Éden Théâtre, Historical movie theater in La Ciotat, France

Éden Théâtre is a pale yellow building with a red tiled roof on Boulevard Georges Clemenceau, facing the new port of La Ciotat. Its central section carries a raised triangular pediment inscribed "EDEN THEATRE" between two small sculpted figures, above three arched windows with a balcony and three rectangular doorways. Rows of blue-framed windows line the facade, and a taller left section has a grey double door and a metal-railed balcony.

Éden Théâtre opened as a theatre on 15 June 1889, built by Marseille showman Alfred Seguin, who soon sold it to Raoul Gallaud; Gallaud renamed it Eden Concert. The first paid film screening took place on 21 March 1899 before 250 spectators, with Lumière views presented by the Royal Biographe. In 1907 it became Eden Théâtre Cinéma under Félicien Trewey, and it was inscribed as a monument historique on 12 February 1996.

The name Eden Concert came from Raoul Gallaud, who ran the hall with his wife Adélaïde Soula behind the bar; the couple befriended Antoine Lumière, whose family owned a villa at La Ciotat. On stage passed Fernandel, Yves Montand, Charles Trenet and Édith Piaf, whose accordionist Juel was the Gallauds' son. Since 1982 the association La Ciotat, Berceau du cinéma has held an annual festival of first francophone films here.

The cinema stands at 25 boulevard Georges Clemenceau, on the town quay facing the new port, a short walk from the old harbour. It is owned by the municipality and runs as a cultural centre, so it also draws visitors interested in its history rather than only filmgoers. The hall keeps its original theatre-like interior rather than a modern cinema layout.

The 14 October 1895 screening at the Eden was a family affair: Marie-Anne Chouquet turned the crank of the Cinématographe but could not keep the pace Antoine Lumière demanded, so the evening stayed a private anecdote. The paid shows of 21 and 22 March 1899, for 250 spectators each, are the dates Guinness recognises.