Old Timers Garage

Old Timers Garage is a theatre and music club in Katowice-Piotrowice which shows part of a collection of vintage cars in the same building. It is located in the restored interior of the former Piast cinema at gen. Jankego 132.

The former Piast cinema

The Piast cinema was founded in 1933 and operated until 1991. After several years the abandoned building was bought by a private investor, who restored it and adapted it as a motoring museum and club. The original layout of the cinema hall was kept, a stage was added, and in 2012 a mezzanine as well, so the hall now has 130 seats. The club was formally founded on 13 November 2009, and the start of its activity is considered to be the first concert, played by the Silesian Blues Group.

Concerts and performances

The programme consists mainly of concerts of blues, rock, jazz, sung poetry and singer-songwriter music, but classical music also appears. The club has two stages: a larger one in the concert hall and a smaller one in the bar area, open seasonally. The Open Stage Jam Session is held here, as well as the Tłoki festival, a competition for performers of singer-songwriter music and sung poetry.

Theatres from all over Poland also perform as guests on the stage. Old Timers Garage itself produced performances, and in 2013 it staged its first musical, The Bricklin Musical, nominated for the Golden Mask in a special category. The official website also announces film screenings and meetings with guests.

Cars in the theatre

The motoring museum shows part of a collection of more than 30 restored vehicles from various eras. The exhibition is changing, so the cars are rotated periodically. The collection includes, among others, a 1938 Pontiac Silver Streak once owned by Jan Kiepura, a 1914 Ford T Speedster, a 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 and a 1965 ZiL 111 Cabrio in which Fidel Castro was driven during a visit to Silesia.

The list also includes a 1920 Buick Touring with an electric engine and a 1938 International fire engine. The club organises vintage vehicle rallies, including the Silesian Vintage Vehicle Rally.

Nearby

• About 1.4 km away is Zadole Park.
• About 2.3 km from the club stands the Basilica of St Louis the King and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
• About 4 km away begins the Katowice Forest Park.

Practical information

• Address: gen. Zygmunta Waltera-Jankego 132, Katowice (Piotrowice-Ochojec).
• The repertoire and tickets are on the website old-timers.pl, because it is an events venue, not a permanent exhibition.
• It is worth arranging a visit to see the cars without an event ticket with the venue before your visit.