About us
Renaissance Theater
The Renaissance theater is a six viewing room theater which has been providing entertainment to Aruba for the past 15 years.
General Information
Matinees
Every Saturday and Sunday the Cinemas have matinee shows playing between 12 and 4 PM.
Late shows
Late shows are especially shown for those of us who like to enjoy movies late in the evening.
The Cinemas History
The day Eddy de Veer trades his wedding-gift pianola for Nadi Henriquez' motion-picture projection equipment is the day cinema becomes a thriving business in Aruba. It also marks the birth of the modern day E. De Veer chain theatres.
The enterprising De Veer slaps some lumber and bricks together to create an open-air theater in the heart of Oranjestad, in the courtyard of the ex-Hotel Colombia. His buddy Arthur Beaujon helps him rig a makeshift generator and De Veer opens for business that night, with most patrons opting to bring their own comfortable chairs from home. The year is 1920, and the movies, silent.
By 1930 the development of the movie industry was overwhelming. Sound had been added to 'movies' and Shon Eddy felt the need to move his theater to the yard of his aunt Lica's house between the Steenweg and the Nassaustraat. He decided to cover the yard this time and add chairs. Although the tickets became more expensive, people flocked to Aruba's first real film theater: Wishfully called GLORIA, its opening film was Oscar Winner "All Quiet on the Western front". In the wooden movie house, the new talkies were more popular than ever.
In San Nicolaas, where the LAGO refinery was built and where most of its workforce had settled, two new film theaters opened their doors, the Rex (later renamed Principal) and Cinelandia. In the neighboring areas, Lago Heights, and Seroe Colorado, where many of the employees of the refinery lived, theaters followed soon. Yet these new theaters could not meet with the growing demand and so in Savaneta a small theater opened, catering to the needs of the village's inhabitants, and the Dutch marines stationed there. And in Santa Cruz another theater, named Aurora opened. Due to the heavy competition, Arturo Arends sold his Rialto Theater in Oranjestad, in the Steenweg, to E. de Veer Chain Theaters. But Shon Eddy's vision was not limited to Aruba. He opened a cinema in Curaçao, at Dempel, anticipating the future expansion outside of Aruba.
Teatro Gloria was considered the top in entertainment in Aruba. There was live entertainment before shows, and during the mid-week one could get two tickets for the price of one. But film as a medium was still highly flammable in those days and January 21, 1931 passion turned to flames. The projection room caught fire - the wooden structure was completely destroyed. Not to be discouraged easily, Shon Eddy rebuilt the theater. Only a few years later, in 1935, a second fire devastated the cinema-lovers. The theater burnt down completely. Shon Eddy decided to rebuild again. But this time the wooden building was replaced with a concrete construction.
Fast forward to 1995, all other theaters have closed, but to coincide with its 75th anniversary, the company that has now grown to become known as MetaCorp was proud to announce the opening of 3 new theaters. These new cinemas provide a new generation an opportunity not previously experienced by the younger crowd in Aruba; the BIG SCREEN. It was a big success and 2 years later, 3 more theaters were added to what is now known as The Cinemas @ Renaissance. With the addition of 6 more screens in The Cinemas @ Paseo in 2007 and the always popular Drive in theatre, E. De Veer chain theatres now boasts 13 screens on which the island of Aruba can enjoy the newest big screen hits.