The old Luxor theater in Rotterdam Netherlands Holland with Tram in the foreground in the evening. by Bart Ros

The old Luxor theater in Rotterdam Netherlands Holland with Tram in the foreground in the evening.

Old Luxor Theatre
The Old Luxor, with its approximately 900 seats, belongs to the category of 'medium-sized theaters'. It offers a stage for cabaret, theater concerts, smaller musical productions, theater, youth & family performances.

On December 22, 1917, entrepreneurs Theo Goeman and Carel van Zwanenburg opened the (old) Luxor Theater on Kruiskade. This made the theater the 17th cinema theater in the Maasstad. With 1180 seats, it was then the largest cinema hall in the Netherlands.[1] Luxor was designed by architect P. Vermaas. Within 10 years the theater came into the hands of the German Universal Film AG. The new owners rebuilt thoroughly: a balcony with 500 seats, a new wider facade with characteristic light tower and large letters with Luxor Palast.[1] During the war, film screenings continued until 1944. It is one of the few buildings that remained intact in the bombing of Rotterdam. Shortly after liberation, the building was somewhat refurbished and regularly hosted variety and drama performances in addition to films. In the 1950s and early 1960s, the Luxor saw big names and productions: the first one-man show by Toon Hermans, Édith Piaf, Porgy and Bess, My Fair Lady, and Heerlijk duurt het langst.[1]

In 1972, another thorough renovation began under the direction of Carel Witz,[1] leaving almost only the exterior standing: no more balcony, but in it