Pathé-Cordeliers
A historic Lyon cinema that operated under many names from 1880 until its closure in 2016, ending as Pathé-Cordeliers.
Last updated October 29, 2026
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Overview
Pathé-Cordeliers was a cinema located at 20 rue Thomassin in the 2nd arrondissement of Lyon, France. Its history stretches back to 1880, when the site opened as the Théâtre Scala-Bouffes, a café-concert and cabaret-theatre founded by Claude Guillet. The original hall, built at the back of a plot and connected to the street by a vestibule, offered around 730 seats across an orchestra level and four galleries. It was enlarged in 1884 and gained a street entrance in 1899. Film screenings began in 1906, and cinema gradually became the dominant programming between the wars. The venue was renovated in 1915 and redesigned in 1933 by architect Félix Brachet, adopting the shortened name La Scala in 1938. After the Second World War, major works by architect-decorator Georges Peynet transformed the site definitively into a cinema, reopening on 24 December 1947 and adopting CinemaScope in the 1950s. In 1974 the UGC chain converted the venue into a multiplex under the name UGC Scala. Following a closure in 1985, independent operator Lucien Adira reopened it in 1987 as Les 7 Nefs. In 1994 an eighth screen was created by integrating the neighbouring cinema Le Paris at 22 rue Thomassin, giving the name Les 8 Nefs. The Pathé group bought the site in July 2006, and after renovation it reopened in 2008 as Pathé Cordeliers with seven screens and about 1,050 seats. In the 2010s annual admissions were around 200,000 to 208,000, a level considered to be declining amid expanded competition in the Lyon area. The cinema closed permanently on 28 February 2016 after the building's owner, ANF Immobilier, declined to renew the lease in favour of a real-estate project; Pathé also cited the obsolescence of some facilities and accessibility and safety compliance constraints in an old building it did not own. At closure it was often described as the oldest cinema still operating in Lyon, after more than a century of operation under various names.
History
The site at 20 rue Thomassin in Lyon's 2nd arrondissement opened on 1 September 1880 as the Théâtre Scala-Bouffes, a café-concert and cabaret-theatre founded by Claude Guillet. The hall, built at the back of a plot and linked to the street by a vestibule, had around 730 seats across an orchestra and four gallery levels. It was enlarged in 1884 and a street opening was created in 1899. During this period the venue hosted revues and operettas and underwent several phases of enlargement. Film screenings began in 1906, prompting a renovation in 1915. Cinema programming became dominant between the wars; the venue adopted the shortened name La Scala in 1938, after a redesign of the hall in 1933 by architect Félix Brachet. Local chronicles and poster records indicate that many silent-film stars appeared in the 1910s and 1920s, including Chaplin, Keaton, Mary Pickford and Rudolph Valentino. After the Second World War, major works led by architect-decorator Georges Peynet definitively transformed the establishment into a cinema. The hall was modernised several times, reopening on 24 December 1947 and adopting CinemaScope in the 1950s. In 1974 the UGC chain converted the whole into a multiplex under the UGC Scala name. After a closure in 1985, independent operator Lucien Adira reopened the complex in 1987 as Les 7 Nefs. In 1994 an eighth screen was created by integrating the neighbouring cinema Le Paris at 22 rue Thomassin, hence the name Les 8 Nefs. The heritage file for the neighbouring building at 18 rue Thomassin confirms structural alterations linked to screens dug in the basement during the UGC-era transformations. The Pathé group bought the site in July 2006; after works, the cinema reopened in 2008 as Pathé Cordeliers with 7 screens and about 1,050 seats. Historically, La Scala had offered a mix of music-hall (revues and operettas) and cinema; posters from the 1910s and 1920s advertise serials and comic shorts (Chaplin) as well as successful silent films (Keaton, Pickford, Valentino). After 1974, UGC Scala accompanied the spread of multiplexes in Lyon. From 2008 to 2016, Pathé Cordeliers complemented the Presqu'île offering (alongside Pathé Bellecour) by showing new releases and mainstream films, despite accessibility and comfort constraints linked to the old building. In the 2010s annual admissions were around 200,000 to 208,000, a level judged to be declining given the multiplied offer in the metropolitan area (large peripheral complexes, renovation of other city-centre sites). At its closure the site was often described as the oldest cinema still operating in Lyon, after more than a century of operation under various names. The cinema ceased activity permanently on 28 February 2016. The building's owner, ANF Immobilier, did not renew the lease, preferring a real-estate project. Pathé also cited the obsolescence of part of the installations and compliance constraints (ERP/accessibility) in an old building whose operator was not the owner. The original hall (Scala-Bouffes) had an Italian-style configuration: an orchestra and four superimposed galleries above (about 730 seats). The documented major transformations were: enlargements in 1884; a street opening in 1899; renovation in 1915; redesign in 1933 by Félix Brachet; post-war restructuring by Georges Peynet (reopening 1947, modernisations 1959); then conversion to multiplexes from 1974 (UGC).
- 2016
Closes permanently on 28 February.
- 2008
Reopens as Pathé Cordeliers with 7 screens and about 1,050 seats.
- 2006
Pathé group buys the site in July.
- 1994
Eighth screen created by integrating neighbouring cinema Le Paris; name becomes Les 8 Nefs.
- 1987
Independent operator Lucien Adira reopens as Les 7 Nefs.
- 1985
Closure.
- 1974
UGC chain converts the venue into a multiplex under the name UGC Scala.
- 1950
Adopts CinemaScope in the 1950s.
- 1947
Reopens on 24 December after post-war transformation by Georges Peynet.
- 1938
Adopts the shortened name La Scala.
Products and positioning
Historic city-centre cinema in Lyon's Presqu'île, complementing Pathé Bellecour before closing in 2016.
Cinema screenings
Multiplex cinema (7 screens, about 1,050 seats)
Controversies
2020
La Scala responds to backlash over New Year's Eve invitations
La Scala faced backlash over invitations that appeared to suggest a clandestine New Year's Eve gathering. In response, La Scala said the invitation text was incorrect, apologized for the misunderstanding, and said any reservations depended on government permission.
Recent events
La Scala responds to backlash over New Year's Eve invitations[3]
Reported:
After receiving backlash over invitations that appeared to suggest a clandestine New Year's Eve gathering, La Scala said the invitation text was incorrect, apologized for the misunderstanding and said any reservations depended on government permission.
LG SIGNATURE launches digital art and culture campaign[4]
Reported:
LG SIGNATURE announced a digital campaign featuring collaborations with art and cultural institutions, including the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, American Ballet Theatre and La Scala.
Sources5 sources
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