Cinema Glory

Cinema Glory, known in Russian as Kinoteatr Slava, was a historic cinema in Moscow's Perovo District. The venue was conceived during the Soviet period, with construction beginning in 1954 and completion reported in 1958. Its design was attributed to a group of Soviet architects that included Ivan Zholtovsky, Nikolay Sukoyan and V. Voskresensky. The building became a local architectural and cultural landmark, combining film exhibition with additional leisure facilities. The cinema occupied a three-storey building and historically contained two auditoriums. Reference material describes the venue as having a combined capacity of 440 seats, although another description gives a conflicting aggregate figure; the precise capacity is therefore uncertain. In addition to screening rooms, the premises included a restaurant, café, pool-table rooms and a sushi bar. Its central façade was noted for a composition resembling the principal façade of the former Moscow Racing Society building on Begovaya Street, constructed in 1903–1905. The venue's operating history changed sharply in 2006. The cinema closed and was transferred to tenants under a long-term, 49-year lease arrangement. Reference material also reports that armed individuals seized the premises in what was described as a raider takeover, prompting intervention by Moscow city authorities. The property was subsequently affected by a major fire on 3 February 2007. Unidentified people reportedly started the blaze around midday and left the scene. Approximately 40 fire crews responded, two firefighters were injured, and the fire was extinguished at 16:05. The building was severely damaged and the cinema did not resume operations. Several attempts were made to preserve or reactivate the landmark. Reconstruction in its historic form was planned in 2008, and a 2009 Moscow government decision placed the building under the operational management of the city's cultural-heritage department. The planned reconstruction was initially expected to continue through 2013. In that year, World Invest won a tender for a 49-year lease under Moscow's symbolic-rent restoration program, commonly described as the “one rouble per square metre” scheme. The arrangement was later terminated because the restoration obligations were not fulfilled, and the building remained vacant and deteriorated. The property was offered at auction in October 2017 and sold in November of that year. Camellia LLC became the investor responsible for restoring the building and adapting it into a cultural and leisure centre while retaining a screening function. Public and municipal interest in the site's future continued, including an appeal by Moscow public figure Andrey Smagin to Moscow City Duma deputy Aleksandr Smetanov. A subsequent response from the Moscow Department of Cultural Heritage addressed the restoration issue, and a Perovo District Council meeting in December 2017 brought together municipal officials, the local council leadership and the investor. Available reference material does not establish that the restoration was completed or that Cinema Glory reopened. It is therefore best treated as a defunct cinema brand and historic site rather than an active operating cinema.

Cinema Glory was developed as a Soviet-era cinema in Moscow's Perovo District. Construction began in 1954 and the building was completed in 1958. Its architectural design was prepared by a team associated with Ivan Zholtovsky, Nikolay Sukoyan, V. Voskresensky and other Soviet architects. The completed venue became part of the district's cultural infrastructure and was also recognized as a notable local building. The cinema occupied three floors and contained two auditoriums. Published descriptions differ on the seating total: one account states that the two halls together held 440 seats, while another gives a larger aggregate figure. The reliable conclusion is that the venue had two screening halls, with the exact combined capacity requiring verification. The wider complex contained a restaurant, café, rooms for pool tables and a sushi bar, making it a mixed cinema, hospitality and leisure destination rather than a screening-only facility. Cinema Glory closed in 2006. The premises were handed to tenants under a reported 49-year lease, while separate accounts describe an armed seizure of the property as a raider takeover. The dispute brought the site to the attention of Moscow authorities. On 3 February 2007, the building was set alight by unidentified individuals. The fire began around noon, required the response of approximately 40 fire crews and injured two firefighters. It was declared extinguished at 16:05. The cinema was heavily damaged, reportedly burned to the ground in parts, and never returned to normal operation. Restoration planning followed. A reconstruction in the building's historical form was proposed in 2008. In 2009, a Moscow government decree reportedly placed the property under the operational management of the Department of Cultural Heritage. The planned work was expected to last until 2013, but that schedule was not achieved. World Invest won a 49-year lease tender in 2013 through Moscow's restoration incentive program, under which historic properties could be leased at a nominal rate in exchange for restoration. The lease was terminated because the required restoration commitments were not fulfilled, leaving the building vacant and increasingly deteriorated. The property was placed on the auction market in October 2017 and sold the following month for a reported 32.3 million rubles. Because the figure is a historical transaction amount rather than a current financial metric, it is recorded only in the relevant decision entry with its time context. Camellia LLC was identified as the project investor. Its stated obligations included restoring the historic structure and adapting it into a cultural and recreational centre while preserving a film-screening function. The future of the building also generated local civic activity. In November 2017, public figure Andrey Smagin appealed to Moscow City Duma deputy Aleksandr Smetanov regarding restoration. The Department of Cultural Heritage subsequently responded to an official inquiry. A Perovo District Council meeting on 4 December 2017 included the deputy, district and municipal representatives and the investor. The available material does not confirm completion of the proposed restoration or reopening. Cinema Glory therefore remains documented primarily as a historic, fire-damaged and closed Moscow cinema, with later redevelopment plans rather than an active cinema operation.

