WHS Teatteri Union
WHS Teatteri Union is the oldest still active cinema theater of Helsinki, Finland, founded under the name of Union in 1924. (In principle, Maxim is older, founded in 1909 under the name of Olympia, but the building was completely rebuilt in 1974).
The cinema was continuously active under various owners and names (Regina, Unika, Alfa Romeo and New York) until 2000, when it was closed as a movie theater for over a decade. In 2014 it was reopened by contemporary circus and visual theater group Association WHS ry. Today it concentrates on screening mainly 20th century cinema from original celluloid copies, as well as arranging various happenings of performing arts – a divided function similar to the theater's origins in the 20's.
In 1937 the cinema (located underground, under a road) experienced one of the worst accidents in the Finnish movie history, when a nitrate explosion in the projection booth caused the projector to fly through the wall to the audience section. Luckily the cinema was closed when the incident occured, and there were no casualties. (See also: Imatra (cinema)
In 2017 WHS Teatteri Union was the second most active celluloid film theater in Finland, screening publicly 175 different titles from 35mm, 16mm and Super-8mm film materials.
References[edit]
- Elonet: History of cinemas in Helsinki
- "Voimakas räjähdys autiossa elokuvateatterissa". Helsingin Sanomat 5.1.1937
- List of Finnish celluloid film screenings in 2017
Exteral links[edit]
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