Rex-Theater

The Rex Theatre stands in Wuppertal, a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is a protected theatre building with a long history tied to film and performance. The site began in 1887 as a restaurant and hotel called the Salamander, which included a glass performance hall. Films were first shown there in 1889, making the Rex Theatre claim to be among the oldest cinemas in the world. In the 1930s, architect Hans Becker redesigned the building as the Apollo Theatre, which opened in 1937. The theatre was destroyed during a bombing raid in 1943. After the war, owner Leo Häusler commissioned architect Hanns Rüttgers to rebuild the theatre. The new building opened in 1951 as the Salamander-Filmbühne, but a legal dispute led to the name change to Rex-Filmbühne in 1954. By the 1980s, many small theatres in Germany closed due to competition from television. The Rex Theatre remained open, becoming the only postwar theatre still operating in Wuppertal. In 1999, it was officially recognised as a historically protected building by the German government. Today, the Rex Theatre continues to function as a cinema and performance space. Its interior reflects the reconstruction of the early 1950s, blending modern design with historical elements. The building’s protected status ensures its preservation for future generations. Visitors can experience films and events in a space that has witnessed over a century of cultural history. The theatre’s survival through wars and changing entertainment trends makes it a notable landmark in Wuppertal.