Belvárosi Mozi marks 105 years with wreath-laying ceremony
Belvárosi Mozi (Belvárosi Cinema) celebrated its 105th anniversary on Monday with a wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial plaque of founder Imre Lippai.
Descendants of two of the theater’s original shareholders, including Györgyi Baróti and her uncle, attended the event. Baróti recalled that whenever their family buys tickets for a screening, they still say, “We’re going to our cinema.”
City Councilor Dr. József Kozma, chair of the Cultural, Educational, Tourism and Youth Committee, delivered a speech highlighting the importance of the century-old theater, which opened on Sept. 8, 1920, at 11 a.m.
Unlike other cinemas of its time, Belvárosi Mozi was built with a full stage for concerts and theatrical performances. In its early years, silent films were accompanied by piano, and sometimes an actor sat in front of the screen to read or dub the lines.
Belvárosi Mozi, maintained by the Municipality of Szeged, underwent a major upgrade for its centenary five years ago, including the creation of a VR room and modernization of the building’s energy systems. The venue also hosts the prestigious Zsigmond Vilmos International Film Festival, named after the Academy Award-winning cinematographer who was born in Szeged.
The anniversary program concluded with an exclusive guided tour, led by theater director Éva Takács, in the permanent exhibition showcasing the history of Belvárosi Mozi and cinema in Szeged.
Photos: Szilvia Molnar / Szegedify
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