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Origin and history

The Luxor is a cinema room located at 170 boulevard de Magenta in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, built in 1921 by architect Henri Zipcy (known as "Ripey") for investor Henry Silberberg. Inaugurated on 6 October 1921 with programming including silent films and Gaumont news, this cinema is distinguished by its neo-Egyptian facade, inspired by the city of Luxor, and its multicolored mosaics made by decorator Amédée Tiberti and the Gentil and Bourdet factory. The room, designed for 1,195 seats, is a rare example of ancient architecture of the 1920s, with floral motifs, beetles, cobras and a winged disc adorning the terrace.

The choice of the neo-Egyptian style, rather than classical styles such as Rome or Louis XVI, was intended to make Luxor unique among its competitors. Although some hypotheses evoke the influence of films like Cleopatra (1917), the origin of this decor seems to be more linked to the architectural craze of the time, especially after the Universal Exhibition of 1900. After Silberberg's bankruptcy in 1921, the cinema was bought in 1922 by the Société des cinémas Lutétia and later by Pathé in 1929, which adapted it to sound cinema. Despite successive transformations (1954, 1964), it retained its original structure until its closure in 1983.

Turned into a nightclub in the 1980s (La Dérobade, then Megatown), the Luxor was abandoned in 1988. Saved by an associative mobilization from 2001, it was bought by the city of Paris in 2003. After a renovation led by architect Philippe Pumain, he reopened in 2013 with three rooms, including a main one called Youssef-Chahine, and a café-club. The rehabilitation respects neo-Egyptian decorations, while integrating modern elements such as a starry ceiling inspired by the tombs of the Valley of Kings. The Luxor, which has been listed as a historic monument since 1981 for its facades and roofs, thus regains its cultural vocation.

The history of the Luxor reflects the sociocultural changes in its neighbourhood. In the 1970s he specialized in "exotic" films (Indian, Egyptian) and soft porn, attracting an increasing immigrant population. Its reopening in 2013, with a variety of programming (art films and essays, cultural events), marks a revival for this emblematic place. Local associations, such as Action Barbès or Les Amis du Luxor, played a key role in its preservation, emphasizing its heritage importance and its anchoring in the life of the 10th arrondissement.

The elements protected since 1981 include facades and roofs, while mosaics, made by the Gentil and Bourdet factory, remain an exceptional testimony of the decorative art of the 1920s. The renovation project, although criticized for some modifications (such as the creation of basement rooms), saved this heritage. Today, the Luxor combines historical heritage and contemporary dynamism, with more than a million entries recorded since its reopening.

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