On 29 July 1900, at the summer theatre Orpheus in Ermoupoli in Syros, the first ever organised cinematic performance took place in Greece. Tickets cost one drachma, and audiences were treated to twenty short films, presented in three acts accompanied by phonograph music, making cinema a self‑contained art form for the first time in the country.
What the audience saw — and heard
- A programme of twenty one‑minute shorts, many of American origin, including titles later Greek‑labelled such as American‑Spanish Naval Battles and Couple’s Amorous Play Interrupted by the Appearance of Their Child.
- The films were interspersed with glass slide projections via a magic lantern, showing images of the Greek royal family, dignitaries, Greek towns and villages, and American warships — adding a cultural context and theatrical flair to the screening.
- A programme or poster was printed.
Who was allowed in – and how it was received
- Admission was open to the general public of Ermoupoli, for the then‑modest sum of one drachma — making it accessible to a broad audience. It was neither an elite event nor restricted to dignitaries, signalling a genuinely popular cultural moment.
- Musical accompaniment via phonograph was used to enliven the experience, signalling an early effort to enhance the silent film medium with sound beyond mere projection.
- The event continued for approximately one week, with the programme changed daily, implying the projectionist brought over one hundred films, mostly American, to sustain audience interest across the run.
Cultural significance & legacy
- This 29 July screening marked the first structured and professional film exhibition in Greece, distinguishing it from earlier ad-hoc or itinerant showings elsewhere (such as in Athens or Smyrna in 1896–97).
- It symbolised a turning point where cinema began to be presented as a stand‑alone spectacle, complete with printed programmes, organised scheduling, and enhanced theatrical presentation.
- It paved the way for permanent venues in later years — first in Syros, then Thessaloniki (1903) and Athens — and helped lay the foundations for a burgeoning Greek film culture and industry in the ensuing decades.
Summary table
| Date & Place | 29 July 1900, Theatre Orpheus, Ermoupoli, Syros |
| Admission | 1 drachma per person, open to local public |
| Films shown | 20 one‑minute shorts, mostly American |
| Presentation style | Three-part programme with magic-lantern slides and phonograph music |
| Duration of run | ~1 week, with daily refresh of programme |
| Historical significance | First organised cinematic show in Greece, with printed programme |
This landmark event signalled the arrival of cinema as a theatrical art in Greece — no longer a scientific curiosity, but a curated experience with visual, musical, and cultural resonance. It laid the groundwork for future cinemas and the growth of Greek film as a modern form of mass entertainment.
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Source: The History of Greek cinema/ edweek.gr/ newsbeast.gr
