Cinema De Keizer

Cinema De Keizer is a historic village cinema in Lichtervelde, a small municipality in West Flanders, Belgium. It traces its origins to 1924, when Gerard Debaillie bought the patrician house 'De Keizer' shortly before his marriage and installed a film projector in the upper room of the café, against the local priest's wishes. Because Lichtervelde had no electricity grid at the time, he generated power with a generator in the courtyard. Before settling in the building, Debaillie travelled around showing silent films in parish halls and in the open air, transporting his equipment in animal-feed trucks while trumpeting friends walked alongside to advertise the screenings. The first film shown is believed to have been 'Don Juan' by Alan Crosland, on 6 August 1926. Gerard Debaillie ran the cinema until his death in 1972, when his daughter Agnes Debaillie took over. Agnes had been born in the cinema on 22 July 1928 and operated it for the rest of her life, focusing on children's, family and cultural films. She became a well-known figure in the Belgian film world, receiving the Lichterveldse press prize (the bronze accordion) in 1998 for her dedication and passion for cinema. She famously said, 'I am a small light in the field and Kinepolis is the great star in the firmament,' referring to her native village and the rise of large multiplex competitors. When Agnes fell ill in 2010 at the age of 82, friends helped keep the cinema open, still using analogue 35mm projection. She died on 16 May 2012. After her death, seven investors were brought together to take over the building and make a new start. This led to the creation of Cinema De Keizer vzw, a non-profit association whose goal is the operation, promotion and preservation of the historical and cultural heritage around Cinema De Keizer. Digital promotional screens were installed in the entrance, the ticket office, bar and party hall were restored to how they looked more than half a century earlier, and in the authentic projection room a brand-new Barco projector was installed alongside the 35mm projector — a unique combination of the latest technology in an authentic heritage setting. Today the cinema is part of Cultuurhuis De Keizer, a cultural house that offers theatre performances and concerts in addition to film screenings in an authentic village cinema. It remains a gathering place for nostalgic cinephiles, a time machine breathing the atmosphere of bygone days. The organisation looks back with pride and gratitude at what was achieved from 2012 to 2020, welcoming many visitors to the small Neerstraat in Lichtervelde and immersing them in a time machine through the heritage and unique location that had remained unchanged since the 1940s. The cinema was again embraced by the hearts of Lichtervelde residents, cinema lovers, nostalgic souls and countless young families.

