I read in a Spanish newspaper: X cinemas (porn cinemas in Spanish) will cease totally to exist in Barcelona due to the closure of the last porn cinema.
"After exactly 20 years of existence, the already historical X cinemas will definitevely disappear from urban Barcelona this year. Because the last surviving theatre, Cinema Oriente, also known as Sala Roma at Arago Street, will be knocked down in six months time. The massive appearance of videoshops, a great demand for renting porn tapes and the sex shops cabins, in addition to the internet and the broadcasting of porn films on TV, has killed the initial popularity the X cinemas had in the last decade. They were a typical feature during the Spanish transition from dictatorship to democracy in the mid 70s. .Three months ago another historical X cinema, the old Maryland in Urquinaona Square closed its doors. Before that the X cinemas in Bonsucces Street and the mythical Avenida de la Luz X cinema had already dissappeared."

Well, at the end their clients were mostly dirty old men so no surprise that younger audiences were discouraged to enter these premises and were rather happier with renting videotapes. But it is true X cinemas were a typical feature in Barcelona. Now they are going to dissappear, I am happy I went to see a couple of films in they mythical Avenida de la Luz cinema and the Maryland cinema. For historical reasons, of course. It is something younger generations of people will not be able to do never again!


Leo en el periodico: Las salas X desapareceran de BCN con el cierre del ultimo cine porno "Despues de exactamente 20 anios de existencia, la imagen de las ya historicas salas X desaparecera este anio definitivamente del panorama urbano de Barcelona. A la ultima sala X que sobrevive, el antiguo cine Oriente o Sala Roma de la calle de Arago, le quedan solo seis meses de vida. La aparicion masiva de videoclubs, con una gran demanda de alquiler de cintas pornograficas, y de sex shops, ademas de internet y la difusion cada vez mas amplia de peliculas porno en television, han acabado en la ultima decada con la popularidad inicial de las salas X, que con un cierto retraso fueron una de las grandes novedades de la transicion. Hace tres meses se cerro la penultima, otra historica, el viejo cine Maryland en la plaza de Urquinaona, a la que ahora seguira el de la calle de Arago, un local casi anonimo entre Muntaner y Aribau. Antes ya cerraron locales como las salas X de la plaza Bonsucces y la de la desaparecida avenida de la Luz."
No me extrania que lo cierren, porque ultimamente todos los clientes eran viejos verdes. Por supuesto, a la gente mas joven no le hacia ninguna gracia ir a estos cines y verse rodeados de esa clientela tan poco sofisticada. Mejor alquilar el video y verlo tranquilamente en casa. Pero si que es verdad que fueron algo muy tipico de la ciudad, y ahora me alegro de haber ido a un par de sesiones al mitico cine de la Avenida de la Luz y al Maryland. Por razones historicas, por supuesto! Las generaciones mas jovenes de barceloneses nunca sabran lo que era un cine X!


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
16C
UV Index: 2 Minimal
Wind: From the West Southwest at 23 mph
Dew Point: 6C
Humidity: 52%
Visibility: 6 miles
Barometer: 1,006.1 mb