{{Short description|Former cinema in Peru}} {{Infobox building | name = Cine Tauro | image = 2017 Lima - Cine Tauro - Washington, Cercado 15001.jpg | image_caption = The building in 2017 | architectural_style = [[Modern architecture|Modern]] | address = | years_built = 1957–1959 | inauguration_date = {{dts|1960|04|05}} | closing_date = | architect = [[Walter Weberhofer]] }} The '''Cine Tauro''' is a defunct [[movie theatre]] built in 1959 by [[Peru]]vian [[architect]] [[Walter Weberhofer]]. The building is located in the [[Lima District|district of Lima]]. Since the 1990s, the theatre has started showing [[pornographic film]]s and has been temporarily closed on several occasions.
==History== The original project was called the '''Cine Washington''' after the street it was located in. Construction began in 1957 and ended in 1959.<ref name=ArchDaily>{{Cite web |url=https://www.archdaily.pe/pe/900100/clasicos-de-arquitectura-cine-tauro-walter-weberhofer |title=Clásicos de Arquitectura: Cine Tauro / Walter Weberhofer |date=2018-10-17 |website=ArchDaily |last=Bayona |first=Delia}}</ref> It opened on April 5, 1960, with the screening of the film ''[[Pillow Talk]]'', starring [[Rock Hudson]] and [[Doris Day]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Entre la nostalgia y el abandono, el ayer y hoy de los emblemáticos cines de antaño en Lima |url=https://andina.pe/agencia/galeria-entre-nostalgia-y-abandono-ayer-y-hoy-los-emblematicos-cines-antano-lima-19378.aspx |date=2023-07-09 |work=[[Andina (news agency)|Andina]]}}</ref> During the first two decades of operation, the establishment was one of the most modern and popular cinemas in the capital. The capacity of more than 1,000 seats made it unprofitable, so it was thought to divide it into small rooms, but it turned out to be impossible. It went into decline with the [[Lost Decade (Peru)|economic crisis of the 1980s]].<ref name=ArchDaily/> However, it was used by artists of the time as a concert hall.<ref name=LR2023>{{Cite news |title=¿Qué pasó con cine Tauro, sala que proyectaba películas para adultos y terminó como prostíbulo? |url=https://larepublica.pe/datos-lr/respuestas/2022/08/27/cine-tauro-que-paso-con-la-sala-que-proyectaba-peliculas-para-adultos-y-termino-como-prostibulo-historia-arquitectura-evat |date=2023-05-01 |work=[[La República]]}}</ref>
In the 1990s it became an [[Adult movie theatre|adult film exhibition hall]], until 2004 when it was temporarily closed.<ref name=ArchDaily/> In 2012, the investigative journalistic television program ''[[Panamericana Televisión|Panorama]]'' aired a report on [[male prostitution]] that took place in the cinema.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Ex cine Tauro: de la gloria de los 60 a la decadencia por la prostitución y las fiestas ilegales |url=https://panamericana.pe/buenosdiasperu/locales/309005-ex-cine-tauro-gloria-60-decadencia-prostitucion-fiestas-ilegales |date=2020-12-04 |work=[[Panamericana Televisión]]}}</ref> In 2019 it was closed again, and a fine was imposed on the company that owned the business.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Clausuran cine Tauro por realizar "actos contra el pudor" y clientes huyeron del local |url=https://www.infobae.com/america/peru/2022/02/22/cine-tauro-clausuran-cine-por-realizar-actos-contra-el-pudor-y-clientes-huyen-del-lugar/ |date=2022-02-21 |work=[[Infobae]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Cercado de Lima: Clausuran cine para adultos 'Tauro' |url=https://diariocorreo.pe/edicion/lima/cercado-de-lima-clausuran-cine-para-adultos-tauro-880339/ |date=2019-04-07 |work=[[Diario Correo]]}}</ref> The following year, in 2020, during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the police intervened in the premises due to the celebration of a party prohibited by the [[COVID-19 lockdowns|confinement]] decreed by the [[Peruvian government]]. In February 2022, after complaints of holding illegal parties,<ref>{{Cite news |title=El cine Tauro, la joya arquitectónica de Lima que se convirtió en prostíbulo |url=https://www.infobae.com/america/peru/2022/08/20/cine-tauro-la-joya-arquitectonica-de-lima-convertida-en-prostibulo/ |date=2022-08-20 |work=[[Infobae]]}}</ref> and because female and male prostitution activity was detected, a new closure was carried out by agents of the [[Municipality of Lima]].<ref name=LR2023/>
Subsequently, some transnational companies attempted to recover it, but the environment was not suitable for the cultural or office rental projects that were planned.<ref name=ArchDaily/>
==Overview== Designed in a modern style by Peruvian architect [[Walter Weberhofer]], the original project envisioned a mixed complex comprising a ten-story office building and an entertainment center with a [[movie theatre]]. Of the original project, only three commercial floors plus the basement were finally built. The movie theatre has a [[façade]] with large windows that faces a triangular plaza at the intersection of Washington and Delgado streets. The neon sign with the name of the establishment was also emblematic.<ref name=ArchDaily/>
The interior of the cinema has a covered hall that distributes the space, with oval columns that facilitate transit to the box office area and entrance to the room, which was done through the main level or through the curved staircase to connect with the stalls and [[mezzanine]]. Its capacity is 720 seats on the ground floor, and 560 seats on the mezzanine.<ref name=ArchDaily/> The projector used supported 70mm films.<ref name=LR2023/>
==See also== *[[Cinema of Peru]]
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Lima landmarks}}
{{coord|-12.0506|-77.0401|type:landmark_region:PE|display=title}}
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Lima]] [[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1959]] [[Category:1959 in Peru]] [[Category:Prostitution in Peru]] [[Category:Lima District]] [[Category:Cinemas in Peru]]