Munich has many cinemas that cover the entire spectrum of moving pictures, from big blockbusters to independent productions and arthouse films. However, one of these cinemas stands out both for the design of its auditorium and for its special program. The oldest cinema still in operation in Munich looks back on a long history full of ups and downs that make it an iconic gem today.
The first decades
In 1910, Carl Gabriel founded “Gabriels Tonbildtheater” in the Au on the banks of the Isar. After “Gabriels Filmtheater” in Maxvorstadt, this was his second cinema in Munich. Until 2019, this was the oldest cinema in Munich, but as it had to close, the title went to the house in the Au. The cinema at Sendlinger Tor also goes back to Carl Gabriel, as do some Oktoberfest attractions, including the Teufelsrad and the Hexenschaukel.
The Tonbildtheater was initially not just a cinema, but also housed a variety theater. Until its temporary closure at the end of the Second World War , the usual suburban cinema program was shown here. It reopened in 1946 with Alfred Hitchcock’s “In the Shadow of Doubt” in the program. Initially, cinema experienced a boom, but with the advent of home televisions, the cinemas gradually slipped into crisis towards the end of the 1950s. The sound picture theater was not immune to this, but somehow managed to survive.
In the 1970s, they finally specialized in music and dance films, but even this only attracted a few visitors. So the decision was made to sublet part of the premises to Beate Uhse. Then, in June 1977, the Museum Lichtspiele added a film to its program, propelling it into a new era. The cinema has borne its current name since 1918, which it owes to its proximity to the German Museum.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Museum Lichtspiele
The screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Museum Lichtspiele was a surprising success. It was so successful that the film remained in the program permanently. In 1980, the then operator Hartmut Hinrichs redesigned auditorium 2 to match the film. The extravagant design made the auditorium iconic and created an inevitable connection between the cinema and the film.
Every Friday and Saturday, the Museum Lichtspiele screens the original version of the film. Once there was trouble with the distributor because the screening license had actually expired, but fortunately this was resolved. The cinema now even holds a Guinness World Record for the longest uninterrupted screening of the film. Every week, fans and virgins alike flock to the Museum Lichtspiele not just to watch the Rocky Horror Picture Show, but to experience it. Some come in disguise, some come equipped with the necessary accessories to take part. If you have forgotten it at home or have no idea about the movie, you can also buy a corresponding make-up package at the box office.
But the Museum Lichtspiele is also worth a visit apart from the Rocky Horror Picture Show. The cinema now has four auditoriums, three of which are specially designed. Even the entrance area and the bar have a nostalgic feel and take you on a special journey. The program of the Museum Lichtspiele is as diverse as its interior: from blockbusters to niche films to a distinctive children’s program, everything is included here.