Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Eldorado cinema, located at 4 boulevard de Strasbourg in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, was built in 1932-1933 by architect Pierre Dubreuil (sometimes spelled Paul Dubreuil in the sources). It replaces a famous 19th-century café-concert, the Eldorado, which had welcomed artists such as Theresa, Mistinguett or Maurice Chevalier. The new room, made of reinforced concrete with a staff decor by L. Binet, offers 1,500 to 2,000 seats and is established as a Parisian cinema temple until its closure in 1981. Its entrance hall, Art Deco style with two-storey fireplaces, is characteristic of the architecture of the entertainment halls of the 1930s.

Ranked as a Historic Monument in October 1981 for its hall and hall (including sculptures), the Eldorado also benefits from the "Twentieth Century Heritage" label. After his conversion to theatre, he underwent renovations in 1994, then changed his name several times (Comedia in 2000, Théâtre libre in 2017) and owners. In 2011, a partial collapse of the ceiling damaged the building, before its acquisition in 2013 by Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière and Michel Lumbroso. Since then, the hall has mainly hosted musicals, perpetuating its vocation as a place of performance.

The architecture of the Eldorado reflects the technical innovations of the time, with a collaboration between Dubreuil and the Hennebique office for the reinforced concrete structure. The original façade, raised later, will lose its triangular-reddensed window to a large window. The building thus illustrates the evolution of the theatres, from café-concert in late 19th century to monumental cinema in the 1930s, then to contemporary theatre. Its history crossed with that of major artists makes it a symbol of Parisian cultural heritage.

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