Cines Nilo y Mayo, Movie theater in Santiago, Chile
Cines Nilo y Mayo was a cinema complex with two underground screening rooms, where the Nilo theater occupied the first level and the Mayo theater sat on the second level. The facility held approximately 1000 seats combined and maintained this layout throughout its operational years.
The theater opened on May 30, 1958, marking its debut with a Soviet film festival, and operated for more than 60 years. It finally closed its doors in June 2019.
The entrance displayed a mural titled 'Terremoto' by artist Nemesio Antúnez that became a protected National Monument. This artwork reflected how artists engaged with the natural forces that have shaped Santiago's history.
The cinema was located underground, so orientation depended on signage and awareness of the two-level layout. Visitors should plan extra time to navigate the stairs and locate the correct screening room.
From the 1980s onward, the programming shifted heavily toward martial arts films and Asian action movies that attracted devoted fans. The content later pivoted in entirely different directions, reflecting how viewer interests evolved over the decades.
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