Sad state of Almeria’s cinemas

CINEMA-GOING in Almeria is in decline, according to an expert who works in the province.

In an interview with a Spanish newspaper, Diego Rodriguez said that small independent cinemas are no longer profitable year-round, he explained that downloading movies on the internet is easy, along with the 100s of TV and sports channels available to young people.

Rodriguez, who has more than 30 years’ experience in the cinema industry described how the small local cinemas had fallen into disrepair or closed down.

Turre used to be the home of one of the area’s most popular cinemas but the building was torn down in the late 1980s.

A similar fate befell the movie theatre in Vera.

A new theatre opened in Cuevas de Almanzora but only lasted a year.

Garrucha still has a cinema but the facade is deteriorating along with the signage and interior.

Cinema-goers now have to travel as far as Aguilas, Lorca or Roquetas de Mar to see the latest movies in large multiplex theatres.

Rodriguez concluded by saying since the cinematic revival of the province with movies and TV shows being filmed in the area, it is ironic that ‘Almeria, the land of cinema’ actually has very few cinemas still standing.