Kino Handl: Demolition and new apartments - memories of Vienna's cultural location

Kino Handl: Demolition and new apartments - memories of Vienna's cultural location

The chapter about the legendary “Kino Handl” in Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus is now finally closed. When the demolition work is completed on October 6, 2025, the site, which served as a cultural focal point for over 65 years, will make way for a new residential complex. In the future, 62 apartments and two commercial premises will be built on Outer Mariahilfer Straße, which will reshape the cityscape.

Committed citizens, especially Friedrich Engl and Luka Šola, have launched a public appeal to honor the former cultural site. We are looking for personal memories, old cinema tickets, photos or stories from Kino Handl. Although no personal memorabilia was received, historical discoveries were made, such as that of the cinema operator Irma Handl. Sylvia Platzer showed a good hand with her research in the archives and found a photo of the influential figure in the Viennese cinema scene, who ran the cinema from 1911 to 1976.

A piece of history

Irma Handl, born Maria Hahnl in 1870, played an important role in Vienna's cinema culture. Under her aegis, the Handl cinema, which opened in 1908 and was moved to Mariahilfer Straße 160 in 1911, underwent numerous renovations and extensions, offering space for up to 700 visitors. With its cheap seats and boxes, it was one of the hotspots of the Viennese cinema world. Mariahilfer Straße was one of the most important “cinema streets” at the beginning of the 20th century, with five cinemas as early as 1909.

Particularly noteworthy is an artistically designed construction fence that commemorates the historic site and was designed by employees of the district museum and other participants. This construction fence not only contains historical information about the Handl cinema, but also invites passers-by to immerse themselves in the eventful history of the place.

A legacy that lasts

After the new building is completed, a memorial plaque is planned to commemorate Irma Handl and her contributions to Viennese film culture. The exhibition about the Handl family history, which is currently open, also helps ensure that the legacy of this extraordinary personality is not forgotten.

The archive of the Vienna City and State Archives has taken on the task of documenting the history of the Handl cinema. The files from 1909 to 1937 were reorganized in 2018. Claudia Pieler and a team of interns were responsible for this and were dedicated to the historical heritage of Vienna's cinemas. The complete catalog of the documents is available online for those interested and offers insight into the eventful history of the cinema, which shaped the city's cinematic life for more than six decades. Fair conditions apply to the reproduction of archival material and the digital holdings are freely accessible for non-commercial purposes, which represents a valuable resource for historical researchers.

The memory of the Handl cinema will live on in a different form, while modern living takes its place. A new beginning for an old place that will certainly always be remembered by many Viennese people.

For more information, see reports from MyDistrict, HistoryWiki and WAIS Vienna.