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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The former studio Pathé-Albatros de Montreuil, built in 1904 at the initiative of Charles Pathé, is a large hall with brick walls and metal frame covered with sheet metal. Designed as a "theatre of shooting" inspired by greenhouses, this "glass hangar" (22 m x 12 m) was built pending the completion of the Vincennes studio. It was used to shoot news scenes, notably under the direction of directors Ferdinand Zecca and Albert Capellani, inspired by the Petit Journal illustré.

From 1919 the studio was taken over by the Russian company Ermolieff-Kamenka (known as Firme Albatros), marking a transition in its use. In 1929, part of the site was destroyed to give way to a tin alloy factory. Although the hall retained its original appearance, parasitic constructions altered the whole. Today, the venue hosts rehearsals and theatre performances, while remaining a rare witness to the history of cinema in France.

Ranked Historic Monument by order of 18 July 1997, the studio includes its plot (cadastre BK 109). Private property, it illustrates the industrial and artistic heritage of Montreuil, a historic city of French cinema. Its exact location (52 rue du Sergent-Boblot) and its current state reflect both its partial preservation and the transformations experienced during the 20th century.

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