Cine Texas

Cine Texas is a historic cinema located on Carrer de Bailèn in Barcelona, Spain. It opened around 1911 under the name Cine Bailén, initially as a small covered space for film screenings, popularly known as La Barraca. Over the following decades it consolidated as a proper cinema, managed in the early 1930s by Francesc Benaiges, and its first published programme appeared in the press in June 1935. The Spanish Civil War interrupted its activity, and the space was repurposed as a headquarters for Social Assistance Services. It reopened on 11 September 1947 with a capacity of 660 seats, under the direction of José Lecumberri de la Fuente, who also owned other Barcelona cinemas such as Versalles, Venus, Emporium and Saló Condal. After a merger with Jaume Creixell Montserrat, the cinema passed to his son Carles Creixell Cos. From the 1950s to the 1970s the cinema enjoyed a period of splendour, upgrading its technical equipment and programming, including a 3D projection of Los crímenes del Museo de Cera in 1954. Its last session was held on 9 July 1995. It was then acquired and converted into a four-screen multiplex called Lauren Gràcia, which operated until August 2014. Later, thanks to the initiative of film director Ventura Pons, it reopened as Cinemes Texas with four screens and a flexible programme, occasionally recovering little-distributed but high-quality films such as Ander by Roberto Castón. The cinema is remembered in culture; in 1998 the group Radiokuartet dedicated the song Pasdoble de Saloon to its closure. Today, the cinema operates under the name Cinemes Texas and maintains an online presence at cinemestexas.cat, where it publishes articles about independent cinema and film festivals.

Cine Texas is a historic cinema located at Carrer de Bailèn 205 in Barcelona, Spain. It opened around 1911 under the name Cine Bailén, though sources disagree on the exact date. Initially it consisted of a small covered space for film exhibitions, popularly known as La Barraca, with a capacity of 550 seats. In the early 1930s it consolidated as a cinema with a clear and concise programme, largely thanks to the management of Francesc Benaiges. Its first published programme in the press appeared in June 1935. The Spanish Civil War led to the cinema's disappearance, and after the conflict the space was reused as the headquarters of the Social Assistance Services, previously located at the Verdi cinema. It was not until 1947 that the space was rehabilitated as a cinema with a capacity of 660 seats. The reopening took place on 11 September 1947. The inaugural session featured two premieres: Los tres mosqueteros starring Mexican comedian Cantinflas, and Los malhechores de Carsin. The opening was dedicated to the victims of the Cádiz port disaster, where 200 people died and hundreds disappeared due to a submarine mine explosion. The cinema was under the direction of José Lecumberri de la Fuente, a major entrepreneur who also owned other Barcelona cinemas such as Versalles, Venus, Emporium and Saló Condal. Despite a merger with Jaume Creixell Montserrat, the cinema eventually passed to the latter's son, Carles Creixell Cos. From the 1950s to the 1970s, the cinema experienced a period of splendour. It was renovated in terms of technical equipment and established an updated programme, which increased attendance. Notably, it screened the 3D projection of Los crímenes del Museo de Cera in 1954. The busiest days were those with youth-oriented films and weekends, especially Sundays. As an anecdote, ticket seller María Nuria recalls that when the auditorium was full, spectators still joined the session even if they had to stand. The cinema's last session was held on 9 July 1995. It was then acquired and converted into a four-screen multiplex called Lauren Gràcia, which lasted until August 2014. Later, thanks to the initiative of film director Ventura Pons, it reopened as Cinemes Texas with four screens, promoting a flexible programme. As its own initiative, it occasionally recovered films that had little distribution but great quality, such as the session dedicated to the film Ander by director Roberto Castón. In memory of its closure, in 1998 the group Radiokuartet dedicated the song Pasdoble de Saloon to it, published on the album Sintonitzeu.

• 2014

  Lauren Gràcia multiplex closed in August.

• 1998

  Radiokuartet dedicated the song Pasdoble de Saloon to its closure.

• 1995

  Last session held on 9 July.

• 1954

  Screened the 3D projection of Los crímenes del Museo de Cera.

• 1947

  Reopened on 11 September as a cinema with 660 seats.

• 1935

  First programme published in the press in June.

• 1911

  Opened around this year as Cine Bailén, initially a small covered space known as La Barraca.

Historic neighbourhood cinema in Barcelona, now a four-screen venue with a flexible programme focused on independent and quality films.

Product categories. Cinema screenings · Film programming · Independent film promotion

1. 1Línies generals i intencions d'un nou blog sobre pel·lículescinemestexas.cat
2. 2Cine Texaswikidata.org
3. 3Cine Texasca.wikipedia.org