Architecture for the moving image : the evolution of cinematic spaces in 20th century Malta

Abstract

Our architectural cinematic heritage is slowly being erased from our collective memory to new development. Architecture for the moving image played a very important role in Malta's cultural and social developments and is also an echo of an architectural language that no longer exists. After the destruction of the Royal Opera House in Valletta during the Second World War, dramatic works had to be transferred to the various theatres around the Maltese islands such as the Rialto Cinema in Cospicua and the Orpheum Theatre in Gzira. The compilation of the history as well as the architectural characteristics of local cinema theatres is carried out for a better understanding of their value and cultural significance. Starting off with silent movies in the early 20th century, the popularity of cinemas soared during the 1930s as the demand for audiovisual entertainment increased amongst the population, particularly since it served as a form of relief and escapism during the hard times brought about by the war. A number of these cinemas became an architectural statement in their own right, often acting as landmarks within their locality and later standing as a symbolic marker within the memories of those who frequented them. The subsequent and progressive loss of these theatres to commercial interests is a blight on Malta's cultural heritage and the preservation of cultural memory. Research within this field is rather limited and little has been done to preserve the memory and understanding of the role that cinema played throughout Malta's cultural and social developments during the 20th Century. This dissertation shall seek to address this issue by carrying out an investigation on the architectural development of cinemas in Malta whilst putting forward possible future uses for unused cinemas on the island.