Gloria-Theater

Gloria-Theater is a historic theatre and event venue in central Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It stands on Apostelnstraße, north of Neumarkt and close to the Basilica of the Holy Apostles. The venue began life as a cinema-theatre and later developed into a flexible cultural and entertainment space used for concerts, parties, readings, theatre, comedy, film and television productions, and other live events. The building opened on 30 November 1956. Its inaugural programme combined the Austrian film Engagement at Wolfgangsee, directed by Helmut Weiss, with the play Till Eulenspiegel, associated with Gérard Philipe. The original cinema identity remained important during the early decades, although the venue’s programming changed substantially over time. During the 1970s, the cinema screened pornographic films, including productions featuring Ingrid Steeger. A major transition occurred in 1991, when the building stopped operating as a cinema and became an event location. The Gloria subsequently became particularly associated with gay and lesbian parties and with Cologne’s wider nightlife and alternative cultural scenes. Its programme and reputation also expanded through celebrity events, benefits, premieres, concerts, and theatrical productions. Hella von Sinnen held a premiere at the venue in 1995, Hermann Götting became known for popular birthday parties there, and The Kelly Family performed an AIDS benefit. The opening sequence of the 1994 film Der bewegte Mann, starring Til Schweiger, was filmed inside the Gloria, while Walter Bockmayer staged Wer Liebe sucht there in 2001. Since a comprehensive renovation and the installation of modern technical equipment around 2000, the Gloria has operated as a multi-purpose theatre and event location. The venue combines a period atmosphere inspired by the 1950s with contemporary production capabilities. Features such as the neon lettering at the entrance, the ticket kiosk, and red velvet auditorium décor preserve visible reminders of its cinema heritage. The main theatre space can accommodate up to approximately 400 seated guests or 950 standing guests, and the site also includes an 80-seat café. The Gloria hosts concerts, club and community parties, readings, theatrical performances, comedy shows, festival events, and television productions. It has been used for programmes connected with the Cologne Comedy Festival and for television formats such as NightWash. The venue is operated by Gastro-Event GmbH, which employs approximately 50 people at the location. Its historical association with Cologne’s gay and lesbian scene, combined with its central location and adaptable room configuration, has made it a recognizable part of the city’s cultural and nightlife infrastructure. It is best understood not as a consumer-goods brand, but as a venue brand built around live entertainment, event production, and the adaptive reuse of a historic cinema property.

Gloria-Theater occupies a historic site in the centre of Cologne, near the Basilica of the Holy Apostles and north of Neumarkt. The venue opened on 30 November 1956 as a cinema-theatre. Its first programme reflected the hybrid character of the building from the outset: the Austrian film Engagement at Wolfgangsee, directed by Helmut Weiss, was presented alongside the play Till Eulenspiegel with Gérard Philipe. For much of its early history, the Gloria functioned as a cinema. Its programming later included adult films during the 1970s, when it screened pornographic productions, including films featuring Ingrid Steeger. This period was followed by a decisive change in the building’s role. In 1991 it stopped operating as a cinema and was repositioned as an event location. The new format allowed the Gloria to accommodate parties, concerts, theatre, comedy, cultural gatherings, and other live programmes. The venue became especially visible in Cologne’s gay and lesbian nightlife and cultural scene. It hosted parties and social events that contributed to its reputation as a prominent meeting point for that community. Its event history also included appearances and productions involving well-known figures. Hella von Sinnen celebrated a premiere at the Gloria in 1995, and Hermann Götting became associated with popular birthday parties held there. The Kelly Family performed an AIDS benefit at the venue. These uses demonstrated the Gloria’s ability to function both as a nightlife space and as a platform for public cultural and charitable events. The building also developed links with film and television. The opening scene of the 1994 film Der bewegte Mann, starring Til Schweiger, was filmed inside the Gloria. In 2001, Walter Bockmayer presented Wer Liebe sucht at the venue. Such appearances reinforced the building’s identity as a recognizable Cologne interior and as a flexible production location. Around 2000, the Gloria underwent a complete renovation and received updated technical equipment. Rather than erasing its earlier identity, the renovation retained visual references to its cinema past. The entrance’s neon lettering, the ticket kiosk, and red velvet decoration in the auditorium continue to evoke the 1950s. At the same time, the technical upgrade enabled the venue to support contemporary concerts, theatrical productions, comedy shows, parties, broadcasts, and private events. The present configuration includes a main theatre space with capacity for approximately 400 seated guests or 950 standing guests, together with an 80-seat café. This adaptable arrangement supports both stage-oriented performances and standing nightlife formats. The Gloria is used for concerts, readings, theatre and comedy, Cologne Comedy Festival events, parties, and television programmes such as NightWash. Its operator is Gastro-Event GmbH, which employs approximately 50 people at the location. The Gloria-Theater’s historical importance lies in its successive identities: post-war cinema, adult-film venue, community and nightlife location, and modern multi-purpose cultural theatre. Its continuing appeal comes from the combination of central Cologne location, preserved cinema-era design, adaptable capacity, and programming that crosses the boundaries between performing arts, popular entertainment, nightlife, and media production.

