Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Reims Cinema-Opera, now known as Opéraims, is an iconic venue opened in 1923. Originally, it was a gym turned into a cinematographer under the name of Aero-Cinema in 1912, Vesle Street. Destroyed by a bombardment that same year, it was rebuilt in 1922 at 9-11 rue de Thillois, near the cathedral, with a facade mixing Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles. Architects Émile Thion and Marcel Rousseau entrust the project to the entrepreneurs Joyeux and Verbiest, while sculptures and stained glass are signed by Berton and Prost-Lannes. Inaugurated on 29 January 1923 as Aero-palace, it was able to accommodate 1,450 spectators thanks to an innovative dome opening onto the sky.

In 1926, the facade on Rue Théodore-Dubois was destroyed, and the interior was rehabilitated in 1981 to create several rooms. The street façade of Thillois, classified in 1981, is preserved despite the partial demolition of the building in 2021 for a real estate project. Between 1957 and 1986, the Reynaud family modernized the place, moving from a single room to a six-room complex, while maintaining a programming combining art and essay and general public. Operated by the American Paramount circuit before 1957, he became independent under the direction of Cinémas Reynaud, with Jean-Fabrice Reynaud as central figure since 1986.

In 2019, the cinema closes its doors rue de Thillois to be reborn Place Drouet-d This new multiplex of 1,600 seats and eleven rooms perpetuates the spirit of the place, combining blockbusters and art films and essay. Despite the loss of some original elements (such as the Art Deco stained glass windows), the classified facade remains, reflecting the architectural and cultural history of Reims. The "art and essay" classification, obtained under the old name, remains an objective for the new structure, despite constraints related to its size.

The Cinéma-opéra thus embodies the evolution of theatres in the 20th century, between heritage preservation and adaptation to modern requirements. Its history also reflects the upheavals of Reims, marked by wars and reconstructions, as well as the commitment of farm families to maintain a diverse cultural offer in the city centre.

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