Only a part of the façade that used to hold the entrance doors still remains to this day as a reminder of this Teatro Circo.
The Tamberlick, designed by the architect Domingo Rodríguez Sesmero, had thirty meters of main façade and 45 of depth, with stage and a central patio of thirteen meters in diameter, around which five rows of concentric banks were distributed. It was a multipurpose venue, suitable for theater and circus sessions, since it had stables and its initial capacity was eight hundred spectators, which would increase after some reforms.
The success of the first functions of the Italian company and especially its director, much appreciated by the Vigo public, led to the name change of the room. Only four days after the inaugural session, the decision of the Teatro-circus company to give it the name Tamberlick was made public, “believing in this way to be interpreters of the feelings of the people who today have the fortune to applaud him”.
The architect Martín Curty points out in his book “Cines de Vigo” that the Tamberlick was the room that hosted the first film screening in Vigo, on April 29, 1897, “with a large audience that filled the capacity of the room.
Three tapes were exhibited: A duel by gun and then Arrival of a train and Charge of cavalry. The public demanded repetition.
Between picture and picture projected on the screen, the waiting Miss Zaida played the bandurria, accompanied by Mr. Asensio on guitar. It was also where the first sound film was shown in March 1930.
In 1965 it was the object of a reform to accommodate, with independent access, the new Odeón cinema, after the disappearance of Urzáiz Street.
The space was demolished in 1991.To this day only the façade of the building remains.
Address
Former Teatro Circo Tamberlick
Rúa de Eduardo Iglesias 8
36202 Vigo, Pontevedra
SPAIN
Historic postcard images courtesy of
The-Circus-Collection.Com
Gallery
