Eldorado Kino

Eldorado Kino was a historic cinema located at Torggata 9 in central Oslo. Its premises originated in a nineteenth-century entertainment and commercial complex designed in the New Renaissance style by architect Harald Olsen. The site included a street-front building and an inner courtyard structure that was used for performances, concerts, and later film exhibition. The inner building was leased to Fahlstrøms Theater in 1903. The theater operated for eight seasons before entering bankruptcy and giving its final performance in August 1911. A cinema opened in the same building two days later, establishing the site as a movie venue. After several years, the cinema was taken over by a Swedish company and renamed Admiral Palads. Oslo Kino took over the building in 1928. The Eldorado name was adopted in September 1929, when the venue also received a sound system. According to the cited historical account, Eldorado was the first cinema in Norway to install sound equipment. Its first sound film was The Singing Fool, starring Al Jolson. This transition positioned the venue at an important point in Norway's move from silent film exhibition to synchronized sound cinema. For much of the twentieth century, Eldorado was associated with popular commercial film, particularly westerns and spy movies. It became one of Oslo's prominent venues for James Bond releases; Dr. No had its Norwegian premiere there on 1 April 1963. The cinema originally operated as a large single auditorium with 1,195 seats distributed between a balcony and the main floor. In 1986, it was rebuilt as a five-screen multiplex. The reconstructed complex had a total capacity of 1,132 seats, with individual auditoriums seating 170, 140, 163, 168, and 370 people. All five theaters were refurbished in 2000. The total capacity was subsequently reduced to 1,000 seats, partly to provide greater spacing between rows and improve audience comfort. The venue therefore combined the architectural legacy of an early Oslo entertainment building with the operating model of a modern multiplex. Eldorado Kino closed on 19 August 2012 after more than a century of cinema use. The premises were later converted into a bookshop and associated retail space. Much of the former auditorium area was opened up for bookshelves; the resulting business also sold stationery and included a classical-music section, with plans for a coffee shop reported in the cited material. The closure ended Eldorado's role as a cinema brand, although the building continued to be used for cultural and commercial purposes.

The history of Eldorado Kino is rooted in the development of the property at Torggata 9 in central Oslo. In 1891, a company acquired the approximately half-acre site and built two structures in the New Renaissance style. The street-facing building contained commercial premises, while the inner building included a courtyard entertainment space with seating for approximately 1,600 people. Architect Harald Olsen designed the buildings, and architect Bull later contributed a fan-shaped glass baldachin over the entrance on Torggata and a glass roof over the theater structure. The inner building became a performance venue in 1903 when it was leased to Fahlstrøms Theater. The theater lasted eight seasons, ending in bankruptcy and giving its final performance in August 1911. Two days later, a cinema opened in the same building. This change marked the beginning of the site's long association with film exhibition. After several years of operation, a Swedish company took over the cinema and changed its name to Admiral Palads. Oslo Kino assumed control of the building in 1928. In September 1929, the cinema adopted the Eldorado name and installed sound equipment. The venue is described in the cited historical account as Norway's first cinema with a sound system. Its inaugural sound-film presentation was The Singing Fool, featuring Al Jolson. The adoption of sound technology was one of the defining early milestones in the cinema's history. During the following decades, Eldorado developed a reputation for mainstream popular programming, including westerns and spy films. It also became an important venue for James Bond releases. The Norwegian premiere of Dr. No took place at Eldorado on 1 April 1963, illustrating the cinema's role in presenting major international commercial films to Oslo audiences. Until 1986, the venue consisted of one large auditorium with 1,195 seats, divided between a balcony and the main floor. A major reconstruction that year converted the site into a five-screen multiplex with 1,132 seats in total. The individual auditoriums had capacities of 170, 140, 163, 168, and 370 seats. The change reflected the broader shift in cinema operations toward multiple smaller screens, allowing operators to show several films and schedules within one centrally located property. The five theaters were refurbished in 2000. Following the work, seating capacity was reduced to 1,000, with additional space between rows intended to improve comfort and circulation. Eldorado consequently combined a historic building and long-established name with multiplex-era facilities. Cinema operations ended on 19 August 2012. After the closure, the property was converted into a bookshop. Several former cinema spaces were opened out to accommodate bookshelves, and the new business also sold stationery and maintained a classical-music section. A coffee shop was also planned according to the cited contemporary account. Eldorado therefore ceased to exist as an operating cinema but retained a continuing cultural and commercial presence at the same Oslo address.

