Kursaal
Kursaal was a historic cinema in Barcelona, operating from 1910 to 1967.
Last updated September 26, 2026
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Overview
Kursaal, also known as Gran Cine Kursaal or Cine Kursaal, was a prominent cinema located at Rambla de Catalunya, 53-55 in Barcelona, Spain. It opened on 6 March 1910 in a building designed by architect Andreu Audet and directed by Josep Balañá, with a seating capacity of 1,500. The cinema was part of Barcelona's early film exhibition scene and underwent several changes in management and ownership over its nearly six-decade history. It closed permanently on 1 August 1967. The Kursaal name was also used for a short-lived renaming to Nacional in 1940, but the original name was quickly restored. The cinema is remembered for hosting the Catalan premiere of the first Spanish sound comedy, Mercedes, in 1932, and for being among the first in the city to screen CinemaScope films in 1954.
History
The site at Rambla de Catalunya, 53-55 in Barcelona had been used for entertainment since the late 19th century. In 1896, La Sala Clavé operated there, and it later housed the ballroom La Universal and the recreational society La Palma d'Or. On 2 August 1900, the Gran Pabellón Cinematográfico Clavé opened, showing a mix of fixed and animated views alongside puppet shows, zarzuelas, and attractions. As cinema grew in popularity, it became the main attraction. The first Kursaal building, designed by architect Andreu Audet, opened on 6 March 1910 under the direction of Josep Balañá. The inaugural programme included films such as El barber de Sevilla, La mentira, La vida peligrosa, El agua y el vino, Mala vista, and La resurrección del romano Richelieu o la conspiración. The cinema had a capacity of 1,500 seats. In June 1911, it closed briefly for a change of management or construction of a new façade, reopening on 1 September 1911. In 1913, it began programming with Sala Argentina. In 1915, it came under the management of the company that ran the Cataluña cinema, but in 1916 it was absorbed again by Josep Balañá. On 31 March 1920, the press announced the closure of the Kursaal. A new building was inaugurated on 10 February 1922 with a programme featuring Cherchez la femme, El divorcio de un millonario, Limonel, Buen juez, and La gran juerga. On 20 September 1930, sound cinema arrived with the premiere of ¡Arriba el telón! by John C. Adolfi. In 1932, the cinema hosted the premiere of the first Spanish sound comedy, the musical Mercedes by Josep Maria Castellví i Marimon, featuring Josep Santpere i Pei and Jaume Planas i Simó with his orchestra Jaume Planas y sus Discos Vivientes. The film included fragments in Catalan and was a great public success. From 1933, the cinema operated only from Thursday to Sunday after being downgraded to a second-run theatre. On 11 June 1939, the venue closed for a major renovation, including a new façade. It reopened on 22 September 1939 with the premiere of Tres diablillos by Henry Koster. On 17 June 1940, it opened under the name Nacional, but this lasted only fourteen days because the owner, Bartomeu Lafarga, requested the restoration of the previous name, citing the Germanic root of the word. Thus, on 1 July 1940, it reopened as Kursaal. On 28 June 1946, Juan Estrada and Francisco Ariza took over direction, starting with the film Aquel viejo molino by Ignasi F. Iquino. On 23 September 1954, the cinema screened its first CinemaScope film, El príncipe valiente by Henry Hathaway. The cinema, operated by the Kursaal company, which also owned Cine Femina, closed on 1 August 1967 with a re-release of The Gunfighter (El pistolero) by Henry King.
- 1967
Closes permanently on 1 August with The Gunfighter.
- 1954
First CinemaScope film screened on 23 September: El príncipe valiente.
- 1946
Juan Estrada and Francisco Ariza take over direction on 28 June.
- 1940
Opens as Nacional on 17 June; reverts to Kursaal on 1 July.
- 1939
Closes 11 June for major renovation; reopens 22 September with Tres diablillos.
- 1933
Downgraded to second-run cinema, operates Thursday to Sunday.
- 1932
Premiere of first Spanish sound comedy, Mercedes.
- 1930
Sound cinema arrives on 20 September with ¡Arriba el telón!.
- 1922
New building inaugurated on 10 February.
- 1920
Closes on 31 March, announced in press.
Products and positioning
A historic cinema and entertainment venue in central Barcelona.
Film screenings
Live performances (early years)
Sources3 sources
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