The Grand Rex cinema in Paris was built in 1932. It opened on December 8 of that year as an ambitious Art Deco movie palace on Boulevard Poissonnière.
The project was developed by film producer Jacques Haïk, with architectural work by Auguste Bluysen and John Eberson. Its design drew on the American “atmospheric” cinema concept, using a starry ceiling and theatrical scenery to make audiences feel as if they were watching films outdoors.
The Grand Rex was far more than an ordinary cinema: its opening attracted 3,300 guests, and the auditorium incorporated balconies, decorative vistas, and elaborate effects. Maurice Dufrêne was responsible for important interior decoration associated with the Art Deco style.
A common mix-up is confusing the construction date with later renovations or the date when the venue received its “Grand Rex” name. The building opened as the Rex in 1932 and remains one of Europe’s best-known historic cinemas.