1. 2001Walter Bockmayer presents Wer Liebe sucht

   Walter Bockmayer staged Wer Liebe sucht at the Gloria.

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2. 2000Renovation and technical modernization

   A complete renovation and installation of modern technical equipment established the Gloria’s current multi-purpose venue format.

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3. 1995Premiere associated with Hella von Sinnen

   Hella von Sinnen celebrated a premiere at the venue, adding to its profile as a Cologne entertainment location.

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4. 1994Film location for Der bewegte Mann

   The opening scene of Der bewegte Mann, starring Til Schweiger, was filmed inside the Gloria.

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5. 1991Conversion into an event location

   The building ceased to operate as a cinema and began functioning as an event venue, with a particular association with gay and lesbian parties.

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6. 1970Adult-film programming during the cinema era

   During the 1970s, the cinema showed pornographic films, including productions featuring Ingrid Steeger.

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7. 1956Opening as a cinema-theatre

   Gloria-Theater opened on 30 November 1956 with a film-and-theatre programme featuring Engagement at Wolfgangsee and Till Eulenspiegel.

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A centrally located, historically styled Cologne entertainment venue that combines the atmosphere of a 1950s cinema with modern technical facilities and flexible capacity for live culture, nightlife, comedy, media production, and private events.

• Main theatre and event spaceVenue space1956

  The principal Gloria-Theater room is designed for concerts, theatre, comedy, readings, parties, television productions, and other live events. It can accommodate up to approximately 400 guests in a seated configuration or 950 people standing, allowing the venue to switch between stage-focused cultural programming and larger nightlife or concert formats.

• CaféHospitality

  An 80-seat café forms part of the Gloria-Theater complex. It complements the auditorium by providing a smaller hospitality and gathering area for visitors, event participants, and private functions.

• Live entertainment programmePerforming arts and events1991

  The venue’s live programme spans concerts, theatrical productions, comedy, readings, festival appearances, community events, and parties. Its flexible format allows the Gloria to serve both established cultural programmes and one-off events, including benefit performances and premieres.

• Media and production locationFilm and television services1994

  The Gloria’s distinctive interior and adaptable event infrastructure have supported film and television use. The venue was used for the opening scene of Der bewegte Mann and has hosted television programming including NightWash.

• 2000Renovation and modernization for multi-purpose useStrategy

  The venue required updated infrastructure to support a wider range of contemporary performances, parties, broadcasts, and productions.

  What changed. Gloria-Theater underwent a complete renovation and received modern technical equipment while retaining prominent 1950s cinema-era design elements.

  Aftermath. The renovated venue became capable of hosting seated theatre and comedy shows, standing concerts and parties, readings, festivals, and television productions.

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• 1991Shift from cinema to event venueStrategy

  After operating as a cinema for decades, the building ended cinema operations in 1991 amid a change in its programming and commercial role.

  What changed. The Gloria was repositioned as a multi-purpose event location, with a strong early emphasis on gay and lesbian parties and nightlife programming.

  Aftermath. The change broadened the venue beyond film exhibition and established its continuing identity as a live entertainment and event space.

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• 2000Gloria-Theater undergoes renovation and technical modernization

  After a complete renovation and the addition of modern technical equipment, the venue established its current multi-purpose theatre and event format.

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• 1991Gloria-Theater changes from cinema to event location

  The building ceased operating as a cinema and was converted into an event venue, with a growing focus on parties and Cologne’s gay and lesbian cultural scene.

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• 1956Gloria-Theater opens as a cinema-theatre in Cologne

  The venue opened on 30 November 1956 with a programme combining the film Engagement at Wolfgangsee and the play Till Eulenspiegel.

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1. Gloria-Theater (Cologne)
2. Gloria-Theater official website