CINEMAS

CINEMAS (film theatres), institutions designed to show moving pictures. They provide film screenings, advertise films, hold film festivals, film premieres, thematic screenings and other similar activities. In 1908, several entrepreneurs opened stationary cinema halls by such names as General Electro‑Biographer, Mirage, Express, and several others. In 1910 the Karimov brothers opened the Yulduz Electro‑Theater which focused on Muslim audiences. Gradually, film theatres appeared in other cities and villages of Bashkortostan. In 1922, such cinemas as Salavat, Akmulla and Chulpan began operating in Ufa. In 1923, a film theatre named Fakel (Torch) was opened. In 1924 in the Svoboda Park (now Lenin Park) a summer film theatre named Idel was established. In early 1925, 25 stationary cinema halls were functioning in the Republic. In 1932, the film theatre Oktyabr (Ufa) was reequipped for showing of sound films, and in 1956, a first widescreen cinema appeared. Then, Pobeda (Victory) was opened in 1948 as well as Rodina (Motherland) in 1953, Iskra (Spark) in 1970 as well as others. Between 2001– 06, reconstruction and reequipment was performed in these film theatres to meet international standards.