As picture houses go the Multisala Impero Varese looks pretty ordinary, and if you wanted to be a tad unfair you might describe it as a box with windows.
But that is to compare it with that golden age of cinema design where the elaborate exterior was part of the experience on offer.
I always judged it to have been built in the 1960s, but only yesterday I turned up an old picture postcard from the 1940s, and after a bit of research I now know it was built as the Impero Cinema Theater in 1940, and remained the only picture house in Varese until the New Cinema, in 1959 and the Cinema Teatro Vela in 1966.
So, with that in mind and never wanting to be unfair I looked at it again, and yes, it has more going for it.
It has a simplicity of design and fits with the surrounding buildings and those in the much grander Monte Grappa square, directly behind it which dates from 1934.
The choice of films was a mix of Italian and English language, with the Birds of Prey, 1917 and Dolittle competing with Odio l’estate.
Now despite my very poor Italian the choice had to be Odio l’estate, which translates as I hate summer and involves three families in a holiday home.
What attracted us were the three lead actors, Aldo Baglio, Giacomo Poretti, and Giovanni Storti, who have been turning out films for decades.
Added to which the soundtrack included "Odio l'estate" by Bruno Martino. The song dates from 1960, and was very popular.*
So that is it.
Location Varese
Pictures, Multisala Impero Varese , Via Giuseppe Bernascone, 2020, from the collection of Balzano
* Odio l'estate" by Bruno Martino https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4waIeADlZ80
I always judged it to have been built in the 1960s, but only yesterday I turned up an old picture postcard from the 1940s, and after a bit of research I now know it was built as the Impero Cinema Theater in 1940, and remained the only picture house in Varese until the New Cinema, in 1959 and the Cinema Teatro Vela in 1966.
So, with that in mind and never wanting to be unfair I looked at it again, and yes, it has more going for it.
It has a simplicity of design and fits with the surrounding buildings and those in the much grander Monte Grappa square, directly behind it which dates from 1934.
Now despite my very poor Italian the choice had to be Odio l’estate, which translates as I hate summer and involves three families in a holiday home.
What attracted us were the three lead actors, Aldo Baglio, Giacomo Poretti, and Giovanni Storti, who have been turning out films for decades.
Added to which the soundtrack included "Odio l'estate" by Bruno Martino. The song dates from 1960, and was very popular.*
So that is it.
Location Varese
Pictures, Multisala Impero Varese , Via Giuseppe Bernascone, 2020, from the collection of Balzano
* Odio l'estate" by Bruno Martino https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4waIeADlZ80
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