Jean Tédesco(1895-1958)

British-born Jean Tedesco has the distinction of having opened the very first arthouse cinema (as opposed to mainstream movie house) in Paris in October 1924 with his "Le Vieux Colombier," in the building where previously a live stage company had been run by actor-manager Jacques Copeau, this small scale movie house would cater to the specialized tastes and stayed open for ten years. Previously Tedesco had taken over as editor for the weekly publication "Cinea," founded by Louis Delluc, which he kept going until 1930. He participated in various functions as a cinematographer, writer, director and producer on a number of films, mostly short subjects and documentaries and was vice president later of the prestigious French Cinematheque.