Le Salon indien du Grand Café was located at 14 boulevard des Capucines in Paris. It is known as the site of the first paid screening of the Lumière brothers’ Cinématographe. For this event, a modest room was rented through photographer Clément Maurice, a friend of the Lumière family, and the owner preferred a daily rent rather than 20% of the proposed receipts. The first session admitted attendees for one franc, while the press was not present. Crowds seeking entry were controlled by police.

On that historic day, ten Louis Lumière films were projected, including La Sortie de l'usine Lumière à Lyon, La Voltige, La Pêche aux poissons rouges, Le Débarquement du congrès de photographie à Lyon, Les Forgerons, L'Arroseur arrosé, Le Repas de bébé, Le Saut à la couverture, La Place des Cordeliers à Lyon, and La Mer (Baignade en mer). The Saturday afternoon session drew 33 people, and after three weeks revenue reportedly reached between 500 and 700 francs per day. The site is now associated with the restaurant of the Hôtel Scribe, which in 2018 was renamed Rivages; a room called Le Salon Indien remains in memory of the projection site.

◎ Nearby Objects

• 
  Olympia 80 m away
• 
  Boulevard de la Madeleine 250 m away
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  Palais Garnier 250 m away
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  Hôtel Ritz Paris 250 m away
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  Place Vendôme 300 m away

Location and Historical Significance

Le Salon indien du Grand Cafe was located at 14 boulevard des Capucines in Paris. It is known as the site of the first paid screening of the Lumiere brothers' Cinematographe, making it an important place in the early history of cinema. The restaurant of the Hotel Scribe is currently located at the site.

The First Screenings at the Salon Indien

The Salon Indien du Grand Cafe became historically significant as the site of an early film screening arranged by Historique. A modest room was rented through photographer Clement Maurice, a friend of the Lumiere family. The room owner preferred a daily rent rather than 20 percent of the proposed receipts. Historique attended the first session for a fee of one franc, while the press did not attend. Interest was immediate and large crowds tried to enter the venue, requiring police intervention to contain them.

On this historic day, ten Louis Lumiere films were projected, including La Sortie de l'usine Lumiere a Lyon, La Voltige, La Peche aux poissons rouges, Le Debarquement du congres de photographie a Lyon, Les Forgerons, L'Arroseur arrose, Le Repas de bebe, Le Saut a la couverture, La Place des Cordeliers a Lyon, and La Mer (Baignade en mer). The Saturday afternoon session drew 33 people, and after three weeks the revenue reached between 500 and 700 francs per day.

The location continued to be remembered long after these first screenings. In 2006 it became the Cafe Lumiere in the Hotel Scribe. It hosted a machinima festival in 2010, and after two years of works the restaurant in the Hotel Scribe was renamed Rivages in 2018. A room called Le Salon Indien still remains in memory of the projection site.

Galerie des films

The Galerie des films at the Salon Indien du Grand Cafe includes a group of early films from 1895. Among the titles listed are La Sortie de l'usine Lumiere a Lyon, La Pêche aux poissons rouges, Le Debarquement du congres de photographie a Lyon, Les Forgerons, L'Arroseur arrose (Le Jardinier), Le Repas de bebe, Le Saut a la couverture, La Place des Cordeliers a Lyon, and La Mer (Baignade en mer). The selection also includes La Voltige. Together, these films show the range of subjects represented in the collection, from everyday scenes and labor to public gatherings, domestic life, and seaside bathing. Their presence in the Galerie des films gives the Salon Indien du Grand Cafe a direct association with the early history of film presentation.