Mozartkino

Mozartkino is a historic cinema located at Kaigasse 33 in the Old Town of Salzburg, Austria, housed within the premises of the Kasererbräuhaus. It is described as one of the oldest cinemas in the world and is the oldest and last privately run cinema in Salzburg. Today it operates two auditoriums: the large hall with 263 seats and the Römersaal with 136 seats, the latter being a protected heritage space. The cinema's origins trace to December 1905, when Georg Barth entertained audiences with a cinematograph at the Lorieto Cinema Theater. After guest performances and early screenings in the following years, it became a permanent electric theatre under Karl Friedrich Lifka from April 1910. In 1918 it was integrated into the operation of the Altstadthotel Kasererbräu, where it remains today. Over the decades it hosted numerous premieres and became a fixture of Salzburg's cultural life, surviving wartime disruption and undergoing several renovations and expansions, including a major rebuild in 1987 that uncovered remains of a Roman Asklepios temple, now visible in the Römersaal. Programming at Mozartkino combines mainstream and arthouse cinema with special series. Regular offerings include the Klassiker Matinee, held every last Sunday of the month at 11:30, presenting film classics from timeless masterpieces to modern international classics, sometimes in original version with German subtitles and combinable with a Cine Lunch. The cinema also hosts themed events such as Mozartwoche 2027, featuring silent film classics accompanied by live music from the Austrian acoustic trio folksmilch, as well as ballet and opera screenings, school performances, and private cinema rentals for celebrations and business events with customized film and catering packages. The venue is privately owned, with Kurt Giebisch as owner and Alexander Krammer as managing director. In 2014, with support from the State of Salzburg, it was equipped with two digital projectors. The cinema continues to operate as a cultural landmark, offering online ticketing and the Cineamo app for program and ticket access.

The history of Mozartkino begins in 1905, when Georg Barth entertained audiences with a cinematograph at the Lorieto Cinema Theater from 6 to 18 December. After a guest performance by The Royal Biograph in October 1907, visitors were shown moving pictures in a hall for up to 230 people in December 1907. Franz Xaver Fried presented the Salzburger Chronik with his "Original-Elektro-Biograph Riesen-Kinematograph"; over 2.5 hours, 20 different numbers were shown, projected onto a 42 m² screen. From June 1908 various screenings were offered, with the program changing every 5 days. In August 1909 the venue was upgraded to an Elektra Biograph projecting onto a 30 m² area; at that time a performance cost 1 krone for a box seat and 40–80 heller for parquet seats. From 1 April 1910, after a renovation of the hall, the Linz-born Karl Friedrich Lifka ran a permanent electric theatre, striving to maintain the first-class performances and world reputation of the Grand Cine Phono Theatre Electrique. In 1918 the Mozartkino was integrated into the operation of the Altstadthotel Kasererbräu, and the German feature film "Katharina Karaschkin" was shown. In 1937 the Austrian feature film "Der Pfarrer von Kirchfeld" was presented, which with around 55,000 visitors became the most-visited film in the cinema's history up to that point. After bombardments during World War II, the cinema moved in 1948 to the area where Café Sezession and the hotel's breakfast room are now located; capacity was expanded to 600 seats. Equipped with renewed sound technology, the Zarah Leander film "Gabriela" was shown on 23 December 1950. Also very successful were screenings of "Don Camillo und Peppone", shown from January 1953. After the premiere of "Sissi" in 1955, the second part of the trilogy, "Sissi – Die junge Kaiserin", had its premiere at the Mozartkino in 1956. Romy Schneider was personally present at the premiere of her film and spent the night in room 323 of the hotel Kasererbraeu; the hand-painted bed in which she slept still stands unchanged in the room at the end of the corridor. "Sissi" with about 50,000 visitors became the second most successful film in the cinema's history. At the premiere of the documentary "Traumland der Sehnsucht" by Salzburg director Wolfgang Mueller-Sehn in 1961, Greek Queen Friederike, together with her daughter Sophia and Juan Carlos (the future King and Queen of Spain), were guests at the Mozartkino; pictures of this, like those of other prominent visitors, hang in the cinema's lobby. On 5 December 1962 Luis Trenker celebrated the premiere of his homeland and mountain film "Sein bester Freund" in the premises; like Romy Schneider, Trenker was personally present and also stayed at Hotel Kasererbraeu. In 1980 the cinema was expanded with two new halls and run as a buffet cinema; the then Café Kuckucksnest was integrated into the cinema area. From April to December 1987 the largest renovation to date took place. During construction of the modern cinema center, remains of historic walls of a Roman Asklepios temple from the second century AD were discovered, which, due to requirements of the heritage protection office, remain visible on the left side of the Römersaal to this day. During these excavations in the area of the Roman temple, a well was recovered and is exhibited in the Museum Carolino Augusteum. In 1988 the comedy "A Fish Called Wanda" started, becoming the third most successful film in the cinema's history with around 15,000 visitors. In 2007 and 2008 there was another renovation: the cinema and hotel entrance were merged to allow more economical and orderly operation; the lobby now consists of the hotel reception, ticket sales, and a bar. With support from the State of Salzburg, the Mozartkino was equipped with two digital projectors in 2014, celebrated on 7 November 2014 by Salzburg Governor Wilfried Haslauer, Mozartkino owner Kurt Giebisch, and Mozartkino managing director Alexander Krammer together. In February 2015, together with Josef Hader, the premiere of the Austrian-German crime film "Das ewige Leben" was celebrated.

