Savoy Theater & Atelier Kino

The Savoy Theater stands in the House of the Chamber of Commerce on Graf-Adolf-Straße in central Düsseldorf. Built by local architect Hans Nehaus, it opened in April 1958 with Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments on a 165-square-metre screen and a 70 mm Philips DP70 projector. A month later the smaller Atelier Theater beneath it premiered Bolshoi Ballet in a programme of art films. The pair formed one of Germany’s first twin-cinema concepts, widening choice for city audiences. The Savoy quickly became the city’s flagship for mainstream releases, while the Atelier specialised in international art-house cinema. In 1969 the main auditorium was reduced to install the 207-seat Apollo 69, opened by Karel Reisz’s Isadora. Two years later the 50-seat Lupe opened with rear-projection and smoking allowed, later split into Linse 1 and Linse 2. After a final rebuild in 1989 the complex passed to UFA, yet by 2000 the rise of multiplexes forced the Savoy’s closure. Since 2000 the Savoy has operated as a small arts stage under Stefan Jürging. The Atelier, now run by Düsseldorfer Filmkunstkino GmbH, continues to show classic and contemporary art-house films. Both venues sit side by side in the same building, offering contrasting programmes in the heart of the city.