Lucerna Cinema

Kino Lucerna is a historic single-screen cinema located on Minská Street in the Brno-Žabovřesky district of Brno, Czech Republic. It is the oldest continuously operating cinema in Brno and the second-oldest surviving cinema in the entire Czech Republic, surpassed only by Prague's Lucerna. The cinema first opened its doors on 29 May 1915 under the name Bio Aladin, and has operated under the name Lucerna since 1917. Over more than a century, it has weathered wars, fires, license disputes, nationalization, and the rise of multiplexes, yet it remains an active venue for film screenings. The cinema was built by master mason Bartoloměj Novák on his own land. He and his wife Perpetua applied for the necessary license in October 1913, and after revisions to the project, construction permission was granted in June 1914. The first screening took place in 1915, and the license was definitively granted shortly thereafter. Novák served as manager, with Jiljí Klement as the first projectionist. After Novák fell in the war in 1917, the cinema passed through several hands before being reopened as Lucerna on 22 December 1917 by Kamila Súčková, who had purchased the license and renovated the venue. In the decades that followed, Kino Lucerna changed ownership multiple times. In 1921 it was bought by the Středoškolská menza v Brně (Secondary School Canteen in Brno) for 108,000 Kč, and after renovations it resumed screenings on 24 March 1922. A fire in 1928 led to the projection booth being made fireproof. Sound films were introduced on 14 February 1931, followed by central heating and new air conditioning two years later. During the Nazi Protectorate, the cinema passed from the school association to the State Ministry for Bohemia and Moravia, and after nationalization in 1945 it was administered by Czechoslovak State Film, later by the Brno National Committee's City Cinemas Administration. Modernizations took place in 1963, 1967, and 1981, the last leaving the cinema with 202 seats. In 1983 it became the first cinema in Czechoslovakia to introduce so-called "subscription cycles." Just before the Velvet Revolution, Kino Lucerna was taken over by the Park kultury a oddechu (PKO), but from March 1990 it again fell under the City Cinemas Administration. That body dissolved in 1995, and the cinema was acquired by the Brno-Žabovřesky district, which leases it for operation. It was first leased to Lucernafilm (later renamed Bontonfilm), and finally in 2004 to Biograf, spol. s r. o., owned by Dušan Peprný. After the arrival of multiplexes, Kino Lucerna struggled to compete for audiences, but thanks to digitalization and a symbolic rent from the Brno-Žabovřesky district, it managed to survive. Today it continues to operate as a cinema, preserving its historic character while serving local filmgoers.

Kino Lucerna was built by master mason Bartoloměj Novák on his own land in Brno-Žabovřesky. He and his wife Perpetua applied for a cinema license in October 1913. The project was revised, and construction permission was issued in June 1914, with the license to be granted after final inspection. The inspection occurred one day before the first screening, and the license was definitively granted in June. The cinema opened on 29 May 1915 as Bio Aladin. Novák was the manager, and Jiljí Klement was the first projectionist, but Klement had to be replaced a year later because he lacked the required state examination, and the cinema was briefly closed following a denunciation. In 1917 Novák fell in the war. His wife temporarily took over, but the court appointed JUDr. Jindřich Súček as administrator. Súček's wife Kamila then bought the license, renovated the cinema, and reopened it on 22 December 1917 under the name Lucerna. The license expired in 1920 and was not renewed despite requests. In 1921 the cinema was bought for 108,000 Kč by the "Středoškolská menza v Brně" (Secondary School Canteen in Brno), which was granted a license, with prof. Ing. Bohuslav Holman as administrator. After modifications, the cinema resumed screenings on 24 March 1922. In 1928 a fire broke out; only the projectionist was burned, and no spectators were harmed. The projection booth was subsequently made fireproof. From 14 February 1931, Lucerna began screening sound films. Two years later, central heating and new air conditioning were installed. At the very end of the Protectorate, the cinema passed from the secondary school association to the State Ministry for Bohemia and Moravia. After nationalization in 1945, it was administered by Czechoslovak State Film, and later entrusted to the Brno National Committee, specifically its City Cinemas Administration. Modernization adaptations took place in 1963, 1967, and 1981, the last leaving the cinema with a total of 202 seats. From 1983 it became the first cinema in Czechoslovakia to screen so-called "subscription cycles." Just before the Velvet Revolution, Kino Lucerna was taken over by the Park kultury a oddechu (PKO), but from March 1990 it again belonged to the City Cinemas Administration. That body ceased to exist in 1995, and Lucerna was eventually acquired by the Brno-Žabovřesky district, which leases it for operation. It was first leased to Lucernafilm (later renamed Bontonfilm), and finally in 2004 to the company Biograf, spol. s r. o., owned by Dušan Peprný. After the arrival of multiplexes, Kino Lucerna struggled for audiences, but thanks to digitalization and a symbolic rent from the Brno-Žabovřesky district, it managed to survive.

• 2004

  Leased to Biograf, spol. s r. o. (Dušan Peprný).

• 1995

  City Cinemas Administration dissolves; cinema acquired by Brno-Žabovřesky district.

• 1990

  From March, again under City Cinemas Administration.

• 1983

  First cinema in Czechoslovakia to introduce subscription cycles.

• 1981

  Modernization adaptation; cinema left with 202 seats.

• 1963

  Modernization adaptation.

• 1945

  Nationalized; administered by Czechoslovak State Film.

• 1933

  Central heating and new air conditioning installed.

• 1931

  Sound films introduced on 14 February.

• 1928

  Fire breaks out; projection booth made fireproof.

• 1922

  After modifications, cinema resumes screenings on 24 March.

• 1921

  Cinema bought by Středoškolská menza v Brně for 108,000 Kč.

• 1920

  License expires and is not renewed.

• 1917

  Owner Novák falls in the war; cinema reopens on 22 December as Lucerna under Kamila Súčková.

• 1915

  Cinema opens on 29 May as Bio Aladin.

• 1914

  Construction permission issued in June; final inspection one day before first screening.

• 1913

  Bartoloměj Novák and his wife Perpetua apply for a cinema license.

Historic single-screen neighborhood cinema with the oldest operating tradition in Brno.

• Film screenings

• Subscription cycles

• Digital cinema

1. 1Kino Lucerna (Brno) - Wikipediacs.wikipedia.org
2. 2Lucerna cinema - Wikidatawikidata.org