• 2012

  Cinema closes

  [1]Eldorado Cinema (Oslo)en.wikipedia.org

  Eldorado Kino closed permanently on 19 August and the premises were later repurposed as a bookshop.

• 2000

  Multiplex refurbishment

  [1]Eldorado Cinema (Oslo)en.wikipedia.org

  All five theaters were refurbished and total seating was adjusted to 1,000, allowing more space between rows.

• 1986

  Conversion to a five-screen multiplex

  [1]Eldorado Cinema (Oslo)en.wikipedia.org

  The former 1,195-seat single auditorium was replaced by five theaters with a combined capacity of 1,132 seats.

• 1963

  Norwegian premiere of Dr. No

  [1]Eldorado Cinema (Oslo)en.wikipedia.org

  The first James Bond film, Dr. No, received its Norwegian premiere at Eldorado on 1 April.

• 1929

  Eldorado name and sound cinema introduced

  [1]Eldorado Cinema (Oslo)en.wikipedia.org

  The venue adopted the Eldorado name in September and installed a sound system. The Singing Fool was presented as its first sound film.

• 1928

  Oslo Kino takes over the building

  [1]Eldorado Cinema (Oslo)en.wikipedia.org

  Oslo Kino assumed control of the property and its cinema operations.

• 1911

  Cinema operations begin

  [1]Eldorado Cinema (Oslo)en.wikipedia.org

  After Fahlstrøms Theater ended its run, a cinema opened in the building two days after the theater's final performance in August.

• 1903

  Fahlstrøms Theater begins using the inner building

  [1]Eldorado Cinema (Oslo)en.wikipedia.org

  The inner building was leased to Fahlstrøms Theater, which used the venue for theatrical performances.

• 1891

  Property acquired and entertainment complex constructed

  [1]Eldorado Cinema (Oslo)en.wikipedia.org

  A company acquired the site at Torggata 9 and constructed two New Renaissance-style buildings, including an inner venue suitable for performances and concerts.

A centrally located Oslo cinema known for its long operating history, early adoption of sound film, popular commercial programming, and prominent film premieres.

• Film exhibition · 1911

  Cinema screenings

  Eldorado's core service was public exhibition of feature films at its central Oslo venue. Its programming included popular commercial genres such as westerns and spy films, as well as major international releases and premieres.

• Cinema infrastructure · 1986

  Five-screen multiplex

  From 1986 until closure, Eldorado operated as a five-screen multiplex. The auditoriums had capacities of 170, 140, 163, 168, and 370 seats, providing a combined capacity that was later adjusted to 1,000 after refurbishment.

• Cinema events

  Film premiere events

  The venue hosted prominent releases and premieres, including the Norwegian premiere of Dr. No on 1 April 1963. Its long-running position in central Oslo made it a notable site for high-profile commercial cinema.

• 2012

  Close cinema operations and repurpose the premisesStrategy

  Background

  Eldorado Kino ended cinema operations on 19 August after more than a century as a film venue.

  Action taken

  The former cinema was converted into a bookshop and related retail space, including books, stationery, and a classical-music section.

  Aftermath

  The Eldorado cinema brand became defunct, while the building continued to serve a cultural and commercial function.

  Source

• 2000

  Refurbish auditoriums and increase row spacingOther

  Background

  The five-screen multiplex required modernization after its 1986 conversion.

  Action taken

  All theaters were refurbished, and seating capacity was reduced to 1,000 to provide greater distance between rows.

  Aftermath

  The venue continued operating as a five-screen cinema with a more spacious seating layout.

  Source

• 1986

  Convert the single auditorium into a multiplexStrategy

  Background

  Eldorado had operated with one large auditorium of 1,195 seats before the reconstruction.

  Action taken

  The venue was rebuilt with five theaters and a combined capacity of 1,132 seats.

  Aftermath

  The conversion established Eldorado as a multiplex while preserving its central Oslo location.

  Source

1. 1Eldorado Cinema (Oslo)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Eldorados historikkoslokino.no