1881: Louis Lumière has just developed the famous gelatine silver bromide dry plate process that later becomes universally known as the “blue label” plates. Keen to exploit the discovery on an industrial scale, Antoine, the father, rents a plot of land of half a hectare on the outskirts of Lyon, in Monplaisir, at 25 rue Saint-Victor (today rue du Premier-Film). His project is to build a factory there, outside the control of the urban area and its taxes imposed on coal, glass and chemical products. The workshops gradually spring up along the cours Albert Thomas. In 1896, the two Lumière brothers have a vast twin house built. The house no longer exists today but is visible on this aerial photograph from 1920, to the right of the ‘château’ that Antoine has built in 1899.

 

This Villa Lumière is the only one that remains on the former site, along with le Hangar,
the set of the first film entitled Sortie d’usine.