Joachim Schall

Enterpreneur, owner of cinemas in Lviv in early 20th century.

Joachim Schall, the owner of the cinema „Grażyna” which existed in 1912-1939 on Sapiehy Street, 34. The Cinema was located in the building designed as the central pavilion of the Groedl Market (Bazar Groedlów) by the modernist architect Roman Feliński in Michal Ulam architectural and construction bureau. The central part of the pavilion, covered with a cupola, housed the cinema of 500 seats. The was a cafe at the cinema, run by Teodora Kraetter.

In 1913 Shchall became the owner of another cinema, „Fraszka”, which was later renamed as „Sztuka” (300 seats). In 1930 he became a co-owner of the cinema „Lew”, situated in the hall of the former Skarbek Theatre (now Maria Zankovetska theatre, 995 seats). The cinema was renovated and equipped with projection machinery of the firm Western Electric. The renovation was financed exclusively by Schall, that in a situation when his share in the union „Atlantic” was only 17 %. He later became the director of the cinema „Atlantic.” At the same time, he remained the owner of „Grażyna”:

"J. Schall was an expert in the up-to-date promotion of cinema. In order to pleasantly surprise the audience, he even went into great expenses in the introduction of changes in the cinema and its environment. For example, in 1933 he designed a new cinema hall in which the visitors could comfortably and freely talk during the breaks in the programme at the bufe. A good impression was also made by the advertising pillar on the crossing of Potockiego and Sapiehy Streets, as well as the lit ad of the cinema „Grażyna” designed by Jakub Meller.  

... Schall family, together Kuchar and Fisch families maintained their strong positions in the cinema profession in Lwów up to the Second World War.” (Barbara Gierszewska, Kino i film we Lwowie do 1939 roku. Kiełce, 2006)