Police in Paris have discovered a fully equipped cinema-cum-restaurant in a large and previously uncharted cavern underneath the capital's chic 16th arrondissement.
After entering the network through a drain next to the Trocadero, the officers came across a tarpaulin marked: Building site, No access. Behind that, a tunnel held a desk and a closed-circuit TV camera set to automatically record images of anyone passing. The mechanism also triggered a tape of dogs barking, "clearly designed to frighten people off," the spokesman said.
Further along, the tunnel opened into a vast 400 sq metre cave some 18m underground, "like an underground amphitheatre, with terraces cut into the rock and chairs". There the police found a full-sized cinema screen, projection equipment, and tapes of a wide variety of films, including 1950s film noir classics and more recent thrillers. None of the films were banned or even offensive, the spokesman said.
Three days later, when the police returned accompanied by experts from the French electricity board to see where the power was coming from, the phone and electricity lines had been cut and a note was lying in the middle of the floor: "Do not," it said, "try to find us."
Update: more info here.
You do seem to have a knack for finding the strange stories (and of course anything involving robot overlords :D
Man, that thing needs more pictures, for sure. :)
I hope they continue to use it as a real theatre. I also hope they'll play "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" for me.
you always post the most interesting stories!
Paris chapter of the Skull and Bones.
too bad we don't have catacombs in the US
I thought the Theatre des Vampires actors perished in the fire. Guess a few pulled through. "Dead, thanks, much better now."
The first rule of Movie Club is... You do not talk about Movie Club.
News Media to all living humans:
The world is much better than you know, and probably much more interesting and cool than you'd imagine. Please consider that adding more awesome to the world is in everybody's interests. Now back to work you dogs.
My GOD I want to go there.
You can and should. I would recommend the catacombs to anybody visiting Paris. As with anything else, there are two ways to do so: Guided, or "self guided". I took the guided tour, it was definitely worth the 2.5 euros I paid to get in.
Next time I go to Paris, I would like to show myself around, even if I have to risk a 100 euro fine.
This guy hit the catacombs pretty hard.
I bet the films were the English-language versions.
of vampires. They enjoy watching classic films during the day and in the nighttime continue decorating the walls.
I wonder which of you got the link first, Neil Gaiman, or you jwz :-)
I bet that their contractors (electricians, plumbers, sound, etc) all show up on time as well and do things right, the first time. Then they talk about the latest news from the contractors union on how they're screwing with this crazy SF night club owner.