Located in the central Plaza de Callao, the busiest pedestrian square in Spain and the third in Europe, in an Art Deco building built specifically as a cinema in 1926 by Luis Gutiérrez Soto, the Cines Callao movie theatre is managed by Callao City Lights. There are two screens that can seat over 1200 people. Spectacular 3D images are also projected on its exterior screens!
This cinema shows many of the capital's biggest premieres, shows and events. On the front wall there are two huge digital screens (102m2 and 130m2) with the very latest technology, such as Augmented Reality, which can interact with audiences in the square.
The cinema first opened on 11th December 1926, showing the film ‘Luis Candelas, el bandido de Madrid’.
Cines Callao was the first cinema in Spain to show a ‘talkie’ film with sound, ‘The Jazz Singer’, on 13th June 1929, and also the first film shot in Hollywood in Spanish, ‘El cuerpo del delito’, on 21st May 1930. It also premiered the first ever technicolour film in Spain, released in 1935, and the first 3D film in 1953.
With the management of the cinemas by Callao City Lights, they have also become a multi-purpose space that can be customised according to the needs of the event they host.
3D comes to Plaza de Callao
Passers-by in Plaza de Callao can enjoy surprising 3D images that are projected on the exterior screens of the Callao cinema, a visual experience that to date has only been possible in places like Times Square in New York or Piccadilly Circus in London.
This optical illusion is the result of the agreement reached between Callao City Lights and the creative firm, BCN Visuals. The creative pieces projected are adapted to the changing light throughout the day, enabling the spectacular images to be appreciated. Furthermore, the animation on both screens can be different, without the need for them to be synchronised, hence increasing the creative possibilities.
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