Titania-Palast
A historic Berlin cinema and concert venue, opened in 1928 and later relaunched as the Cineplex Titania multiplex.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Titania-Palast is a historic cinema and former concert and theatre venue in the Steglitz district of Berlin, Germany. The building opened on 26 January 1928 and became notable for its New Objectivity architecture, Art Deco interiors and prominent illuminated tower. Designed by Ernst Schöffler, Carlo Schlönbach and Carl Jacobi, it combined a large film and performance auditorium with facilities suited to orchestral concerts, theatre presentations and social events. Its principal auditorium originally accommodated 1,924 people, while the venue also included space for an orchestra of up to 60 musicians and a café with seating for approximately 350. The venue opened during the transition from silent cinema to sound film. Its first screening was the silent film The Story of a Little Parisian, starring Carmen Boni. It subsequently became part of Berlin's early sound-film history: The Singing Fool, starring Al Jolson, was presented there on 29 October 1929, and The Royal Box, starring Alexander Moissi, followed on 21 November 1929 as the first German-language sound film shown at the venue. These screenings helped establish Titania-Palast as a significant large-scale cinema in interwar Berlin. Its role extended beyond commercial film exhibition. The building survived the Second World War comparatively undamaged and became an important postwar cultural venue. The Berlin Philharmonic, conducted by Leo Borchard, gave its first concert after the war there on 26 May 1945. In December 1948, the founding ceremony of the Free University of Berlin took place at the venue. Performers associated with its programme over the following decades included Josephine Baker, Marlene Dietrich, Louis Armstrong, Maurice Chevalier and Yehudi Menuhin. The original cinema operation ended in December 1965. From 1966, sections of the building were leased to retail businesses, changing the site's commercial function while leaving its architectural and historical significance intact. The building is recognized by Berlin as a protected cultural monument. A complete renovation led to its reopening in 1995 as Cineplex Titania, initially with five screens and 505 seats. Later alterations expanded the operation to seven screens and 1,223 seats. The site's history therefore combines landmark architecture, early sound cinema, postwar music and civic ceremonies with a later multiplex model. The venue remains associated with film exhibition in Berlin, although portions of the building have also been used for retail and other commercial purposes.
History
Titania-Palast was conceived as a major cinema and performance building in Berlin's Steglitz district during the late 1920s. Architects Ernst Schöffler, Carlo Schlönbach and Carl Jacobi designed the structure in the New Objectivity style, incorporating a conspicuous 30-metre illuminated tower and an expansive Art Deco foyer. The building was planned for multiple forms of entertainment rather than film alone. Its principal auditorium had 1,924 seats, could accommodate an orchestra of up to 60 musicians and was supported by a café with approximately 350 seats. The venue opened on 26 January 1928. Its inaugural film was the silent production The Story of a Little Parisian, starring Carmen Boni. Within two years, technological changes in cinema had made sound film a defining part of the venue's programme. The Singing Fool, featuring Al Jolson, was screened on 29 October 1929. On 21 November 1929, The Royal Box, starring Alexander Moissi, became the first German-language sound film presented there. These events placed Titania-Palast among Berlin's notable early sound cinemas. During the years that followed, Titania-Palast also functioned as a concert and theatrical venue. Its large auditorium and orchestra facilities made it suitable for prominent musical performances. The building survived the Second World War relatively undamaged. Its postwar cultural importance was especially pronounced: the Berlin Philharmonic, under Leo Borchard, held its first postwar concert at Titania-Palast on 26 May 1945. The venue later hosted the founding ceremony of the Free University of Berlin in December 1948. Its programme and guest list included internationally known performers such as Josephine Baker in 1950, Marlene Dietrich in 1960, Louis Armstrong, Maurice Chevalier and Yehudi Menuhin. The original cinema operation closed in December 1965. Beginning in 1966, parts of the building were leased to retail businesses, marking a period in which the site no longer functioned solely as a cinema. Despite this change, the structure retained its architectural significance and was designated a Kulturdenkmal, or protected cultural monument, by Berlin. A comprehensive renovation was completed for a 1995 reopening under the name Cineplex Titania. The modernized venue initially contained five screens and 505 seats. Later renovation work expanded the complex to seven screens with a total capacity of 1,223 seats. This transition preserved the site's connection with cinema while adapting its operating model to the multiplex format. Titania-Palast consequently represents several successive phases of Berlin's cultural and commercial history: interwar cinema design, the early sound-film era, postwar concert and civic use, a period of retail occupation, and contemporary multiplex exhibition within a protected historic building.
- 1995
Reopens as Cineplex Titania
[1]Following a complete renovation, the building reopened as a five-screen Cineplex venue with 505 seats.
- 1966
Retail use begins in parts of the building
[1]Sections of the building were leased to retail shops after the cinema closure.
- 1965
Original cinema closes
[1]The original cinema operation ended in December.
- 1948
Free University of Berlin founding ceremony
[1]The founding ceremony of the Free University of Berlin took place at the venue in December.
- 1945
Berlin Philharmonic's first postwar concert
[1]The Berlin Philharmonic, conducted by Leo Borchard, gave its first concert after the Second World War at Titania-Palast on 26 May.
- 1929
Early sound-film screenings
[1]The venue screened The Singing Fool on 29 October and The Royal Box on 21 November, the latter identified as the first German-language sound film shown there.
- 1928
Titania-Palast opens
[1]The cinema and performance venue opened in Steglitz on 26 January with a 1,924-seat auditorium, orchestra facilities and a large café.
Later multiplex expansion
[1]Subsequent renovation expanded the cinema to seven screens and 1,223 seats; the source does not specify the year.
Products and positioning
A heritage Berlin cinema venue combining protected New Objectivity and Art Deco architecture with contemporary multiplex film exhibition and a legacy of major concerts and civic events.
Cinema and film exhibition · 1928
Titania-Palast cinema
The original operation was a large-format Berlin cinema that also supported theatre and live performance. Its substantial auditorium, orchestra pit and foyer allowed it to present silent films, early sound films, cultural programmes and major public events. The venue's opening-era capacity was 1,924 seats.
Multiplex cinema · 1995
Cineplex Titania
The post-renovation cinema operation reopened in 1995 under the Cineplex Titania name. It began with five screens and 505 seats and was later expanded to seven screens with 1,223 seats, adapting the historic building for contemporary multiplex exhibition.
Live entertainment and civic events · 1928
Concert and event venue
Titania-Palast historically offered a large auditorium suitable for orchestral concerts, theatrical presentations and civic ceremonies. Its documented events include performances by internationally known artists and the first postwar concert of the Berlin Philharmonic.
Sources1 sources
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