Index

The Sixteenth Arrondissement

West of Paris, the sixteenth arrondissement, quite wealthy and quiet, has played movies in their own languages for a long time. All the theaters were single screens theaters, which closed down one after another. Only the Ranelagh remained open; it was more often a live theater than a movie theater, but it prevented the 16th from becoming the first arrondissement without any movie theater. Fortunately, the Majestic Passy opened and locals could enjoy again going to the movies. The Broadway/Majestic Passy Formerly Royal-Passy, the Broadway was the largest theater in the neighborhood. It could accomodate up to six hundred people on one level. It was equipped for 70mm, and became the second Parisian movie theater to be the temple of epic movies after the Kinopanorama (which it sometimes got its prints from after a while, like "Tin Drum" for instance). Among its first run movies, viewers were able to see some movies in 70mm (Alien, Encounters Of The Third Kind Special Edition). I only have some doubts about its famous Spaciovision giant screen; when I saw Apocalypse Now there, it was obvious than the screen was smaller than the 380 sq ft advertised (the screen was about 50 ft wide, and was nonetheless one of the biggest in Paris). Early 1982, the Broadway closed down, and became a pathetic store (it sold fur).

The front today; the lobby is located behind the windows above the Monoprix

Some patience was needed, but the theater reborn thanks to Simon Simsi. MK2 seemed to be fearing this complexe that would compete with its MK2 Beaugrenelle, which got some of its viewers from the 16th arrondissement. Fortunately, furs weren't fashionable any longer, and the Majestic Passy opened its three auditoriums October 26, 1994, Pulp Fiction being played in its largest auditorium. Simson Simsi gave a small speech to those of us who had formed the very first line. The box office is located behind the entrance doors. A beautiful staircase leads to the large lobby (left picture), embellished by wood panelling, and a large bar-concession stand. Doors located nearby (behind the pillar on the picture) lead to the three auditoriums, all with stadium-style seating, and dressed in beige and blue. The volume of the former large auditorium was divided between the three new auditoriums, and the access and exit corridors. Theater 1 is located at the lowest level. Its projection booth seems to be where the old projection booth was. It uses the same surface as the old auditoriums, but is not as wide (because of the new corridors). Its curved screen is 50ft wide, it was one of the largest in Paris at the opening time (no multiplex was open yet). It is equipped with Dolby SRD and DTS. It has 318 seats.

Above, theater 1

The two smallest auditoriums are located in the upper part of the volume of the old auditorium. They share a single projection booth (left picture, with the projector for theater 2), on two levels, between the theaters. A staircase leads to the bottom of the screen of theater 2 (right above the back rows of theater 1, where its ceiling is lower). The auditorium is rather wide (almost as wide as theater 1. It has 171 seats, a 27ft wide screen, Dolby SR sound.

Above, theater 2

Theater 3 (above - 148 seats) is located at the end of a long corridor. It has a 1.85 type screen (see the picture), which is 20ft wide; the image is decent in 1.66 or 1.85, but a little small in wide screen. The sound is Dolby SR.

The Majestic Passy is a very nice complex, aimed at local viewers. Projection is fine. All movies are played in their own languages, except for some family-movies which can be played dubbed in French in the afternoon.   Other single-screen theaters included the Passy (200 seats), the Mayfair Pathé (300 seats) and the Victor Hugo Pathé (360 seats), which all played first run movies in their own languages or dubbed in French. All of them were replaced by stores. The Victor Hugo (which was replaced by a carpet store, and later a frozen food store) was the only one to leave a nice front.

Above, the Passy (left) and the Victor Hugo (right)

The Mayfair Pathé (left) was located in the basement, viewers used the staircase below the "95" sign. The long auditorium had a circle, like theater 2 of the Bretagne, and a 24ft screen. The Théâtre Du Ranelagh More than 100 years old, the Ranelagh became a 330 seat movie theater. Movies did not change a lot, and the theater played "Les Enfants Du Paradis" (Children Of Paradise) at least once a week. Movies became scarce, and the Ranelagh stopped being a movie theater. As soon as we enter the building, we realize we are in an old theater. Red velvet can be seen everywhere. In the first lobby, a beautiful glass roof can be seen. To the left, doors lead to the operator booth and the balcony. The balcony has a few rows of seats at the back, and boxes on its sides.

Above, the first lobby (left) and the second lobby (right)

A large double staircase goes down to the beautiful second lobby, and the entrance to the orchestra. The auditorium is long, and the rows of seats are separated by the central aisle. Walls are covered with wood panelling. To the front, the deep stage, and the projection booth at its end: the screen is transparent.

The Ranelagh hasn't totally given up on playing movie theaters: "Les Enfants Du Paradis" is still played once in a while. Don't miss it if you have the oportunity...

The Cinémathèque Française at the "Palais de Chaillot" was badly hurt by a terrible fire several years ago. There were some concerns after the fire, but the auditorium (with a balcony, but no armrest, to add more seats, real moviegoers have no interest in comfort!) was redone. Not a real movie theater, but some very pleasant memories.

Address Book Majestic Passy - 18, rue de Passy Ranelagh - 5, rue des Vignes Mayfair - 90, avenue Paul-Doumer Passy - 95-97 rue de Passy Victor Hugo - 131 bis avenue Victor Hugo Cinémathèque Française - Palais de Chaillot - 7 avenue Albert de Mun Photo Credits Front of the Broadway: PUBLIDECOR All other pictures: Silver Screens