The architectural, social and historical aspects of old cinemas, which are going down at a fast rate everywhere including Malta, may be undervalued. But not in the eyes of a German building conservation engineer and movie buff who has embarked on a project to afford them the importance they deserve as an integral part of the country's heritage.

Old cinemas may appear to be vast, unutilised spaces, which could be put to more lucrative commercial use. However, the chairman of the Irish Cinema Heritage Group, Marc Zimmermann, who moved to Malta recently, feels they need to be recorded and preserved before they are totally eradicated.

Combining his profession and interest in historical buildings with his passion for cinema, Mr Zimmermann has embarked on a study of the history of Maltese cinemas, including their social and architectural aspect, and the whole cinema-going experience.

His research ranges from the first presentation of moving pictures in Malta in 1897, held at the ballroom of the President's Palace in Valletta, to the upcoming multiplex development of the Tignè project.

Mr Zimmermann has been compiling data for a year now and plans to publish the results of his survey in a book, following on the heels of the Irish version of the history of cinemas in Dublin, which the Cinema Heritage Group has published.

Mr Zimmermann believes that the time is ripe for a project of the sort. The rise of multiplexes in the early 1990s has meant the demolition of the old structures, which could only compete to a certain extent before they had to close down.

He is being supported by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna, which he recently joined, in his project.

Chairman and CEO Mario Farrugia said the heritage foundation recognised the significance of the project and has been wanting to embark on it for a while but never had the required expertise. It has now jumped to the occasion of assisting in the dissemination of such information, noting that "little by little, an important part of Malta's heritage is disappearing".

Another cinema was pulled down in Ħamrun about six months ago and the old Roxy in Birkirkara is under threat, with a pending application to build a mixed-use development, Mr Zimmermann said.

Some may still be standing but they are no longer in use or have been converted, meaning they have simply been cleaned out, he explained.

Around the world, demolishing a theatre space would rarely be considered. But respect and appreciation for cinemas was lacking, he maintained. There is little awareness worldwide and few historic cinemas are protected structures. In Ireland, about three were demolished every year and it would not be long before no traces of them were left.

The rate of disappearance in Malta was similar, Mr Zimmermann felt. However, the island had the added disadvantage that many of the cinemas of the Golden Age, the 1930s, were hit quite hard. "What is left of this part of our heritage should be recorded and preserved," he said, appealing to the public for their input and for any anecdotes they may have.

Everyone has fond memories of going to the movies and everyone can relate to the topic. The movie-going experience was once a major part of everyday life, he stressed.

His research should take him into another year due to the fact that many details are waiting to be unearthed.

The idea would be to set up an exhibition on the neglected topic to raise more awareness while guided walking tours to the sites of historic cinemas were another possibility, an initiative that has found popularity in Ireland.

Being what he terms a "living" project, another offshoot could be the setting up of a museum of cinema. Mr Zimmermann was looking into its viability, maintaining there were enough exhibits to fill it.

Cinema audiences started dwindling from the 1950s although it was in the late 1970s and early 1980s that it starting dying in Malta, Mr Zimmermann said. By the mid-1980s, it was practically being administered the last rites. Attendance figures worldwide plummeted drastically until 1990 but it has since slowly and steadily experienced a recovery through the introduction of multiplexes, with their choice of movies, improved comfort and sound systems.

Mr Zimmermann plans to contribute to the rediscovery of cinema in his own way...