Designed by Cassiano Branco, the building is considered one of the major examples of modernist architecture during the period in which Portugal was under the control of the dictatorial Estado Novo regime.

The building is located at the intersection of Alameda Dom Afonso Henriques and Avenida Almirante Reis in the parish of Arroios in central Lisbon.

Owned by a consortium including the industrialist Fernando Seixas, the cinema was initially designed by Cassiano Branco, with the work being completed by António Varela, Frederico George, and Raul Ramalho.

Jules et Jim by François Truffaut, I cannibali by Liliana Cavani, Juliet of the Spirits and Amarcord by Federico Fellini, Rosemary's Baby by Roman Polanski, and 55 Days at Peking by Nicholas Ray were among the films that proved popular.

International performers included Cliff Richard and The Shadows, France Gall, Quincy Jones, and Count Basie.

In 1992 it was converted into the Portuguese Cathedral of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God and thus spared demolition, unlike several other buildings from the Estado Novo era.