• 2015

  In February, premiere of "Das ewige Leben" with Josef Hader.

• 2014

  With support from the State of Salzburg, the cinema is equipped with two digital projectors, celebrated on 7 November.

• 2008

  Renovation completed; lobby now includes hotel reception, ticket sales, and a bar.

• 2007

  Renovation begins; cinema and hotel entrance are merged.

• 1988

  "A Fish Called Wanda" becomes the third most successful film with around 15,000 visitors.

• 1987

  Largest renovation from April to December; remains of a Roman Asklepios temple from the 2nd century AD are discovered and remain visible in the Römersaal.

• 1980

  The cinema is expanded with two new halls and run as a buffet cinema; Café Kuckucksnest is integrated.

• 1962

  On 5 December, Luis Trenker premieres his film "Sein bester Freund" and stays at Hotel Kasererbraeu.

• 1961

  Premiere of documentary "Traumland der Sehnsucht" with Greek Queen Friederike, Sophia, and Juan Carlos as guests.

• 1956

  Premiere of "Sissi – Die junge Kaiserin" with Romy Schneider present; becomes second most successful film with about 50,000 visitors.

• 1955

  Premiere of "Sissi".

• 1953

  From January, "Don Camillo und Peppone" is shown and becomes very successful.

• 1950

  On 23 December, the Zarah Leander film "Gabriela" is shown with renewed sound technology.

• 1948

  After WWII bombardments, the cinema moves to the area of today's Café Sezession and breakfast room; capacity expanded to 600 seats.

• 1937

  The Austrian feature film "Der Pfarrer von Kirchfeld" becomes the most-visited film with around 55,000 visitors.

• 1918

  The Mozartkino is integrated into the operation of the Altstadthotel Kasererbräu; the German feature film "Katharina Karaschkin" is shown.

• 1910

  From 1 April, after renovation, Karl Friedrich Lifka runs a permanent electric theatre.

• 1909

  In August, the venue is upgraded to an Elektra Biograph projecting onto a 30 m² area.

• 1908

  From June, various screenings are offered with the program changing every 5 days.

• 1907

  After a guest performance by The Royal Biograph in October, moving pictures are shown in a hall for up to 230 people in December.

• 1905

  Georg Barth entertains audiences with a cinematograph at the Lorieto Cinema Theater from 6 to 18 December.

Historic arthouse cinema and cultural venue in Salzburg's Old Town, combining classic film programming with live events and private rentals.

• Klassiker Matinee

  Monthly classic film series on the last Sunday at 11:30, combinable with Cine Lunch.

• Mozartwoche 2027

  Silent film classics with live music by Austrian acoustic trio folksmilch.

• Mozartkino goes Ballet & Opera

  Screenings of ballet and opera performances.

• Private cinema rental

  Customized film and catering packages for private or business events.

• School performances

  Special screenings for schools.

1. 1Mozartkino official websitemozartkino.at
2. 2Aktuelles – Mozartkinomozartkino.at
3. 3Mozartkino – Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Mozartkino – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org