Le Ciné Roch, à Guémené-sur-Scorff
For a century, the Ciné Roch in Guémené-sur-Scorff has remained at the same address. The building was constructed in 1925 as part of a patronage to host various activities, including film screenings, initially silent. The talking cinema emerged in the 1930s. Originally run by religious authorities, the cinema has been managed by an association since 1973. Today, it still operates in this form, with a half-time employee and around fifty volunteers.
Le Bretagne, à La Guerche-de-Bretagne
Another long-standing Breton cinema still in operation is Le Bretagne – which was not always its name – in La Guerche-de-Bretagne, in Ille-et-Vilaine, with origins dating back to the early 20th century. The construction of the building Le Grand Patronage in 1912-1913 saw the first silent film screenings in 1929 after the acquisition of a projection device by Abbot Dupas. The number of screenings increased rapidly, leading to the cinema being renamed Le Familial. Following a hiatus during World War II, the cinema, still managed by an association, changed its name to Le Bretagne in 1967. Regular renovations have transformed the place over the decades, but the cinema is still located in the same spot as its beginnings.
La Garenne, à Vannes
In 1925, Abbot Guillaume, a drawing teacher, established the cinema La Garenne in the patronage hall of Saint-François in Vannes, according to a heritage database notice. A cinema located in the heart of Vannes, in a preserved area, which is part of the city’s history. The establishment was purchased in 1975 by Soredic, which expanded the number of screens. When Soredic opened the Cinéville Parc Lann multiplex on the outskirts in 2005, La Garenne focused on “Art and Experimental” programming.
Le Katorza, à Quimper
The venue now known as Le Katorza, formerly Les Arcades since 2019, was built at the end of the 1980s on the banks of the Odet River in Quimper. However, cinema had already been present at this exact location in the city in 1922, with the construction of Quimper’s first true cinema, Odet Palace. A modern establishment that also functioned as a concert hall and space for hosting parties and banquets. Sound cinema arrived at Odet Palace in 1931. The venue screened its last film in 1986: “Three Men and a Cradle,” according to salles-cinema.com. It was demolished the following year, and the cinema Les Arcades was built on the same plot.
Le cinéma Arletty, à Saint-Quay-Portrieux
Cinemas in the early 20th century in Brittany were more than just cinemas. In Saint-Quay-Portrieux, a seaside resort in Côtes-d’Armor, this was exemplified by the “cinéma dancing” inaugurated in 1932 in an Art Deco-style building designed by architect Jean Fauny, according to the Friends of Saint-Quay-Portrieux association. The projection room could double as a theater stage, while another part of the building served as a ballroom. Renamed cinema Arletty a year later, the building was listed as a historical monument in 1995 before closing in 2005 due to safety non-compliance. It reopened in 2011 after extensive renovations and now operates as an “Art and Experimental” cinema under public service delegation.
