Vul. Bankivska, 5 — cinema (no longer in operation) ID: 1699

The building housed the following cinemas: Sinephon (1906–1907), Luna (1907, 1926–1930), and Polonia (1930–1931).

Story

Sinephon, 1906–1907

In 1906, Herman Opat opened the Sinephon cinema at ul. Szajnochy, 5 (today,  vul. Bankivska). In 1907, it was moved to the Mikolasсh Passage (pol. Pasaż Mikolascha).

Luna, 1907, 1926–1930

In 1907, Melchior Meiblum moved the Luna summer cinema, which had previously operated in Stryiskyi Park, to this location. The cinema also operated under this name in 1926–1930.

Polonia, 1930–1931

There was a buffet here. The repertoire did not change often, compared to other cinemas in Lviv. The cinema was not in the best condition. In particular, Jan Parandowski mentions this in his autobiographical novel "The Sky is on Fire" (pol. "Niebo w płomieniach"). The protagonist, a high school student named Teofil, sold his textbooks to a second-hand bookstore and spent all his money on trips to the theater and cinema with his girlfriend. They visited the Apollo and Pasaż cinemas. "Only "Logic" was wasted... in a disgusting cinema on Szajnochy Street, where an old, indistinct film was shown."

The cinema was closed in 1931, apparently due to its inability to compete with more comfortable sound cinemas.

People

Herman Opat — an entrepreneur and owner of several cinemas in Lviv, opened the Sinephon cinema in 1906.
Melchior Meiblum — a well-known cinema entrepreneur, moved the Luna summer cinema to premises at 5 Szajnochy Street.
Jan Parandowski — a Polish writer, essayist, and translator, mentions the cinema at 5 Szajnochy Street in his autobiographical novel "The Sky is on Fire".

Sources