the exhibition about cine zoologie
- A voyage through the history of cinema & animals
- Featuring unique archival materials from the historical cinema
- This exhibition ran during the summer and fall of 2018
During the First World War, the Antwerp zoo was in great difficulty. Animals died due to food shortages and bombing. Fewer and fewer visitors showed up. Bankruptcy was imminent. In 1915, during wartime, the management made a drastic decision. The banquet hall was transformed into a cinema featuring a live orchestra.
It was an unparalleled success. Thanks to the new income, the Antwerp zoo could survive the war years. The cinema also flourished after the war. In 1929, it successfully made the conversion to sound film. In the mid-thirties, the cinema became less and less popular. The competition in the neighbourhood had increased considerably. In 1936, the board of the zoo closed the cinema.
