Once, the "October" cinema surpassed all its competitors in audience numbers, but its former success has long faded. In this regard, it is worth recalling its predecessor, the "Olympus" cinema.

Since 1892, this building housed the Merchants' Club, which was a kind of legal union and served as a cultural and educational center. Lectures and performances were held here, and there was a billiard room. In 1915, club members decided to open their own cinema at 37 Kirova Street. On February 8, the newspaper "Provincial News" reported: "The Pathe apparatus for showing films has already been received, the screen will be 5x6 arshins, and they promise to show the best films. The foyer is being furnished with furniture and tropical plants. The seats in the auditorium will now be fixed to the floor. An orchestra will play during the intermissions. Pianist S.G. Grassgof and administrator N.A. Zavadsky have been invited. There will be a new film program every two days." Tickets to the "Olympus" were relatively inexpensive, ranging from 20 to 70 kopecks. The townspeople noted the absence of the characteristic noise of the film projector, as the owners placed it behind a wall for the first time. The cinema's profits were significant, managing to cover more than half of the monthly expenses in the first five days of operation. However, World War I complicated matters, as the import of foreign films practically ceased.