History of Pune's First Movie Theatre: From 1910s Shed to Neo-Classical Landmark

Pune's first movie theatre, Napier Cinema, began in a 1910s shed in Poona Cantonment, screening silent films including the American serial The Broken Coin (1915). By around 1919, it was refurbished into a neo-Classical building with Baroque elements. Popular for weekly serial screenings, it later transformed into West End cinema in 1931. The theatre was a cultural landmark, surrounded by features like a fountain and bandstand, reflecting early cinema's impact in Pune.