Cine Marrocos, Movie theater in downtown São Paulo, Brazil.
Cine Marrocos was a movie theater on the ground floor of a 12-story office building at Conselheiro Crispiniano Street, featuring marble staircases and a central fountain. The main hall seated approximately 1,870 viewers with leather seats and air conditioning before being divided into two separate screening rooms in 1972.
The theater opened on January 25, 1951, with a midnight screening of Black Magic starring Orson Welles and operated for over 40 years until closure in 1994. Between these dates, it hosted Brazil's first international film festival in 1954 in partnership with the Museum of Modern Art.
The venue served as a gathering place for film festivals and international events that brought together people from different backgrounds. Visitors from across the city came to experience cinema and participate in cultural moments that shaped how communities connected in São Paulo.
The cinema was located in downtown São Paulo where it was easily accessible on foot, though parking options were limited in the surrounding area. Visitors needed to plan for the narrow historical corridors and check opening hours in advance.
After closure, the building became shelter for homeless individuals, African refugees, and Latin American immigrants seeking housing. A 2021 documentary captured the personal stories of these residents, revealing how the former entertainment venue transformed into a home for people on the margins of society.
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