Screen Cinema facts for kids
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During the 2008 Jameson Dublin International Film Festival
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 Screen Cinema
Location in Central Dublin
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| Address | 2 Townsend Street, Dublin 2 Dublin Ireland |
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| Coordinates | 53°20′46″N 6°15′25″W / 53.346193°N 6.25684°W |
| Owner | Irish Multiplex Cinemas (IMC) |
| Type | Cinema |
| Capacity | 783 |
| Screens | 3 (originally 1) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 16 March 1972 |
| Closed | 29 February 2016 |
| Rebuilt | 1982 |
| Years active | 35 |
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The Screen Cinema was a popular movie theater in Dublin, Ireland. It had three screens and was known for showing many different kinds of films. It was located on Hawkins Street and was a favorite spot for movie lovers for many years.
Contents
History of the Screen Cinema
How the Cinema Started
The Screen Cinema first opened its doors on March 16, 1972. Back then, it was called The New Metropole. It was built on the same spot where an older cinema, The Regal, used to be. The Regal had been taken down in 1962 to make space for new offices.
The name "New Metropole" came from a more famous cinema, the Metropole Cinema, on O'Connell Street. After the older Metropole closed in 1973, The New Metropole simply became known as The Metropole.
Adding More Screens
When it first opened, the cinema only had one big screen. But in 1982, they made some changes. The large movie hall was divided to create two more screens. These new screens were hung from the ceiling. This clever design meant the main screen stayed just as big as before!
Becoming the Screen Cinema
In 1984, the cinema got its final name: the Screen Cinema. It became a partner to the well-known Savoy Cinema on O'Connell Street. After this, the Screen Cinema started showing different types of movies. Instead of big Hollywood blockbusters, it focused on:
- World cinema: Films from different countries.
- Independent films: Movies made by smaller studios, not the big ones.
- Irish films: Movies made in Ireland.
This made the Screen Cinema a special place. It attracted people who loved unique and artistic movies.
Updates and Special Events
Between 2004 and 2005, the cinema got a fresh new look inside. It also changed its outside sign. The old fancy sign with neon lights was replaced by a modern electronic board. This board showed what movies were playing.
Even with its unique layout, the Screen Cinema was always busy. It was especially popular for its "art house" films. These are movies that focus more on art and ideas than on special effects. The cinema often kept popular films playing until they were almost ready to come out on DVD.
The Screen Cinema was also a big part of the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival. It hosted the festival every year since it began in 2002. For example, in 2007, 48 different films were shown there during the festival! Famous people like Julie Walters and John Boorman visited the cinema during these events.
Classic Movie Showings
The Screen Cinema loved to show classic movies. In the summer of 2009, they had a season of old favorites. These included films like Casablanca and The Great Escape.
For Halloween, they held a "Scream Cinema Monster Mash." Audiences could watch scary movies like The Shining and Night of the Living Dead.
Later, they had a "Ministry of Musicals" series. This featured famous Hollywood musicals. Some of the films shown were Singin' in the Rain and An American in Paris.
Closure of the Cinema
In February 2012, there were talks about new plans for the area around the cinema. These plans suggested that the Screen Cinema might be taken down. There was also a report that the cinema was in danger of closing. The number of people visiting the cinema had dropped a lot over ten years.
On February 19, 2016, it was officially announced that the Screen Cinema would close. This was after 35 years of showing movies. The main reason was that fewer people were buying tickets. The company that owned the cinema, Irish Multiplex Cinemas, decided to close it. Staff working at the Screen Cinema were offered jobs at the Savoy Cinema, another movie theater owned by the same company. The Screen Cinema closed its doors for good on February 29, 2016.
Mr. Screen
Outside the Screen Cinema, there used to be a fun sculpture called Mr. Screen. It looked like a cinema usher, who is someone who helps people find their seats in a movie theater. The sculptor Vincent Browne created it in 1988. After the cinema closed, Mr. Screen moved to the lobby of the Savoy Cinema on O'Connell Street. You can still see him there today!
Images for kids
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Mr. Screen statue outside the Screen Cinema
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A close-up of the Mr. Screen statue
