdninki Gate was the only open gate in the city. A Carmelite monastery was built next to it, connecting five courtyards, and the Church of All Saints was built. One of the later buildings, which seems to have been built into the defensive wall, housed a tobacco factory. In 1938, this space will be used for the Catholic cinema “Dawn”. 

In German-occupied Vilnius, Aušra screened romantic German cinema stories and war chronicles of German victories, while Jews were marched from the Great Ghetto to Pylimo Street to work or to be killed. They were confronted by columns of Vilnius residents who were on their way to the cinema. 

During the Soviet era, this cinema was particularly popular with Roma. Starting with Raja Kapoor’s Valkata, all Indian melodramas were splashed with their tears. In addition to exotic Indian stories, it also hosted light-hearted films and comedies with Louis de Funès and Fernandel.

In November 1995, the last screenings of Hot Girls (USA), Last Call of Love (India) took place.

The premises at 50 Pylimo Street are now owned by the All Saints’ Parish, and there is a fast-food snack bar at the entrance.

At the end of the 19th century, where the Tolerance Centre of the VVGŽM is now located, there was a canteen for Jewish paupers. Later, a concert hall was built and a two-storey house was built next door, where a new canteen opened. The concert hall with a balcony is called the Philharmonic Hall, and part of the money raised there goes to the canteen for the poor. In 1939, the Philharmonic became the Muse cinema. It showed the films Anna Karenina with Greta Garbo, My Town Belz in Hebrew about the famous Jewish soloist Meishe Oisher, and, a few months later, the Russian-language Sovkino film The Guard of the Sea about the Soviet border guards. When the Germans entered Vilnius, German films began to flash on the posters of Mūza. 

In 1950, Mūza became Pionieris. Since then, the repertoire has consisted mainly of films for children and young people. Even kindergarteners were taken. During the Soviet era, some people enjoyed Disney animation, others watched the film “The Chairman”. The buffet where they used to whip up ice-cream shakes is a fond memory for many. 

Nowadays, 10 Naugarduko Street is home to the State Jewish Museum of Vilnius Gaon. It is open every day except Sundays.

In the early 16th century, Dominican monks were charged with the care of the Vingri springs, which gushed from the ground and provided the townspeople with potable water. In Soviet times, the springs were buried, but water reservoirs were left to irrigate the town and extinguish fires. A travelling circus occasionally stayed in this glade. 

The architect Jonas Kasperavičius designed a modern building here with stained-glass windows and a spacious lobby. Soon, a wide-screen, widescreen cinema with 1,000 seats opened its doors to the public. Around 100 sound speakers were installed in the ceiling and walls. This prestigious cinema was the venue for major film events. In Soviet times, rows 15 and 16 were always reserved for the heads of the Party, the trade unions, the Executive Committee and important cultural figures.

Extremely popular films, such as Stanley Kubrick’s Spartacus, Robert Wise’s The Sound of Music, and later James Cameron’s Titanic, sometimes ran for more than two months, several screenings a day, and people would stand overnight for tickets. 

In 1997, “Lietuva” opened after renovation, and a year later the newly renovated “Salė՚88″ opened. The golden age of this cinema seemed to be coming to an end, but Lietuva was privatised. Artists Nomeda and Gediminas Urbonas moved and stirred the public to resist the deprivation of public spaces from the citizens of Vilnius, thus engaging them in the artistic social project “Pro-testo laboratorija”. At the end of September 2005, the last screenings of Idiots and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest took place in Lithuania.

The MO Museum is now located at 17 Pylimo Street. 

The Kronika cinema was unique not only in Vilnius, but also in Lithuania. First of all, because it was founded in an Evangelical Reformed Church, of course, after the angels and the cross-bearer had been removed from the roof, the bells had been unhooked, the organ had been dismantled, and the windows had been darkened. Secondly, it was only showing documentaries and newsreels. Thirdly, it was possible to enter at any time from 12.00 (and then from 10.00) until 22.30. Officially, it was estimated that there were nine screenings a day, and for 10 kopeks, the audience could sit in the auditorium all day. Later, feature films by Andrei Tarkovsky, Ingmar Bergman and Lithuanian directors started to be shown from 9pm. This is when you could raise your eyes in the illuminated hall and see the coffered ceiling, which has been preserved since the church opened.

“Kronika also hosted the Lithuanian Chronicle Film Festival, celebrating the 1000th magazine of the Lithuanian Film Studio and the 25th anniversary of the Lithuanian Chronicle. However, the longest queues at Kronika were for Mikhail Romm’s “Simple Fascism”, “And Yet I Believe…” and Harald Reynl’s “Memories of the Future”.

At midday on 13 January 1991, the Evangelical Reformed community gathered in the church for a joint prayer for the victims of that night. The neon globe above the entrance no longer hung, surrounded by the words “Kronika”. And a few years later, Tomas Šernas, the only witness of the Medininkai tragedy, began his priesthood in the Evangelical Reformed Church.

Now the Evangelical Reformed Church is located at 18 Pylimo St., and mass is celebrated on Sundays at 11 am.

During the Second World War, it was important to the Germans who occupied Vilnius that the city, as well as the rest of Lithuania, should have a cinema. Vilnius did not have enough cinemas for them, so two standard wooden cinemas were built. The only thing to do was to bring the structures from Germany and build them on the prepared foundations. The latest cinema and sound equipment, lighting equipment and chairs also came from the Reich. One standard cinema near the railway station was opened earlier, but quickly burnt down. The second one, the Helios, which was built on Gediminas Avenue and could seat about 450 people, took only two months to reach the Germans. After the July 1944 battles in Vilnius, the Nazi cinema was replaced by the Soviet one. However, there were also trophy films and the much-loved Indian productions. After the war, this wooden “barn” was to be moved to a nearby street and architecturally improved. However, the Helios remained in its old location for another decade. When the surrounding construction made it risky to show films there, the little wooden house was moved to Paneriai. However, the cinema never took off. The German-built building, which for years housed a grocery shop, was demolished in autumn 2019.

The former Helios site is now a flower and farmers’ market.

In the middle of the 19th century, during the Tsarist Russia, the St. George’s Avenue in Vilnius in the early 19th century. The Gold brothers dreamt that a cinema should be built here. At the end of the summer of 1908, the Golds opened the first purpose-built cinema in Vilnius, Fantazija. The audience was greeted by a Swiss waiter, there was a buffet, an in-house orchestra, and the layout of the auditorium resembled a theatre. Tickets were quite expensive, but later on, discounts for children and schoolchildren were considered. Prices also depended on the seating capacity. 

Later on, the cinema changed hands and changed names – Miniatiur, Corsko, Miniature Theatre. 

After the Second World War, the dilapidated one-storey house and the warehouses behind it were not suitable for Lenin Avenue, the main street of the capital of Soviet Lithuania. Architect Jonas Kasperavičius designed the modern but architecturally striking 614-seat Vilnius Cinema. The spacious lobby was a permanent exhibition space, a cafeteria serving excellent coffee and… sausages. The hall had a stage and a balcony. Throughout its life, Vilnius was distinguished by its varied repertoire, quizzes and evenings with guest appearances by film actors and directors. For many years, these evenings were hosted by film critic Izolda Keidošiūtė. The traditional film panoramas featured the upcoming films of the month, presented by film critics Saulius Macaitis, Skirmantas Valiulis and Linas Vildžiūnas. “Vilnius was one of the audience’s favourite cinemas. 29 June 2001 was the last day of Vilnius Cinema.

The former Vilnius now houses a United Colors of Benetton store.