Historic ‘Balta’ Cinema in Lima’s Barranco District Transformed into Metro Supermarket: A Look Back at Its Past as ‘Progreso’ – Lima Gris

Before it was called ‘Balta’ cinema, local residents and visitors called it ‘Progreso’. (Fátima/munibarranco.gob.pe)

Every weekend, movie theaters in different parts of the country are filled with viewers eager to discover new stories that move them and change their perspective. Sitting in their seats, they watch the movies with emotion, surrounded by strangers who share their joys and sadness with others every time a character succeeds or fails.

During the performance, strangers come together under the magic of the seventh art and experience together emotions and perspectives that transcend the individual. Stories of friendships that are born by sharing seats, of families that strengthen their ties in movie evenings, and of couples that remember their first meeting between those same walls, are testimonies of how cinema, more than entertainment, is a vehicle for human connection.

The custom of going to the movies as a family has not yet disappeared; However, there are Peruvians and foreign citizens who attend the screening rooms alone. They choose to go unaccompanied to this entertainment center for various reasons, among which are the freedom to choose the film that interests them most without having to reconcile tastes with others, the flexibility of going at times that best suit their personal routine. , and the opportunity to enjoy an intimate and reflective experience with the art of cinema.

Families often go to these theaters to watch movies and eat at the mall’s food court.

Now, not all the inhabitants of Lima have a cinema in their district. This situation forces them to have to travel to neighboring jurisdictions where there are not only cinemas, but also shopping centers. But what is the district where there is no cinema? This is Barranco.

In the past, this district did have several cinemas. For example, the ‘Premier’ cinema was located a few meters from the ‘Mostro’ and ‘Macuito’ sandwich shops; the ‘Barranco’ cinema was on El Sol Avenue; the ‘Raimondi’ cinema was on Salaverry street; and the ‘Zenith’ cinema, on Grau Avenue. Of all these cinemas, the ‘Balta’ cinema stands out by far.

Before it was called the ‘Balta’ cinema, local residents and visitors called it ‘Progreso’ since 1939, the year it was inaugurated. This place was located at the intersection of República de Panamá Avenue and Óvalo Balta.

Lima Gris published an article in which he explains the services he offered. “In the Balta cinema everything was shown, from borrowed premieres (the motorized ones shot from room to room with their large rolls of film tied to the rear grill), and Bruce Lee films, until finally becoming continuous porn cinema,” it is read on the web portal.

Where the Metro location is located, the ‘Balta’ cinema used to operate. (Vintage Ravine)

Because it became a cinema that showed adult films, families stopped attending these entertainment centers. However, during a peak period it was a favorite among residents due to its affordability.

It is known that this place faced problems, such as the exhibition of cut and mutilated films. Despite its attractions such as large size, excellent screen and sound, order and cleanliness left much to be desired, especially in the casserole on the first floor.

Towards the end of the eighties, energy supply problems in Lima caused interruptions in performances, contributing to a gradual decline in audiences.

This is what the Balta Oval looked like in the mid-20th century. (Vintage Ravine)

Businesses that are established in locations where others previously operated reflect the natural dynamics of change and evolution in the commercial and urban environment. In Lima there are several companies that have set up shop in rooms where activities that are not related to the previous company were carried out.

Such is the case of the Metro supermarket, which was installed in the premises where the ‘Balta’ cinema operated. This event occurred in the mid-nineties, a time during which few modifications were made to the façade. It should be noted that before this happened, the property remained abandoned and closed for some years.

2024-04-12 01:34:45
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