A long time ago I was treated to an evening out at The Theater Tuschinski in Amsterdam where I watched a film sitting in a beautiful private box sipping champagne. Alas, going to the cinema has never quite been the same since.
The Theater Tuschinski was the incredible achievement of Abraham Tuschinski who believed that everyone should be treated to a special experience when going to the theatre. In 1921 he set about creating his dream with a mix of styles - Gothic, Jugendstil, Art Nouveau, Art Deco - images of peacocks adorn the walls while the floors are cover in colourful carpets hand-woven from Morrocco. The building has not only a grand hall, but a
cabaret-dinner club, a Japanese tea room, a Moorish
suite, and elegant foyers. The light on the ceiling represents a peacock's tail. Behind the bar are carnival images.
After the German occupation of The Netherlands in 1940, it was
re-named Tivoli Theatre. Abraham Tuschinski and most of his family and
other directors of the theater were deported to Auschwitz in July 1942,
never to return.
On 29th July 1945 the name Tuschinski went back onto the
facade. It was the most popular cinema in Amsterdam of it's day - the stage was
brought into use for concerts with stars including Judy Garland, Marlene Dietrich,
Edith Piaf, Dizzy Gillespie and Fats Domino.
The ‘Grote Zaal’ currently seats
784 and anyone can watch the latest movies, seated in the most elaborate setting - just as Abraham Tuschinski envisaged.
So what movie would I most like to watch there? It would have to Fred Astaire, and I could sit back and be swept off my feet...
