The Cathay Cinema, initially known as the Cathay Theatre, was established in 1931 in Shanghai. In 1954, it was officially renamed, and later in the 1960s it became the first cinema to replace manual with automatic projection.
Its architecture is typical of the Art Deco style, with vertical lines on the exterior walls and long windows. Cathay Cinema is located at 870 Huaihai Middle Road in Shanghai's Huangpu District, close to Exit 3 of Shaanxi South Road Station on Metro Line 1.
The cinema suspended operations on Aug. 25, 2022, ahead of an official upgrade and renovation. Even today, many elderly Shanghai residents retain a deep affection for this special venue and cherish their memories of watching movies there decades ago.