Exploring Amsterdam’s Iconic Theater Tuschinski: A Century of Cinema and History

In 1921, an ornate cinema and live performance space called the Theater Tuschinski that was one part Art Deco, one part Art Nouveau, and one part gothic cathedral opened its doors in Amsterdam. The Theater Tuschinski was founded by a Polish tailor named Abraham Tuschinski who stopped in the Netherlands when he was in the process of moving to the United States and decided to stay and open a series of theaters.

The Theater Tuschinski thrived until the German occupation of Holland in 1940, when Abraham Tuschinski and other members of his Jewish family were deported to Auschwitz. The Theater Tuschinski briefly became the Tivoli Theater, until the liberation of Holland in 1945 when the Tuschinski name once again graced the exterior. Sadly, Abraham Tuschinski and his family perished in 1942 due to Nazi persecution.

In the wake of World War II, the Theater Tuschinski served as a music venue that hosted acts such as Dizzy Gillespie, Fats Domino, and Wizard of Oz star Judy Garland. After several massive renovations, the Pathe Koninklijk Theater Tuschinski—as the cinema is currently known—is an active theater that shows classic films and new releases. For a small fee, visitors can watch a movie in one of the world’s most iconic cinemas.

Visitors can roam the dream-like interior of the Theater Tuschinski and view vibrant murals, patterned carpet that looks as though it belongs in Stanley Kubrick’s film The Shining, and light fixtures adorned with delicate fringe. The striking century-old interior of the Theater Tuschinski is just as enchanting as any imaginary world that appears on screen.

Abraham Tuschinski instructed the designers of the Theater Tuschinski to create a space that made theatergoers feel as though they were stepping into an illusion. The Theater Tuschinski is just as stately and mysterious today as it was in 1921.

Address:
Reguliersbreestraat 26-34
Amsterdam, 1017 CN
Netherlands