Suche
Mein Konto
Cinema culture in Schwäbisch Gmünd: From silent films to arthouse cinema!
Find out everything about the history of cinema in Schwäbisch Gmünd, from the first screenings to today's arthouse cinema highlights.
Cinema culture in Schwäbisch Gmünd: From silent films to arthouse cinema!
In Schwäbisch Gmünd, cinema culture looks back on a long and eventful history. The first permanent cinema, opened in 1911 on Bocksgasse, laid the foundation for film entertainment in the city. Another cinema opened on Kornhausstrasse in the same year. In the best of times, there were up to four cinemas in Schwäbisch Gmünd, including the “REX” cinema, which was known in the 1970s for its adult films.
Today the cityscape is dominated by two cinemas: the “Dream Palace”, which has several screens, and the “KKF”, which is located in a former factory building and has been a popular arthouse cinema for over 40 years. This facility shows films that are not shown in larger cinemas. Live music used to accompany the silent films that were shown in the city's first cinemas.
The KKF: cinema and culture under one roof
The KKF, known for its diversity, offers not only films but also live performances, making it an integral part of cultural life in Schwäbisch Gmünd. It was founded in 1981 and is therefore part of Gmünder's cinema history. Under the direction of Walter Deininger and head of gastronomy Jana Thiem, a diverse audience is attracted. Everyone is welcome, with one exception: right-wing ideas are strictly rejected. Fights are extremely rare in the KKF; in the 42 years of its existence, the police have not had to intervene due to violence.
The ambience of the KKF has hardly changed since it opened, and guests appreciate the cosiness of the small cinema bar with around 60 seats. As part of special promotional days, various drinks are offered at reduced prices: on Mondays there is beer, on Tuesdays spritzer, on Wednesdays gin, on Thursdays Cuba Libre, on Fridays shooters and on Saturdays sour. There is no action on Sundays.
Cultural highlights and the future of the KKF
A special highlight in the KKF program is the appearance of entertainer Michael Gaedt on February 15th. Owner Walter Deininger plans to withdraw from active operations and hand over management to Jana Thiem, who is also looking for young, motivated bands for live performances. Another fascinating detail of the KKF is the special drink “Steiners Suicide”, which consists of several spirits and sugar syrup and is popular with guests.
The Brazil Cinema, another cinema in Schwäbisch Gmünd, was recognized for its annual film program in 2020 and shows that cinema culture continues to flourish in the city. The developments in the field of moving images in Gmünd are closely interwoven with the history of the city, which dates back to the early 1900s. While other cities such as New York or Paris experienced cinema culture much earlier, in Gmünd it started a little later.
Traveling cinemas in restaurants contributed to the spread of cinema in rural areas. This tradition has been preserved to this day, and the cinema remains an important social meeting place in the region. Even though times change, the cinema in Schwäbisch Gmünd remains an indispensable part of city life, bringing both film lovers and cultural workers together.
Local reporting on developments and events surrounding the cinema in Schwäbisch Gmünd can be found in various media. This is what reports, among other things, the Rem newspaper from cinema history, while the Gmünder daily post highlights the diversity and cultural commitment of the KKF.