Ever wondered about a theater born from a stable? The Pargod Theater is more than just a building. It is a Jerusalem legend.
The Pargod began in 1969. Aryeh Mark founded it as a space for avant-garde productions. It started in a basement on Tzipori Street. This was in the Nachalat Achim neighborhood.
In 1972, the Pargod moved to Bezalel Street. It occupied a cave-like basement. This space was once a stable, a water cistern, and a hammam. Mark renovated it himself for a year and a half. He even lived upstairs.
Imagine this place in the 70s and 80s. Every Friday, live jazz filled the air. Talented local musicians played. Danny Gottfried led these sessions on piano.
Then came the rock era in the late 80s. Mark moved to manage the Jarrar Becher Center. The Pargod became a home for live music. Both famous and unknown artists graced its stage. Meir Ariel once played there surrounded by only twenty people. Shlomo Bar debuted at the Pargod.
The Pargod nurtured young talent. C. Hyman worked as a waitress. She also performed for the first time there. Dana Berger also made her debut. A young mime named Hanoch Rosen started at 17.
The shows were intimate. If someone went to the bathroom, the artist would pause. The Jerusalem rock scene thrived here. Bands like Migabat Bearers and Hadeg Nahsh played. Hadeg Nahsh celebrated their 25th anniversary there.
But bureaucracy loomed. In 1973, the Jerusalem Municipal Housing Company Perzot acquired the building. They planned to transform the Nachalot neighborhood.
In 1975, Perzot wanted to demolish the Pargod. They wanted to build an apartment building. Mayor Teddy Kolek intervened. He prevented the demolition. He also secured funding for the theater.
Attempts to demolish the Pargod continued. In 2000, Perzot issued an eviction order. They wanted to replace it with a ten-apartment building.
Mark appealed to the Supreme Court in 2003. He hoped to save the theater. In 2005, the court approved Perzot’s request. The Pargod closed.
For twelve years, nothing happened. In 2012, the municipality liquidated Perzot. The court decided to build an apartment building.
Today, the building stands abandoned. It is a silent reminder of bureaucracy. It is a testament to lost art.
The Pargod represents Jerusalem’s spirit. It shows small jazz shows and mime performances. It is a former stable turned debut stage. A hammam became a theater. It is art versus bureaucracy.
The Pargod is a symbol. It embodies gray officials without vision. It celebrates bands like Hadag Nahsh. The Pargod remains a powerful memory. It is a place where creativity once thrived.