While there were no cinemas in many provinces, there was one in that district, and now it is waiting to be brought into tourism.

The historic cinema located in the Maden district of Elazığ is resisting time. With its seats, screen, boxes, and machine room, the cinema takes its viewers back to the past and is waiting to be integrated into tourism.

The Maden district of Elazığ draws attention with its underground riches and historical background. The arrival of Etibank in the 1930s accelerated the urbanization and development of the district. During that period, many workers from various provinces and even European countries came to work in the district, and the population reached around 30,000. Maden became the fastest developing and growing district in the Eastern Anatolia Region during the early years of the republic, with many social activity areas such as tennis courts and cinemas being established. Among these, only the Engin cinema, which holds the status of the first private cinema, has survived to the present day. Today, the cinema, which is in a neglected state, still retains some wooden seating rows, boxes, a cinema screen, and a machine room from that era. Once hosting many events such as weddings, conferences, and meetings, the cinema takes its visitors back in time. The local people want the historical cinema to be certified and contributed to tourism.

‘We will restore the building to Maden’

Süleyman Deniz Seyrek, the President of the Copper Maden Culture, Tourism, Development, and Solidarity Association, said, ‘With the establishment of Etibank in the 1930s in the Maden district, construction work at that time was given to the Germans by the state. When the Germans came here, they brought their social life to Maden. It is often said that Elazığ’s first tennis court and the region’s first cinemas were established in Maden. Today, the building we are in is the only cinema among the four cinemas that have survived to the present day. It holds the status of the first private cinema built in Maden. Two cinemas were constructed by Etibank; neither of them has survived to this day. We have two private cinemas, and only the Engin cinema, where we are currently located, has reached today. This cinema, which belonged to Yakup Kalkan, was referred to as Engin cinema. Today, this cinema, which is in a neglected state, contains some wooden seating rows from that period. There are boxes in the cinema; we have five boxes. It consists of a balcony and the stage of the cinema. In the past, it was also used as a venue for special events such as wedding halls. This cinema has served not only as a cinematic venue but also as a place for special occasions such as weddings, henna nights, and engagements, as well as for political parties, unions, associations, and congresses. This place is a tangible structure that has survived to the present as a gathering place for people in Maden, including other cinemas, in a sociocultural sense. We have requested its designation as a cultural asset. According to the cultural heritage regulation, a building needs to have different features. However, the Dilan cinema in Diyarbakır has been designated as a cultural asset and is under protection. We had applied for the designation here as well, but the Diyarbakır Conservation Board rejected it. In the coming months, we will request for this place to be designated again as a cultural asset. We will protect this building and, with repairs, we will restore it to the local community and Maden once again.’