Toscal Cinema

Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Category: Memory · Subcategory: Sites of memory · Year: 1928 · Authors: Domingo Pisaca Burgada

The El Toscal neighbourhood was an urban area of the city with a wide proliferation of cinemas, all of which have now disappeared.  

The Toscal Cinema was designed by the architect Domingo Pisaca for the businessman José Alberto Benítez. It was located at the corner of San Martín Street and La Rosa, where its main eclectic façade was situated.

It was inaugurated in 1928 and operated as an open-air cinema. Two years later it was roofed in a not very proper way, since, apparently, when it rained the crackling of the drops on the roof could be heard.

Its interior, modest in character, had a trapezoidal plan due to the street slope and access was made from behind the screen. The seating was divided into two well-defined sections: a front part with wooden seats; and a rear part separated by a low wall where continuous benches were arranged. The total capacity reached 463 spectators.

In this venue, variety shows, sporting events and cockfights were also held.

Years later, in 1954, it was completely renovated by the architect Félix Sáenz Marrero, being renamed Real Cinema. With the arrival of democracy, in the 1980s, it specialised in adult films, becoming the first X-rated cinema in the Canary Islands.

The cinema closed its doors permanently in December 1991. Years later it was demolished and today a residential building stands on its site.

28.47223, -16.248918