The history of Cinema De Keizer begins in 1924, six years after the First World War, when Gerard Debaillie bought the patrician house 'De Keizer' with Marie-Louise Ramboer just before their marriage. He installed his projector in the upper room of the café, against the local priest's wishes. Gerard Debaillie was born in Lichtervelde in 1898, the son of Henricus Debaillie and Sidonie-Marie Hostens. He knew the work of early film pioneers such as Georges Méliès and the Lumière brothers. Because Lichtervelde had no electricity grid, he generated power with a generator in the courtyard. Before settling in the building, Debaillie travelled around showing silent films in parish halls or in the open air; a fixed date was Rerum Novarum with projections for the Christian Workers' Association. On his travels, Debaillie's animal-feed trucks transported the equipment, while trumpeting friends walked alongside to advertise and accompany the screening. The first film shown in the cinema is believed to have been 'Don Juan' by Alan Crosland, on 6 August 1926. Agnes Debaillie was born on 22 July 1928. In 1929 the building was connected to the electricity grid. In the late 1930s Gerard began showing films on Saturdays, and in 1938 the fanfare and the association De Burgersgilde, which had been based there since their founding, moved to the Statiestraat. Gerard Debaillie signed contracts, attended gala performances and went to fetch films at the Martelaarsplein in Brussels, returning to Lichtervelde with Flemish titles such as 'Onder het roode kleed' or 'De vroolijke gescheidene' with Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. In Brussels he met Sophia Loren and Shirley Temple together with his daughter. In the late 1960s he fell ill and in 1972 he died, after which Agnes continued his work. Agnes Debaillie was born in Cinema De Keizer on 22 July 1928 and died on 16 May 2012 in the Sint Rembert hospital in Torhout. Following in her father's footsteps, she ran the cinema her whole life. She was the only daughter and had four brothers: Georges, Frans, Paul and Raf. In her village cinema she mainly showed children's, family and cultural films. Children were her target audience. She did not give discounts, wanting to offer children and parents good children's and youth films 'as an alternative to the violence that drips from cinema and television screens these days'. She believed that a sensitive film in an authentic village cinema was the ideal combination. Despite her age she honoured her father's legacy 'out of love for film'. In 1998 she received the Lichterveldse press prize, the bronze accordion, for her efforts and passion for film. She said, 'My parents founded the cinema. I actually don't deserve much credit. I am only continuing their work.' After the floods in 2005, the fire brigade evacuated Agnes twice. Worried about her cinema, she slipped away from the town hall and went back to her cinema. When the water was halfway up her loins, the emergency services brought her to family. From 2010 she stayed in a care home in Zwevezele, and nine days before her death she returned to Lichtervelde. Friends kept the cinema running. In the film world Agnes Debaillie was a household name. She revealed her favourite film to the magazine 'Filmmagie': 'Dr. Zhivago.' She added The Sound of Music, Ben Hur, The Third Man, Het geslacht Björndahl, The Lion King and Up to the list. But, she continued, 'if I only programmed films I myself find beautiful, like Il Postino, I would barely get anyone in the hall (...). A beautiful film like Dead Poets Society; five screenings, forty spectators in total.' After Agnes's death in 2012, seven investors were brought together to take over the building and make a new start. Thus Cinema De Keizer vzw was created, with the goal of operating, promoting and preserving the historical and cultural heritage around Cinema De Keizer. In other words: a quiet dream to continue Agnes's life's work. Digital promotional screens were installed in the entrance. The ticket office, bar and party hall were restored to how they looked more than half a century earlier. And in the authentic projection room, alongside the 35mm projector, a brand-new Barco projector was installed. A unique combination of the latest technology in an authentic heritage setting. Today the organisation looks back with pride and gratitude at what was achieved from 2012 to 2020. Many visitors came to the small Neerstraat in Lichtervelde, immersed in a time machine through the heritage and unique location that had remained unchanged since the 1940s. The cinema was again embraced by the hearts of Lichtervelde residents, cinema lovers, nostalgic souls and countless young families. The special story of Cinema De Keizer still connected many people, and above all allowed many people to enjoy a pleasant film afternoon or evening in an accessible way. The cinema is part of Cultuurhuis De Keizer, a cultural house in the West Flemish municipality of Lichtervelde that offers theatre performances and concerts alongside film screenings in an authentic village cinema. To this day De Keizer is a gathering place for nostalgic cinephiles, a time machine breathing the atmosphere of bygone times.

• 2020

  The organisation reflects on achievements from 2012 to 2020, having restored the cinema and welcomed many visitors.

• 2012

  Agnes Debaillie dies on 16 May; seven investors take over the building and create Cinema De Keizer vzw.

• 2010

  Agnes falls ill at age 82 and moves to a care home in Zwevezele; friends keep the cinema running.

• 2005

  Floods in Lichtervelde lead to Agnes being evacuated twice by the fire brigade.

• 1998

  Agnes Debaillie receives the Lichterveldse press prize, the bronze accordion, for her film passion.

• 1972

  Gerard Debaillie dies and his daughter Agnes takes over the cinema.

• 1938

  The fanfare and De Burgersgilde association move to the Statiestraat as Saturday film screenings begin.

• 1929

  The building is connected to the electricity grid.

• 1928

  Agnes Debaillie is born in the cinema on 22 July.

• 1926

  The first film projection, believed to be 'Don Juan' by Alan Crosland, takes place on 6 August.

• 1924

  Gerard Debaillie buys the house 'De Keizer' and installs a projector in the upper room of the café, founding the cinema.

A heritage village cinema and cultural house offering an authentic, nostalgic film experience as an alternative to large multiplexes, focused on children's, family and cultural films.

• Film screenings

  Regular film screenings in an authentic village cinema, focusing on children's, family and cultural films.

• 35mm analogue projection

  The cinema retains its analogue 35mm projection alongside a modern Barco digital projector.

• Theatre and concerts

  As part of Cultuurhuis De Keizer, the venue offers theatre performances and concerts.

• Party hall rental

  The restored party hall is available for events.

1. 1Homepage - Cinema De Keizercinemadekeizer.be
2. 2Cinema De Keizer - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Cultuurhuis De Keizer - Wikipedianl.wikipedia.org