Riviera Theater
Since the beginning of the last century, Havanians, perhaps wrongly, but very much in our style, have preferred to call "salas cinematográficas," (cinematography rooms) simply as "cines," (cinemas). In 1959, as lovers of the seventh art, Havana had more cinemas than the urban New York and Paris, as the capital led in world rankings.
Moreover, in 1957, Havana was the SECOND CITY IN THE WORLD to have a 3D and multiscreen theater, specifically at the Radiocentro.
The so-called "neighborhood cinemas," relatively smaller, proliferated throughout the city at the time, like mushrooms after rain. A lot of Havanians had their first kiss in the darkness of their rooms, or the instant coughing from inhaling their first cigarette too deeply, an initiation ritual for smokers.
At times, they were also cultural centers for the community. Many gave their often narrow stages for other preforming arts: plays, skits, magic and illusion performances, musical soloists, etc.
The film programing was varied, designed for all ages and had a broad schedule, especially on the weekends, which were the preferred days for a family audience, as it represented a popular and economical form of entertainment.
News, animations, documentaries and feature films appeared regularly at each cinema. As recorded in the 19th Annual Film and Cuban Yearbook, in 1959, Greater Havana had 134 cinemas and theaters, with seating for 134,306 people, and a half-room for every 7,500 inhabitants (nearly half of them had more than 1,000 seats each.) Also, there were three drive-ins, fitting up to 1,866 cars.
The technological development and consequent expansion and lowering of prices for various home entertainment systems in recent years has severely affected the more conventional cinemas all over the world; and Cuba is no exception. Although, not all reasons for such decline is precisely because of that.
How many places in Havana are now showing films? It´s hard to say, give facts. Some have transformed into video rooms, a few as theaters. The majority are in ruins due to lack of attention, maintenance…the ceilings and seating are gone and they´re absolutely unrecoverable. Those surviving, include the "major" theaters: Acapulco, Payret, Cinecito (with children´s programming), La Rampa, Yara, Riviera, the Infanta multiplex and the Cuban Theater headquarters. The neighborhood ones have all but disappeared.
But Havana still suffers from film fever. So, we continue living and interacting with film characters, traveling with them to other possible worlds and ridding ourselves of the island´s narrow geographical confines, ideologies and politics.
