‘Khudozhestvenny’, the oldest cinema in Moscow, opened in the early 20th century. Among its visitors were such prominent figures as Leo Tolstoy and Sergei Yesenin.

Originally, the ‘electro-theater’ building was constructed in 1909 according to the design of architect Nikolai Blagoveshchensky. It was an elegant one-story palace in the Art Nouveau style, built at the request of entrepreneur Albert Broksh, who managed the ‘Varvarinsky Joint Stock Company of Homeowners’, which owned the land on Arbat Square.

Broksh made a kind of revolution: at that time, films in Moscow were shown in unsuitable venues where audiences often stood, and the use of celluloid film led to fires. ‘Broksh's Cinematograph’, as it was recorded in documents, offered viewers to perceive cinema as an art worthy of a corresponding setting. ‘Khudozhestvenny’ amazed with its rich decor: the foyer had lace chandeliers, a fountain, an orchestra played, and palms stood in pots. It was the only cinema that offered home ticket delivery.

Three years later, it became clear that the theater could not accommodate everyone, and it was remodeled by the famous architect F. Shekhtel. The eclectic decor was replaced with a stricter neoclassicism. In 1912, the facade of the new electro-theater adorned Arbat Square. It had two entrances, above which were antique reliefs with chariots. The hall accommodated 900 people.

From the very beginning, ‘Khudozhestvenny’ became the leading screen in the country, where premieres of new films took place. In 1921, it opened as the first cinema of Goskino. Here, in 1926, the premiere of Eisenstein's film ‘Battleship Potemkin’ took place, and in 1931, the first sound film ‘A Ticket to Life’. In 1936, the first color film ‘Grunya Kornakova’ was shown here.

In 1935, the cinema had 946 seats and offered musical accompaniment for silent films, an orchestra, and the demonstration of newsreels every 45 minutes. The foyer had a reading room, a mother and child room, chess and checkers, and a buffet. In the summer, variety concerts were held in the garden.

During the Great Patriotic War, ‘Khudozhestvenny’ continued to operate, showing combat film collections and chronicles despite German air raids. In 1944, a park was established on the site of a destroyed house next to the cinema.

In the 1950s, the cinema lost its pre-revolutionary decor due to changes in the country. In 1955, it was equipped with the first wide screen in Moscow, which enhanced the brightness of the image.

In 2009, the cinema celebrated its centenary, and a monument to the first movie ticket was unveiled in the foyer. In 2020, a large-scale restoration was completed, returning the building to its historical appearance according to Shekhtel's drawings. Today, ‘Khudozhestvenny’ is not only a premiere cinema but also a festival center attracting all who love cinematic art.