Throwback Thursday! Photo from the mid-20th century shows what Malta’s Embassy cinemas once looked like
This photo taken by Express Studio during the late 1950s or early 1960’s shows how completely different Embassy Cinemas looked all those decades ago!
The cinema is all lit up as people queue by the ticket booth to go see a new film.
It looks like the film Vagabond King was showing. This makes this an extra special film as Malta’s very own tenor Oreste Kirkop was starring alongside the likes of Rita Moreno and many other Hollywood stars.
Embassy Cinemas were not always a cinema. Their history dates all the way back to the 19th century where the area was the cite of a hotel whose name and ownership changed quite a few times throughout its history.
Unfortunately, during World War II, the hotel suffered the effects of bombing attacks, leaving the building densely damaged.
After the war is when the Embassy Cinema was born becoming an instant hit as soon as it opened!
Although the cinema has undergone major renovations since then it has always been a Valletta staple throughout the years.
Facebook/Francis Xerri via Old Cinemas in Malta