Savoy Filmtheater

The Savoy Filmtheater, also known as Savoy-Kino or simply Das Savoy, is a cinema located at Steindamm 54 in the St. Georg district of Hamburg, Germany. It has been in operation since 1957 and is currently operated by XAVOY Filmtheater GmbH under the ownership of Hans-Joachim Flebbe. The cinema positions itself in the premium cinema segment, offering a curated program that includes current films in their original language, classic movies, and live broadcasts from theatres such as the Royal National Theatre London, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company, as well as opera and concert transmissions. The Savoy originally opened on 14 March 1957 under Herbert Steppan as the most modern cinema in Germany at the time, specifically designed for the Todd-AO widescreen format with a curved screen. It featured a 70 mm projector with 6-channel magnetic sound and a large auditorium seating up to 957 spectators. Over the decades, the cinema underwent several changes in ownership and format. In 1978 it was taken over by Heinz Riech into the Ufa group and was divided into five smaller screens in 1980. After a renovation in 1994, it was reduced to one large hall and a small studio in the basement. Despite these changes, visitor numbers declined, and the UFA ceased operations on 17 December 1998. Subsequently, Harris Patscha took over and showed Indian Hindi films (Bollywood) until 2003, after which the space was used as a storage and sales room for an oriental supermarket. From 2008 to 30 October 2011, it served as a temporary venue for the Metropolis Kino during its renovation. In 2013, Hans-Joachim Flebbe acquired the Savoy, invested 1.2 million euros in renovations, and transformed it into a premium cinema for Hamburg. Gary Rohweder, formerly of the recently closed Streit’s Filmtheater, was brought in as managing director, and the tradition of showing films in original versions was continued. The Savoy reopened on 19 June 2013 with the Australian film The Sapphires. Today, the cinema features a single auditorium with 324 seats, including 99 loge seats in the last four rows and 225 parquet seats in nine rows. It is equipped with a 3D-capable NEC-NC3240S 4K projector with high-frame-rate technology, a 7.1 sound system with Crown Audio DSi 2000 amplifiers delivering a total of 30,000 watts, and since 2015 also an analog Philips DP75 projector capable of screening both 35 mm and 70 mm films. The screen measures 18 × 8 meters. The cinema is barrier-free and offers three wheelchair spaces. In addition to the Savoy, Flebbe operates the ASTOR Film Lounge HafenCity in Hamburg and other premium cinemas in Berlin, Braunschweig, Frankfurt am Main, Hannover, Köln, and München. The Savoy remains a notable cultural venue in Hamburg, celebrated for its architectural history and its commitment to high-quality film presentation.

The Savoy Filmtheater opened on 14 March 1957 under Herbert Steppan as the most modern cinema in Germany at the time. It was specifically designed for the Todd-AO widescreen format, featuring a curved screen measuring 17.4 × 7.6 meters (or 20 × 8.5 meters according to Reißmann) with a 120° arc and a maximum depth of 4.40 meters. The cinema was equipped with a 70 mm projector with 6-channel magnetic sound. The auditorium initially seated 957 or 825 spectators, with the rear rows separable by a curtain. The opening film was the conventional 35 mm film Roter Staub by Irving Rapper; Todd-AO films on 70 mm were shown later, starting with Fred Zinnemann's musical Oklahoma!. After the death of Mike Todd, the head of Todd-AO, no new films in that format were produced, affecting the Savoy's specialized technology. In the late 1960s, Steppan handed over management to Walter Jonigkeit. In 1978, Heinz Riech took over the Savoy into the Ufa group and in 1980 had the cinema divided into five "box cinemas" with 461, 218, 138, 89, and 70 seats. In 1994, the cinema was renovated again, and the small screens were converted back into one large hall and a small studio in the basement. Despite these renovations, visitor numbers declined in the following years, and the surrounding area of Steindamm changed with increasing arcades, sex shops, hourly hotels, and international shops. Finally, UFA gave up the cinema on 17 December 1998. Subsequently, Harris Patscha took over the Savoy and until 2003 showed Indian Hindi films (Bollywood) and occasionally films from Turkish cultural associations. The foyer became a sales room for an oriental supermarket, and the cinema hall was used as a storage area. From 2008 to 30 October 2011, the Savoy was used as a temporary venue for the Metropolis Kino during its renovation. In 2013, Hans-Joachim Flebbe took over the Savoy, had it renovated for 1.2 million euros, and developed it into a premium cinema for Hamburg. Gary Rohweder, from the recently closed Streit’s Filmtheater, was brought in as managing director, and films in original versions were continued. On 19 June 2013, the Savoy reopened with the Australian film The Sapphires. In addition to the Savoy, Flebbe operates the ASTOR Film Lounge HafenCity in Hamburg and other premium cinemas in Berlin, Braunschweig, Frankfurt am Main, Hannover, Köln, and München.

• 2015

  Added analog Philips DP75 projector for 35 mm and 70 mm films.

• 2013

  Hans-Joachim Flebbe acquired and renovated for 1.2 million euros; reopened on 19 June with The Sapphires.

• 2008

  Became temporary venue for Metropolis Kino until 30 October 2011.

• 2003

  Harris Patscha ended Bollywood screenings; space used as storage.

• 1998

  UFA ceased operations on 17 December.

• 1994

  Renovated; small screens converted back to one large hall and a small studio.

• 1980

  Divided into five smaller screens.

• 1978

  Taken over by Heinz Riech into the Ufa group.

• 1960

  First Todd-AO film on 70 mm, Oklahoma!, screened.

• 1960

  Management passed to Walter Jonigkeit in the late 1960s.

• 1957

  Opened on 14 March as the most modern cinema in Germany, designed for Todd-AO format.

Premium cinema

• Cinema screenings

• Original-language films

• Classic films

• Live theatre broadcasts

• Opera and concert broadcasts

1. 1Savoy Filmtheater - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
2. 2Savoy Filmtheater - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Official websitesavoy.premiumkino.de