Le Champo, in full Le Champo – Espace Jacques-Tati, is an arthouse cinema in the Latin Quarter of Paris. It is notable for being a favorite haunt of important figures in French cinema history.
History
Situated on the corner of Rue des Écoles and Rue Champollion, the single-screen cinema opened in 1938, replacing a bookshop. In 1956, a second screen opened in the basement, replacing a cabaret theatre. Called Actua-Champo, this screen was dedicated to news broadcasts and had its own entrance. A single entrance was installed in the late 1970s. Plans to close the Champo in the early 2000s were cancelled following popular opposition.[1]: 30
Le Champo was frequented by well-known French cineastes of the 1960s and 1970s. These included Claude Chabrol, who called it his "second university", and François Truffaut.[1]: 30
Architecture
The cinema is noted for its striking art-deco facade.
Le Champo's upstairs screen uses a highly unusual projection system. The projector is situated above the screen and depends on a periscope and a mirror at the rear of the theatre.[1]: 30
References
^ abcPotignon, Alain (2006). Nos cinémas de quartier : les salles obscures de la ville lumière. Paris: Parigramme. ISBN9782840964568.
