Stadt-Kino Horn

Stadt-Kino Horn is a family-run arthouse cinema (Programmkino) located in the small district capital of Horn in the Waldviertel region of Lower Austria. It traces its roots to 1912, when coal merchant Josef Lehr financed the first cinema projector for the Horner Vereinshaus. Since 1924 the Lehr and later Meingast families have continuously operated cinema screenings in Horn, and for more than seven decades the cinema has been housed at Thurnhofgasse 14. The current Meingast family is now in its third generation of running the business. The cinema describes itself as a "cultural local supplier for cineastes" in a town of only about 6,400 inhabitants. It operates five days a week and screens mainly Austrian and European quality films, as well as notable children's and youth films. The venue has two auditoriums equipped with modern digital technology, seating a total of 221 people. Over the decades it has hosted world-famous athletes and musicians, directors, actors, producers, and even Austrian federal presidents and chancellors, and has itself served as a filming location for film, television, and radio productions. Key milestones include the opening of the Horner Stadt-Kino with a 600-seat auditorium in 1954, conversion into a two-screen cinema in 1979, a complete building renovation in 1988 that moved the auditoriums to the first floor, the start as a Programmkino in 2004, the introduction of digital projection technology in 2009, and comfort renovations in 2022 and 2026. The cinema remains a privately owned, independent arthouse cinema deeply rooted in its local community.

The history of cinema in Horn, Lower Austria, begins in 1898, when traveling cinema operators regularly astonished the local population with cinematographic presentations — the first projections of moving images in the Waldviertel. In 1912, coal merchant Josef Lehr financed the first cinema projector for the Horner Vereinshaus at a cost of 600 kronen (roughly equivalent to about 3,000 euros today). From 1924, the Lehr siblings and subsequently the Meingast family began operating cinema screens in the town of Horn. For more than seven decades, the cinema has been located at Thurnhofgasse 14. In 1954, the Horner Stadt-Kino was established at Thurnhofgasse 14, opening with a large auditorium of 600 seats. In 1979, the large hall was converted into a two-screen cinema. A complete renovation of the building followed in 1988: the auditoriums were moved to the first floor, while the ground floor became home to the Cafe Carambol Horn with an attached billiards salon and two shops. In 2004, the cinema began operating as a Programmkino (arthouse cinema), focusing on current films in a classic cinema atmosphere, with a program consisting mainly of Austrian and European quality films as well as notable children's and youth films. In 2009, digital projection technology was introduced, opening up new possibilities in programming. A comfort initiative began in 2022 with the renovation and partial re-seating of auditorium 2 using wide deluxe seats made of synthetic leather. In 2026, the comfort initiative continued with the renovation and complete re-seating of the large auditorium 1 with comfortable velvet cinema seats. Throughout its history, the Stadt-Kino Horn has been more than a cinema: it has hosted world-famous athletes and musicians as guests, provided a stage for directors, actors, musicians, film producers, federal presidents, and federal chancellors, and served as a backdrop for film, television, and radio productions. The Meingast family, now in its third generation, continues to run the cinema with heart and passion, describing itself as a cultural local supplier for cineastes in a small district capital of about 6,400 inhabitants.

• 2026

  Comfort initiative: renovation and complete re-seating of the large auditorium 1 with comfortable velvet cinema seats.

• 2022

  Comfort initiative: renovation and partial re-seating of auditorium 2 with wide deluxe synthetic leather seats.

• 2009

  Introduction of digital projection technology.

• 2004

  The cinema begins operating as a Programmkino (arthouse cinema).

• 1988

  Complete renovation of the building; auditoriums moved to the first floor, ground floor becomes Cafe Carambol Horn with billiards salon and two shops.

• 1979

  The large hall is converted into a two-screen cinema.

• 1954

  The Horner Stadt-Kino opens at Thurnhofgasse 14 with a 600-seat auditorium.

• 1924

  The Lehr siblings begin operating cinema screens in Horn; the Meingast family continues the tradition.

• 1912

  Coal merchant Josef Lehr finances the first cinema projector for the Horner Vereinshaus at a cost of 600 kronen.

• 1898

  Traveling cinema operators begin showing cinematographic presentations in Horn, the first moving image projections in the Waldviertel.

A family-run arthouse cinema and cultural local supplier for cineastes in the Waldviertel, offering current, high-quality films in a cozy, historic atmosphere.

• Arthouse film screenings

  Current films in a cozy cinema atmosphere, mainly Austrian and European quality films.

• Children's and youth films

  Notable children's and youth films as part of the programming.

• Two-screen cinema experience

  Two auditoriums with modern digital technology, seating 221 people total.

1. 1Stadt-Kino Horn Kinoprogrammkino-horn.at
2. 2Über uns: Kino Horn - 100 Jahre Kinotradition im Waldviertel | Niederösterreichkino-horn.at
3. 3Stadt - Kino Horn | Geschichtekino-horn.at
4. 4Stadt-Kino Hornwikidata.org