Prince Charles Cinema in London / United Kingdom

 

The Prince Charles Cinema is not an average movie theater. It's one of the most famous movie theaters in UK.

The building was built by Richard Costain Limited for Alfred Esdaile and designed by Carl Fisher and Associates, originally functioned as a theatre. Later it was reinvented as a kind of soft porn cinema, and began showing European arthouse movies. By the 1980s it also showed horror films. 

The Prince Charles was taken over by Robins Cinemas in April 1991, and became largely a repertory cinema. It shows a rotating programme of cult, arthouse, and classic films on two screens (300 and 104 seats). It also regularly hosts a sing-a-long version of The Sound of Music, as well as The Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Room. The cinema has achieved a cult status amongst moviegoers and filmmakers.

The canopy above the cinema is not only used for regular advertising for films, also for sports and cult film quotes or other current messages. For instance in 2023 the cinema announced that it had no intention of changing its name after the coronation of Prince Charles.

The postcard is a work by Daniel Battams. In 2023, the cinema was threatened with closure, the artist supported with a new print the PCC.

BBB in Berlin-Kreuzberg / Germany

I found this postcard at the Stadtmuseum in Berlin in autumn 2025. It was an advertising card for the exhibition Berliner Höfe / Berlin Backyards. The photo was made by Ludwig Binder about 1976.

The cinema opened in 1911, and it was very badly damaged in the war. The building was reopened on February 11, 1955, according to the plans of architect Pierre de Born and named in reference to the pre-war cabaret "Berlins Bunte Bühne - BBB". It was no ordinary cinema - in front of the 14-meter-wide Cinemascope screen sprayed the world's largest water organ. And live performances could take place on a 200-m²-stage. But the era of big movie screenings was soon over.

From at least 1975 onwards, films in Turkish were shown here for Turkish-speaking cinema-goers. ATA FILM with Dr. Sakir V. Sözen operated this cinema until its demolition in 1977. 

Franklin Theatre in Franklin, Tennessee / USA

 

I got this postcard via Postcrossing from Whitney. Isn't it a heartwarming postcard?

The Franklin Theatre opened in Franklin near Nashville in 1937. First shown film was The Night Must Fall starring Robert Montgomery and Rosalind Russell.

Over the years, the cinema became an important place for the residents of Franklin, filled with cultural experiences and personal memories. That is, until 2007, when the theater had to close due to high costs and low revenue.

Already in 2008, the Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County launched the Save the Franklin Theatre campaign and begins fundraising and planning to restore the historic landmark. In 2013, the Franklin Theatre reopened its doors and offers different cultural events, among them of corse films. 

The postcard was created by Andy Gregg and Joel Anderson from the Anderson Design Group in 2011 in honor of this special building.