Cinemas in pre-war Cottonera recalled

Marc Zimmermann, chairman of the Cinema Heritage Group, interviewed by The Sunday Times (July 31), described the Rialto Cinema in Cospicua, now a scheduled grade two building, as “unique for being the only Art Deco cinema in Malta”.

Issue No. 50 (Easter 2011) of Treasures of Malta regaled us with a splendid write-up on Malta’s cinemas in Valletta and Sliema before World War One. The eminent Judge Giovanni Bonello, a prolific writer and contributor to most things Maltese pertaining to art, culture and history, narrated in fascinating detail his researches about these early places of entertainment.

Before World War II, Cottonera – Bormla, Birgu, L-Isla – was a hub of commerce, skilled workers, artisans, politicians, notaries, lawyers, doctors and photographers. Bormla (Cospicua) boasted of a post office and health services besides having four markets: Is-Suq il-Qadim (Paolino Vassallo Square), is-Suq il-Ġdid, which included a fish market (Gavino Gulia Square), is-Suq ta’ Fuq San Pawl (near L-Isla) and Bonnici Market Place (Sta Margerita area).

Entertainment was not lacking; there were three cinemas, the Rialto (owned by the Said family, Ġużeppi, Romeo and Rafel, Tal-Vapura), the Windsor and the Rio. Dancing in costumes at the cinema halls was popular during Carnival.

Collectors of Melitensia may have some old photographs of Bormla’s cinemas which they would like to share with readers. Hopefully, a knowledgeable person could shed more information through a short supplementary article, possibly illustrated.