• 2017

  Property auctioned for redevelopment

  [1]Cinema Glory (Moscow)en.wikipedia.org

  The property is sold at auction and Camellia LLC is identified as the investor for a proposed cultural and leisure conversion.

• 2013

  Restoration lease awarded and later terminated

  [1]Cinema Glory (Moscow)en.wikipedia.org

  World Invest wins a long-term restoration lease, but the arrangement is later ended after restoration obligations are not fulfilled.

• 2009

  Cultural-heritage management assigned

  [1]Cinema Glory (Moscow)en.wikipedia.org

  A Moscow government decision reportedly places the building under the operational management of the city's cultural-heritage department.

• 2007

  Fire destroys the cinema

  [1]Cinema Glory (Moscow)en.wikipedia.org

  A major arson fire severely damages the building, which remains closed thereafter.

• 2006

  Closure and tenancy transfer

  [1]Cinema Glory (Moscow)en.wikipedia.org

  The cinema closes and is reportedly handed to tenants under a long-term lease.

• 1958

  Cinema completed

  [1]Cinema Glory (Moscow)en.wikipedia.org

  The cinema is completed after a design process involving several Soviet architects.

• 1954

  Construction begins

  [1]Cinema Glory (Moscow)en.wikipedia.org

  Construction of the Soviet-era Cinema Glory building begins in Moscow's Perovo District.

A neighborhood cinema and cultural landmark combining film exhibition with hospitality and leisure facilities. Its later identity was defined more by heritage preservation and redevelopment efforts than by active commercial operations.

• Film exhibition · 1958

  Cinema screenings

  Cinema Glory's core offering was public film exhibition in two auditoriums. The venue functioned as a neighborhood cinema within Moscow's Perovo District and historically provided a local setting for movie screenings. The available material does not identify particular film series, distributors or programming specialties.

• Hospitality

  Restaurant and café facilities

  The cinema complex included restaurant and café spaces that broadened its role beyond film exhibition. These facilities supported the venue's use as a social and leisure destination, although the available references do not provide menus, operating dates or separate brand identities for the food-service operations.

• Entertainment

  Leisure facilities

  Additional premises reportedly included pool-table rooms and a sushi bar. These amenities formed part of the wider entertainment offer associated with the cinema building, but no detailed operating information or independent product branding is documented in the supplied sources.

• 2007

  Arson fire and permanent closure

  Unidentified individuals set fire to the cinema on 3 February 2007. The fire caused extensive destruction, injured two firefighters and was followed by the venue's continuing closure. No perpetrator is identified in the supplied reference.

  Source

• 2006

  Reported armed takeover of the premises

  Reference material describes an armed seizure of Cinema Glory as a raider takeover. The episode reportedly prompted Moscow authorities to intervene in the dispute involving the tenants and the property.

  Source

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• 2017

  Auction sale and cultural-centre conversion planStrategy

  Background

  After the earlier restoration arrangement failed, the property was returned to the auction process.

  Action taken

  The building was sold at auction and Camellia LLC became the investor for a planned restoration and adaptation as a cultural and leisure centre retaining a screening function.

  Aftermath

  Public and municipal discussions about restoration continued, but the supplied material does not confirm that the project was completed or that the cinema reopened.

  Auction sale price. 32.3 million rubles (November 2017)

  Source

• 2013

  World Invest restoration leaseStrategy

  Background

  Moscow sought to use a long-term, symbolic-rent lease model to encourage restoration of the fire-damaged historic property.

  Action taken

  World Invest won a 49-year lease tender and was expected to restore the building.

  Aftermath

  The lease was terminated after the restoration commitments were not completed, and the building remained empty.

  Source

• 2007

  Cinema remains closed after fireOther

  Background

  The February 2007 fire severely damaged the historic cinema building.

  Action taken

  The cinema did not resume operations after the blaze.

  Aftermath

  The property entered a prolonged period of vacancy, proposed restoration and redevelopment.

  Source

1. 1Cinema Glory (Moscow)en.wikipedia.org