Lausanne saves historic cinema for film archive
Lausanne’s authorities have agreed to buy the historic 81-year-old Capitole cinema, preserving the city’s last privately-owned picture house.
The 867-seater cinema, which is Switzerland’s largest, will be developed and managed by the Swiss Film Archive.
“I’m preparing my great escape,” the 85-year-old owner Lucienne Schnegg told the Swiss News Agency on Friday at an official signing ceremony in Lausanne. “I’m handing over my baby to competent people.”
The authorities plan to rent the cinema free of charge to the Swiss Film Archive, which will move in ahead of renovation work. As well as screening classic films, the premises will be adapted to hold exhibitions and a library.
Schnegg, who started work at the Capitole on August 1, 1949, is the star of several film documentaries, including one by Jacqueline Veuve entitled, “La petite dame du Capitole” (The little old lady of the Capitole).
The cinema used to welcome up to 1,100 cinema fans, who were looked after by a staff of 25.
“I consider myself a little bit like a lighthouse keeper. It’s here that I’m happiest,” she explained, adding that she planned to reduce her hours but would still “keep an eye on” the new operation.
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