Before the opening of the Pakos radio
He saw the times and artistic memories
Dr. Ashraf El Mohandes
Alexandria was the first movie show in a famous café called “Zuwani” in January 1896. The first studio of the Bride of the Sea was named “Bakus Studio”, one of the first studios in Egypt in 1917, which demonstrates the importance of the city of Alexandria in the art industry. And its role throughout history in the discovery of artistic talents, and change the features of Egypt to development and civilization
In the heart of Alexandria and specifically Al Mansheya area, the first film distribution agencies in Egypt, the most famous of them, started to transfer the Egyptian films to all the governorates of Egypt from the far north to the south until they crossed the ocean, the Gulf and the European countries. Is evidence of the golden age of Egyptian cinema and its importance, which was an important source of Egyptian national income.
And the date of the launch of the Bahna agency
It was built in 1887 in the Italian style, climbing the stairs as if you were watching a black and white film in the 1940s, you heard the sound of the vendors and inhaled the smell of the beautiful times. You will find a glass door in front of you, inscribed on it. Film .. the legacy of Rashid Bahna “in a distinctive line similar to the method of writing old movie titers .. In a few seconds time back more than 70 years.
The Bahna Film Production and Distribution Agency started in 1930 and was established by the Bahna family, who came from Mosul to Alexandria and obtained Egyptian citizenship. They started their lives in the tobacco trade and after years decided to work in the film industry and chose Alexandria to be the headquarters of their company, which was credited with the spread of other branches in many countries. Their artistic work began with the first Egyptian film entitled “The Song of the Heart” The film was directed by George White, directed by Mario Fulby, and the screenplay and dialogue of Bishop Khalil Matran. The artistic march started with great names and large production companies collaborating with Bahna Film teams to become a pioneer in the art of distributing films in Africa. The Middle East.
In 1960, a distribution company, Bahna, was placed under judicial guard until the heir of the Bahna family, resident of Alexandria, “Basil Bahna”, retrieved his family property in Alexandria by judicial invitation.
And from Bahna Agency in Alexandria rare pictures taken by the stars of the art at the beginning of filming as a memorial image, including the film “The Damned Palace” starring Maryam Fakhruddin and Mahmoud Al Meligi with the crew
