Inauguration of cinema 1945 (ou début 1948) (≈ 1948)
Open to the public after construction.
1974
Final closure
Final closure 1974 (≈ 1974)
End of film exploitation.
8 octobre 2002
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 8 octobre 2002 (≈ 2002)
Registration in full with his court.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The entire cinema, with its adjoining courtyard and its closing walls (cad. A 262): registration by order of 8 October 2002
Key figures
André Lamire - Bordeaux architect
Manufacturer of the building in 1945.
Origin and history
The Splendid Cinema, located in Langoiran en Gironde, is a showroom built in the 2nd quarter of the 20th century by Bordeaux architect André Lamire. Its architecture, marked by a concrete facade with clean lines, combines influences of Le Corbusier with Art Deco elements, especially in its outer colonnade. Inaugurated in 1945 (or early 1948 according to sources), it reflects the style of the 1940s-1950s, with a hall decorated with mosaics, columns and appendices, as well as a room of 460 armchairs.
Disused in 1974 after almost 30 years of activity, the building was fully listed as historic monuments by order of 8 October 2002, including the hall, its adjoining courtyard and its fence walls. Today owned by the municipality of Langoiran, it is rented to an audiovisual production company, Mustang and Cie, which ensures its renovation. While waiting for the cinema to meet the standards, the lobby hosts musical and theatre shows about once a week.
The cinema is distinguished by its preserved interior decor, combining modern sobriety and Art Deco ornaments, as the vases and appliques of the hall. The facade, though minimalist, retains characteristic details of its time, such as stylized columns. Its location, at 6 avenue Michel-Picon, makes it a central cultural landmark in the village, near the departmental roads D10 and D239.
The history of the Splendid illustrates the evolution of cinemas in French rural areas, from a popular post-war entertainment venue to a protected architectural heritage. Its partial rehabilitation allows today to maintain a cultural activity in a historical setting, while preserving the original elements such as the 12 metre screen or the 460 red armchairs.
Available sources, including the Mérimée and Monumentum bases, highlight its importance as a representative example of the cinematic architecture of the 1940s-1950s in New Aquitaine. The building, although partially reused, awaits a complete restoration to regain its primary function, while serving as a witness to local history and cultural industrial heritage.
Announcements
Please log in to post a review